เขาบอกผมว่าเขาเป็นมาเฟีย

"Audrey, look! Isn't my skin looking amazing? It's so plump and dewy you could squeeze water from it."

Karen Barra sat across from me, leaning in deliberately, her flawless face radiating pride. She shook her phone, the screen showing a top-tier cosmetic clinic's booking interface.

"I booked my very first skin-boosting injection for this afternoon. My friends say the results are incredible. Women have to be willing to invest in their faces, right?"

Her eyes flicked toward me with a subtle, contemptuous glance.

A sharp, tingling sensation ran under my skin—like a thousand tiny needles simultaneously tugging at my fascia.

I looked at her and smiled slowly.

"Really? That does sound nice."

For a brief moment, her smug expression froze.

Seizing the moment, I moved faster than lightning and snatched her phone from her hand.

"Audrey, what are you doing?!" Karen shrieked, lunging to grab it back.

I leaned back, evading her reach, and my fingers flew across the screen to cancel her appointment.

"You—!" Karen's face drained of color.

I ignored her and opened the clinic's app, registering under my own identity. Skipping her expensive water-light injection, I selected the absolute top-tier, full anti-aging package.

"Thermage, ultrasound therapy, photorejuvenation… and this cellular regeneration treatment—book them all for me."

At the payment page, I deftly entered Henry Faulkner's supplementary card number and password.

Beep.

The confirmation ping hit Karen like a hammer to the chest. Panic completely overtook her.

"Audrey! How dare you cancel my appointment! Give me back my phone!"

She lunged at me, claws out, but a single look from me froze her in place. I held the phone up, the screen displaying my verified identity as "Mrs. Faulkner" and the enormous bill.

"What do you mean?" I stood and looked down at her, voice laced with amusement. "I am Henry's lawful wife. I'll spend his money however I like."

"You, on the other hand… You're just my husband's assistant," I continued, eyes narrowing, "You're getting a salary, but do nothing productive, and instead, spend your days scheming these tricks?"

"I…" Karen was speechless, her face flushing red.

I tossed the phone back into her lap and picked up my Hermès bag, striding toward the door.

"Oh, and thank you," I called over my shoulder, smiling even brighter, "for the recommendation. From now on, my face will be in their hands."

With that, I clicked my heels and left that suffocating cage behind.

An hour later, I lay in the VIP suite of the most luxurious cosmetic clinic.

Cold instrument probes traced over my face, sending faint waves of warmth across my skin.

"Mrs. Faulkner, your skin is already in excellent condition. The results will be stunning," the nurse said softly.

I closed my eyes, the corner of my mouth curling into a chilling smile.

'Karen… are you ready to receive the gift I'm sending you?'