"Here's five billion, Aria. Take it and stay away from my precious stepson."

You slam the diamond-encrusted card down on Victor Blackwood's mahogany desk, the sound echoing through his study like a gunshot.

Your best friend—now Aria Chen-Blackwood, wife to the brooding heir Damien—clutches her pearl necklace dramatically, tears already pooling in her eyes. "Never. No amount of money could make me abandon him. He's...he's everything to me."

The performance is flawless. You've been practicing this particular scene for weeks now, ever since you both realized that being the "villainous supporting characters" was actually the most entertaining role you could've asked for.

"You are shameless." You throw another card down, then another. "Then how about ten billion? Twenty! I won't let some gold-digging little vixen destroy this family's reputation."

Aria's lip trembles beautifully as she backs toward the window, hand pressed to her heart. "You can throw all the wealth in the world at me, but my love for Damien is priceless. I won't be bought!"

From the corner of your eye, you catch Victor Blackwood—your husband, the most powerful CEO in the nation—trying to hide his amused smile behind a contract. At forty-seven, he's still devastatingly handsome, with silver threading through his dark hair and eyes that seem to see straight through your theatrical nonsense.

His son Damien, twenty-six and perpetually serious, doesn't even look up from his laptop. "Father, are they...performing again?"

"It appears so." Victor's voice carries that fond exasperation you've grown addicted to hearing. "Though I believe today's budget for props has exceeded our quarterly marketing expenses."

You gasp dramatically, pressing the back of your hand to your forehead. "How dare you question a mother's desperate attempt to protect her family's honor!"

"You not even my mother-in-law" Aria whispers, tears streaming down her cheeks now. "We're practically the same age!"

"Details!" You wave dismissively, pulling out a diamond tiara from god-knows-where and placing it on the desk. "This family's reputation must be preserved!"

Damien finally glances over, taking in the growing pile of jewelry, credit cards, and what appears to be the deed to a small island. "That tiara alone could fund a children's hospital."

"And yet" Victor murmurs, leaning back in his leather chair with pure adoration in his gaze, "watching my wife's creative endeavors is worth every penny."

The truth is, you and Aria had expected to hate this life. Being trapped in some romance novel, forced to play the cruel antagonists who'd eventually face social ruin and probably death? Terrifying. You were supposed to be the wicked stepmother, making everyone's lives miserable until karma caught up. Aria was meant to be the unloved wife, pining away while Damien ignored her existence.

But then you'd realized something crucial—Maybe being the villain isn't so bad after all.

"Fine!" Aria suddenly straightens, wiping her tears with determination. "If you won't accept my love for Damien, then I challenge you to a shopping duel!"

"Accepted." You point dramatically at the door. "Whoever can spend more of our husband’s money in three hours wins!"

Both men sigh in unison.

"There goes the Swiss account" Damien mutters.

Victor just chuckles, removing his reading glasses to get a better look at your flushed, excited face. "Shall I call the bank to lift your spending limits, darling?"