Chapter 1A Muse to Astonish the World

At the opening gala for the new exhibition, a notification popped up from my husband's social media—a post he’d hidden from my feed.

"May my muse astonish the world."

The girl in the photo was wearing my missing "Morning Star" brooch, a bespoke piece.

Just then, a spotlight flared to life on stage, and the host's voice boomed through the hall. "Please welcome the brilliant emerging artist, Luna Jiang!"

It was the girl from the photo.

I smiled, snapped a picture of the stage, and sent it to my husband, Warwick.

"If I reported a theft, how many years do you think she'd get?"

As I hit send, a bank of camera flashes illuminated the side of the stage. My husband, Warwick Vance, was standing there, his gaze fixed on the woman in the spotlight with an expression of pure adoration.

I walked straight up to him. "Warwick, darling," I said, my smile unwavering. "Fancy seeing you here."

…

The moment our eyes met, the tender smile on Warwick’s face froze. I acted as if I hadn't noticed a thing, my voice laced with concern.

"You look so pale, Warwick. Are you not feeling well?"

Mr. Davies, the gallery director, approached us just then, his eyes darting between us. "Ms. Sterling, you and Mr. Vance know each other?"

He gestured toward Warwick, his tone full of admiration. "Mr. Vance here is the new honorary director of our gallery! We have him to thank for funding both our young artist sponsorship program and the complete overhaul of our security systems. We've even named the east wing 'The Vance Light' in his honor."

Mr. Davies beamed at Warwick. "Mr. Vance, if you had told us you were coming tonight, we would have arranged the head seat for you!"

He must not have heard the intimate way I'd said Warwick's name.

My lips curved into a smile as I looped my arm through Warwick's rigid one. "Oh, we're more than just acquainted, Mr. Davies."

"We're legally married."

I tilted my head, my smile never faltering. "Right, darling?"

A tremor ran through Warwick’s arm. He managed a strained smile. "I was just passing by and saw there was an event, so I thought I'd drop in. I didn't want to disturb anyone."

He brushed past the director's question, his voice low as he introduced me. "This is my wife, Kathy Sterling." His eyes flickered away, unable to meet mine.

I didn't expose his pathetic lie on the spot. Instead, I turned my attention to the stage, feigning admiration. "Mr. Davies, who was Miss Jiang's mentor? Her work has such a spark."

At the mention of her name, the director became effusive. "Luna? A true prodigy. An incredible talent from a very humble background. She's the rising star we have the highest hopes for. Mr. Vance was the one who discovered her—her patron. He not only brought her to our attention but has provided immense support to the gallery on her behalf."

I nodded slightly, listening in silence.

As the evening wound down, Mr. Davies eagerly led Luna over to us. "Luna, come and meet the esteemed Kathy Sterling! Ms. Sterling is the one who established our 'Voyager Fund' for new artists." He added with a chuckle, "What a coincidence that your patron is Ms. Sterling's husband."

Luna greeted me respectfully, her words a perfect blend of awe for me and gratitude for Warwick. She projected an image of humility and fragility, but I could see the calculating assessment—and the hostility—she couldn't quite hide in her eyes.

My gaze settled on the brooch pinned to her dress. "Miss Jiang," I began, my voice soft, "for someone from such a humble background, how can you afford a custom piece from 'Morning Star'?"

I paused, letting the silence hang in the air. "It's a remarkable coincidence. It looks almost identical to a one-of-a-kind piece I lost a while ago."

The color drained from Luna's face. She shot a desperate, pleading look at Warwick.

He gave her a sharp, warning glare.

She immediately lowered her head, her voice a small, wounded whisper. "The brooch… I made it myself, a replica from design sketches using cheaper materials. The diamonds are just crystals. It may be a fake, but I wanted the presentation of my work to be perfect."

I didn't press further. I just turned to Warwick and gave him a slow, meaningful smile. "Darling, I was particularly fond of that brooch. If I find out some sticky-fingered thief made off with it, I’ll make them pay dearly."

Warwick's face was a thundercloud. He seized my wrist, his grip tight, his voice strained. "Kathy. It's time to go home."