He Framed Me for a Ring That Was Never Real Chapter 06
For the next few days, our home was unnaturally quiet.
Spencer stopped mentioning divorce, but he began punishing me for being “disobedient.”
He cut off my access to the household credit card and fired the housekeeper.
Cooking, laundry, and cleaning all fell on me. He wanted me to remember that the money and every decision were in his hands.
The pressure from my parents followed soon after.
My mother called three times a day, repeating the same argument every time.
“Audrey, just let it go. What marriage doesn’t have problems? Spencer is such a good catch. Who do you think you’ll find after leaving him? Erin’s job is finally stable. You can’t ruin the whole family’s life because you’re angry.”
Every call was meant to force me to submit to Spencer.
Aunt Denise spoke as though she were generously offering me forgiveness.
“Audrey, I already talked to Spencer and told him not to pursue this any further. Everyone makes mistakes. Stay home, behave yourself, and stop causing trouble. The Callahans will take care of you.”
They had already found me guilty. Now they were only waiting for me to obey.
Everyone had chosen Spencer’s side.
In that home, I had no money and no voice.
Spencer came home late every night and locked himself in the study as soon as he walked through the door.
I stopped defending myself and stopped mentioning the ring.
Every day, I cooked, did laundry, and cleaned on autopilot, pretending I had surrendered.
Spencer was clearly pleased by my compliance and gradually let his guard down around me.
One evening, instead of disappearing into the study, he sat in the living room watching financial news.
As he changed the channel, I heard a familiar name: Cartier.
The local New York news was reporting that an international jewelry exhibition would soon open at the Javits Center in Manhattan. Cartier was one of the major exhibitors, and the show would feature a legendary pink diamond worth several million dollars.
I looked at the jewelry on the screen, and a plan formed in my mind.
Spencer and Blaire cared more about showing off and protecting their reputations than anything else.
Then I would make sure everyone knew exactly who they were.
The next day, after Spencer left, I took out my wedding jewelry.
I chose the heaviest gold necklace and the finest gold bracelet, then brought them to a licensed pawnshop nearby.
Four thousand dollars in cash landed in my hands.
It was the first money I had set aside to leave Spencer.
Then I called a number I had not used in years.
“Kelsey Foster? This is Audrey Bennett. I need your help.”
Kelsey had been a year behind me in college. After graduation, she became a moderately well-known fashion content creator who regularly attended runway shows and brand exhibitions and knew plenty of people in Westchester.
The last time we had spoken was at my wedding.
Kelsey sounded surprised, but after hearing my request, she agreed immediately.
“Audrey, leave it to me. I’ll get you a press invitation to the jewelry exhibition.”