A Fake Necklace From My Husband Before Zombie Apocalypse

Alice Cole had never cared about jewelry. At least, that was what she always told herself. After years of marriage to Jason Cole, one of the richest men in the country, she had received countless luxury gifts. Expensive watches. Designer handbags. Rare collections other women could only dream of. Yet none of them mattered as much as the meaning behind the gift. That was why the necklace Jason gave her on their anniversary made her heart soften. It was not just another expensive item. Jason stood in front of cameras, holding a black velvet box, and told the world that Alice was the woman who had stayed beside him before his success. The media loved the story. The billionaire CEO who never forgot the woman who supported him when he had nothing. Alice wanted to believe it too. She wanted to believe Jason still remembered the nights she stayed awake helping him build his first company. The days when no one believed in him except her. Maybe the necklace was his way of saying he had never forgotten. Two days later, that illusion shattered. Alice was having lunch with her best friend, Clara, when Clara suddenly grabbed her wrist. “Wait.” Alice frowned. “What?” Clara stared at the necklace around her neck. Her expression shifted from curiosity to disbelief. “Where did you get this?” “Jason gave it to me.” Clara looked at her carefully. “Honey, do you know what you’re wearing?” Alice laughed softly. “Apparently, a very expensive necklace.” Clara didn’t laugh. She pulled out her phone and searched for something. A few seconds later, she turned the screen toward Alice. A breathtaking blue diamond appeared. “The Celestia Blue Diamond.” Alice stared at the image. The diamond looked almost identical to the one around her neck. Clara lowered her voice. “This diamond isn’t just expensive. It’s almost impossible to own. Sixty million dollars.” Alice’s fingers touched the necklace without thinking. “Sixty million?” “There are only three Celestia Blue Diamonds in existence. Each one was privately commissioned and tracked by international jewel collectors.” Clara scrolled. “The first belongs to Isabella Moretti, the actress. The second belongs to Princess Elena Valmont.” She stopped. Alice noticed. “What’s wrong?” Clara hesitated. “The third belongs to Vivian Laurent.” The name hit Alice harder than she expected. Vivian Laurent. Everyone in business circles knew her. Beautiful, elegant, and much younger than Alice. The daughter of one of the most powerful families in the country. And recently, she had been rumored to be close to Jason. Alice forced a smile. “That’s impossible.” Clara looked uncomfortable. “Babe...” “No.” Alice shook her head. “Jason bought this for me.” But memories began surfacing. Jason becoming increasingly busy. Guarding his phone. Leaving business dinners early. Getting irritated whenever she mentioned Vivian and Vivian’s smile whenever they met. Alice had always thought it was politeness. Now she wondered if it had been a smirk. “Damn.” Alice slowly removed the necklace. Her hands were shaking. “Let’s go to a jewelry shop.” Clara blinked. “What?” “I’m checking if this is real.” The jeweler carefully examined the necklace, inspecting the gemstone, the setting, and the craftsmanship. It took less than thirty minutes. When he finally looked up, his expression had changed. Alice immediately knew something was wrong. “I’m sorry, ma’am.” Her heart sank. “The necklace is fake.” Alice stared at him. “What?” “It’s a very sophisticated imitation. The craftsmanship is excellent, but the diamond isn’t genuine.” The words echoed in her head. Fake. Not priceless, not rare, not the Celestia Blue Diamond. A carefully crafted imitation. A beautiful lie. Alice stared at the necklace resting on velvet. Her fingers trembled as she reached for it. A sharp pain spread through her chest. She had believed Jason. Defended him, supported him, and spent years helping him build an empire. And the one thing he gave her as a symbol of their marriage was fake. Tears blurred her vision. Clara watched silently, her heart aching. Alice quickly wiped her tears. She refused to break down in front of anyone. But beneath the sadness, anger began to burn. If Jason had lied about the necklace, what else had he lied about? She clenched the fake diamond in her hand. “Let’s go home.” The entire drive passed in a blur. City lights moved outside the car window, distant and unfamiliar. For years, Alice had believed she was building a future with Jason. Now she wondered if she had only been building a dream that belonged to him. When she finally entered the mansion, the silence felt suffocating. The house that once represented love and success suddenly felt like a stranger’s home. Alice walked upstairs, holding the necklace. Under the light, the blue diamond still looked flawless. Just like Jason’s lies. A tear slipped down her cheek. Jason Cole was worth billions. He could buy anything. Yet the woman who had stood beside him before he became successful received a fake diamond. While another woman had the real one. The humiliation burned deeper than the anger. Because Alice finally understood the cruelest part. Jason hadn’t simply betrayed her. He had replaced her. The fake Celestia Blue Diamond felt heavier than it should have. Just like the marriage she once believed was real. Alice had spent years convincing herself that Jason’s success was their success. Now she wondered if their entire relationship had been an illusion. Maybe their marriage had been fake long before the necklace ever was. Her fingers tightened around the pendant. She had given Jason her loyalty. Her trust, her entire heart, and in return, he had given her a counterfeit. Slowly, Alice wiped away her tears. The sadness in her eyes disappeared. Something colder took its place. Determination. For years, she had protected Jason’s image. Defended him whenever people doubted him. Stayed silent whenever others underestimated her contribution. But she was done. Done protecting a man who had already let her go. Alice picked up the necklace and stood. She walked toward the door, intending to throw it away and leave behind the final piece of a marriage built on lies. But before the necklace left her hand, it changed. A faint blue light escaped from the diamond. Alice froze. “What...” The gemstone began glowing brighter. Light spread across the room, casting blue shadows over the walls. Alice slowly opened her palm. The fake diamond was no longer behaving like an ordinary gemstone. Symbols began appearing inside it. Then a final message emerged. GLOBAL COLLAPSE. Alice’s breath caught. Another line appeared beneath it. 60 DAYS REMAINING.