It was on our fifth wedding anniversary that the lawyer finally told me. “Your marriage to Mr. Thorne is not legally valid.” Elara’s POV Five years into our marriage, I was finally expecting a child. I’d scheduled an appointment with our trust attorney to set up a newborn fund as a surprise for Julian on our fifth anniversary. But when the attorney tried to access Julian’s assets for authorization, the system kept denying access. “Ms. Vance, are you certain Mr. Thorne’s marital status hasn’t changed?” After several failed attempts, a hint of professional bewilderment crossed the attorney’s face. I frowned slightly. “We’ve been married for five years, and our relationship has always been stable.” The attorney tried once more, finally projecting an encrypted file onto the screen. He pushed up his glasses with a sigh. “I suggest you verify this with Mr. Thorne yourself. According to this trust agreement, the beneficiary of all Mr. Thorne’s assets, including the legal spouse clause, is a Ms. Chloe Davies.” I walked out of the law firm, chilled to the bone. The fragile joy I’d carried as an expectant mother was utterly gone. The attorney’s words were like an ice hammer, striking over and over. “Your marriage to Mr. Thorne is not legally valid.” Our five years of marriage… was it all a lie? Julian and I had known each other since childhood. He was a golden boy, a man destined for greatness, constantly surrounded by admirers, yet he cherished me above all else, always prioritizing my needs. Everyone said Julian loved me, loved me enough to pluck the stars from the sky for me. But why, then, would he secretly care for another woman, where I couldn’t see? I barely hesitated, immediately booking a flight to Naples. Julian was there, attending a top-tier business summit. I had to get answers from him directly. When I found the private island resort hosting the summit, I walked straight into the outdoor evening gala. The Neapolitan sunset washed the scene in a soft, golden light, but I had no eyes for it. I simply pushed through the clink of glasses and the murmur of polite conversation, searching for him in desperation. My gaze swept over the man being fawned over at the VIP table, and in that instant, I felt my blood run cold. He wore a perfectly tailored white suit, tall and striking, impossibly handsome. On his face was a look of profound, unburdened happiness I had never seen before. That was my husband of five years-Julian Thorne. “Congratulations, Julian, you finally made it!” “Seriously, Julian played this perfectly. He gave Elara that fairytale wedding back home to keep her placated, while over here, he waited for Chloe to come of age, then used the family trust to secure everything for her-untouchable!” “But Julian, are you serious about Chloe? Her background isn’t exactly ideal…” Someone lowered their voice. “What about Elara? These past five years…weren’t you afraid of getting caught?” “You don’t get it, ” someone chuckled. “Julian feels guilty toward Chloe, but more than that, it’s a sense of duty. If Chloe hadn’t pushed Elara out of the way back then, Elara would’ve been the one to lose her leg. Julian says he owes Chloe for life. These five years were just a waiting game-buying time until he could make it official.” “What a brilliant move!” I froze, feeling as if I’d been shoved into the deep sea, every breath a luxury. I even wondered if I was hearing things. But the next second, Julian’s own words plunged me into an ice-cold abyss. “My commitment to Chloe is real.” His voice was calm, steady, each word a verdict. “She gave up dancing to save Elara. She’ll need a cane for life. All she wants now is security and a future-things I can give her.” So, that was it. My eyes burned. That trust fund wasn’t a mistake. It was a plan. Five years ago, at an art gallery accident, I was nearly crushed by a falling sculpture. Chloe, an art student with me, didn’t hesitate. She rushed forward and pushed me to safety. She came from nothing, parentless, but with raw, stunning talent. To repay her for saving my life, Julian and I funded her entirely: hiring renowned teachers, sending her to the best schools. Back then, Julian said Chloe saving me was like saving his own life. He was willing to give everything to compensate her. I just never imagined his “compensation” would include giving away our marriage and his entire future. The most laughable part was that for five whole years, I had been utterly oblivious. Julian’s friend asked again, “What about Elara? If she finds out…” I saw him lower his eyes, his long fingers lightly tapping his phone screen, his voice laced with the confidence of someone in complete control. “I’ll continue to treat Elara just as well; she’ll never find out.” “All of you, keep your mouths shut. Don’t let anything slip in front of her.” The next moment, my phone buzzed. I looked down at the message from Julian, my heart clutched by an invisible hand, a chill spreading from my fingertips to my bones. “Sweetheart, I miss you. This summit is so boring; every second without you is agonizing. I’ll definitely be back for our anniversary. Love, Julian.” I clenched my phone, then looked up at him, laughing and chatting amidst the crowd not far away. A dense, sharp pain pierced my heart. My vision blurred, and hot tears streamed uncontrollably-this wasn’t my Julian. My Julian was the boy who, to pick a edelweiss from a cliff for me, would smile and say “it’s worth it” even with his arm scratched by rocks; He was the man who, for my eighteenth birthday, booked an entire observatory just so I could see a star named after me; He was the man who, on my parents’ remembrance day, would put aside multi-million dollar deals to spend the entire day quietly by my side; He was the man who, after we married, spoiled me into a sheltered princess, and ceaselessly doted on me and shared passionate nights… Not this liar before me, who professed love to me with one breath, while writing another woman into the legal contract of his life with the next. My heart felt like it was being torn apart, and I bit down hard on my lip. My phone vibrated again; it was his call. I hesitated for a second, then answered. “Elara, where are you? Have you had dinner? It sounds lively on your end.” His voice was as gentle as ever, tender and affectionate. “Julian, what are you doing?” I instinctively clenched my fist, my nails digging deep into my palm. I thought, if he would just admit it, I’d give him a chance to explain. “Just dealing with a few businessmen, it’s a headache.” His voice carried a deliberately crafted weariness. “Summit dinner, you know, utterly tedious. Are you at the gallery? If you like a painting, just have the manager wrap it up.” I suddenly laughed, but the light in my eyes extinguished inch by inch. After a moment of silence, I whispered, “Okay.” He immediately sensed my distress. “Sweetheart, are you upset? Who bothered you?” “Too many people. I’ll hang up now.” The moment I hung up, I saw a girl in a white evening gown, leaning on an elegant cane, hobble towards Julian and fall into his embrace. It was Chloe. “Julian, my foot hurts a little.” “Let me see.” His voice held a tenderness and caution I had never heard directed at me. He knelt, carefully massaging her ankle, his eyes filled with heartache. “It’s my fault for letting you stand so long.” That tenderness was a cruel stab to my eyes. So, his love could be divided, and his concern could be replicated. Julian, how could your heart hold two people? I fled in a panic, hiding in the dark shadows of the hotel garden, curling up and hugging myself, letting silent tears stream down my face. When the tears finally ran dry, I rose. The last glimmer of light in my eyes hardened into something cold and absolute. This five-year farce of a marriage was over. Julian, the man, was nothing to me now. Since Chloe was the only partner he would ever claim, I would give them exactly what they wanted. In two weeks, it would be my parents’ remembrance day. After I paid my respects, I would leave. I would vanish from Julian’s world without a trace.
Elara’s POV I took the earliest flight home, and the first thing I did after landing was head straight to the hospital to schedule an abortion. “Ms. Vance, the accident five years ago damaged your uterus. It’s a miracle you even conceived. If you don’t keep this child, you may find it very difficult to have one in the future. Please reconsider and talk to your husband.” My fingertips turned cold, and my heart clenched. Julian had never told me. All these years, whenever our families asked about children, he took the blame, saying he wanted a few more years with just me. My eyes filled with tears then. He had been so thoughtful, so afraid of hurting me. But no matter how good he had been, it didn’t change the fact that he had lied. “Thank you, Doctor. I’ll think about it,” I heard myself say. I walked out of the consultation room in a daze, my steps unsteady, only to see Julian-who was supposed to be abroad-at the end of the corridor. And Chloe. Julian was carefully helping Chloe out of the obstetrics clinic, his face beaming with unconcealed joy and nervousness. His gentle gaze was fixed on her face, not willing to move away for a second. “Julian, don’t be so nervous; I’m just having some early pregnancy symptoms, it’s not like I’m sick,” Chloe said, her eyes curving into a sweet, girlish smile. Julian rarely showed a smile, but his voice was unusually tight. “This is our first child; there can’t be any mishaps.” I clutched the appointment slip in my hand, feeling the temperature being slowly drained from my body. In that moment, I distinctly heard the sound of my heart shattering, inch by painful inch. It turned out, that when pain reached its peak, tears wouldn’t come. Julian helped Chloe into the elevator. The moment the elevator doors slowly closed, I lowered my head and unfolded the appointment slip. Then, I turned and walked back into the clinic. “Let’s schedule the surgery for the day after tomorrow.” I couldn’t let my child be born into a monumental lie. As if by cruel twist of fate, I met them again in the underground parking garage. In that moment, I inexplicably started my car and followed them from a distance. Julian took Chloe to a private art gallery in the city. My heart sank completely. That gallery was one he had built exclusively for me last year on my birthday. It housed all my favorite paintings. He had personally told me it was my own private artistic sanctuary. But now, he was walking into it, hand-in-hand, with another woman. Inside the gallery, Chloe stood beneath my favorite starry night painting. Julian approached, pushing a white-draped cart laden with exquisite desserts. He elegantly took a velvet box from the cart and opened it-inside was a dazzling star-themed necklace. “To my little artist, congratulations on your promotion to expectant mother.” In that instant, I almost lost my footing. “Julian… thank you,” Chloe’s eyes reddened, on the verge of tears. “You even made desserts for me yourself.” “Go on, try it,” Julian’s voice was agonizingly tender. “Once you’re done, go back and rest. You’ve spent enough time with me; it’s time for me to go back to Elara.” Chloe blinked knowingly, forcing a hint of tears. But Julian, filled with heartache, pulled her into his embrace. “Silly girl, we’re not going anywhere today. I’m staying with you. You’re my wife now; I’ll spend more time with you and the baby.” I retreated slowly from around the corner, my back pressing against the cold wall, a chill spreading up my spine, making me tremble all over. Yes. Chloe was Julian’s wife. And I was nothing but a deceived fool, completely oblivious for five whole years. I remembered when Julian first brought me here, he also had an identical necklace for me. To make that dessert, he had secretly followed a Michelin chef for an entire month. “Elara, try my cooking. From now on, I’ll take care of all your meals.” “In this lifetime, I will only love you.” He swore these vows in my ear while putting the necklace on me. But now, this unique love and adoration, which was originally mine, was perfectly and precisely replicated for Chloe. My chest felt tight and painful. It turned out Julian’s “lifetime” was so short. I turned and fled, tears streaming down my face as I left the gallery. Immediately afterward, I went straight to my lawyer’s office to begin liquidating all my assets, stripping away everything connected to Julian. My parents’ inheritance was enough to ensure my secure and carefree life. And all I wanted was to completely sever ties with him as quickly as possible.
Elara’s POV It was dusk when I returned home. The sprawling villa was empty, only a solitary light illuminating the entryway. I practically dragged myself onto the sofa, my gaze sweeping over the artworks and books we had chosen together, my heart feeling like it was being repeatedly crushed by a giant stone. Each beat brought a clear, sharp pain. I rubbed my temples, forcing myself to stand and walk toward the massive book wall. That was the first rare art book we’d found together; he had laughed and complimented me, saying my discerning eye was unmatched. That art history book, filled with our shared notes-he had once put his arm around my waist and said we would travel the world, visiting every museum together. And that rare poetry collection he’d gone to such lengths to find for me, on its flyleaf, in his beautiful handwriting- “To my dearest Elara, my only one in this life.” … I pulled out one of the books and opened it. Then, I tore every single one of his handwritten words, page by page, into tiny pieces. The sound of tearing paper was eerily clear in the empty living room. For an entire night, I mechanically repeated the same action, systematically severing every shared thought, every passion, every piece of our combined souls. By dawn, my arms were numb, my fingertips devoid of feeling. And Julian still hadn’t returned. Today was supposed to be our wedding anniversary. At the stroke of midnight on our anniversary, Julian’s social media account updated promptly. It was a video he’d personally edited, documenting our five years together, with deeply affectionate accompanying text. It captivated the entire internet overnight. The largest outdoor screens in the city center were also looping the video. The lawn outside the villa had, at some point, been transformed into a rose garden. In the center of the garden, a drone hovered, dangling a giant gift box containing a set of rare art supplies I had long wished for. His deep, magnetic voice played on a loudspeaker- “Elara, happy anniversary. I love you, just as I did from the start.” I emotionlessly pulled the curtains closed, burying myself under the duvet, shutting out the world’s clamor. Not long after, his call came through, his voice full of apology. “Sweetheart, an urgent situation came up with the merger in Europe, so I can’t make it back today. When I return, I promise to make it up to you with an even grander anniversary celebration.” Listening to his flawless lie, I suddenly chuckled, my laugh slightly trembling. “It’s alright, you focus on your work.” “Sweetheart, you sound upset.” He keenly picked up on my mood. “Don’t you like the surprise I prepared? Don’t be angry; I’ll make it up to you tenfold in a few days.” “No, work is important,” I said, my voice calm. “I’m a little tired; I want to sleep.” I hung up, curled into a ball, and desperately tried to suppress the pain in my chest. After what felt like an eternity, the bedroom door suddenly burst open, and a blinding beam of light flooded in. Silhouetted against the light, I saw Julian standing in the doorway, his face frantic. His hair was disheveled, his face pale, and his deep eyes were filled with fear and dread. Perhaps he had sensed my unusual mood and, unable to reach me, had taken his private jet straight back. The moment he saw me, he practically rushed over, pulling me into a tight embrace, his voice hoarse and choked. “Thank goodness you’re alright! Sweetheart, I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry…” His eyes were red, his body trembling uncontrollably. “I’ll never leave you alone again. When you didn’t answer my calls, my whole world collapsed.” “Nothing is more important than you; I came back to be with you.” I remained silent. He assumed I was still angry, so he knelt by the bed, softly coaxing me. “Elara, promise me you won’t ever ignore my calls again, don’t shut me out. I truly will go crazy.” His tension and fear seemed genuine. He loved me. But this love was tainted with too many lies and calculations. “You came back quickly,” I said, a ghost of a smile on my lips. His expression shifted instantly, a flash of guilt before he veered away. “Darling, you haven’t eaten all day. Let me take you to the gallery. I had your favorite made.” “No,” I shook my head. Panic tightened his features. “Then rest. I’ll make you something downstairs.” “Mm.” I gave a curt nod and turned away. He mistook my silence for petulance, drew a steadying breath, and left. The moment the door closed, I lay there, eyes wide open, staring into the darkness, my heart a barren wasteland.
Elara’s POV About ten minutes later, a commotion erupted downstairs. I went down and saw Julian’s friends crowding the living room. They were frantically trying to piece back together the torn book pages, attempting to return them to the shelves, as if restoring those fragments could somehow make everything go back to how it was. Seeing me appear, several of them spoke at once. “Elara, Julian almost tore Europe apart looking for you. Don’t scare him like that again.” “Next time you’re angry, tell us; we’ll help you beat him up. Just don’t turn off your phone again, Julian really went crazy.” “That’s right, Julian’s face turned white as a sheet when he saw the shredded paper everywhere; he almost fainted on the spot. He insisted on going through the trash, saying he’d tape every single piece back together.” “That’s enough,” Julian said, standing nearby, his face full of remorse. “It’s all my fault for upsetting Elara. I’ll accept whatever she does to me.” “Julian truly loves Elara; he has no pride in front of her. She’s so lucky.” I looked over and saw Chloe, who had arrived sometime earlier, standing in the crowd, looking envious. Julian’s expression was normal, a gentle smile on his lips. “She’s my wife, of course, I’ll spoil her.” A wave of intense nausea suddenly churned in my stomach. I spoke calmly. “No need to put the books back; I want to change the style.” Julian immediately came to my side, put his arm around my waist, his voice gentle and firm. “Alright, everyone stop. Listen to my wife.” He helped me sit on the sofa, then turned and went back to the kitchen. Soon, the dining table was laden with all the dishes I used to love. But I had no appetite. With one hand, he solicitously served me food, softly coaxing me to eat more; with the other, beneath the table, he clasped Chloe’s hand tightly. In that moment, I suddenly felt the absurdity of it all. I just wanted to escape. After dinner, Julian had arranged a fireworks display over the sea and invited my favorite jazz band. Halfway through the performance, he excused himself to go to the restroom. Impulsively, I followed him. In the yacht’s VIP lounge, I watched Chloe practically throw herself into Julian’s arms, rising on tiptoes to kiss him. “Julian, I miss you so much, just for a moment.” Julian put one arm around her waist and the other hand on the back of her head, deepening the kiss, and the room’s temperature instantly soared. After a long while, Chloe, her face flushed, pushed him away, her breath ragged. “Alright, you should go back to Elara.” “Are you sure?” Julian’s eyes, tinged with desire, caressed her red lips. Chloe lowered her gaze. “No, but Elara isn’t even answering your calls because of me. I don’t want her to be sad anymore. I can wait. You can come back to me after you’ve spent time with her.” “Your thoughtfulness always breaks my heart. Good girl, don’t think about anyone else right now, just enjoy.” Julian kissed her lips, tracing a path downward… A soft moan of pleasure escaped Chloe’s lips. “Julian, no…” It felt like being dropped into an ice bath. I bit down on the back of my hand, hard, to keep silent. I thought my heart had died, but seeing the betrayal up close-the pain was still visceral. A sharp, burning cramp twisted in my stomach. Nausea hit me like a wave. I clamped a hand over my mouth, stumbled to the bathroom, and retched until the room spun. Beneath the sickness, a familiar, dull ache pulsed low in my abdomen. I gently touched my abdomen, my eyes blurred with tears. Baby, I’m so sorry.
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