Chapter 1

To escape my suffocating marriage, I staged my own death, faking a drowning in the sea.

My husband, Edward Grant, didn't grieve. Instead, he looked relieved and immediately reached out to Tina White, the woman he always loved.

The moment the three-year mourning period was up, Edward rushed Tina to the city hall, ready to make it official.

But the clerk, staring at the computer screen, interrupted their happiness with a serious look.

The clerk said, "Sir, please be serious.

"According to our records, you're still married. Your spouse is listed as alive."

The candies Edward held slipped from his hand, scattering across the floor.

*****

That so-called shipwreck three years ago? I jumped into the sea on purpose.

The sound of waves crashing against the rocks made me feel safer than listening to Edward breathe.

I had been plotting this for a full six months.

I bribed the speedboat driver and had everything ready ahead of time for my fake death.

Even that shoe the waves carried away—I stashed it in a crack in the rocks myself.

What I wanted to escape wasn't the sea; it was the suffocating prison Edward trapped me in.

When the search and rescue team announced they couldn't find my body and said there was little hope I survived, I was already hiding out in my safehouse.

From there, I watched Edward's reaction through the surveillance cameras.

He didn't cry.

He didn't even bother to keep up his usual fake sadness for long.

The moment the police turned to leave, he exhaled deeply.

It was like a huge burden had finally been lifted from his shoulders.

Then, he pulled out his phone.

I knew that number by heart.

It was Tina.

She was Edward's forever crush, the one he could never let go of, even after marrying me.

"She's gone," Edward said.

His voice shook, not from sadness, but from excitement.

"Finally, Tina, we can be together," Edward said.

Watching that desperate man on the screen, I turned off the monitor.

That last bit of hope in my heart finally died out.

Edward, if you wanted me dead so much, fine. I would grant your wish.

But this debt between us... We would settle it, slowly.

*****

Edward kept up his grieving widower persona for three years straight.

He posted about missing me on social media, and every year on my so-called death anniversary, he'd go to the beach and toss a bouquet of white lilies into the sea.

Even at work, he always looked gloomy and melancholic.

Everyone in our circle kept saying Edward was so devoted to his late wife, like his love could move mountains.

But only I knew that Tina had been living in our home for the past three years.

She slept in my bed, used my skincare, and wore my clothes, tags still attached.

They flirted right in front of my photos, making themselves comfortable in my territory without a care in the world.

Edward even promised Tina that the moment the three-year mourning period ended, he'd marry her right away.

He promised Tina the most extravagant wedding imaginable, to make up for all the years she had to wait and everything she put up with because of him.

Today was finally the day the waiting was over.

At eight sharp, just as the city hall opened its doors, Edward arrived with Tina.

They had obviously gone all out with their outfits for today.

Edward was dressed in a perfectly tailored dark blue suit, his hair neatly styled without a strand out of place.

Tina wore a white lace gown, her makeup flawless. She linked her arm with Edward's, smiling like a blooming lily.

"Edward, we finally reached this day," Tina said.

Her voice was syrupy sweet, and her eyes sparkled with barely hidden pride.

"That's right, Tina, you've been through a lot," Edward replied.

Edward looked at her with all the affection in the world, reaching out to gently tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

Edward said, "From today on, you're Mrs. Grant for real.

"No one can judge you or gossip about you anymore."

The two of them acted like they were the only people in the world, showing off their love while carrying two big bags of wedding candy between them.

Inside were top-tier imported chocolates, luxuriously wrapped and worth a small fortune.

They were passing out candy to anyone who crossed their path.

Even the security guard and janitor at the entrance got in on the celebration.

"Congratulations. Such a handsome couple."

"You're truly made for each other."

Edward was loving all the praise, grinning from ear to ear.

He could barely contain himself, practically bursting with impatience.

Edward snagged a ticket, queued up, and started filling out the paperwork.

He tackled every step with eager energy, like he couldn't wait to get it over with.

It was as if he thought I'd crawl out of hell and stop him if he hesitated for even a second.

Finally, it was their turn.

Edward held Tina's hand and guided her to the counter, both of them settling into the chairs together.

The clerk, a middle-aged woman, adjusted her glasses and took their IDs and paperwork with a businesslike air.

"Got all your documents with you?" she asked.

"Yep, got it all right here," Edward replied.

He smoothly slid the stack of papers across the counter, his movements confident and assured.

Among the stack was a copy of the death certificate he kept on standby for years.

He pulled every string he could three years ago to make my death official in the eyes of the law.

With that paper, Edward was legally single, free to tie the knot again whenever he pleased.

Tina nestled against him, her cheeks glowing with happiness.

"Could you speed things up? We're on a tight schedule; we need to go dress shopping," Tina said.

The clerk glanced at them, said nothing, and began tapping away on her keyboard.

Edward held Tina's hand, his fingers gently caressing her palm.

They shared a smile, and the atmosphere seemed to shimmer with romance.

Time passed, second by second.

What was normally a quick process felt unusually long today.

The clerk stared at the computer screen, her brows drawing together.

She paused her typing, adjusted her glasses, and double-checked the info on the screen.

Then she looked up, her eyes flicking back and forth between Edward and Tina.

Her earlier polite smile vanished, replaced by an odd seriousness.

"What's wrong? Is the system stuck?" Edward asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

Edward noticed something was off, but he kept smiling and tried to move things along.

"It's a special day, lots of couples here to get married. Hope you understand," he said.

Edward pulled out a handful of wedding candy from his pocket, offering it to the clerk.

"Here, have some candy; bring a little luck to the day," Edward said.

The clerk didn't take the candy.

She leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, her voice suddenly icy and blunt.

"Mr. Grant, there's an issue with your paperwork," she said.

Edward paused, his hand frozen mid-air, candy forgotten.

Edward said, "An issue? What kind of issue? Everything's legit.

"The death certificate was issued by the police; it's official, no way there's a problem."

Tina leaned in, asking anxiously, "Are we missing a copy? We can print it right away."

The clerk shook her head.

She pointed at the computer screen, her voice loud enough for everyone in line to hear.

She said, "Mr. Grant, please be serious.

"This is the city hall, not a place for you to put on a show."

Edward's expression turned grim. He asked, "What are you even talking about? What kind of act do you think I'm putting on?"

The clerk snorted dismissively and threw the copy of the death certificate across the counter.

The paper drifted to the floor, landing like a leaf.

The clerk said, "The system says you're still married.

"And your spouse is listed as alive."

Her words hit like a bolt from the blue, exploding across the whole hall.

Edward's grin turned to stone.

Tina slapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes going wide as saucers.

"What?" Edward blurted out.

He jumped up so fast he sent the chair crashing to the floor behind him.

Edward shouted, his voice cracking, "That's impossible. She died three years ago. It was a shipwreck. Her body... yeah, we never found it, but she was legally declared dead.

"Your system has to be messed up. I'm going to report you."

Edward pounded the glass counter, his voice rising in panic.

The clerk didn't even flinch, just stared at him coldly, watching him go off the rails.

She replied, "The system covers the whole country. It can't possibly be wrong.

"Just yesterday, Ms. Charlotte Grant's identity was reactivated.

"She's still your legal wife.

"So, Mr. Grant, you are still married.

"If you insist on registering your marriage with this lady, that's illegal bigamy."

Her words hit like bullets, each one landing right where it hurt most.

The crowd, who had been cheering and congratulating them just moments ago, suddenly fell silent.

All eyes were on Edward and Tina, like spotlights shining right on them.

Some looked shocked, some looked disgusted, but most were just there for the drama, grinning like they were watching a soap opera.

"So he's got a wife after all?"

"Wow, bringing his mistress here to get married? That's just shameless."

"All that PDA just now? I really thought he was some lovesick husband."

The whispers crashed over Edward like a tidal wave, drowning him in gossip and judgment.

He stood there, frozen, his mind completely blank.

Was she not dead?

Was Charlotte not dead?

No way... how could this be?

So what the hell were the last three years for?

Three years of playing the devoted widower, three years of fake mourning... was it all just a joke?

If her info was brought back just yesterday...

Did Charlotte do this on purpose? Was this all her plan?

Was Charlotte watching right now?

It felt like icy water surged from his feet all the way to his skull, leaving him numb.

Edward's hands shook so hard he could barely control them.

The handful of fancy chocolate wedding candy he had been gripping for dear life finally slipped right out of his fingers.

With a loud crash, the candies scattered across the floor, rolling everywhere.

Some were crushed underfoot, leaking dark syrup, just as messy and ruined as his heart right now.

Tina gripped his sleeve, her nails nearly digging into his flesh.

Tina asked, "Edward... what's going on?

"She... wasn't she dead?"

Edward tried to speak, but his mouth just hung open; no words would come.

He felt like he was being strangled, his throat locked tight and his breath trapped.

That name, a nightmare Edward thought he had buried for good, a shadow he had shaken.

Charlotte.

She was back.