Chapter 3 · I Was His Decoy Bride Until the Truth Exploded

"I'm sorry, Rosalina, I really didn't mean it."

Lily's breath became rapid, and her steps faltered.

Marshall's face changed at once, and he began searching the living room frantically.

"Where's the inhaler, the asthma inhaler?!"

I stood quietly, watching Marshall's frantic demeanor. He's normally composed and self-controlled, but loses his cool when it comes to Lily.

"I threw it away. Neither of us has asthma. It just took up space."

Marshall looked at me in disbelief.

Only then did I notice his eyes were already red—whether from urgency or worry, I couldn't tell.

"You know Lily has asthma! Are you trying to hurt her?"

With that, he picked up Lily. Concerned she might struggle to breathe, Marshall hesitated for a moment but then unbuttoned her blouse.

I narrowed my eyes as I noticed Lily wearing a locket identical to the one I had given Marshall.

As he was about to leave, I grabbed his sleeve and confronted him:

"Wait, Marshall, is that my gift to you around Lily's neck?"

A trace of guilt flickered in Marshall's eyes, but he held his ground.

"She had an accident a while ago, and I was worried about her safety, so I let her wear it. You're close friends with Lily, so I thought you'd agree."

I suddenly laughed.

How could he presume to agree on my behalf?

I had gone to the chapel specifically for that locket, fearing my devotion might seem insincere. I knelt on every one of those three thousand steps, reaching the top with a bloody forehead.

To him, my efforts seemed less important than Lily's comfort.

"How did Lily's asthma flare up?"

Marshall scanned the room urgently, his gaze landing on the scented candles on the table.

His face went pale, his brow furrowed in frustration.

"I told you we shouldn't have scented candles in the house. Rosalina, those are yours, aren't they?"

I met his eyes, my hand at my side clenched tight.

"This is my home. I can put whatever I want—"

"Smack!"

Before I could finish, Marshall slapped me.

My face burned with pain, and tears fell unexpectedly.

A stunned silence followed.

The onlookers glanced cautiously between me and Marshall, breathless with shock.

Marshall was genuinely angry.

I had never seen him like this, veins visible on his neck, his gaze sharp.

But perhaps noticing the tears in my eyes, Marshall hesitated momentarily and spoke, somewhat sullenly:

"I'm sorry, I was too anxious. I'll take Lily to the hospital first, then come back to talk."

With that, Marshall ran downstairs without a backward glance, followed by the gathered crowd, leaving me alone.

Feeling a sharp pain at my ankle, I realized I'd cut myself on broken pieces earlier.

After tending to the wound, I contacted my lawyer to draft a divorce agreement.

Then I searched for all the photos of Marshall and me from over the years.

Countless pictures, countless moments.

Unfortunately, none of it mattered anymore.

I took out a lighter and set the stack of photographs ablaze.

The flames reflected in my eyes.

Marshall, this game is finally over.

After signing the divorce papers, I placed them along with a goodbye note on the shoe cabinet.

Having sent my final message, I blocked and deleted him.

[Check the items on the shoe cabinet. I'm stepping aside for you and Lily.]

Chapter 3

"I'm sorry, Rosalina, I really didn't mean it."

Lily's breath became rapid, and her steps faltered.

Marshall's face changed at once, and he began searching the living room frantically.

"Where's the inhaler, the asthma inhaler?!"

I stood quietly, watching Marshall's frantic demeanor. He's normally composed and self-controlled, but loses his cool when it comes to Lily.

"I threw it away. Neither of us has asthma. It just took up space."

Marshall looked at me in disbelief.

Only then did I notice his eyes were already red—whether from urgency or worry, I couldn't tell.

"You know Lily has asthma! Are you trying to hurt her?"

With that, he picked up Lily. Concerned she might struggle to breathe, Marshall hesitated for a moment but then unbuttoned her blouse.

I narrowed my eyes as I noticed Lily wearing a locket identical to the one I had given Marshall.

As he was about to leave, I grabbed his sleeve and confronted him:

"Wait, Marshall, is that my gift to you around Lily's neck?"

A trace of guilt flickered in Marshall's eyes, but he held his ground.

"She had an accident a while ago, and I was worried about her safety, so I let her wear it. You're close friends with Lily, so I thought you'd agree."

I suddenly laughed.

How could he presume to agree on my behalf?

I had gone to the chapel specifically for that locket, fearing my devotion might seem insincere. I knelt on every one of those three thousand steps, reaching the top with a bloody forehead.

To him, my efforts seemed less important than Lily's comfort.

"How did Lily's asthma flare up?"

Marshall scanned the room urgently, his gaze landing on the scented candles on the table.

His face went pale, his brow furrowed in frustration.

"I told you we shouldn't have scented candles in the house. Rosalina, those are yours, aren't they?"

I met his eyes, my hand at my side clenched tight.

"This is my home. I can put whatever I want—"

"Smack!"

Before I could finish, Marshall slapped me.

My face burned with pain, and tears fell unexpectedly.

A stunned silence followed.

The onlookers glanced cautiously between me and Marshall, breathless with shock.

Marshall was genuinely angry.

I had never seen him like this, veins visible on his neck, his gaze sharp.

But perhaps noticing the tears in my eyes, Marshall hesitated momentarily and spoke, somewhat sullenly:

"I'm sorry, I was too anxious. I'll take Lily to the hospital first, then come back to talk."

With that, Marshall ran downstairs without a backward glance, followed by the gathered crowd, leaving me alone.

Feeling a sharp pain at my ankle, I realized I'd cut myself on broken pieces earlier.

After tending to the wound, I contacted my lawyer to draft a divorce agreement.

Then I searched for all the photos of Marshall and me from over the years.

Countless pictures, countless moments.

Unfortunately, none of it mattered anymore.

I took out a lighter and set the stack of photographs ablaze.

The flames reflected in my eyes.

Marshall, this game is finally over.

After signing the divorce papers, I placed them along with a goodbye note on the shoe cabinet.

Having sent my final message, I blocked and deleted him.

[Check the items on the shoe cabinet. I'm stepping aside for you and Lily.]