Chapter 1 · My Flash Marriage Drove Him Mad

Chapter 1

On the day that Charles Sullivan proposed to Chloe Jensen, he worried that I'd cause a scene, so he had someone lock me in a closet for a full day and night.

He spoke softly, "Chloe, don't worry. On such a special day, I won't let Sylvia ruin this for us—not today, not ever."

All their friends cheered for them—after all, everyone knew Sylvia Chapman was obsessed with Charles and couldn't stand any other woman coming near him.

But Charles didn't know Chloe had livestreamed the whole thing, and I watched every second of it, curled up in the closet.

What he also didn't know was that I couldn't care less about his proposal.

Because I had married someone else.

Later, I dumped every last trace of Charles into the trash right in front of him.

Staring at his face twisted with rage, I left him with a few words. "You're pathetic."

*****

I rushed into the private room with cold medicine in hand.

The atmosphere was electric.

But not in a good way. They were laughing at me.

The jeering went on for several minutes.

Then, Chloe pulled herself out of Charles' arms and took the medicine from my hand with a polite smile.

She said softly, "I just got a little dizzy from the wind. There weren't any delivery guys available so late, and Charles was really worried about me. Sorry to trouble you, Miss Chapman."

One of the crowd laughed at me. "It's really pouring out there—look at her, she's soaked."

I heard someone snicker.

Some sneered, "Just like a yes-man."

Their mocking gazes burned into me. I shivered from the cold but didn't move.

Charles sat in the center of the crowd, completely oblivious to my misery.

Charles finally opened his mouth. "Sylvia, consider this a lesson."

He pulled Chloe back into his arms and warned coldly, "I love Chloe. If I know you give her a hard time again just because you think my grandma likes you, don't blame me when I cut off your ties with my family."

My voice came out hoarse. "You told me I meant the world to you."

"My grandma thinks you're important.

"She's old. I just didn't want to upset her."

"And three years ago? When you said you would take care of me for the rest of my life?"

Charles' eyes turned icy, his voice dripping with impatience.

"So what?

"Did I ever say I loved you?"

This was absurd.

So absurd that I actually laughed.

I scanned the crowd, taking in their faces, before finally settling on Charles.

"No, you never said you loved me.

"But all these years—you held me, kissed me, chased away every man who ever showed interest in me, and even said something about taking care of me.

"How do you explain that?"

Charles laced his fingers with Chloe's.

"Holding you? Because you were like a sister to me. That kiss? I was drunk and mistook you for someone else. As for those men, they were merely my business rivals.

"Back then, I treated you as my sister. I would surely look out for you. But now, you've crossed the line.

"Chloe is my everything. I'll be with her forever.

"So stop playing your little games with the woman I love. It's disgusting."

He was so protective of Chloe.

Chloe buried her face in his chest, blushing. "Stop it, Charles..."

Then, they kissed, just like some fairytale couple celebrating their victory.

The crowd around them erupted in cheers.

And I stood at the doorway, like a villainess, utterly defeated.

Charles laid the truth bare and shattered every fantasy I had.

Each word landed like hammer blows, crushing the image of the man I had once believed in.

The truth hit me like thunder.

None of what I believed had ever been real.

*****

It had been over a month since I last saw Charles.

Rumors said Charles took Chloe to meet his family.

And he told her to move into his villa at Golden Leaf.

My mind went blank for a moment when I heard the news.

That was his house—before Chloe, I was the only one who had ever been allowed inside.

That day, Charles had lost a big deal and been drinking.

And just then, the power went out.

I tried to help him to bed.

But then, Charles suddenly pulled me into his arms, his lips brushing against my cheek.

My heart raced with this intimacy.

If it weren't for that moment, how could I have ever believed I was even a little bit special to Charles?

Chapter 1

On the day that Charles Sullivan proposed to Chloe Jensen, he worried that I'd cause a scene, so he had someone lock me in a closet for a full day and night.

He spoke softly, "Chloe, don't worry. On such a special day, I won't let Sylvia ruin this for us—not today, not ever."

All their friends cheered for them—after all, everyone knew Sylvia Chapman was obsessed with Charles and couldn't stand any other woman coming near him.

But Charles didn't know Chloe had livestreamed the whole thing, and I watched every second of it, curled up in the closet.

What he also didn't know was that I couldn't care less about his proposal.

Because I had married someone else.

Later, I dumped every last trace of Charles into the trash right in front of him.

Staring at his face twisted with rage, I left him with a few words. "You're pathetic."

*****

I rushed into the private room with cold medicine in hand.

The atmosphere was electric.

But not in a good way. They were laughing at me.

The jeering went on for several minutes.

Then, Chloe pulled herself out of Charles' arms and took the medicine from my hand with a polite smile.

She said softly, "I just got a little dizzy from the wind. There weren't any delivery guys available so late, and Charles was really worried about me. Sorry to trouble you, Miss Chapman."

One of the crowd laughed at me. "It's really pouring out there—look at her, she's soaked."

I heard someone snicker.

Some sneered, "Just like a yes-man."

Their mocking gazes burned into me. I shivered from the cold but didn't move.

Charles sat in the center of the crowd, completely oblivious to my misery.

Charles finally opened his mouth. "Sylvia, consider this a lesson."

My voice came out hoarse. "You told me I meant the world to you."

"My grandma thinks you're important.

"She's old. I just didn't want to upset her."

"And three years ago? When you said you would take care of me for the rest of my life?"

Charles' eyes turned icy, his voice dripping with impatience.

"So what?

"Did I ever say I loved you?"

This was absurd.

So absurd that I actually laughed.

I scanned the crowd, taking in their faces, before finally settling on Charles.

"No, you never said you loved me.

"But all these years—you held me, kissed me, chased away every man who ever showed interest in me, and even said something about taking care of me.

"How do you explain that?"

Charles laced his fingers with Chloe's.

"Holding you? Because you were like a sister to me. That kiss? I was drunk and mistook you for someone else. As for those men, they were merely my business rivals.

"Back then, I treated you as my sister. I would surely look out for you. But now, you've crossed the line.

"Chloe is my everything. I'll be with her forever.

"So stop playing your little games with the woman I love. It's disgusting."

He was so protective of Chloe.

Chloe buried her face in his chest, blushing. "Stop it, Charles..."

Then, they kissed, just like some fairytale couple celebrating their victory.

The crowd around them erupted in cheers.

And I stood at the doorway, like a villainess, utterly defeated.

Charles laid the truth bare and shattered every fantasy I had.

Each word landed like hammer blows, crushing the image of the man I had once believed in.

The truth hit me like thunder.

None of what I believed had ever been real.

*****

It had been over a month since I last saw Charles.

Rumors said Charles took Chloe to meet his family.

And he told her to move into his villa at Golden Leaf.

My mind went blank for a moment when I heard the news.

That was his house—before Chloe, I was the only one who had ever been allowed inside.

That day, Charles had lost a big deal and been drinking.

And just then, the power went out.

I tried to help him to bed.

But then, Charles suddenly pulled me into his arms, his lips brushing against my cheek.

My heart raced with this intimacy.

If it weren't for that moment, how could I have ever believed I was even a little bit special to Charles?