You Declared Your Love, I Planned My Escape

Synopsis

I was the wife of Charles Sterling, a man of immense power and old money in the Kingston elite. But everyone knew only one woman truly owned his heart: Vivian Grant. At our engagement party, he announced publicly, "The marriage can happen, but I will only ever love Vivian." With tears welling in my eyes, I smiled. "It's fine. I can wait." And I waited for three years. For three years, her calls always took precedence. For three years, I wasn't even allowed to touch his coat. The day he threw the divorce papers in front of me, he said, "You've finally been useful for once. You bought me enough time to deal with the family's pressure." I signed the papers, still smiling. "What an honor." Six months later, I staged the perfect "death." Another year and a half passed. At the city clerk's office, an official stared at her computer screen, her expression turning odd. "I'm sorry, Mr. Sterling, but Ms. Grant's marital status shows as currently married. The registration was filed in... Astoria, Valerius." Vivian broke down on the spot. Charles stared at the screen, his hands beginning to tremble. Because on that foreign marriage certificate, the bride's photograph... was unmistakably mine.