Chapter 1
+ 5 Points
Not my father.
Not my husband.
And when I stumbled back home, bloodied and barely holding myself together, all they gave me was a cold, mocking laugh.
But today… I found something worse.
A photograph.
Christopher and Jocelyn, hand in hand on the courthouse steps.
Between them, an ultrasound in a silver frame.
They tied the knot the same day I nearly died.
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Chapter 1
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She’s carrying his child.
And I–the woman he vowed to love–was already erased.
But what shattered me most was the truth behind my brother’s death.
Three months ago, the heart he so desperately needed never reached him.
Christopher had it redirected.
To Jocelyn.
She wasn’t even sick.
“I didn’t need a new heart, Noelle,” she sneered, laughing as if she hadn’t destroyed me, “I just wanted the last person who loved you gone.”
3/13
Chapter 1
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That day, I made three choices.
First–I ended the pregnancy I no longer had the will to continue.
Second–I signed the divorce papers and left them neatly on his desk.
Third–I picked up the phone and called the man I should have chosen from the start.
“I’m awake now. I’m saying yes. Come for me in three days. Will you?”
“I’ve waited for this moment for years,” he said. “I’ll be there.”
In three days, I’ll be gone.
And this time… they’ll feel the emptiness.
But it’ll be far too late.
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Chapter 1
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Noelle’s POV
“This time, I’m awake,” I whispered into the phone, choking on tears. “I accept your proposal. Come for me in three days… Will you?”
His voice shot back, tense with concern. “Noelle? Are you hurt?”
I swiped the tears away, steadied my voice. “No. I’m just done pretending.”
“When should I come?”
“Three days from now.”
“This is your last chance, Noelle. Don’t break my heart again.”
The line went dead with a soft click.
5/13
Chapter 1
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I pushed myself up from the hospital floor.
A nurse glanced over and offered a kind smile. “You’re free to leave now, Noelle.”
I nodded, thanked her, and limped my way out.
I hailed a cab, absently scrolling through my phone. No messages. No missed calls. Not a word from the people who should’ve noticed.
Oddly, that made things easier.
I arrived at the house that had never truly been mine these past three years.
My father was glued to a football game on TV. He barely glanced up before shouting, “Move it, you useless brat!”
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I stepped aside.
“You couldn’t even lure the damn stalker. You’re just like your dead mother–utterly worthless,” he hissed.
The bedroom door opened. Out came Christopher, arm in arm with Jocelyn, both laughing like a joke had just landed.
They froze the moment they saw me. Jocelyn dropped his arm. Christopher cleared his throat.
I offered a bitter smile. No need for charades -I’d seen everything three weeks ago.
“What are you doing here?” Christopher snapped. “You failed to catch Jocelyn’s stalker.”
“If anyone had picked up their phone that
7/13
Chapter 1
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night, maybe I could’ve helped,” I replied calmly.
A burning slap split across my cheek, stars exploding in my vision. My father stood in front of me, seething.
“Ungrateful wench!” he bellowed. “Now you want to blame us for your screw–ups? Like you blamed Jocelyn for nearly ruining my business? Maybe you should’ve died with your mother and brother!”
The words cut deeper than the slap. But I said nothing. It wasn’t his first death wish for
- me.
Still, my brother… he’d just died. And he said that?
Jocelyn’s sugary voice chimed in. “Papa, don’t say that. It’s not Noelle’s fault she’s
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bad at business and only good for making beaded trinkets.” Her voice dripped with fake sweetness, but I knew mockery when I heard it. “And at least the stalker’s gone now.”
“Stop making excuses for her,” Christopher added coldly. “Your father’s right. She’s pathetic. That’s why I’ve never introduced her as my wife.”
Twelve years I loved him.
He never looked at me until Jocelyn left him at the altar three years ago. I’d found him that night, soaked in rain, ready to jump.
We slept together. He was drunk, grieving- but I’d loved him so long, I didn’t care.
The next day he asked me to marry him, calling me his savior.
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ipter 1
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D
95 said yes.
elalf a year later, Jocelyn returned, crying and
egging.
He swore he wouldn’t fall again. Swore I had y nothing to fear.
He lied.
They were together. All this time.
While I risked my life to bait a stalker, Jocelyn sent me 22 videos of them–one night.
Even as I lay in the hospital, fresh knife wounds stitched, more videos kept coming.
“Did you die or something?” Christopher snapped his fingers in front of my face.
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Chapter 1
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I blinked and smiled faintly. “What is it, dear?”
He grimaced. “Don’t call me that. I’ve got a business meeting–with Jocelyn and your father. Don’t wait up.”
My father chuckled. “If you weren’t so dumb, maybe they’d include you.”
They walked out laughing.
I slumped onto the couch. Pulled out my phone.
Just as I was about to message someone, I saw a tag from an unfamiliar account.
Curious, I opened it.
There it was.
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Christopher. Jocelyn. At a courthouse.
Jocelyn wore a white dress. He stood beside
her in a gray suit.
Between them–an ultrasound.
Caption: “Just married. Soon to be 3. #LoveAlwaysWins”
I stared at the screen until it faded to black.
While I fought for my life, they got married. My father was there.
She’s carrying his child.
And I still his secret wife–was discarded
like trash.
I didn’t cry.
12/13
Chapter 1
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I made a call.
“This is Noelle Nichols. I’m ready to file for divorce.”
“Are you certain?” the lawyer asked. “You were adamant about this marriage.”
“I’m certain. Send the papers.”
“I’ll email them. You both need to sign within two days.”
“I’ll make sure Christopher sign,” I said.
The front door burst open.
Christopher strode in, scowling.
“Make sure I sign what?” he barked.
13/13
