Chapter 2

Sunlight streamed onto the enormous wedding portrait in the living room, and I offered a bitter smile.

To outsiders, Julian and I were the perfect couple, living in harmony for three years.

But no one knew that we had secretly filed for divorce the day after our wedding.

The family alliance was too intricate; we couldn't completely separate at the time.

Moreover, Julian needed me to stay and prove his loyalty to his love over these three years.

It was no wonder the outside world knew nothing.

After all, the same Julian who had sneered at me in the morning could take my hand that evening, playing the part of a devoted husband and wife at a banquet.

Sometimes, even I would get lost in the illusion.

But illusions were just that—illusions.

The fragile peace between Julian and me only needed Seraphina to shatter it.

The moment I saw Seraphina, I felt the man beside me instantly stiffen.

He instinctively flung my hand away.

“Seraphina, what are you doing here?”

Julian never attended banquets where Seraphina was present because pretending to be in love with me would hurt his Seraphina.

Seraphina pointed to a man in the distance and said mockingly,

“You’re allowed a dance partner, but I can’t have a male companion?”

“Seraphina, you know perfectly well…”

Julian’s voice was tinged with urgency.

“Know what? Who was it that got a call from his ‘wife’ last night and almost rushed off, only staying reluctantly for one night and then claiming he had to leave first thing in the morning?”

“Everyone in the city knows the Sterling heir and his wife’s loving story, don’t they?”

I instantly understood her anger.

Last night, I had my first flare-up outside the estate. In a haze of delirium, I dialed Julian’s number.

But he never came. I had no choice but to call a male escort to help me.

“It seems I’m truly superfluous. Three years ago, I said if you just didn't touch her, I’d forgive you.”

Her slightly reddened eyes darted to my neck.

“You can’t even hide the hickeys now. What more is there for me to forgive?”

I hadn’t realized the marks left by the male escort were visible. I instinctively covered my neck, my eyes meeting Julian’s in confusion.

A flicker of doubt crossed his eyes.

But Seraphina’s move to turn and leave didn't give him time to think. He quickly grabbed her wrist.

“I have never touched her! I can show you all the security footage from the house for the past three years!”

Then, his face darkened as he turned to me.

“Have you learned to stage things now? Apologize to Seraphina immediately! Her body is delicate; doctors have warned her against emotional distress.”

I froze, my throat tight. I hadn’t done anything.

But I eventually lowered my head and said,

“I’m sorry. I overstepped.”

No one knew that I, too, had once fallen for Julian.

That day, when I first saw him, his smile beneath the cherry blossom tree was so bright.

A friend’s casual comment, “Isn’t that your fiancé?” made my heart skip a beat.

But later, I understood that anyone would look good standing under that cherry blossom tree.

The first year, I finally accepted he could never love me.

The second year, I thoroughly buried that ridiculous infatuation.

The third year, I slowly, painstakingly, disentangled all the financial ties between our two families.

Now, only seven days remained until their three-year pact expired.

Seven days later, the Sterling family would have a new mistress, and I would forever leave this absurd marriage.

“Anya, dear, it’s not your fault,” Seraphina said, her anger subsiding, as she playfully pointed at Julian. “I’m not the type of woman who likes to compete with other girls. If anyone’s to blame, it’s him.”

She gently took my hand, as if she wasn’t the one who had just caused a scene.

“But Anya, your feelings for Julian must be so deep, doing everything he tells you.”