Aubrey's world crumbles when she receives photos of her husband, Ryder, in bed with her sister, Sage. But the final blow comes when she finds out she's pregnant. Despite the betrayal, Aubrey wants to leave the marriage with dignity. She files for divorce, but Ryder refuses. As the days go by, Ryder's mental abuse escalates, pushing Aubrey to her limits. The stress takes a toll on her body, and she suffers a miscarriage. The loss of her child is the final straw. Consumed by grief and anger, Aubrey sees red. She's ready for revenge against the man who destroyed her life. Ryder, still refusing to let her go, has no idea what's coming. Aubrey begins to gather evidence of Ryder's infidelity and manipulation, determined to expose him for the monster he is. She'll stop at nothing to make him pay for his sins, even if it means destroying herself in the process. As the battle between Aubrey and Ryder intensifies, secrets and lies begin to unravel. Sage, the mastermind behind the destruction of their marriage, will also face the consequences of her actions. In the end, only one thing is certain: Aubrey will have her revenge, no matter the cost.
View MoreDr. Li gave me a warm smile and confirmed the news: I was pregnant.
I was stunned. My husband Ryder and I had been using contraception. He had emphasized multiple times that he didn't want a child.
My mind was in a whirl, but happiness took the dominant position. I had always dreamed of becoming a mother. I believed this was fate's arrangement.
I had to protect my child, whether my husband Ryder allowed it or not.
"Is something wrong? You don't seem very excited..." the doctor asked in puzzlement. I shook my head and told her I was just too shocked. I looked forward to being a mother more than anyone.
"That's wonderful, Mrs. At your next checkup, I suggest allowing your husband to accompany you. You know, with the father's involvement, the fetus will behave very obediently," the doctor suggested with a smile.
I nodded and smiled as I said goodbye to the doctor.
In the car, I wasn't sure about Ryder's attitude. In fact, our marriage was not like that of a traditionally happy couple.
My husband Ryder had never been very close to me. We didn't marry for love; our union was merely a business deal, a contract between our two families.
I was the heir to the renowned Harlington Corporation, a global conglomerate founded by my ancestors. But its glory only lingered in the past. Many of its management systems were constrained by the patriarchal traditions of the family, so it ultimately didn't go far in the technologically advanced modern society. My parents were desperate to save the company from bankruptcy, arranging for me to marry Ryder, the heir to a leading technology company. They hoped this marriage would facilitate a merger, saving Harlington from bankruptcy.
Ryder's group also needed us.
Initially, the marriage wasn't meant for me. My sister Sage and Ryder had known each other since childhood; they were childhood sweethearts, the perfect lovers. But three years ago, when they were about to get engaged, Sage ran away in fear. I don't know what she was afraid of, but my father thought of me, living in the small town.
You didn't misread that - I didn't always live in the city. I only joined the Harlington family at 16. Sage and I were twins, but I was born two minutes earlier than her. However, my grandmother and grandfather placed great importance on fortune-telling. The fortune-teller they consulted predicted that my destiny would clash with Harlington's fortunes, so I was sent away.
Before I was 16, I was fostered at a friend's house in my mother's small town. My mother's friend was an alcoholic, and her house had different men over every night. Every night I was afraid to sleep, fearing one of them would barge into my room. I hated the smell of alcohol. One day, I called my mother in fear, but she coldly told me the fortune-teller said I couldn't return until I was 16.
Sixteen years was enough time for me to understand the fact that my parents didn't love me. Even my departure didn't make Harlington Corporation better, but they showed no regret.
But I still belonged to the Harlington family, and they had a thousand reasons to ruin my life.
There was one important reason I obeyed the arrangement: I loved Ryder. When I joined the Harlington family at 16, at the family's evening banquet with all the celebrities present, Ryder was the only one who smiled at me. He was like a prince. But I hid my feelings very well because Sage's possessiveness toward Ryder was intense, and anyone would fear being her target.
Ryder was abandoned by Sage. I believed the gods of fate had finally favored me. My past misery would be erased the moment I married Ryder, and everything would get better and better.
But at the wedding, when he lifted my veil, his icy gaze completely dispelled the beautiful illusion in my heart.
Perhaps that fortune-teller was right - my destiny was cursed, but it only cursed me alone.
The car pulled up in front of the familiar luxurious villa. Taking a deep breath, I walked into our opulent mansion and began to ponder how to tell Ryder. I dialed his number.
At that moment, my phone rang with an incoming message. When I saw Sage's name on the screen, my hands trembled. I hesitated, my heart screaming not to open it, but my curiosity won out.
Those photos made my blood run cold. Sage and Ryder were embracing, kissing, and lying on the bed together. Those images were seared into my mind like a branding iron.
I felt my phone slip from my hands, immobilized, my heart shattered into countless pieces. The room spun around me, and I felt myself on the verge of collapse.
How could they do this to me? My own sister, my husband. The pain suffocated me, crushed me.
I don't know how long I stood there, agonized, until finally my legs gave out and I collapsed to the floor, surrounded by the shattered remnants of my marriage and broken heart.
Fate was so cruel. Everyone knew Sage was a venomous snake, yet everyone loved her. I was always praised for having all these wonderful qualities, but I was always the one cast aside.
I had endured enough. Sage's return could allow the partnership between Harlington and Ryder's company to continue. I could ask for a divorce.
I rubbed my belly - I didn't want my child to always live a life of resentment. I would take them far away from here.
Suddenly, Ryder walked in through the doorway, even wearing the same clothes from when he was with Sage. My stomach immediately turned.
"Were you with Sage?" I looked at him resolutely and asked.
His expression changed from annoyance to shock. "How did you find out?"
I walked over and slapped him hard across the face. "You bastard!"
He grabbed my arm, his powerful grip making me wince in pain. "What are you doing, Aubrey? What's wrong with you? Have you gone mad?!"
I struggled to break free. "Have you been deceiving me? You were cheating on me with my own sister!" I felt like vomiting, my stomach churning with rage and anguish.
He had an innocent look on his face. "What are you talking about? I don't know what you're insinuating, but it's not true."
I almost laughed at his Oscar-worthy performance. "You're a great actor, Ryder. A great player. But I can see right through you now."
I saw his brow furrow again as he shoved me away impatiently, refusing to engage. I immediately blocked his path.
"Did you ever love me, Ryder?" I felt tears streaming down my cheeks, my body shuddering with sobs. I knew I was seeking confirmation of an answer I already knew, but I still asked.
"I only needed to take care of you. That's all," he declared coldly. "Because that's what our marriage dictated."
His words felt like a knife in my heart. I laughed, completely disillusioned now.
I stated resolutely, "I want a divorce."
He suddenly released his grip on my arm, his expression one of disbelief. "You can't be serious?"
"Oh, I'm serious," I stared defiantly into his blazing eyes and spat in his face. "We should get divorced."
I would rather raise our child alone than be with a man like him - a deceiver, a liar, a manipulator.
Aubrey's pov ;One year later, life felt different—full of possibility and hope. The dark days were behind us, and in their place was a steady rhythm of love and success. I'd found my footing not just as a wife, but as a businesswoman.Balancing work and life had been a challenge at first, but now, as I stood in front of the crowd, delivering another speech at this business event, I felt confident and proud.I glanced at the audience, scanning the room as I spoke about leadership and resilience, and then my eyes found him—Ryder. He stood near the back, looking as handsome and supportive as ever, his smile wide, his eyes full of pride.Even from across the room, I could feel the warmth of his presence, the way he always made me feel like I was the centre of his world.It had been a year since we got back together, and everything was perfect. I couldn't believe how far we'd come, how much love had grown between us. I was so glad I'd given our marriage another chance, and Ryder—he had pr
-----------------Aubrey's pov-----------------I kissed him once more, softer this time, letting the taste of his lips erase any lingering doubts. And for the first time in what felt like forever, I let myself believe that maybe, just maybe, there was a way back from all of this. That we could find our way back to each other, no matter how broken we were.That love really was stronger than any pain.Without breaking the kiss, he lifted me up into his arms, carrying me to the bedroom, our lips never parting.I ran my fingers over his chest, his shoulders, his arms, trying to re-memorize every little detail.My back hit the mattress, and a rush of nerves and adrenaline made my skin feel hot and prickly, as if it was too small for me. As if the tiniest thing could make me burst into a thousand pieces.And then he was there. Above me.The only one who could hold me together.His hands trailed over my hips and thighs, slowly, so slowly. Like he was trying to memorize every little part of m
--------------------------Aubrey's pov----------------------I stared at my packed bags sitting on the floor. The sight of them made my stomach twist with dread, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I needed to leave. My heart was heavy, weighed down by too many emotions—grief, guilt, love—and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't make sense of any of it. I thought leaving would make it easier, but standing here now, it felt like I was suffocating.Two days ago, Ryder and I had come back home, bruised and messed up. The cops had called today and they told me Sage's body had been found. My sister was—dead.I should have felt something more. Shock. Pain. Something. But all I felt was a strange numbness creeping through me.Sage had been meandering for so long, I always feared something like this would happen, but hearing it was real now…it was like I was caught between relief and guilt. And somewhere deep inside me, I knew it was better this way. The kind of things Sage did, the path
Sage's pov ;The van's interior reeked of sweat and metal, and I could feel every bump and turn as we sped through the streets. My heart pounded in my chest, my mind racing with a thousand thoughts, but all of them boiled down to one thing—how the hell had everything gone so wrong?My wrists were tied behind my back, the ropes cutting into my skin, but I didn't dare show weakness. Not in front of these thugs. They were pissed off, and I could feel their eyes burning into me from the front seat. I could hear them muttering under their breaths, cursing me, blaming me for the whole mess.The biggest one, the one with the scar running down his cheek, twisted in his seat to glare at me. "You said the cops wouldn't be involved," he growled, his voice low and threatening. "Now look at us! We're on the fucking *wanted list*.""I—" I started, but another thug cut me off, his voice filled with barely controlled fury."Those guys who got caught? If they open their mouths, we're done for. And it'
Ryder's pov ;The moment I saw Aubrey, my heart nearly stopped. She was on the cold floor, her body trembling, clothes torn away, weak and exposed. Her eyes were wide with fear, and they locked onto mine and for a brief second, I saw relief in them the moment she saw me.But she was still in shock, and appeared too paralyzed to even move, too broken to understand that I was here for her now.Without thinking, I tore off my jacket and rushed to her side, wrapping it around her trembling body. "Aubrey…" My voice snapped, seeing her like this ravaged something inside me. I pulled her close to me to shield her from the nightmare that surrounded her right now.She clutched the jacket tight, but her hands were shaking. "R-Ryder…" Her voice was a mere whisper, barely audible over the pounding in my ears.I cupped her face, forcing her to look at me. "Are you alright?" I already know the answer. She was anything but fine but still I want her to stay something.She just nodded but I knew how h
Sage's pov ;"Do whatever you guys want with her before we kill her!"The scarred man held her wrists firmly, forcing her to stay still. The others in the room chuckled, their dark amusement matching my own. This was my moment, a long time coming."Stop! Don't touch me!" She cried out and looked extremely scared.I rolled my eyes, walking toward her, my heels clicking ominously on the floor. "Oh, stop pretending. Where's that filthy slut you used to be?" I sneered, grabbing her chin roughly and forcing her to look at me. "Now you're playing innocent?"I slapped her again, the sharp crack of my hand against her cheek making the others in the room snicker. "Dirty bitch, don't act like you're worth more than this."She whimpered as one of the men ripped her shirt, exposing her to all of us. I loved seeing her like this, powerless and afraid. I had waited too long for this moment, and I was going to savor every second of it. She had always thought she was better than me. She thought Ryder
Ryder's pov ;I sat in my office, the dim light casting long shadows across the room. The bottle of whiskey on my desk was nearly empty, the amber liquid swirling in the glass as I took another slow sip. The burn did little to dull the pain, to drown out the constant noise in my head.Aubrey's face kept flashing before my eyes—her pain, her anger. The way she looked at me when I tried to explain…like I was nothing. Like I wasn't worth her time anymore.I deserved it. All of it.The truth had come out, but it was too late. I should've listened to her three years ago. I should've believed her when she told me something was wrong. Instead, I let my arrogance, my doubt, destroy everything we had. Everything we could have been. And now, I've lost her.I exhaled sharply, the sound bitter in the silence of the office. The door creaked open behind me, and I didn't bother to turn around. I already knew who it was. Her perfume filled the air&mda
---------Ryder's pov--------"...fake," he said with calm certainty. "They've been heavily manipulated and photoshopped. Whoever did this knew what they were doing, but it's clear they're not real."Aubrey blinked, her face frozen in shock, as if the words hadn't fully registered."They're…fake?"she repeated.I turned to her, my chest tightening as I took in her reaction. "Aubrey," I said softly, stepping closer, "I told you. I never cheated. Sage did this to drive us apart, to make you believe something that wasn't true."She stood there, silent, her mind clearly reeling from the revelation. Her disbelief was evident, but so was the confusion that clouded her eyes. Slowly, she turned to face me, her expression unreadable.I took a deep breath, trying to reach her. "I'm sorry it took so long, Aubrey. I'm sorry I didn't listen to you before. But now you know the truth. Please…let me fix this. Let me make it right."
Ryder's pov ;I stormed into Aubrey's company, my heart pounding in my chest, barely able to keep my thoughts straight. The receptionist called after me, but I didn't care.I barged into the meeting room without knocking, ignoring the surprised looks of her colleagues as I interrupted whatever discussion they were having. Aubrey, seated at the head of the table, looked shocked, her eyes wide as they landed on me."Ryder?" Her voice was tight, confused. "What the hell are you doing here?"I was breathing heavily, my heart racing, but I didn't have time for formalities. "I need to talk to you. It's important, Aubrey. Those photos…they're fake."The room was dead silent, all eyes on us, and Aubrey's expression shifted to something between annoyance and exhaustion. She sighed, glancing around the table at the others. "Ryder, I'm in a meeting. We'll talk later.""No." My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I couldn't stop myself. I was desperate. "I can't wait. Come with me right n
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.
Comments