Chapter three

Chapter 3

J’s POV

Jay Charlton, the oldest son of the charlatans.

Lost my parents at sixteen. Forced to move in with my grandfather ever since, to take over my father’s empire. By thirty, I was a success story. Running five thriving companies.

But I was also a disappointment in one area.

Marriage.

I had Four failed engagements — all arranged by my grandfather. And every single one? I ruined them myself.

I had a method.

Dig up dirt on my so-called bride. Expose them. Walk away.

When my grandfather announced my fourth engagement, I wasn’t surprised. I’d been expecting it.

And as usual, I started digging trying to find what to use against her. But this time... it was different. It wasn’t easy.

She was clean. Too clean.

No scandals. No abortions. No dirty past. No hidden crimes. Perfect.

And perfection? That’s suspicious.

Her name?

Ellien.

The more I dug, the more restless I became. No one — and I mean no one — has a spotless record.

Since then I started making my personal research and investigations, there was no way someone will have such a clean sheet, And damn — I was right!

I found something more crazier in her family.

My investigator caught Ellien sneaking out of her house one night. Running away.

Yet... her father never reported it. Never panicked. Never called off the engagement. Instead, he calmly kept receiving his share of the marriage agreement.

That’s when I knew — something was off.

And then I found it.

Her secret. Ellien’s twin sister, who was hidden away from the world. A monster.

Rachel.

The moment I yanked off her wig, I wasn’t even surprised to see the long, wild hair.

She wasn’t Ellien.

She froze — knowing her secret was out.

“Leave first thing tomorrow,” I said, my voice cold. “I’ll send the divorce papers later.”

Mission accomplished.

Or so I thought...

Until her voice stopped me.

“I can cure your infertility… in exchange, make a deal with me, J.”

I froze.

That was impossible. No one knew about that. Not even my grandfather.

Only two people on this earth knew — my most trusted confidants.

How did she...? How did she find out?

She did her research.

But how? I investigated her myself.

Rachel was weak. Hidden all her life. Locked away in her father’s mansion like a ghost. No connections to the outside world.

Who gave her this information?

I grabbed my car keys and stormed out of the house. My foot pressed heavily on the accelerator, my mind clouded with scattered thoughts.

No matter how hard I thought about it, I couldn’t figure out a single possible way for her to know my secret.

After a long drive filled with frustration, I finally pulled up in front of an apartment.

The moment I stepped inside, I caught a feminine scent lingering in the air but it was different. Slightly unfamiliar.

Looking up, I saw the maid standing by the door. It was as if she had been waiting for me. Her hands were clasped nervously behind her back, worry evident all over her face.

“Welcome, sir,” she greeted softly.

But her restless expression didn’t sit well with me. She was shaking, anxious.

“Is something wrong?” My deep voice echoed through the quiet room.

“It’s Lady Mira…” she hesitated, glancing toward the hallway. “She’s been crying non-stop before you arrived.”

The moment those words hit me, my chest tightened.

Without wasting another second, I left the maid behind and stormed toward Mira’s room.

Pushing the door open, my heart clenched at the sight before me.

There she was.

Curled up on the bed knees pulled tightly to her chest. Her soft sobs filled the room, stabbing deep into me.

“Mira…” I called, hurrying to her side.

The moment she heard my voice, her head snapped up. Her tear-stained face met mine, surprised, yet instantly comforted.

“Jay!” she cried out.

I watched helplessly as tears streamed endlessly down her face, her eyes red and swollen from crying.

I didn’t hesitate. Climbing onto the bed, I pulled her into my arms.

“I was scared, Jay…” she whispered between sobs. “I thought you wouldn’t show up… I thought you left me.”

Her words broke me.

I took a deep breath, running my hand soothingly down her back.

“I told you…” I whispered against her hair. “I won’t leave you. Not for anyone.”

I tightened my hold on her, inhaling the sweet scent of her brunette hair, the scent that always calmed me.

I knew tonight was supposed to be my wedding night. She must have thought I was somewhere else, with another woman, fulfilling the duties of a husband.

But that would never happen.

Not when Mira still existed.

Not when she was still the only one who had my heart.

“I thought I lost you to someone else.” She wrapped her arms tightly around me, sniffing quietly before bursting into uncontrollable tears.

“I told you, you’ll never lose me to anyone,” I assured her, my voice calm but firm.

Mira was my lover. The only woman my heart beat for.

Unfortunately, my grandfather never approved of her. She wasn’t from an affluent family like us. She was from nothing. Poor, struggling — the kind of woman my family despised.

But I wasn’t ready to lose her.

After rebelling for days, fighting tooth and nail for what I wanted, I was allowed to keep Mira — but only as my mistress. The condition was clear: she would become my wife the moment she bore me an heir.

But no matter how hard we tried… nothing.

It was as if the whole world was against us.

After a thorough check-up, I found out the bitter truth — I was the problem. I was infertile.

There was nothing wrong with Mira.

But Grandfather was already on our necks, pressuring me to end everything with her, calling her barren.

I had wanted to tell Grandfather the truth, that I was the infertile one, but she stopped me. She took the blame without hesitation, letting herself be called barren just to protect me.

She knew if anyone found out about my condition, it would destroy me. My brothers would take everything. My position, my companies, my life.

I had tried every possible cure— treatments, medications, prayers — nothing worked.

But Grace promised to stay with me through thick and thin. And I vowed never to marry anyone aside from her.

I wanted to only be with Grace. Not any other lady that knew nothing about my life.

That was why I kept chasing off every bride my grandfather arranged. I dug out their dirt, exposed their secrets — anything to get rid of them.

But this one… this strange new bride was different.

Her aura wasn’t like the others. And it unsettled me.

“You look lost… are you okay?” Grace’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I had been so consumed by everything, by her, that I didn’t realize I had drifted away.

I forced a smile. “I’m fine. Just business stuff.”

“Thank God you’re here.” She smiled, relief washing over her face. “I made curry potatoes for you. Should I serve you some?”

She was already getting out of bed before I could answer.

She looked much better now compared to when I first arrived. I had always made sure to spend my wedding nights with her — even if it was just to comfort her.

“Of course. I’ve been waiting all day for your food.” I smiled genuinely.

Minutes later, we were on the balcony. I ate the meal she lovingly prepared, while she sat across from me, her eyes never leaving my face.

“Do I have something on my face?” I teased.

“Of course…” she giggled softly. “You look too good to be overlooked.”

But then… her smile faded.

That worried me more than anything.

“Is something wrong?” I asked, my voice lowering. Her eyes welled up with tears almost instantly, breaking my heart all over again.

I rose from my seat and knelt before her.

“Tell me… what’s bothering you?”

“I want to be with you, J. I want to carry your child…” she cried, her voice breaking.

Her words cut deeper than any blade.

I had been doing everything possible to make that happen — countless medications, endless tests — yet nothing.

“I’ll make sure that happens,” I promised, my voice laced with determination.

She wiped her tears and sat up straighter.

“Did you… did you find a way?” she asked, hope flickering in her eyes.

And right then, my mind went back to her — to Ellien… no, Rachel.

Her words echoed in my ears: "I can cure your infertility… in exchange, make a deal with me, J."

I didn’t want to believe her. But part of me already did.

What if she was telling the truth?

“I want to carry your child. I want to be the only one by your side. Tell me if you found a way already.” Mira sounded impatient wrapping her hands around me.

What if I could really use her — get what I needed — then toss her aside like the others?

That way, I could finally have everything with Mira.

A cold, dangerous smirk tugged at my lips

“Yes,” I whispered. “I found a way.”