His Vows and My Silent Exit

After my family went bankrupt, I begged my fiancé Ryan to pump cash into our business.

He didn't just refuse. He turned around and got engaged to someone else.

When I was at the end of my rope, Ethan Brooks stepped up, tossing all his savings into my family's mess.

Sadly, we missed our shot, and our company crashed. My parents couldn't handle it. They jumped off a building.

Even so, I was thankful to Ethan and married him to pay him back.

Three years later, at Lily Carter's birthday party, I overheard her talking to him.

"You tanked the Harper family so I could win that bid. Won't Kelly blame you?"

"For you, I'd give up everything. I'll just make it up to her."

My blood ran cold as I realized our marriage was all a lie. The one he loved was Lily all along.

I turned and left. If he was that hooked, I'd set him free.

I stood in the stairwell, shaking badly.

Ethan Brooks and Lily Carter kept their voices low, but their conversation hit me like a sledgehammer.

"I owe you big for this," she said softly, taking his hand. "Anything you need, just holler. If Kelly flips out, pin it on me."

Ethan blushed up to his ears, gazing at her with deep affection.

"I'd do anything for you," he murmured. "Kelly won't care. Every day with her makes me sick, but knowing you're happy? That's all I need."

I froze, feeling my heart hallowed.

"How is Ryan treating you?" he asked.

His concerned expression was something I had never seen before. I thought he was just cold. Turned out, I just wasn't his true love.

Lily slid her hand free with a sweet smile. "He's great to me. I know it sucks being stuck with someone you don't love. If you're struggling, hit me up. I'll be there for you."

He blushed and nodded, but my eyes narrowed as I saw through Lily's pretense.

She was a master in the game of love, married to Ryan Hunt while keeping Ethan on a string. And they both ate it up.

I itched to charge over, slap them both, and scream about how they trashed my family for their selfish game. But my feet felt like lead.

Unable to bear their mushy crap anymore, I slipped back to the party room.