I Bankrupted Him

In the third year of my marriage to the heir of the Nevoria elite, my long-dead ex-fiancé, James Sterling, suddenly reappeared.

He arrived with a lavish proposal gift, earnestly introducing his savior, Sarah Wells. "Emma, these past years, Sarah kept me going, cared for me tirelessly, or I wouldn't be standing here today," he said. "I've returned to Galton now, but I can't be ungrateful. I want to give her a place in my life. From now on, the three of us can live together."

I cast him a skeptical glance, a cold smirk curling my lips. "What did you say?"

James softened his tone, trying to reassure me. "Don't worry, we grew up together, and my heart always leans toward you. I'll give you a proper wedding. Sarah only asks to stay by my side. Emma, be reasonable, don't make this hard for me, okay?"

I studied him closely, confirming he wasn't joking, then made a phone call. "Spread the word. Cut all ties with the Sterling family, effective immediately. Send them back where they came from!"

The audacity of expecting me, the eldest daughter of the Monroe family, to share a husband?

He had some nerve.

My family had the power to make the Sterlings wealthy and to strip them of everything.

...

James, still holding the proposal gift, gazed at me with deep affection.

"Emma, these three years must've been tough, waiting for me," he said gently but with a hint of resolve. But I owe my life to Sarah. You're both equally important to me. I can't abandon either of you. From now on, the three of us will live together. Don't worry, Sarah's easygoing. After we marry, you two will get along like sisters."

My ex, presumed dead for three years, had not only returned but spouted such nonsense. I was torn between fury and amusement, confronting him bluntly. "Are you saying you want Sarah to be your mistress?"

James shook his head, his expression conflicted. "Sarah's pregnant, so… I plan to register our marriage with her. But I'll only hold a wedding with you. Sarah's background isn't ideal; she can't be the Sterling family's lady. Your status makes you the only one fit to be my wife."

So, I, the heir to the Monroe family and wife of Galton Group's young master, was supposed to be the mistress.

What a revelation.

I suppressed my anger, locking eyes with him. "What makes you think I'd agree to a wedding with you?"

James glanced around nostalgically, brushing off my words with a carefree smile. "Emma, don't talk nonsense. You've followed me around since we were kids. Everyone knows you're love-struck for me. When news of my death came from abroad, my parents gave up looking, but you? You nearly died of illness searching for me. Who'd believe you don't want to marry me?"

My gaze grew colder by the second.

So he knew.

He knew how deeply I once loved him, yet he vanished without a word the day before our wedding, followed by news of his death.

I refused to believe it, scouring the world for him.

Until I overheard his conversation with my therapist.

"Mr. Sterling, if you don't return soon, Miss Monroe might lose her mind. Her mental state is fragile," the therapist warned.

On the other end, his familiar voice replied carelessly. "Let her wait a bit longer. Emma's great, but tying myself to her for life? I can't do it. A few more years, and when I'm done having fun, I'll go back to her."

That day, I stopped searching, burned everything tied to him, and married Henry Grant, the Galton heir who had loved me for years.

Snapping out of the memory, I sneered. "You're joking, James. That engagement was just our parents' casual talk, not binding. Please leave. I wish you and Sarah a long, happy life together."

"Don't come back and ruin my day."

My good mood was shattered, anger twisting my gut.

James frowned, chastising me. "Emma, must you speak to me like this? I told you, Sarah won't compete with you. Why can't you accept her? Can't you be more mature?"

I bit back my temper but couldn't hold it in, grabbing a cup and hurling it at him. "Can't you understand plain English? Me, your mistress? Who do you think you are? I'm married. Stop bothering me. Got it?"

The cup shattered at his feet. He stared at me in silence for a moment before speaking. "Even if you're mad at me, don't joke about being married. I know you too well. You'd never marry someone else."

"Besides," he added with a sly grin, "Everyone in Nevoria knows about us. Who else would want someone… used?"

Before he finished, I slapped him hard across the face. "Get out!"