The Fake Wife’s Revenge

An explosion destroyed my home—completely and without warning.

My father, the project manager, was arrested and eventually died of a heart attack in prison.

The families of the victims, consumed by rage and grief, took it all out on us. They hurled vicious words, beat us and subjected us to unspeakable acts of brutality...

Overnight, my mother, my sister and I became pregnant—carrying children from men we didn’t even know.

My mother collapsed under the weight of it all and took her own life.

My sister ran into the street in hysterics and was hit by a car.

As for me... when my fiancé, James Florr, finally found me, I was curled up beside a trash bin. My lower body was festering, reeking of decay.

He looked down at me with utter contempt.

“Your father killed so many people,” he said coldly. “Your entire family deserves this.”

Then he turned around and married someone else.

Just when I thought I’d rot away in the darkness forever, Nick Regald appeared—like a miracle.

He lifted me from the filth, unbothered by the fact that I could no longer bear children, unshaken by the fact that I had been violated. He cherished me, doted on me and treated me as if I were priceless.

I became the most envied Mrs. Regald in the entire city.

Until one day...

I walked toward his study, holding his watch, planning to return it. But just as I reached the door, I heard voices—words that froze the blood in my veins.

“Tomorrow is Marissa Geyn’s birthday. She invited both of you,” James’s voice rang out clearly.

“You were ruthless back then,” he continued, “pushing the Douglas Family to take the fall and letting the Geyn Family walk away untouched. I remember that favor.”

My legs went weak and I had to brace myself against the wall.

“I can’t stand to see Marissa cries,” Nick’s voice replied gently. “Her father made mistakes and I’ll atone for them. She likes you and I’ll make sure nothing stands in her way.”

James let out a mocking laugh. “Mr. Regald, always so calculating. Aren’t you afraid Elise might one day learn the truth?”

Nick’s tone turned icy. “So what if she does? A woman like her—ruined, broken—should already be grateful she became Mrs. Regald. For Marissa, I’d walk through hell.”

I staggered away from the door.

So all his so-called love... was never for me. His gentleness, his care—they had all been lies, carefully crafted for another woman.

——

I rushed back to my room, heart pounding, only for Nick to enter moments later.

He pulled me into his arms, his fingers brushing gently across my cheek.

“Why do you look so pale? Has Meggy not been taking good care of you?”

Before I could respond, he continued,

“Tomorrow is James' wife's birthday banquet. Come with me?”

He pulled out a velvet box containing a dazzling diamond necklace.

“I was saving this for later,” he said softly as he clasped it around my neck, “but since you're feeling down, consider it an early surprise.”

“Meggy told me you were staring at someone else's child at the mall,” he murmured as he kissed my forehead. “Elise, I've told you—whether you have children or not, I love you.”

A cold chill ran down my spine.

If I hadn’t heard the truth with my own ears just moments ago, I might have believed him again.

***

The next day, I let the maids dress me like a lifeless doll. I wore the gown he picked, the necklace he gave and I walked into the banquet hall holding his hand.

Marissa stood at the center of it all, radiant and adored like a shining star.

This daughter of a chauffeur—once someone who relied entirely on my family’s generosity—had now transformed into a refined lady of high society. I turned and caught the unmistakable softness in Nick’s eyes as he looked at her.

“Miss Douglas has arrived,” Marissa greeted, gliding over to me. She reached up to touch the diamond necklace around her neck.

“Thank you for the gift from your Mr. Regald,” she added with a smirk.

Only then did I notice the necklace she wore—it was from the same collection as mine, but her design was even more extravagant.

A bitter ache twisted inside me.

“I’m no longer Miss Douglas,” I replied calmly. “The Douglas family is long gone.”

Whispers erupted in the crowd around us.

“They say she slept with a bunch of men… her lower body reeks…”

“She even had an abortion…”