Chapter 2
I lowered my gaze. A dull, unspeakable ache filled my chest.
In order to win Ryland’s favor, I’d memorized everything about him.
I knew he grew up in France, so I devoured French until I could speak it like a native.
The Elite Debutante Finishing Academy? That was just for me to have more common ground with him.
The year his enemies retaliated and nearly killed him-
I threw myself in front of him without a second thought.
I admit I went to great lengths.
But loving him… I gave it everything I had.
Yet overnight, every sacrifice I’d made became nothing more than manipulation in Ryland’s eyes.
Ryland walked into the bedroom and tossed the evidence onto me.
I’d rehearsed this confession in my head a thousand times.
Never imagined it would happen the morning after our wedding-Ryland stripping me bare like tearing off a cheap veil.
But I’d never wanted to take anything from him.
“Ry, just let me explain…”
[The schemer actually has the nerve to speak? I’d rip Ashley’s mouth open myself.]
Ryland cut me off, ice in his voice. “Don’t call me that. It’s disgusting.”\
I shut my mouth instantly. But before we were married, he’d begged me to call him that.
Bitterness surged into my throat. When I said nothing more, Ryland stormed out and slammed the door.
The next I heard of him, he was at Astoria’s biggest auction.
And there beside him sat Daisy White, the reporter who’d crashed our wedding.
No microphone this time.
She wore an evening gown, seated right next to Ryland.
Daisy set her sights on an emerald and diamond choker. Ryland dominated the bidding with sky-high offers for her.
Chapter 2
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It felt like a wet sponge was lodged in my chest. I couldn’t breathe.
But I’d done some thinking these past few days. Anyone would be angry if they felt betrayed.
Especially Ryland, who never tolerated lies or deceit.
That night. I cooked a full spread of Ryland’s favorite dishes. I took a photo and sent it to him.
Told him I wanted to talk.
I waited for his reply until one in the morning.
What I got instead was Daisy’s social media post-a candlelit dinner photo with Ryland.
The bullet comments screamed before me.
[Is our male lead gonna hook up with our doe-eyed heroine tonight or what?]
[They drank that much wine. Something definitely went down.]
That bottle on their table. It was the wine Ryland and I had made together.
We’d said we’d open it on our tenth anniversary.
Tears spilled down my face. I grabbed the tablecloth and yanked.
Plates and bowls shattered across the floor.
I sobbed, bitter laughter mixed in. Years of devotion, and I couldn’t even earn a chance to explain.
The servants nearby thought I’d lost my mind.
An old woman who’d served the Harringtons for over twenty years came to comfort me.
‘Ma’am, when you marry into a family like this, you face these things sooner or later.”
I crouched on the floor, utterly drained.
I don’t know how long I stayed there. Long enough for my vision to go dark.
My hand pressed into broken shards, but I couldn’t feel a thing.
A servant called Ryland. Within half an hour, he was back.
I looked up and met his stare. Without a single word, he seized my chin.
“Ashley Linwood. Another one of your tricks?”
Chapter 2
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Romance romântico e fantasia
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‘Currying favor with the servants. Finally paying off, is it?”
His voice was ice as he warned me.
“This is Harrington Manor. If you’re dramatic enough to kill yourself here. I’ll make sure there’s nothing left of you to
bury.”
His eyes dropped to the white bandage wrapped around my palm. He grabbed it and sneered.
“Want to die? Cut deeper. At least make it convincing.”
I didn’t defend myself. I pulled my hand back, biting through the pain.
Not like before, when I’d cling to him and whine over a tiny scratch.
Looking at the glacial coldness in this man’s eyes, it hit me.
Years of devotion. Destroyed by a single sentence from Daisy.
The love between Ryland and me. I’d been the only one holding it up all along.
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