Chapter 1
The crystal chandelier cast shimmering, diamond–like reflections across the champagne flutes. I stood in the corner of the ballroom, my fingers gripping the stem of my glass so tightly I feared it might shatter. This was Farley Group’s annual Christmas charity gala–an event I should have been intimately familiar with as Joshua Farley’s secret wife.
But tonight, everything was different.
“Mr. Farley, you’re too generous!” Julianna Dawson’s saccharine voice cut through the crowd. Her crimson–nailed fingers rested on my husband’s sleeve, the heirloom sapphire ring glinting coldly on her finger.
That ring was supposed to be mine.
For the first time in five years, Joshua had taken it out of the safe–only to slip it onto another woman’s hand. I downed the rest of my champagne, the burn in my throat doing nothing to ease the ache in my chest.
“Director, are you alright?” A waiter handed me a napkin, concern in his eyes. Only then did I notice the half–moon marks my nails had left in my palm.
“Fine. The champagne was just too cold.” I forced a smile, the perfect mask of Farley Group’s unshakable PR director. No one knew this “director” was actually the CEO’s wife of five years.
In the center of the dance floor, Joshua spun Julianna in his arms. He was wearing the custom–tailored suit I’d picked for him, but his tie was crooked–her doing. I knew every detail of him, including the rare tenderness in his eyes right now–something he’d never once given me.
“I heard they’re engaged?” The hushed gossip of two socialites nearby slithered into my ears.“Julianna’s been posting their dates for months…”
I turned and stepped out onto the terrace. December wind and snow lashed at my face. My phone buzzed–a notification from Julianna’s Instagram. The video showed Joshua on one knee, sliding the ring onto her finger, all wrapped in heart–shaped effects. My thumb moved on its own, scrolling to the comments:
“Mr. Farley’s finally off the market!”
So to the world, our marriage had never existed.
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