Chapter 3My Secret Husband: Choosing My Childhood Sweetheart Over My Long-Term Love.

When Liam got me to the hospital, I was covered in hives from the allergic reaction, nearly dead from anaphylactic shock.

I was unconscious for a long time before slowly waking up.

"Liam."

The boyishness was gone from the man before me, replaced by maturity.

Seeing me awake, he looked relieved, but his words were laced with sarcasm.

"You really love making things hard for yourself, don't you? Why did you have to stick by that guy while he was building his empire from scratch?"

"Isn't everyone in our family loaded? Was there any need to suffer like that?"

I had been rebellious, refusing to let my parents arrange my life, so I ran off with Mark.

I supported him as he started with nothing, only to end up like this.

Just as I was about to thank him, Mark called.

"Sarah, where the hell are you? Didn't make breakfast? Didn't iron my shirt?"

"When did you get so lazy?"

Liam, beside me, frowned deeply. He seemed shocked that the person Sarah ran away for was this guy.

"I'm in the hospital. Hire a housekeeper."

Mark on the other end seemed to remember abandoning me, allergic and alone, in the car the other night.

His voice turned hesitant.

"Okay, uh, I'll have Sam bring you some soup. I'll pick you up this afternoon?"

I could hear Megan in the background.

"It's all my fault. I'm the reason Sarah's in the hospital."

Megan's cloying voice completely erased any guilt or concern Mark might have felt for me.

"She's just being dramatic. It's just an allergic reaction. What's the big deal?"

Yeah, just an allergic reaction. But if Liam had been just a little later, I could have died from shock.

"This is the guy you chose? Total idiot."

He was still as blunt as ever, but I didn't have the strength to argue. Everything he said was true.

At noon, Sam brought me some snacks and drinks.

Mark checked my social media all afternoon and saw nothing.

He called again.

"Did you get the stuff I sent? Why didn't you post about it?"

After all, I used to post pictures of everything he gave me, showing the world how happy I was.

Until the day I overheard Mark saying dismissively:

"Sarah's such a hick. Gets excited over such small things she has to post them."

"Women with no class are so easy to please."

So that's what he really thought of me.

I replied flatly.

"Saw it. Didn't feel the need."

I hung up. Surprisingly, Mark actually showed up on time that afternoon to pick me up.

With Megan.

He was never on time before, usually making me wait an hour or two, then fobbing me off with "work was busy."

Megan sat in the front passenger seat, looking smug.

"Sarah, Mark and I just ran into each other. You don't mind me sitting up front, right?"

The old me would have definitely thrown a fit, demanding why Megan was in the passenger seat.

I couldn't be bothered arguing. I just got in the back.

Mark sensed my low mood and, for once, actually offered an explanation.

"Ran into her after work. Just giving her a lift."

Just as Mark was about to start the car, a pair of long legs slid into the back seat next to me.

Liam leaned close.

"Hey sis, don't leave me behind."

Then, addressing the front seats:

"Hi there. I'm Liam, Sarah's childhood friend."

3

Mark's face turned green. He had no idea I had a childhood friend.

After all, I always told people I was an orphan, with no one to rely on.

"Since when do you have a childhood friend? How come I never knew?"

I didn't answer directly.

"I told you before. You probably forgot."

"You can have your childhood friend, why can't I have mine?"

My counter-question caught Mark off guard.

He fell silent. But Megan wouldn't miss this opportunity.

She started chatting with Mark about their childhood memories again.

Usually, they'd be deep in conversation in the car, making me feel like an outsider.

But now, Mark was still annoyed about what I'd just said, so he completely ignored Megan.

Megan looked awkward.

Suddenly, she seemed to remember something.

"Mark gave me a necklace the other day. Easily worth seven figures."

She glanced pointedly at my neck. "Yours is the freebie that came with it, right, Sarah?"

I touched my neck, my heart sinking.

That morning, I'd been so pleased I managed to snag those discount groceries, thinking I got a great deal.

Turns out, Mark had casually dropped a fortune on Megan.

Seven figures. How long would it take me to save that much?

Mark spent it without a second thought.

I looked at the promotional necklace he gave me for our anniversary.

I thought maybe Mark was finally changing his ways, but it turned out to be just as worthless as he thought I was.

When we finally got home, Mark immediately started yelling.

"How can you be such a slut, always hitting on guys?"

"Do you really think I believe your crap? How could he possibly be your childhood friend?"

After listening, I didn't answer his question, just shot back:

"You can hang out with your childhood pal to cure your loneliness, but I can't see mine?"

"Why is it okay for you but not for me?"

My rapid-fire questions left Mark speechless.

He rarely saw me this angry.

"Let's break up."

My next words made Mark even angrier.

"Sarah, you've got some nerve now, huh? You dare break up with me? For some pretty boy?"

"He's just after your money right now! If you leave me, you're broke! Who's gonna want you then?"

I laughed bitterly. So that's how Mark saw me all along.

He thought I was only with him for his money.

But what about when he had nothing, and I was willing to run away with him? What was that then?

My eyes reddened. It felt like I was truly seeing this man for the first time in years.

I turned and went back to the bedroom to start packing.

In the bedroom trash can, I saw a used condom. And in the closet, some sexy lingerie that definitely wasn't mine.

I hadn't been home for a few days. It was obvious whose these were.

I showed these items to Mark. For once, real panic flickered across his face.

"Megan's just... forgetful sometimes. This..."

I cut him off.

"You should throw out used condoms. They're dirty."

I don't know which word hit Mark the wrong way.

He snapped, "None of your damn business," and stormed out.

As I finished packing, I realized I barely owned anything.

When we were poor, I didn't dare buy things. Now that we had money, I couldn't shake the deep-seated feeling that I didn't deserve nice things.

Liam had been waiting downstairs for a while.

He leaned against his Maybach, glancing at the single suitcase beside me.

"That's it? You really went through a lot these past few years, huh?"

I gave a weak smile.

"Wouldn't have given up if I hadn't gone through it, right?"

Once, I was full of passion, thinking we could spend our lives together. Later, I realized it was just wishful thinking on my part.

We stumbled through poverty together, but when wealth came, I was left behind alone.

"Thanks for what you did in the car today."

Liam shrugged it off.

"Wanted to do that for a long time."

Mark called again.

"Sarah, bring me a box of condoms. Don't slack off."