A Seven-Year Illusion — I Bid Farewell to the Billionaire and Turned to His Rival

For seven years, Chloe stood beside Julian Sterling, from his days as a broke entrepreneur to his rise as one of New York’s newest self-made billionaires. Everyone said he adored her, and she believed it without a doubt—until she opened his study safe and found a marriage certificate naming Julian and Serena Wood, registered three months ago, during the trip he claimed was for her sapphire.

Serena is the childhood friend who shattered her wrist saving Julian’s life and fell into deep depression. He keeps the marriage secret to keep her stable, certain Chloe loves him too much to ever leave. But Chloe listens as he calls it a cost-benefit analysis, then dials the number she blocked seven years ago and accepts her grandfather’s family alliance, asking for two weeks and the Vance family’s private jet.

As she prepares to walk away, she discovers her masterpiece, “The Crown of Thorns,” now bears Serena’s name, and she marches into Julian’s office to confront him.