Chapter 1The Substitute Wife's Revenge

On the day we were supposed to get our marriage license, Liam Sterling suddenly demanded that his aunt's child be registered under my name.

"Aunt Bella is pregnant out of wedlock. Her reputation in the circle is ruined. If we register the child under your name, we can pretend it's ours."

When I refused, Liam dropped a bombshell:

"We'll get the license when you agree!"

He left me at the City Hall and strode away.

This was the ninth time our marriage registration failed because of his "Aunt" Bella.

Did he think I would still wait for him like before?

I looked down at my phone and saw a notification from a friend's post:

"The girl I love most is about to marry someone else. Heartbroken!"

I sent him a message: "Want to get married? Waiting for you at City Hall. Now."

* * *

Fifteen minutes later, Noah rushed over in his car.

"Really? We can get married? With you?"

His eyes couldn't hide the joy, nor the disbelief.

"Cut the crap. Did you bring your ID?"

Noah muttered softly:

"I dropped an eighty-million-dollar contract signing to come here. Can't I ask one more question?"

But after getting the license, he stared at the little red booklet repeatedly:

"I really married you, Chloe? You're my wife now?"

Then he apologetically told me he had to go back to sign the contract and asked me to take a taxi home.

While waiting for the taxi, Liam pulled up in front of me with Bella.

"Get in."

I pressed the bag containing the marriage certificate and opened the car door.

"For you."

He handed me a box. Inside was a silk scarf.

Liam was always like this. After making me unhappy, he would give me a small gift.

Then we would tacitly never mention the unhappy event again, as if it had passed.

Bella, Liam's "Aunt," quietly touched the bag beside her.

Looking at the scarf in the box again, I realized it was just a free gift that came with that bag.

As usual, I pretended not to notice and put the gift box aside.

Bella curled her lips into a mocking smile.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

Liam looked at Bella tenderly:

"Picking up a gift, then heading to the Sterling family estate."

I remembered then, today was Liam's grandfather's eightieth birthday.

We had agreed to go long ago.

It was good to go today, to say goodbye to Grandfather Sterling.

Through the rearview mirror, Liam carefully looked at my face and explained, which was unprecedented for him:

"Chloe, don't overthink it. Aunt Bella is pregnant alone; people will gossip."

"Raising the child under our name will make it easier for her to marry in the future."

I said indifferently:

"Indeed, being pregnant out of wedlock is bad for one's reputation. Not even having a boyfriend makes people call you loose. Raising the child under your name is best."

Hearing my words, Bella's face turned purple with anger. She turned her head and said, "You..."

But Liam corrected me: "It's raising the child under our names, yours and mine."

Then he looked at me expectantly.

I sneered: "What if I'm not willing?"

Liam's face instantly darkened:

"If you're not willing, we break up."

I said, "Okay."

Seeing Liam's face relax, I knew he misunderstood.

My "okay" meant okay to breaking up.

He continued:

"See, Chloe? If you were this obedient earlier, we would have gotten the license already."

I didn't answer, just watched the scenery retreating rapidly outside the window.

Just like our three-year relationship, speeding away from me.

Bella was the same age as Liam, the adopted daughter of his grandfather.

She was also a thorn stuck between us.

When we dated, Liam brought her along.

When we ate, Liam brought her along.

Even the house we lived in together had a room for Bella.

I voiced my dissatisfaction many times, but Liam always said:

"She's my aunt. What are you thinking?"

Liam and Bella grew up together and were very close.

Every time he said this, I would back down.

But Bella seemed to have no boundaries, always deliberately showing intimacy with him.

They got out of the car together to pick up the gift, and Bella specifically linked arms with him.

From behind, they really looked like a couple.

And I was left alone in the car, like an outsider.

For three years, it was almost always like this. I felt like the third wheel.

But it took me two years to chase Liam, and I couldn't bear to leave.

He knew my feelings, which is why he abandoned me at the City Hall time and again.

Lost in memories, my phone rang. It was Noah:

"Wife, contract signed, but I have to entertain clients tonight, so I'll be back late. Eat well by yourself."

"I'll contact you when I'm done."