Chapter 3
My eyes burned red as I glared at Richard and hurled the ledger to the floor.
For once, he looked rattled.
“What… what are you doing?” he stammered.
So he could be scared.
Scared I might finally lose it?
I laughed coldly.
“Richard, after everything you’ve done, you really think I won’t go to my father?”
“Or tell First Lady Margaret?”
He just laughed.
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“Please. Margaret doesn’t give a damn about domestic squabbles.”
“And your dad? He’s all about appearances.”
“You think he’ll back you on a public divorce?”
He was so sure.
So convinced I had no one on my side.
My body was shaking.
I stared at the man I’d loved for five long years–and couldn’t recognize him at all.
Maybe it was the silence that threw him.
Because next, he actually looked… pitying.
“Emily, we’ve been married for five years.”
“You’ll always be my first wife. That title’s yours.”
“Nothing changes that.”
Every word was like a dagger.
I turned away.
Left the study without another glance.
Outside, the crabapple trees had already turned brown.
Just like my marriage–dead and done.
I wondered, if he knew it was because of that scar he hated…
That the scar earned me the right to walk away from him forever…
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From Mafia Mistress to Billionaire’s Wife–Same Day, Different Groom
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Chapter 3
Would it matter?
I laughed bitterly and walked straight into the cold November wind.
There were ten days left before President Harrison would make our divorce official.
In the meantime, First Lady Margaret was hosting her birthday gala at the Capitol.
Only official wives could attend.
So naturally, Richard brought Sophia.
She smiled sweetly at me in the carriage like nothing was wrong.
I dropped my eyes and gave a quiet, bitter laugh.
I finally understood Richard’s plan–he wanted Sophia to be seen.
To be accepted.
To make her status indistinguishable from mine.
And he wanted me humiliated.
Once I saw it for what it was, the pain dulled.
I stared out the window the whole ride, never once looking at them.
Though… every now and then, I caught Richard watching me.
The party went smoothly.
Sophia made her debut.
But First Lady Margaret wasn’t impressed.
She frowned as soon as she saw her.
“This is a formal gathering,” she said.
“Only official wives were invited.”
“Did you bring a mistress to insult me?”
Richard dropped to his knees, pulling Sophia down with him.
“First Lady, Sophia is my second wife–not a mistress.”
Margaret narrowed her eyes.
“Second wife or not–she’s not your real wife.”
“Ask any of the women here if they agree.”
“You stood before God and the law with Emily Carter.”
“That makes her your wife.”
“This one? Just a mistress.”
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From Mafia Mistress to Billionaire’s Wife–Same Day, Different Groom
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Chapter 3
The room went silent.
Richard’s face flushed red as he scrambled to apologize and get Sophia out of there.
Afterward, First Lady Margaret sent me home with armfuls of gifts.
And a message.
The President would sign off on our divorce the day Richard married Sophia.
Back at the estate, I decided to share the gifts with Sophia.
It wasn’t out of kindness–I just didn’t want any more trouble.
I stopped the maid from announcing me and reached to knock.
That’s when I heard Sophia crying inside.
“Richard, you promised to marry me.”
“Why does everyone still call me a mistress?”
His voice came, soft and sweet–maybe a little tired.
“You’ll always be my wife, no matter what others say.”
But Sophia wasn’t done.
“And what about Emily Carter?”
“You pulled off that whole rescue stunt for her–like some knight in shining armor.”
“Did you ever love her?”
A pause.
Then Richard’s voice snapped.
“Don’t say that!”
It was the first time I’d heard him actually yell.
“I told you–don’t ever bring that up in this house.”
My hand froze on the door.
My fingers clenched into a fist.
And just like that… I remembered.
That day I thought he’d saved me.
That day I thought fate brought us together.
Turns out, even that was staged.
Even that… was a lie.
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