Chapter 1

649words2026-02-26 05:58

On our wedding night, right after we had sex, Landon Bennett held me close and suddenly said,
"There's something I need to tell you."
"Legally, I already have a wife."

"I can't go with you to get the marriage license tomorrow, but besides that piece of paper, whatever you want, I can give it to you."
My mind went blank.
"You... you're married? Why haven't you mentioned it once in all these years?"
He got up to get dressed, the love bite I'd left on his neck still visible.
"Chloe, I love you the most. After all, we have ten years together."
"She... she's someone my family pushed on me years ago. A duty I can't just walk away from."

I sank back into the tangled sheets. The "happy wedding" banner on the wall felt like a slap.
Maybe the expression on my face was too devastated.
Landon sighed, took my hand, and placed our wedding rings together.
"Chloe, look, it's really no different."

"The ceremony, the ring, everyone knows you as my wife. That's what matters.. Everyone knows you're my rightful Mrs. Bennett."
"As for her... just pretend she doesn't exist."
He turned to me, meeting my reddened eyes.
His voice softened a bit,
"Come on, don't throw a tantrum."
"Our Chloe is the most understanding, right?"
I pulled my hand away.
"We're done."
He let go, lighting a cigarette. "I don't accept that."
"Then divorce her."
Landon stared at me for a long time.
"Chloe, I'll be honest with you."
"Summer and I got married seven years ago. She's been good to my family all this time. I have no grounds to leave her."
Seven years ago?
That was right after we graduated from college.
We'd already been dating for three years.
Back then, he hid it from me and married someone else?
I felt sick, rushing to the bathroom to dry heave.
"You're overreacting,"
Landon followed, gently patting my back.
"She and I have never had any real physical relationship. It's a formality, a family obligation."
"The person I love most is still you."
I turned to look at him.
His brows were furrowed with concern.
It was the look I'd loved for the past ten years.
But right now, it made me feel utterly disgusted.
"Overreacting? You lied to me for seven years!"
Landon frowned, a hint of irritation in his eyes.
"You're making it sound so ugly. We started dating first, and I hid the marriage from you."
"You did nothing wrong, so no need for guilt."
"Besides, we're just missing that piece of paper. In my heart, you're my wife."
With that, he reached out soothingly to touch my hair.
"Don't touch me!"
I swatted his hand away.
His hand froze in mid-air.
In ten years, we'd never fought.
I used to think that was proof of our love.
Now I realized it was all a long, seamless lie!
"We both need to cool off," he said, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Think about what you're throwing away, Chloe. Ten years, our future, your parents' hopes... all for a piece of paper?"
The door slammed shut.
I started dry heaving uncontrollably again, tears and anger choking me.
After crying it out, I pulled myself together.
I got up from the floor and started packing my bags.
I'd moved in full of excitement, and now I was leaving in total disarray.
My phone suddenly chimed.
It was from Landon's mom.
She'd posted on social media.
[Such a dutiful child.]
The photo showed their home, with a table full of home-cooked food.
It wasn't mine.
Before, my first thought would have been that Landon had sent it over in my name to improve our relationship.
I might have even rewarded him when I saw him.
But now I understood.
Her "dutiful child" wasn't me.
I was just the 'mistress' d kept for seven years.