Chapter 4

As I cursed, I started to cry.

We had been together for ten years, and married for three.

His agreement to move in and depend on my family's wealth was his own free will.

But back then, for his dignity, I hadn't made his status public.

I never imagined it would turn out like this.

"Liam, look closely. I'm Aubrey Sterling."

"I'm the one who got our marriage certificate with you three years ago. I'm the one who helped you through your company's crisis last year. And I'm the one who stayed by your mother's hospital bed all night when she was ill!"

"Now tell me, who is she?"

Liam didn't look at me. He just lowered his head, gently stroking the woman in his arms' hair, his voice so tender it could melt.

"Aubrey, don't be scared. I'm here. No one will hurt you."

After settling the impostor, he finally looked me in the eye.

"Ms. Sterling, I think you've mistaken me for someone else."

"My wife, Aubrey Sterling, has always been and only ever will be the woman standing before you. As for your talk of 'moving in' or 'agreements,' those are just the ramblings of a madwoman."

I stood frozen, tears finally streaming down my face.

"I have a birthmark on my left chest. You found it when you were helping me apply ointment."

"I'm afraid of thunderstorms. Every time it rains, you'd hold me and tell jokes. And that osmanthus tree we planted at the old estate-when it bloomed for the first time last year, you said you'd save its flowers to make osmanthus wine for me. Are these also 'ramblings'?"

These details, only he and I knew.

I thought that by revealing these, he would at least show a flicker of doubt.

But the coldness on his face didn't soften in the slightest. Instead, he raised a hand, summoning security.

"Please escort this troublesome lady out. Don't let her disturb my wife's rest again."

"Liam!"

I rushed forward, trying to grab his arm, but the security guards held me back firmly.

In that moment, I finally understood.

He hadn't forgotten; he had been deceiving me all along.

From pretending to be compliant and moving in, to using the resources I provided to establish himself step by step.

Behind my back, he'd done it all. Replaced my security. Planted an imposter. Even turned my own in-laws and Dylan against me.

Three years of love. Three years of a meticulously planned scam.

Despair closed my throat. I shut my eyes as the guards moved to drag me away.

"I'd like to see who dares touch her!"

A voice, sharp with command, cut through the chaos.

And then I saw him: a man with Liam's face.