Chapter 2

Outside the Ford Group Tower, fireworks lit up the night sky in dazzling bursts. Every pattern was one Ariel had once mentioned liking. A moment later, her phone buzzed in her pocket. It was a text message from Keith, along with a photo of fireworks taken from the upper floor. "Babe, there's a firework show tonight. It's beautiful, isn't it?" He followed with another text. "I'm still busy with work, but I miss you. I'll come home later with a surprise." Ariel gripped her phone tighter as she felt a sharp pain twisting through her chest. Every day for the past five years, Keith had always checked in on her. It used to give her a sense of security and make her feel loved. If she had still been in the dark, she would have smiled at his text message and been happy all day. But now she knew the truth. Thinking back on those five years, Ariel no longer knew which of his words had been real and which had been lies. She dared not think about it. Instead of replying, she dialed a number. The call was answered almost instantly. A deep and magnetic voice came through the line. "Ms. Levine, to what do I owe the honor of your personal call? Aren't you afraid that crazy husband of yours might get jealous?" "Cut the crap," Ariel replied. "I need you to help me fake a death. One week from now, on my birthday." Keith's rival, Sean Miller, was clearly taken aback. "You're Keith's precious darling. That stand-in, Natalie Green, is just his secretary. She's no threat to your position as his wife. Why go this far?" Then his tone turned teasing again. "Five years ago, I pulled you out of that kidnapping mess out of my own goodwill. But the risk is a lot higher this time, so what's in it for me?" Ariel's voice was hoarse but steady. It was calm in a way that felt like she had already given up everything. "You know I'm the second largest shareholder of Ford Group. I can transfer my entire 40% stake to you." Sean froze for a moment but quickly accepted with a chuckle. "Deal. I'll come for you in seven days." After the call ended, Ariel looked at the giant screen in front of her. It showed a wedding photo of the Fords, but the bride wasn't her. In both figures and features, Natalie bore an uncanny resemblance to her. Ariel remembered that Keith had indeed mentioned Natalie once while talking about work. One night, years ago, he returned to the castle after a business dinner. There was foundation smeared on his shirt collar and a faint trace of unfamiliar perfume clinging to him. That was the first time she had ever felt suspicious. However, Keith dropped to his knees, swearing he would never betray her. He had persuaded her for hours until she finally gave in. He said his new secretary was capable and not someone he could just dismiss. He assured her that there was nothing between them, that it was strictly a professional relationship. Ariel believed him wholeheartedly. For five years, her world had revolved entirely around Keith. She had never once suspected him of cheating. But now, it all seemed like a cruel joke. She had been played like a fool. "Mrs. Ford, there are rumors that your husband kept you locked away for five years. Now that you've reappeared after so long, do you have anything to say?" Out of nowhere, a swarm of reporters surrounded her. They pointed their cameras at her and shoved their microphones toward her face. It had been years since she had faced the outside world. Her throat tightened so much that she couldn't form a single sentence. More onlookers gathered around, whispering among themselves. "Mr. Ford has kept his wife locked in that castle for the past five years. What's the difference between that and keeping a caged canary? Maybe he's got an affair elsewhere too." "Keep your voice down. The last person who dared to say that had his tongue cut off." "Exactly. Mr. Ford is known for integrity. How could someone so devoted ever cheat? Didn't you see the hickey on Mrs. Ford's neck in the wedding photo? It was so deep that even the foundation couldn't cover it…" Ariel dug her nails deep into her palms, but she couldn't feel the pain. So, Keith had indeed kept his real wife locked away at home while flaunting his secretary as his lover in public. What others could see at a glance had taken her five whole years to realize. "What's all this noise in front of the Ford Group? Do you people think this is a marketplace?" All of a sudden, the once-rowdy crowd fell silent, instinctively parting to make way. Keith strode over, his cold gaze sweeping across every reporter who had been hounding Ariel. Everyone broke into a cold sweat, fearing that the infamous wife-obsessed Keith might lose his temper and literally sew their mouths shut. The air froze in death silence. Ariel felt that familiar sense of safety, and she instinctively turned to him for help. But in the next second, Keith looked at her coldly. "You've gotten the wrong person. She's not my wife."