Chapter 1

Five years into their marriage, Naomi Whitaker was finally pregnant. She eagerly registered for her child's birth as a gift to Cassian Hartwell for their fifth anniversary. But when the staff tried to search for their marriage certificate in the system, an error kept popping up stating that the document was invalid. "Ms. Whitaker, are you sure this certificate is real?" After more than a dozen failed attempts, the staff member's expression turned uneasy. Naomi was displeased. "We've been married for five years. How could it be fake?" The staff member tried once more and then slid the paperwork back to her. "I'd recommend checking with the courthouse first. Submitting false documents is illegal. Anyway, unmarried applicants can still apply." Naomi understood exactly what the staff meant and turned to head straight to the courthouse next door. When she came out, all the color had drained from her face. The joy she wore just moments ago was completely gone. The words from the courthouse staff replayed in her mind, striking her like blows to the chest. "You and Mr. Hartwell are both listed as unmarried. The marriage certificate you're holding is fake." Five years of marriage, and it wasn't real? She and Cassian had been childhood sweethearts. Everyone knew how much he adored her, how he acted like he wanted to give her the best the world had to offer. So why… why would he give her a fake marriage certificate? Naomi immediately bought a plane ticket and flew to Avenmoor to find Cassian, who was there on a business trip. She needed to get to the bottom of the truth. When Naomi arrived at the hotel where Cassian was staying, she happened upon a wedding. Avenmoor was a unique country where people could only marry once in their lifetime. There was no divorce, only widowhood. She had no interest in the ceremony. As she navigated through the crowd towards the elevator, she caught sight of the groom surrounded by guests. At that moment, she was utterly shocked. He wore a leather jacket, tight pants, knee-high boots, a beret, and a wide red belt. It was a typical outfit for the locals. His face beamed with joy. The man was none other than Cassian, her husband of five years. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she never would have believed Cassian would dress like that. "Congratulations on your wedding, Cassian!" "I've got to say, Cassian's amazing. Both the weddings at home and abroad are so grand!" "But Cassian, are you seriously getting involved with that poor woman, Rayna Sawyer?" Someone else chimed in curiously, "Wait, doesn't this count as bigamy? Didn't Cassian marry Naomi years ago back home?" "You don't know the full story. Cassian never actually registered the marriage with Naomi legally. He was waiting for Rayna to grow up. Legally speaking, he's been single this whole time." "For real? Man, Cassian really knows how to play the game." In the crowd, Naomi froze, her body stiff as if her blood had turned to ice. She thought she must've misheard, but Cassian's next words sent her plummeting into a freezing abyss. "Of course, I'm serious about Ray. She once risked her life to donate her blood to Naomi, and she's lived in Naomi's shadow ever since. All she ever wanted was a lasting marriage, and that's something I can give her," Cassian said thoughtfully. So that was the truth. Naomi's eyes welled up before she even realized. So the fake marriage certificate had been Cassian's doing all along. Five years ago, Naomi had a car accident. Rayna, who was then a freshman in high school, took her to the hospital and donated blood to save her. Rayna came from a poor family with only a gravely ill mother to rely on. To thank her for saving Naomi, Cassian and Naomi covered all her school expenses and even arranged for her to study and travel abroad. Cassian once said that saving Naomi meant saving him, too. He was willing to give Rayna everything he could to show his gratitude, but Naomi never expected that his way of showing gratitude would include raising Rayna to adulthood and marrying her. What made it all the more ridiculous was that in these past five years, Naomi had never noticed a thing. She was completely unaware of when it all began between them. One of Cassian's friends couldn't help but ask, "And what about Naomi? Aren't you afraid she'll find out?" Cassian lowered his gaze, tapping quickly on his phone screen. His voice was calm, with a trace of quiet certainty. "I'll continue to love Naomi, just as I always did. But she'll never find out. Not in this lifetime. And the rest of you, keep your mouths shut. Don't let any of this get back to Naomi." The next second, Naomi's phone buzzed. As she gazed at Cassian's message, an unsettling chill coursed through her body, causing her heart to tighten with anxiety. "I miss you, honey. I hate being away on this business trip. Every second without you feels unbearable. I'll do my best to make it home in time for our anniversary. Love you always." Naomi gripped her phone tightly and looked up at Cassian as he walked farther and farther away. A dense, aching pain bloomed in her chest. Her vision began to blur, hot tears welling in her eyes. This wasn't the man she loved. The man she loved was the boy who grew up with her, the one who broke his leg climbing through a window to retrieve her fallen hairpin. Then, he would comfort her, telling her not to cry. He was the teenager who climbed to the top of a snow-covered mountain at 18 just to confess his love, swearing he'd love her forever and never lie to her. He was the young man who, at 20, wrote her 9,999 love letters by hand and baked a hundred different cakes to propose to her. He was the man who planned a once-in-a-lifetime wedding just for her at 22. He was the husband who clung to her day and night, unwilling to be apart even for a moment. He was not this man—this liar who claimed to love her while marrying someone else. Naomi felt as if her heart were being sliced open, her teeth sinking into her lip to keep herself from breaking down. Her phone buzzed again. Cassian was calling. She hesitated for a moment before answering. "Honey, where are you? Have you eaten yet? Why's it so noisy over there?" Cassian's voice was as gentle as ever, each word laced with the familiar tenderness that once made her feel so loved. "Cassian, what are you doing?" Naomi asked, instinctively tightening her grip on the phone. A part of her still hoped that if Cassian would just come clean if he told her the truth, maybe they could talk. Maybe there was still a chance for them. But Cassian didn't even pause. "Still in the meeting. I just missed you so much that I had to step out and call. Are you out shopping, honey? Go ahead and buy whatever you like." Naomi's lips curled faintly, but there was no warmth in her smile. She went quiet for a couple of seconds, then softly replied, "Okay." Cassian instantly picked up on her shift in tone; his voice was tinged with worry. "Honey? Are you upset? If something's bothering you, just tell me, okay?" "I'm busy trying on clothes. I'm hanging up." Naomi hung up the phone and saw Rayna in traditional Avenmoor bridal attire, embracing Cassian. "Do I look pretty, darling?" "You look beautiful. My wife looks good in anything." He leaned in and gently kissed her forehead, his expression tender and full of affection. That smile was so familiar that it stabbed at Naomi's heart like a blade. His gentleness and affection weren't exclusive to her, and his love and devotion could be divided. Cassian, how could you love two women at once? Naomi dashed out of the hotel in a daze, stumbling into a narrow alley before collapsing. She curled up, drawing her knees close to her chest, and started crying. She cried until she almost passed out. Then, with a hint of cold determination in her eyes, she stood up. This five-year fake marriage was over. She no longer wanted it, nor did she want Cassian. Since they were legally married now, she would simply let them have each other. In half a month, it would be her parents' death anniversary. Once she paid her respects, she would leave for good. She would disappear from Cassian's world without a trace. Naomi hailed a taxi to the airport and bought the earliest flight ticket home. Upon landing, the very first action she took was to schedule an appointment at the hospital to terminate her pregnancy.