I had waited three long years for Dr. Ethan Walker, my brilliant cardiac surgeon fiancé, to return from his selfless medical program in Appalachia. Our lavish engagement party was tomorrow; I dreamed of our beautiful future. Then, his voice cut through the quiet. Low and cold, he confessed his "Appalachian mission" was a lie-he was with Vanessa, and their nearly three-year-old daughter, Lily. He was marrying me solely for my family's connections and a guaranteed directorship. The man I loved and trusted had played me for a fool. When Vanessa later brazenly brought Lily to our home, the child wore my antique locket-my sacred vow to Ethan-around her neck. I watched them intimately, confirming my worst fears. The next morning, Vanessa brutally framed me for poisoning Lily. Ethan, without hesitation, abandoned me amidst screams as I fell and injured my back. The pain of his betrayal, the public humiliation, and his utter contempt for me were suffocating. How could the man I loved so deeply manipulate me, then cruelly cast me aside for a lie? Was our entire relationship a calculated pretense? Crumpled on the floor, my only thought was escape. I called my sister. "Is the offer from the Vance family still open?" I choked out, desperation hardening my voice. "The one for Julian Vance? The recluse? I will marry him."
I had waited three long years for Dr. Ethan Walker, my brilliant cardiac surgeon fiancé, to return from his selfless medical program in Appalachia.
Our lavish engagement party was tomorrow; I dreamed of our beautiful future.
Then, his voice cut through the quiet.
Low and cold, he confessed his "Appalachian mission" was a lie-he was with Vanessa, and their nearly three-year-old daughter, Lily.
He was marrying me solely for my family's connections and a guaranteed directorship.
The man I loved and trusted had played me for a fool.
When Vanessa later brazenly brought Lily to our home, the child wore my antique locket-my sacred vow to Ethan-around her neck.
I watched them intimately, confirming my worst fears.
The next morning, Vanessa brutally framed me for poisoning Lily.
Ethan, without hesitation, abandoned me amidst screams as I fell and injured my back.
The pain of his betrayal, the public humiliation, and his utter contempt for me were suffocating.
How could the man I loved so deeply manipulate me, then cruelly cast me aside for a lie?
Was our entire relationship a calculated pretense?
Crumpled on the floor, my only thought was escape.
I called my sister.
"Is the offer from the Vance family still open?"
I choked out, desperation hardening my voice.
"The one for Julian Vance? The recluse? I will marry him."
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