A Crown of Strength

A Crown of Strength

rabbit

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Everyone said Xander Fuller loved me deeply. If it had been a day earlier, I would have believed it too. But then I saw him through the hospital window, holding a sobbing woman tightly in his arms. "Don't overthink it! She's just your stand-in. If I didn't play the part, what if my enemies went after you? Thank goodness the explosion didn't hurt you, or I'd regret it forever!" I looked down at my scarred hands and gave a bitter smile. When my life hung by a thread, Xander saved me and gave me a love that felt one-of-a-kind. Back then, I naively thought I had found happiness. But when enemies kidnapped and tortured me to threaten him, he acted indifferent, even showing a hint of relief in his eyes. I didn't understand why back then, but now it all made sense. I touched my mother's portrait and dialed a number I hadn't called in ages. That night, bodyguards surrounded the hospital entrance, bowing respectfully to me. "Welcome back, Miss!"

Chapter 1

Everyone said Xander Fuller loved me deeply.

If it had been a day earlier, I would have believed it too.

But then I saw him through the hospital window, holding a sobbing woman tightly in his arms. "Don't overthink it! She's just your stand-in. If I didn't play the part, what if my enemies went after you? Thank goodness the explosion didn't hurt you, or I'd regret it forever!"

I looked down at my scarred hands and gave a bitter smile.

When my life hung by a thread, Xander saved me and gave me a love that felt one-of-a-kind.

Back then, I naively thought I had found happiness.

But when enemies kidnapped and tortured me to threaten him, he acted indifferent, even showing a hint of relief in his eyes.

I didn't understand why back then, but now it all made sense.

I touched my mother's portrait and dialed a number I hadn't called in ages.

That night, bodyguards surrounded the hospital entrance, bowing respectfully to me.

"Welcome back, Miss!"

...

After learning none of Xander's enemies survived the explosion, I knew my marriage to him was over.

He no longer needed me to shield his true love from danger.

The hospital at night felt eerily quiet.

When Xander walked in, I had just finished my final bandage change for my hand injury.

Unlike before, he didn't check my wounds or offer comfort.

He stood in front of me and placed a prepared divorce agreement on the table. "Sign it."

"Did you ever love me?" My voice trembled as I forced the question out.

Though I knew the outcome, I still wanted an answer for the love I poured into these years.

Three years ago, when my uncle Kory Curtis hunted me over family inheritance, I fell into the sea and nearly died. Xander saved me.

From then on, I stayed by his side, and he treated me well.

The day I learned he wanted to marry me, I was so excited I didn't sleep for days.

Back then, I innocently believed this was the love and happiness my mother spoke of.

At my words, Xander let out a mocking laugh. "Love? What's your status to think I'd love you? I will only ever love Dorothy. Saving you was just because you were an orphan. If you died, no one would care. You were perfect as Dorothy's stand-in. Now that I've eliminated all threats, it's time you gave her place back to her!"

Looking at his impatient face, my anger made my hands tremble as I gripped the divorce agreement. "So, Xander, all your talk of loving me and spending our lives together was a lie!"

He sneered with disdain. "If I didn't say that, would you have willingly stayed by my side as Dorothy's stand-in for three years?"

Before I could respond, he roughly grabbed my freshly bandaged hand. "Sign it quick! Why didn't that explosion kill you too? If you were dead, I wouldn't even need to sign this!"

The gauze and medicine rubbed against my unhealed wounds, and pain made sweat bead on my forehead.

But Xander didn't care. After I signed, he grabbed the agreement and left my room eagerly.

Watching his retreating figure, I gave a cold laugh.

He'd pay for his betrayal.

I pulled out my phone and dialed a familiar number.

That night, bodyguards surrounded the hospital entrance.

They bowed respectfully and addressed me.

"Miss."

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