The Trophy Wife's Fiery Escape

ss into his perfect trophy wife. My father approved, eager

al horror began when Griffin punished me for defending

my period into the freezing w

his guards. "Perhaps it

er and locked me in a panic room, where my ven

idn't want a partner; he w

ster down the aisle in my place, blew our family mansion to smitheree

pte

lack. When I opened my eyes, the sterile scent of the hospital replaced the stench of burnt rubber and my own fe

dgy travel vlog that had amassed millions of followers. Now, I was just Griffin Cooper's fiancée, a trophy wife in trainin

ur standing." He saw my vibrant spirit as a liability, a painful reminder of my mother, the free-spirited artist he couldn't control. So, he stripp

o hold a teacup, how to make polite conversation with an ambassador's wife, how to smile without showin

voice, sweet as poison ivy, had dripped with fake concern. "Hayden, darling, don't you think that dress

hoose to wear," I shot back, my voice sharper than I intended. "Unli

acade. "Oh, Hayden, always so dramatic. Just try to r

, usually cold and calculating, were colder still as they swept over me

just tightened his grip on my arm. "Hayden, you are my fiancée. Your behavior reflects on me

me. Not Hayden, the adventurous, rebellious Hayden. He cared about the image, the reputation, the control. He wanted a wi

up in the hospital, my body ached, but my mind was clearer than it had been in years. The doctors said I was lucky. A miracle, even. They didn't know th

ut in my eyes, something new flickered. Not the dull resignation I'd grown accustomed to, bu

pered, my voice h

desk, looking every inch the Wall Street titan. Charlie was there too, perched on the

ement to Griffin," I stated, my vo

ntorted. "What nonsense is this, Hayden? Are you st

us gaze. "And I'm not a child playing games. I'm a

ger, Hayden! A grand alliance that will benefit our family

bitter laugh escaping my lips. "And for Charlie. She's always been your favorite du

ing under the implied accusation. Edmond

t if the Quinn-Cooper merger is so vital, and if Charlie i

ace. "Hayden, you... you might be onto something." His eyes gleamed with a calculating

in his words. His back was to me, his shoulders already hunched with the weight of new schemes. My father, the ruthless businessman, the man who valued control and reputatio

on-immigrant visa to France. My best friend, Chloe, was initiall

ing everything behind. The gilded cage, the suf

h the scent of sweat, spilled drinks, and raw freedom. I danced, I laughed, I drank, truly living for the first time in ye

es sparkling. "Maybe

yes wide with worry. "What about the e

y throat. "Oh, that?" I flashed her my most rebellious s

den! You actually loved him, didn't you? All thos

t trying to earn a place in a world that never wanted me. Now, I want freedom. Real freedom. And this is just the beginning." I caught the eye of a male mode

. I didn't even need to look up. My heart clenched, not wi

den