Love's Betrayal: A Forged Marriage

, had been Kaden Barnes's wife in name only, a transaction to salvage his family's image after my father

"disciplinary measures"-thirty lashes-to prove I wasn't being cast out. But then, a shocking truth shattered my world: "A forgery,"

r trying to kill her during a horseback ride. Kaden, blinded by his devotion to her, believed e

in his eyes. My pain, my dignity, meant nothing. Why did h

s cruelty, secretly sent me to London, granting me the freedom I had so desper

pte

t a di

iet but firm, cutting through the tens

in pain from the injuries hidden beneath her simple d

rved wooden chair, her face a mask of cold indifference. She looked dow

s course. "This marriage was never real. It was a transaction. A way f

feur, had taken a bullet for Kaden Barnes, the sole heir. To manage the PR fallout and project an ima

years, "I have been his wife in name only. I have been his punching bag, his

whisper. "And I have watch

ittaney Cortez. Kaden's childhood sweetheart, his constant

es said, her tone dismissive. "You are the

ound. "The wife? Everyone in this city kn

tant cousins were already whisperi

about Brittan

takes Brittaney everywhere. He bought her

jaw tightened.

sip when he flaunts her at parties while I stand in the corner like a se

y. "It is a wife's duty to be tolerant. You have a title and

night's punishment, a beating with a leather belt because she had accidentally spilled wine

s finally welling in her eyes, blurring the cold face of her mot

licker of something unreadable in her eyes. Perhaps it was the fina

h finally conceded, the w

leaped with a

tter. Kaden is the heir to the Barnes empire. A divorce is an embarrassment. To earn your freedom, you must endure th

mily had their own twisted code of justice

es must withstand the thirty lashes," Mrs. Barnes s

injuries she already carried.

her wedding day flashed in her mind. Kaden hadn't even shown up. He was wit

d place food on Brittaney's plate, laughing and tal

only for him to spend hours on the phone, his voice soft and tend

timacy, when he would push a glass of water and a pill into her hand. "Take

nt of his home, her unwavering loyalty in the face of public humiliation, might on

ed her. He never wou

ake to ever have come here, to have believed

t a joke. A

arlow said, h

n she was supposed to call home. Each step was agony.

she heard voices from the living r

u going to get rid of her? I

murmur, full of the affection Harlow had

her," Brittaney pouted. "What i

ruel. "Like her? My mother only cares about appeara

er hand grippin

. "What? But... the marri

paper to satisfy the old woman and the press. In

air left Harlow's lung

org

holding onto the one thing she thought was real-her status

rthy of a real mar

pair. If the marriage wasn't real, then leavi

ready to turn and walk

living room. It was Princess, Brittaney's spoiled Pomeran

d from her leg. Blood immediate

shake the dog off, but it

ttaney appeared, dressed in a silk robe tha

, she pushed Harlow hard, sendin

nto her arms. She turned on Harlow, her eyes blazing with ha

w gasped, pointing

er bite anyone unless she was provoked! You vil

back and her leg was making her dizzy. She just

glint appeared in her eyes. She raised

arm to block the blow, her other ha

. He saw Harlow's hand extended toward Brittaney and moved