The Billionaire's Shattered Bride I Found Love After You Broke Me

The golden heir of the elite social circle spent a billion dollars tracking me down—his childhood sweetheart—and married me the moment he found me.

On our wedding anniversary, after one last moment of intimacy, Seth Vance's breath grazed my earlobe, his voice cool as winter air.

"Let's make this the last time. I'm tired of you."

"If you agree, we'll coexist as polite strangers. No interference in each other's lives. Sign the agreement, and you'll still be my wife."

I begged him with tears burning in my eyes. I asked him to tell me what I'd done wrong. I told him I'd change.

A few days later, he made a grand entrance at a gala with Zoe Winfield on his arm.

Someone in the crowd jeered. "Where's that little country bumpkin? Don't tell me she's off busing tables somewhere, embarrassing Mr. Vance again."

"That whole act he put on years ago sure did the trick. Got the little hick to fall head over heels for him."

Zoe Winfield curled her hand around Seth's arm and smiled, the picture of elegance.

"A woman that clueless and common? If it weren't for Grandpa Vance, she'd never have gotten within a mile of Seth."

"Some people just love exploiting someone's gratitude. They'll never belong in polite company."

So that was it. He'd molded me into his idea of a perfect wife—all to fulfill an engagement his elders had arranged when he was a child.

I stumbled back a few steps, staring at the scene in front of me, unable to believe what I was seeing.

In that moment, I finally let go.

The respect I would never earn? I didn't want it anymore.

……

The air went silent for a few seconds, then the noise swelled again, laughter and chatter filling the room as if nothing had happened.

No one seemed to care about this little interruption.

The serving tray in my hands nearly slipped.

Was that how he saw me too? That I was an embarrassment to him?

My desperate gaze found Seth standing on the raised platform. I searched his face, praying for the answer I needed.

After a long pause, he responded with a lazy, careless drawl.

"It was all just an act. Only a fool would've taken it seriously."

Hearing his voice—flat, stripped of every last shred of emotion—detonate beside my ears, the pain in my chest nearly buckled my knees.

The instant I recognized who was heckling the loudest, a roar filled my skull.

Three years ago, just before our wedding, one of Seth's friends had hurled vicious accusations at me.

"You're a gambler's daughter. Don't tell me you paid off daddy's debts with your own body?"

"Zoe Winfield is the one he actually loves. You're delusional."

Back then, Seth had knocked him to the ground with a single punch, beaten him until his face was purple and swollen, then ran over his leg with a car, crippling him.

Seth's voice had been ice-cold when he warned him.

"Say one more word. The Vance family has more than enough ways to make you disappear."

But now that same man stood right beside Seth, whole and unharmed, without a trace of injury.

Only now did I understand: promises that burned so hot meant nothing once the love ran cold.

In the distance, the crowd was still laughing and gossiping, but I couldn't hear a word of it anymore.

So the whole rescue, the whole knight-in-shining-armor act—it had all been a show they'd staged to toy with me.

And I'd believed every second of it like a fool.

I'd even been planning to make things right with Seth.

The reason I hadn't spoken to him these past few days wasn't anger. I'd been preparing for an interview at a multinational firm. I wanted to surprise him. I wanted to become someone worthy of standing beside him.

No wonder every apologetic message I'd sent over the past few days had vanished into silence.

While I stood there, lost in a daze, a server grabbed my arm and hauled me roughly to Seth's side.

Before I could even process what was happening, the red wine on my tray splashed across Zoe Winfield's designer gown.

Zoe had been raised in the lap of luxury. Refinement radiated from every pore. Standing next to Seth, she didn't pale in comparison for a second. They were a perfect match.