I'd been "married" to Zachary for two years—until I tried applying for a loan and the bank's system flagged someone else as his legal wife.

Our wedding? Just a private show. The real marriage license had his name next to hers.

So yeah. I wasn't the wife. I was the other woman.

Crushed, I went home—only to hear Zachary talking to his friend, Ethan, by the door.

"Man, watching you stress is exhausting," Ethan said. "You clearly love Sierra. So why marry Cathryn?"

Zachary looked torn. "At first, she was just a stand-in. But when she left, I couldn't stop thinking about her. So I brought her back—as my assistant."

He paused, then muttered, "I can't live without Sierra. But I can't let go of Cathryn either. So I gave Sierra my love in public and kept Cathryn hidden with the title. That's fair, right?"

I stood frozen, heart splitting open.

He loved us both.

Me—his childhood sweetheart.

Her—the hidden wife.

I thought I was the one.

Turns out, I was just the game.

He didn't break my heart. He shattered my whole world.

But I didn't cry. I didn't scream.

I walked away.

And started planning two things.

In year two of my so-called marriage to Zachary Jurg, I tried applying for a joint bank loan to launch a business.

The bank guy kept flipping his eyes between our marriage certificate and his screen, looking more confused by the second. Finally, he said, "Ms. Arden, this marriage certificate's not valid. You're showing up as single in our system."

I blinked. "That can't be right. We got married—registered everything two years ago."

He leaned in, frown deepening. "The system has you as single. But Zachary Jurg? He's married."

Then he spun the monitor toward me.

"His spouse is listed as Cathryn Sludd. Because of that, I can't approve your loan."

I stared at the screen, frozen. "Cathryn Sludd"—her name cut through me like a knife. Every breath felt like it was slicing me open.

My head spun. Everything went black.

When I came to, the staff had already helped me into a chair.

I choked out a plea for them to double-check. They did.

And that broke me.

It was like drowning in ice-cold darkness, everything else just...gone.

Eventually, I got up and walked out. Somehow.

I wandered the streets like a leaf caught in the wind—empty, lost.

Then my phone buzzed.

It was Zachary.

[Baby, I skipped a big meeting just to see you. Got your favorite strawberries 'cause I missed you like crazy. Did you miss me?]

That was it. I broke.

Tears just poured.

Two years of texts like that. Two years of 'I love you.'

But now? I couldn't tell if any of it was ever real.

Zachary and I had history—like, childhood-level history. Everyone knew I was his girl. The one he loved. The one he was supposed to wait for.

Cathryn? She was just a placeholder while I was overseas. Or at least, that's what I believed.

But he married her. Married her. In secret.

Was it all one big lie?

I don't even know how long I wandered before I finally made it home, still dazed.

Just as I reached for the door, I heard voices inside—Zachary and his best friend, Ethan Chase.

"Is it serious?"

I peeked through the crack. Zachary was sprawled on the couch, looking slightly worried.

"It's just a stomachache. Some meds will fix it," Ethan said. "You should stay here with Sierra."

Zachary let out a breath, yanked off his tie, and kicked his feet up on the table like the weight of the world had just slid off his shoulders.

Ethan shook his head. "Man, watching you stress is exhausting. You clearly love Sierra. So why marry Cathryn?"

Zachary's face clouded. "At first, she was just a stand-in. But when she left, I couldn't stop thinking about her. So I brought her back—as my assistant."

He paused, then added, "I can't live without Sierra. But I can't let go of Cathryn either. So I gave Sierra my love in public and kept Cathryn hidden with the title. That's fair, right?"

Ethan sighed. "What if Sierra finds out? You know how she is. Even if you begged, she'd never forgive you."

Zachary's jaw tightened. "She won't. I can't lose her."

The second the truth hit, I crumbled.

Everything went dark. Hope? Gone.

I stood outside the door, lips shaking, but no sound came—just tears.

Zachary's words cut deep, like a thousand stabs, stealing my breath.

My chest burned, then went cold.

I kept seeing him that morning, kissing my cheek like nothing was wrong.

Saying he couldn't live without me. Pressing my hand to his chest like his heart only beat for me.

But it was all fake.

When I got home, I still held on, thinking it was some stupid mix-up.

Then he said it—he couldn't live without both me and Cathryn.

That's when it clicked. Zachary didn't fall for one woman. He fell for two.

And he never planned to choose. He just wanted his childhood sweetheart and his side piece.

Our "wedding"? Just a private show.

The real marriage certificate? It had her name.

I wasn't his wife. I was just the other woman.

What a twisted game he played.

So this was the love behind all those sweet vows?

I remembered when Zachary climbed that huge tree just to pick me apples. Fell, broke both legs, still handed me one with a smile.

"Sierra, don't cry. If you eat it, it won't hurt anymore."

On my sixteenth birthday, he waited all night in the freezing cold, just so he'd be the first to give me the gift.

"Happy birthday, Sierra."

At my coming-of-age ceremony, he rented out the entire town square. Had drones spell out a message in the sky. Got down on one knee, holding flowers.

"Sierra, when you turn twenty, let's get married, okay?"

The day I flew overseas for college, he hugged me tight, eyes red, voice shaking.

"If you're not back in two years, I'm flying out to kidnap you."

After that, we FaceTimed every day.

One time, I got swamped with school and missed his call.

Ethan sent me a clip—Zachary, wasted, getting patched up in the ER.

He was lying there, broken.

"Sierra, I love you. I can't live without you."

I was so freaked out, I booked the next flight home.

Wanted to surprise him, so I kept quiet.

But when I opened his office door... he was kissing a girl who looked just like me.

I ran, crying, and he chased me for blocks.

Called nonstop. When I ignored him, the texts kept coming.

When I shut him out, he camped outside my place for three days, begging. "Sierra, I was drunk—I thought she was you.

"I missed you so much, I found someone who looked like you.

"I swear, it was just a kiss. Nothing else.

"I screwed up. But I love you so much, I saw you in her."

When he finally collapsed, weak and refusing to leave, I broke.

And I forgave him.

After that, things went back to normal—at least, that's what I told myself.

But once we got married, I noticed his assistant had changed.

Cathryn was back, even though she'd quit ages ago.

I was pissed. He smoothed it over.

"Her parents died. No degree. She had nowhere to go. She reapplied like everyone else. I couldn't just turn her away."

I let it slide. Because I loved him.

But all that patience? It just made me the idiot.

The side chick in a fake marriage.

I gave him everything—

And he left me with scars and a heart that'll never be whole again.

That night, I came home to find Zachary pacing the living room, totally on edge.

The second he saw me, he rushed over and grabbed my hand.

"Baby, where were you? You didn't answer your phone or text—I was losing my mind."

I stared at him, heart a mess. His panic felt real.

It reminded me of that college trip—my phone died, and he showed up hours away, frantic.

Back then, he loved me like I was his whole world.

But now? That love wasn't mine alone.

If I once had all of his heart, 90% was already gone.

The ache hit hard—every breath burned.

But I held it in.

I dropped my gaze, shoved everything down, and shrugged.

"Just went shopping. Phone was on silent."

Truth was, I just didn't want to pick up. My head was a mess.

He visibly relaxed and pulled me in.

"You scared me. I thought something happened. Just check your phone next time, okay?"

I nodded.

He kissed my neck, voice low.

"Come try the strawberries I got you—and the glazed ribs I made."

Then he let go and led me to the table.

I sat down and watched him pile ribs into a plate and set it in front of me.

I took a bite.

It was really good.

I used to be super picky, so he—once a hotshot CEO who'd never touched a spatula—spent half a month learning from a private chef just for me.

He picked up a strawberry, held it to my lips, face soft in the glow.

I opened my mouth and took it.

Every move was so gentle, so full of love.

Then his phone buzzed.

One glance, and his face changed. He stepped back.

"Baby, something urgent came up at work. Gotta handle it. Don't wait up, okay?"

I nodded.

Watched him rush out the door, and let out a quiet laugh.

I'd seen the screen.

It was Cathryn.

He lied—to go see her.

All those late nights at the office?

They were never about work.

After a pause, I followed him.

He didn't head to the office. He went to the hospital.

Outside the room, I peeked through the window.

He was holding Cathryn in his arms.

Furious, he snapped at the doctors.

"How do you treat my wife like this? You give her meds and she ends up vomiting?"

The doctor bowed, shaking.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Jurg. It's a side effect. We'll be more careful next time."

Zachary's voice cut like ice.

"If it happens again, this hospital's done."

They scattered.

My chest tightened.

He'd rented out an entire hospital for her over a stomach issue.

He really cared.

I waited in the shadows till the hallway cleared, then stepped closer.

Cathryn looked so fragile, face streaked with tears, curled into his chest.

He gently rubbed her stomach.

"Feeling better?"

She winced, full of guilt.

"I'm sorry, Zachary. My body's such a mess. Now you missed time with Ms. Arden because of me. I must be a curse."

"Don't say that," he said softly, even as he scolded her. "If you're sick, I should be here."

"But... what about Ms. Arden?"

His voice went cold. "Don't mention her. Just get better. I'll handle it."

Then came the dagger.

"She's only my partner in name. You and I... we're the real thing. Of course I should be with you."