A vengeful millionaire weds a humble, plain gardener to spite his former lover, only to uncover a shocking truth on their wedding night…
«‘It was what we had, what we built.’ «‘Rebecca averted her gaze for a moment, but quickly regained her composure. «‘And now you’re with Sarah, a woman who has no idea what it’s like to live in this world. «‘She’s… convenient.’ «‘Thomas’s eyes narrowed.
«‘Don’t talk about her.’ «‘Why not?’ «‘Because you know it’s true,’ Rebecca pressed, leaning in again. «‘Thomas, look at me. «‘You and I are the same.
«‘Sarah doesn’t understand your ambition, your need for control. «‘She won’t last.’ «‘The silence that followed was heavy. «‘Rebecca expected her words to plant some doubt.
«‘But to her surprise, Thomas smiled, a cold, almost pitying smile. «‘You know what’s funny, Rebecca?’ he said, leaning back in his chair. «‘For the longest time, I thought I needed you.
«‘I thought your betrayal was proof that I wasn’t good enough. «‘Rebecca tensed, unsure where he was going with this. «‘But now I see that my obsession wasn’t love.
«‘It was ego,’ he continued, his eyes locked on hers. «‘I wanted to prove something because I couldn’t stand the idea of losing. «‘But today, you mean nothing to me.’ «‘The words landed like a bomb.
«‘Rebecca tried to hide her frustration, but couldn’t stop the tremor in her hands. «‘You can’t be serious,’ she whispered, almost desperate. «‘I’m more serious than ever,’ Thomas replied, standing up.
«‘Our past is over, Rebecca. «‘And my present is with Sarah.’ «‘Rebecca froze as he reached into his pocket, ready to leave. «‘But before he could walk away, she played her final card.
«‘What if everyone knew the truth about your marriage?’ she said, her voice dripping with venom. «‘Thomas stopped, but didn’t turn around. «‘What do you think will happen when people find out it was all an arrangement? «‘That Sarah is only with you because you bought her?’ «‘He turned slowly, his eyes colder than ever.
«‘If you think you can threaten me with that, you’re more desperate than I thought. «‘You have a lot to lose, Thomas,’ Rebecca countered, trying to recover her confidence. «‘And you have nothing to gain,’ he replied, walking away without looking back.
«‘Rebecca remained alone at the table, feeling the weight of her defeat. «‘For the first time, she realized that Thomas was no longer the man she once knew. «‘He had changed, and the control she once held over him was gone.
«‘Back at the mansion, Thomas found Sarah in the garden, watering some plants. «‘When she saw him, she noticed the tension in his shoulders. «‘Did something happen?’ she asked, setting the watering can aside.
«‘He hesitated for a moment before approaching her. «‘Rebecca tried to threaten us.’ «‘Sarah crossed her arms. «‘What does she want now?’ «‘Nothing she can get,’ he replied, looking at her in a way that made her both uncomfortable and curious.
«‘I told you I can handle this on my own. «‘I don’t need you to—’ «‘Sarah,’ he interrupted, his voice softer than usual. «‘You don’t have to handle this alone.’ «‘She stared at him, surprised by the sincerity in his tone.
«‘Despite all the doubts she still harboured about him, «‘she felt that there was something genuine there. «‘That night, as Thomas reflected on the day’s events, «‘he realised that something inside him had shifted. «‘For the first time, he wasn’t consumed by the past.
«‘For the first time, he wanted something real, «‘and that something was beginning to take shape with Sarah by his side. «‘The morning was unusually quiet in the brown mansion. «‘Sarah sat at the breakfast table, flipping through a gardening magazine «‘as she tried to push away the unease she had been feeling over the past few days.
«‘Something felt off. «‘The silence was abruptly broken by a sudden call on Thomas’s phone, «‘which was sitting at the other end of the table. «‘He answered quickly, and the alarm in his voice immediately caught Sarah’s attention.
«‘How did this get to the press?’ he demanded, standing up. «‘Find out who leaked it and fix it. Now!’ «‘Sarah watched the scene unfold, confused and worried.
«‘Thomas ended the call and looked at her, his face tense and troubled. «‘What happened?’ she asked hesitantly. «‘It’s about us,’ he said, running a hand through his hair.
«‘Someone leaked our contract to the media.’ «‘The words hit Sarah like a blow. «‘She tried to process what that meant, but before she could react, her phone buzzed. «‘Notifications of messages, missed calls and newslinks flooded the screen.
«‘The sham marriage of magnate Thomas Brown and former gardener Sarah Cooper. «‘Financial arrangement or true love? «‘Sources reveal it all started with a contract.’ «‘Sarah’s stomach churned as she read the headlines. «‘The details of their arrangement were exposed in raw terms, «‘filled with demeaning comments about her and cruel speculations about her intentions.
«‘It was Rebecca,’ Sarah said, her voice low but filled with certainty. «‘All signs point to her,’ Thomas replied. «‘But we’ll handle it.
«‘I’ll deal with the lawyers and the journalists.’ «‘Handle it?’ Sarah repeated, incredulous. «‘You think you can control what people are saying about me, about us?’ Thomas tried to approach her, but she stepped back. «‘You knew this could happen,’ she continued, her voice trembling.
«‘From the beginning you played with my life like I was just another piece on your chessboard. «‘I never wanted this to happen,’ Thomas said earnestly. «‘I’ll protect you and the baby, no matter what it takes.’ «‘Protect?’ She let out a bitter laugh.
«‘The only thing you’ve ever protected is your ego.’ Without waiting for a response, Sarah left the room and headed to her bedroom. There she began packing a suitcase, her hands shaking as she folded clothes and grabbed essentials. Thomas found her shortly after.
«‘What are you doing?’ he asked, his voice filled with concern. «‘I’m leaving,’ she replied, without looking at him. «‘You can’t leave,’ Thomas said, stepping closer.
«‘Sarah, not now, not alone. «‘I can’t stay here,’ she said, finally facing him. «‘All I ever wanted was to care for my mother and live a simple life.
«‘But you dragged me into your world, exposed me, and now I’m a target.’ «‘I’ll fix this,’ he insisted. «‘Trust me.’ «‘Trust?’ she said, tears streaming down her face. «‘How can I trust you, Thomas?’ He stood in silence, unable to answer.
Sarah closed the suitcase and walked past him. He tried to stop her, but she was resolute. «‘I need to think about my child and my dignity.
«‘And here I have neither.’ She walked out the front door of the mansion, leaving Thomas standing alone, staring at the emptiness she left behind. In the days that followed, the scandal grew. The press was relentless, and Thomas’s image took hit after hit, but none of that mattered to him….
