Spicing Life Up With Some Agony

Joel Gleason, my childhood sweetheart and fiancé, promised he'd marry no one but me. But then, to help Jenny Swisher, my adoptive sister, get through her depression, he secretly married her.

I didn't hesitate for a second before agreeing to marry Conrad Lennon, Jasselton's most untouchable heir, who'd been in love with me for years.

After seven years of marriage, he still spoiled me rotten. He clung to me every night like he couldn't get enough. And there was nothing he wouldn't do for me.

I really thought I'd found happiness at last. But one day, after we'd slept together, I heard him talking to his best friend.

"Jenny's an international best actress now. When are you dumping Jean?"

"It doesn't matter. I wouldn't end up with the person I love either way. Besides, I have to keep an eye on Jean. I can't let her ruin all the happiness Jenny worked so hard for."

I booted up the computer in Conrad's study and stumbled upon a hidden folder. Inside were over 100,000 photos of Jenny, plus 100 unsent love letters.

I'd been fooling myself long enough. It was time to wake up. I got myself a fake body and got ready to start a fire.

That was it. Conrad and I were done for good.

After ordering the props I needed, I turned off the screen. Tomorrow I'd be gone from Conrad Lennon's life exactly as planned.

I turned around and suddenly found myself looking into his charming, smiling eyes.

He'd waited outside long enough for the smell of nicotine to fade, then warmed up to the room temperature before carefully slipping his arms around me from behind.

"Why are you still up?" he asked.

Conrad's familiar warmth melted into mine. His arms should have been my refuge, but all I felt was a cold stab of bitterness in my chest.

I'd been his wife for seven years, and he'd spoiled me utterly. Everyone in Jasselton knew how much he lavished me with luxury and indulgence.

He told me he'd fallen for me at first sight when we were kids and had secretly loved me for 14 years.

At our wedding, his eyes had been red with emotion as he vowed that marrying me felt like a dream come true.

Knowing about my past, Conrad used his family's influence to go all-out against Joel Gleason—the man who'd abandoned me—and even sabotaged Jenny's career to get revenge for me.

He said he couldn't stand anyone who'd ever hurt me. He acted so well that even a best actress like me couldn't spot a single false note.

It stung to remember how he'd always murmur "Jean" in those intimate moments, but something about the way he said it never felt right.

I'd brushed it off as just his strange way of pronouncing it. Only now did I realize that bastard had probably been saying "Jen" all along.

I ducked my head and quickly brushed away the tear welling in the corner