From Fake Wife to Final Goodbye

No one knew that I, the one they called the Angel-Faced Executioner, had been tangled up with the heir of the Grahams more times than I could count.

In the latest model sports car, Doug Graham pressed a marriage certificate into my hand, his teeth grazing my lower lip as he murmured, "The Grahams have enemies on both sides of the law. I found a shield, a way to protect you."

I was ecstatic and completely swept up in it, giving him whatever he wanted.

I never imagined it was the beginning of a nightmare.

Doug publicly announced his engagement to the Sowles heiress, making a show of it, and he clarified that I was nothing more than a low-level enforcer in front of everyone.

But that night, he left marks all over my body, whispering against my skin, "The less I care about you, the less anyone will suspect you're my real wife."

From then on, he and Lindsey Sowle humiliated me at every turn. Only when we were alone would he finally show the truth, his voice strained with pain.

"I know this isn't fair to you. Once I'm done using her, I'll kick her out for good."

When Lindsey caused me to lose the baby, he dropped to his knees in front of me, slapping himself over and over.

"That idiot keeps ending up kidnapped and abused. Serves her right!"

Until one day, I was taken in a setup by Doug's rival, Chad Conner. He grabbed me by the throat and forced me to look inside the room.

Lindsey was blindfolded and gagged, crying and gasping as Doug lashed her with a pink whip.

"They've run this whole kidnapping stunt seven times already. You'd think they'd be tired of it by now."

Tears poured down my face.

So I was the fool all along, the one who got played by Doug's so-called love.

Doug Graham's rival let out a quiet, mocking laugh.

"This kind of kidnapping seems fun. How about we try it, too?"

I closed my eyes and kissed him. "I'll play along, but you have to help me disappear from his world."

Chad Conner lifted a brow slightly, pressing a finger to my lips.

"No rush. We'll play after you leave him."

I let out a bitter laugh, my mind still spinning, like I hadn't fully come back to reality yet.

Seeing the disbelief on my face, Chad scoffed. He picked up my phone and dialed the number pinned at the top.

Doug answered instantly, his tone already impatient.

"What is it?"

My tears hit the tile floor with a sharp, audible tap. I forced back the sob in my throat.

"Where are you? Who are you with?"

Doug paused for a second, then answered without hesitation, "I'm at a business meeting. If you've got nothing better to do, figure out how to deal with Chad for me. I told you already, Lindsey's just a shield I'm using to protect you. Stop overthinking it."

After the call ended, the faint, suggestive sound of running water came from behind the door again.

Lindsey Sowle's voice trembled softly. "Doug, is your wife checking in part of today's roleplay?"

My tears finally broke loose. I slid down against the wall, slowly sinking to the floor. The old injury in my lower back flared up, the one I got protecting Doug. The pain twisted through me until I curled into myself, trembling.

I should've realized sooner how ridiculous that excuse about protecting me really was.

He said Lindsey was my shield, but all his affection went to her, while all the real damage landed on me.

I had broken seven ribs doing his dirty work. My left hand was permanently crippled.

The truth was right there, soaked in blood. I wasn't naive enough anymore to believe love could numb that kind of pain.