Ellis's eyes lit up instantly. A flash of triumph flickered across her face–quick, but unmistakable.

Charles outright refused.

"No. She can wear something else, but not this dress."

"I…" Ellis tried to argue, turning a wounded, pleading look toward him. Nonetheless, his stance was firm; there was even a hint of restrained anger in his expression.

She knew better than anyone that once Charles decided, no one could change it.

She quickly changed her tone.

"Thank you, Zoey," she said softly. "But this is something Charles made for you himself. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to wear it."

Charles handed the wedding dress to the staff.

"Go try it on. If anything doesn't fit, there's still time to alter it. I'll wait outside."

Before I could say a word, he gently but firmly ushered me away.

Just a few minutes later, my phone buzzed.

An anonymous message.

[So what if he designed a wedding dress for you himself? He gave Donna title to me.]

[Even if you get that wedding ceremony, it won't matter. You'll always be the mistress his family refuses to acknowledge.]

[Your child will never walk freely in the light.]

Attached was a freshly issued marriage certificate.

My chest felt like it had been torn open.

I had known this outcome all along, but seeing it still hurt enough to make the tears fall uncontrollably.

When I came out after changing into the wedding dress, Ellis was already gone.

Charles had changed into his groom's suit. He stood beside me in front of the mirror, my hand tucked into his arm. His face was filled with excitement and anticipation.

"Zoey, you're beautiful," he said, eyes shining. "Being able to marry you is the greatest blessing of my life."

He then swept me into his arms, lifting me in a princess carry and spinning in place.

The joy on his face was so real.

For any man, marrying the woman he loved felt like winning a war.

At this moment, Charles looked every bit like a victorious general.

My tears fell all at once.

I was not ready to let go of this love. If he had just been honest–if he had told me the truth, promised that he would marry me within a fixed time–I would have waited.

"Charles… Do you love me?"

"Of course I do," he said without hesitation. "My princess is the one I love most. Why would you ask that?"

"Are you feeling pre-wedding anxiety?" He added as he wiped away my tears gently.

"Are you hiding anything from me?" I asked softly.

He froze for a brief moment, just about to answer when his phone rang.

Through the muffled sound, I caught words like Ellis, fainted, bleeding.

Charles's face turned deathly pale.

"Ellis collapsed," he said urgently. "I need to go check on her."

"Don't overthink things, princess," he added quickly. "The only one I love is you. I wouldn't hide anything from you.

"Just focus on preparing for the wedding."

He kissed my forehead and rushed out.

My hand hung in midair, fingers grasping at nothing but air.

I let out a bitter smile.

So this was the truth: Ellis already held a place in his heart that surpassed mine.

After changing out of the wedding dress, I went straight to the hospital for a prenatal checkup.

I might be done with this relationship, but I was keeping my child.

The doctor glanced at my test results, then looked up.

"The child's father didn't come with you?"

I lowered my eyes, my voice calm and distant. "He's busy with work. He can't make time."

After the examination, I took the report and walked out of the consultation room.

Then, in the hospital lobby, I saw the two people I least wanted to see.

Ellis was nestled in Charles's arms, one hand gently resting on her lower abdomen. Her face glowed with happiness.

She spotted me first. A smug smile curved her lips as she spoke sweetly, "Zoey, what a coincidence. Why are you at the hospital, too? Aren't you supposed to be at the bridal shop?"

Only then did Charles notice me. A flicker of panic crossed his eyes before being replaced by concern.

He gently eased Ellis aside and walked toward me.

"Zoey, are you unwell? Where's your report? Let me see."

He scanned me anxiously from head to toe.

"It's nothing," I said lightly. "Just a routine checkup."

He finally relaxed.

"That's good. Well, go home and rest. I'll finish Ellis's checkup and head back later."

I nodded and left.

The moment I got home, another video arrived.

"I want a wedding dress you design with your own hands too."

"You know… No woman ever grows up without dreaming of being a beautiful bride."

Charles was silent.

"I don't want our child to grow up and realize his parents don't even have wedding photos," she continued softly. "He'd feel inferior."

"…Alright," Charles finally said. "I'll design one for you. And later, I'll make it up to you with a proper wedding."

[Did you see that?]

[I didn't just have his marriage certificate–I had a wedding too.]

[And you? You're nothing but the third party.]

I downloaded the video and saved it.

Then my best friend called.

"Your new identity has been registered," she said. "The documents will be mailed to you by tomorrow.

"Also, I've booked your flight—tomorrow night at eleven.

"Don't worry. With this new identity, Charles will never be able to find you."

After thanking my friend, I ended the call and began packing my things.

Standing on the balcony, I noticed two figures downstairs.

Charles and Ellis.

"Can't you stay with me tonight?" Ellis tugged at his hand, sounding needy.

"Ellis, the only person I love is Zoey. Don't cross the line."

"But I'm carrying your child!"

Boom.

It felt as if a bomb had gone off in my head.

Ellis was right; the child was Charles's after all.

That meant his betrayal had not started recently; it had been going on for a long time.

"I warned you," he said coldly. "This is something only you and I know. No one else can find out, especially Zoey. I've already given you status. Don't start wanting more.

"If Zoey ever finds out, I'll divorce you immediately and throw you out of the Jaspier family home."

Seeing how firm he was, Ellis immediately softened, pleading in a low, pitiful voice.

"I understand… Don't be angry.

"You don't have to stay with me. I'll go home by myself, okay…"

Only then did Charles's expression ease.

"As long as you behave, everything can be discussed.

"The only one I love is Zoey. If she ever leaves me because of you, this will be your ending."

He raised his hand and made a gun gesture, then turned and walked upstairs.

Ellis, unable to stop him, stomped and looked toward the second floor. I quickly retreated to the bedroom and lay down.

Tears soaked into the bedsheets.

Not long after, Charles came in and wrapped his arms around me from behind.

"I missed you so much, my love. Our wedding is the day after tomorrow–are you excited?

"Wait, why are you crying?"

When his hand touched the damp pillow, panic flashed across his face. He pulled me into his arms.

"Who upset you? Tell me. I'll take care of them." He gently wiped my tears, looking at me with obvious concern.

"No one," I said softly. "I was reading a novel. The man secretly married someone else without telling his girlfriend. She ended up becoming the ‘other woman' without even knowing it. A… tragic character, really."

Charles froze for a moment.

Then, he pinched my nose lightly.

"That's just fiction. Made-up nonsense to grab attention."

"Charles," I said quietly, "if you ever fall in love with someone else, or cheat on me, I want you to tell me. I'll let you go, and we'll break up properly. Don't betray me, okay?"

"Don't say things like that," he replied instantly. "I only love you. I would never cheat."

He hugged me tightly, rubbing his face against my neck affectionately. "For this entire lifetime, you're the only one I love. I won't even look at another woman."

"Then, when are we going to register our marriage?"

I felt his arms stiffen for a split second before he put on that familiar, tender expression again.

"Tomorrow."

"Really?" I smiled. "That's great."

Still, he had already legally married someone else. How could he possibly register with me?

Before I could think it through, he stroked my hair.

"Go to sleep early. You're about to be a bride, and your skin needs to look perfect.

"I have to handle a supplier contract."

I nodded.

Watching him walk into the study, I lay in bed, wide awake.

I got up to get some water–and overheard something I never could have imagined.

"Don, the staff member at Window Eight in the city hall," he said on the phone, "has agreed to help issue a fake marriage certificate.

"She'll pretend to operate the system and then give you forged documents."

Charles let out a long breath of relief.

"Once it's done, I'll reward him with a garden villa."

I nearly cried out loud.

So this was why he dared to promise marriage.

Back in the bedroom, I stared at the ceiling, forcing myself not to cry.

I already knew he was lying to me, so why did it still hurt when he lied again?

Charles… One lie needed to be propped up by many more. How many lies had you woven around me?

I had no idea how I passed out asleep.

When I woke again, it was already close to noon.

Charles had thoughtfully prepared breakfast, as well as all the documents needed for marriage registration.

"After we eat, we'll go register."

He looked at me gently, his eyes as affectionate as ever.

In the past, that look would have moved me deeply. After what I heard, though, it only filled me with quiet despair.

Acting out devotion so convincingly was a skill anyone could learn.

After breakfast, we went to city hall. Casually, he chose Window Eight.

The staff member really did operate the computer. To make it look convincing, she even chatted with us, saying how well-matched we were.

Holding the product of this lie in my hands, I wanted to tear it up–but I held back.

I could not let Charles notice anything unusual. If he did, I would never be able to escape his control.

He planned to go home with me, but after receiving a call, he hurried away.

I exhaled in relief. If he had not left, I would have had to find an excuse myself.

Back home, I retrieved new identification and documents from the mailbox.

Tracy Fox.

That would be my new identity.

As evening approached, Charles called to say he would be attending a pre-wedding bachelor party and would be back late. He told me to sleep early. We would meet at the wedding banquet the following day.

Perfect. That made my departure easier.

I packed a few clothes and was just about to head to the airport when another anonymous message arrived.

A video.

The room was filled with people–members of the Jaspier family, all with status in that mafia dynasty.

They were congratulating Charles on becoming a father, celebrating the birth of a new heir.

A bitter smile curved my lips.

Everyone knew she was the legitimate one… Me? I was the shameful secret that could never come to light.

Suddenly, my stomach stirred.

"Don't worry," I whispered. "Mommy won't let you be hidden away like you mean less."

I turned on the gas in the kitchen and sealed all the doors and windows.

After dragging my suitcase outside, I got into a friend's car.

She placed a fake human skeleton–identical to my body size–onto the bed.

"From today onward," she said, "Zoey Qandor no longer exists."

She drove me straight to the airport.

By the time flames shot into the sky and swallowed the villa whole, I had already vanished from the control of that mafia empire's ruler.