Chapter 5: The Marriage Built on Lies
The fake signature stared back at me.
My name.
My handwriting.
My identity.
But not my choice.
"I didn't sign this.""
My father's lawyer nodded.
"We know.""
"Then why does it exist?""
He looked serious.
"Because someone wanted legal proof that you agreed to something.""
I turned the page.
The words blurred.
A business agreement.
A transfer of ownership.
A document connected to a company I had never heard of.
My father's jaw tightened.
"Dominic.""
I looked at him.
"You think he did this?""
"I think we need answers.""
That was the difference between my father and everyone else.
He didn't rush to punish.
He investigated.
But I was tired of investigating my own marriage.
I wanted the truth.
The entire truth.
That afternoon, Dominic came to my father's house.
He looked like he hadn't slept.
Good.
Neither had I.
He stood at the door.
"I need to talk to you.""
I didn't move.
"You have ten minutes.""
His eyes closed briefly.
Then he stepped inside.
For a moment, he looked around.
At the paintings.
The large windows.
The quiet elegance of a home he had never bothered to understand.
"You really never told me.""
I stared at him.
"That's what you're thinking about?""
"No.""
He shook his head.
"I'm thinking about how wrong I was.""
I said nothing.
Dominic sat down.
"I didn't know Chloe planned to accuse you like that.""
"But you knew something.""
His silence confirmed it.
"What?""
He rubbed his hands together.
"My mother and Chloe thought you needed to be reminded of your place.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Your place?""
He looked ashamed.
"They thought you were getting too comfortable.""
I laughed softly.
Not because it was funny.
Because it was unbelievable.
"Too comfortable being your wife?""
"Vivienne...""
"No.""
I looked at him.
"Say it.""
He couldn't.
So I did.
"They thought I forgot I was beneath them.""
Dominic looked away.
That was his answer.
I stood.
"Why did you marry me?""
His eyes filled with tears.
"Because I loved you.""
"Then why did you let them hate me?""
He had no answer.
The silence stretched.
Finally, he whispered:
"I was afraid.""
I stared at him.
"Of what?""
"My family.""
The honesty hurt.
More than a lie.
Because it meant I had spent three years fighting people he was too afraid to confront.
A knock interrupted us.
My father's assistant entered.
"Mr. Hayes, we found something.""
My father looked at Dominic.
"Something about the missing money.""
Dominic stood quickly.
"What money?""
Nobody answered.
The assistant placed a tablet on the table.
On the screen was a bank record.
A transfer.
From Dominic.
To Eleanor.
With a description attached.
"Advance payment — final arrangement.""
My eyes moved to Dominic.
"What arrangement?""
His face changed.
And I knew.
This wasn't just about my family.
This wasn't just about Chloe.
This was about me.
"Dominic.""
He whispered:
"I can explain.""
I shook my head.
"No.""
My voice was quiet.
"Explain why your mother was paid to destroy my marriage.""
His face went pale.
Because he couldn't.
Then his phone rang.
Everyone looked at it.
The name on the screen appeared.
Eleanor.
Dominic didn't answer.
It rang again.
And again.
Finally, my father said:
"Put it on speaker.""
Dominic hesitated.
Then answered.
"Eleanor?""
Her voice immediately filled the room.
"You idiot.""
Everyone froze.
She continued.
"You were supposed to keep Vivienne away from the documents.""
My heart stopped.
Dominic looked terrified.
"Eleanor, stop.""
"No. This is your fault.""
The room became silent.
"You should have convinced her to sign months ago.""
My father's expression changed.
Sign.
Months ago.
The fake contract.
The transfers.
The wedding.
Everything connected.
I whispered:
"What documents?""
Eleanor heard me.
The line went silent.
Then she said my name.
Not kindly.
Not angrily.
Fearfully.
"Vivienne?""
I stepped closer to the phone.
"What were you trying to make me sign?""
No answer.
Then the call ended.
That night, I couldn't sleep.
Every memory felt different.
Every conversation had a shadow behind it.
Dominic bringing me coffee.
Dominic telling me his family was difficult.
Dominic asking me to trust him.
Had all of it been real?
Or had I only been convenient?
At 3:17 in the morning, my phone buzzed.
Another unknown number.
A photo appeared.
I opened it.
And my blood froze.
It was a picture of Dominic.
Standing in an office.
Talking to Chloe.
Taken two weeks before the wedding.
The message underneath was simple.
"You think your husband betrayed you yesterday?""
May you like
Another message appeared.
"Wait until you learn why he married you.""
