Chapter 1
My husband had taken a mistress.
He called her his wife, exchanged rings with her, and held an engagement ceremony with all the
e pomp–gifts, vows,
celebration.
Yet I was the real Mrs. Norfolk.
Still, everyone referred to Olivia Baker as his wife.
They said I had a heart like a viper. Even Adden said I was always scheming and manipulative.
Even the physician who checked my pulse would mutter, “Madam, you are always thinking too much. It’s harming your health.”
I had only smiled faintly. Yes, I was indeed scheming,
That was why I was going to use my own life to destroy Aiden’s political future–and make sure he regretted it for the rest of his days.
It was a bright, clear day–perfect for a wedding, the kind where everything would look beautiful,
And yet, the vast Norfolk estate was eerily silent. Not a single servant in sight.
They had all been summoned elsewhere–out to the holiday bungalow outside the city. Because today, Aiden was marrying Olivia Baker
Outside the chapel, the ground was covered in fresh blooms. Guests packed the steps and the aisles. It was far more extravagant than when he married
me
After all, she was the one Alden truly cared about.
And—was just a nominal Mrs. Norfolk.
As I sat there thinking, the sunlight spilled through the tall windows, and suddenly, the sound of a violin floated in from outside.
The melody was the Bridal Chorus–elegant and sweet, as if ushering joy into every heart.
I didn’t even need to guess. Aklen had hired someone specifically for this.
He was afraid I might rain his joyous day with Olivia. But he also didn’t want me to have any peace at home. So, this was his solution.
He had gone to such lengths, just to make sure I knew–how deeply he hated me.
I sat by the window and Listened in silence.
When the music stopped, I walked into the inner room and changed my clothes
I put on a simple linen gown. Its plainness clashed harshly with the opulence of the Norfolk estate.
Just like Aiden and me–welliad never belonged together.
I stopped outside and handed a few silver coins to the violinist.
He took them with trembling hands, probably wondering how I could seem so calm after being humiliated like this.
I gave him a sanall sandle and didn’t explain. I simply followed the cobbled street all the way to the city wall.
Ordinary citizens weren’t allowed up there–but I was Alden’s wife, the duchess of the kingdom’s youngest duke,
name only, perhaps Lat even so, the guards still granted ane passage.
Estood at the highest point of the wall. From here, I could s
A smile touched my lips. I closed my eyes–and leapt
the grand cathedral draped in flowers.
The wind roured past my ears. I heard the crowd scrup. And then, with a dull, inal thud
Everything fell into silence,
My eyes stayed open as blood seeped out from beneath me, blooming Ilke petals on the stones
My body felt shattered, every bone broken. I wanted to scream from the pain–but I must have snapped my neck. I couldn’t make a sound.
I imagined 1 inast’ve looked quite wretched in death.
But it didn’t matter. As long as Aiden felt even a sliver of regret I would die satisfied.
