Chapter 22
Scott’s lips were warm against mine–gentle,
full of quiet promises. I let myself melt into
the kiss, letting my walls fall for just a
moment. But then, like a whisper in the back
of my mind, she appeared again.
That woman.
The one who’d been laughing with him in his
office. The one who said he still had feelings
for her.
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My Husband Faked Our Marriage
I slowly pulled away.
“Scott…” I whispered, my voice unsure. “I
need to ask you something.”
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He blinked, concern flickering in his eyes. “Of
course. What is it?”
“I… the day before the fire, I came to your
office. I heard someone.” I swallowed. “A
woman. She said… she said you still had
feelings for her.”
He looked confused for a second. Then
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My Husband Faked Our Marriage
realization dawned on his face. “Sabrina,” he
muttered. “That was–she’s a client. She’s
been with the company for years, and she’s
always been… persistent.”
I stayed quiet.
a
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“She wanted me to cancel our deal and be
with her instead. I told her no. I told her it was
you. Only you.”
“Did you?” I asked softly.
His expression was hurt. “Didn’t you hear me
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My Husband Faked Our Marriage
say it?”
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I looked down. “I left before you could.
Because… I was scared of what I’d hear. I
thought I was going to hear you choose her,
and I couldn’t take it. Not after everything I’ve
been through.”
He reached for my hand. “I’m not him,
Cassandra. I’m not Johansen.”
“I know,” I said, voice trembling. “And that’s
what scares me. Because I’m starting to love
you, and I don’t want to lose myself again.”
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My Husband Faked Our Marriage
He smiled, gently brushing his thumb along
my knuckles.
“Then let’s take the risk together.”
I nodded.
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And then, with a sudden burst of certainty in
his eyes, he said, “Let’s get married next
week. No more postponing. No more waiting.
I want the world to know I’m yours.”
I blinked, stunned. “Next week?”
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My Husband Faked Our Marriage
“Yes,” he said, determined. “Let’s do it.”
When I was discharged, Scott carried me out
of the hospital like I was made of glass.
Everything felt like it was falling into place-
finally. The boutique reconstruction had
started.
My strength was returning. I had a man who
saw me for more than what I could offer him.
But then, he was there.
Johansen.
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My Husband Faked Our Marriage
Standing outside the hospital gates with dark
circles under his eyes and flowers crushed in
his hand.
He looked like a man who hadn’t slept in
days.
“Cassandra,” he said, stepping forward.
I stopped in my tracks. Scott instinctively
stepped in front of me, but I raised a hand.
“It’s okay.”
Johansen looked at me like he was seeing a
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My Husband Faked Our Marriage
ghost.
“Please,” he said. “Just five minutes.”
“You had years,” I said coldly.
“I made a mistake,” he said. “I know that. And
I don’t deserve anything–not even your
forgiveness. But I loved you. I still do. I didn’t
know how much until you left.”
“You knew,” I snapped. “You just didn’t care.”
“I did,” he insisted. “I was a coward. I didn’t
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My Husband Faked Our Marriage
protect you from Maureen. I thought I could
control everything, that I could have both of
you without anyone getting hurt. I was
wrong.”
“Johansen-”
“I’ll leave Maureen. I already did. I want to
make things right with you.”
“Too late,” I whispered. “I’m getting married.”
His face fell. “To him?”
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My Husband Faked Our Marriage
“Yes.”
He dropped to his knees. Literally.
2
“I’m begging you,” he said. “Please… don’t
marry him. Give me another chance.”
I looked down at him, broken and pathetic
and far too late.
“I’m done giving chances,” I said, turning
away.
He didn’t follow this time.
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My Husband Faked Our Marriage
Back home, the wedding preparation was in
full swing. My mother was ecstatic, buzzing
around with color swatches and seating
charts. And for once, I let myself enjoy it.
But then, a piece of news hit the media.
Maureen. She’d jumped off a bridge.
Survived.
Paralyzed from the waist down.
They said she’d been screaming in the
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My Husband Faked Our Marriage
hospital that no one cared. That Johansen
left her. That I destroyed her life.
I felt nothing. Just… emptiness.
There was a time I loved her like a sister.
Trusted her. Believed in her. But that version
of her died the moment she locked me in a
burning boutique.
She made her choice. And I was done
mourning it.
That night, Scott took me out—not to a
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My Husband Faked Our Marriage
restaurant or a fancy party–but to the place
where our journey really began.
The mall. But it had changed.
a
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“Surprise,” he said, as he handed me a folder.
Inside were blueprints. Signed permits. Full
ownership rights.
“What is this?” I asked.
“Your boutique,” he said. “Your entire line.
And your own wing in every mall I own. This
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My Husband Faked Our Marriage
isn’t just about us. It’s about what you’ve
built.”
I stared at him, speechless.
“And I promise,” he added, “to always talk to
you. To never hide anything. You’ll never
wonder where you stand with me.”
I smiled. “Then I’ll risk it all. With you.”
The wedding was tomorrow. And everything
was finally falling into place. Of course, he
came again.
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My Husband Faked Our Marriage
Johansen. Outside the boutique. Waiting.
Trying.
But this time, I didn’t even slow down.
I passed by him like he was a stranger. And
walked right into the life I chose.
With Scott.
The man who didn’t just love me.
He respected me.
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And that… was everything.
