Chapter 1: The Marriage Certificate

The morning Elena Whitmore married Julian Ashford, the city buzzed with excitement. Every newspaper and gossip website carried the same headline: Ashford Heir Marries Unknown Woman. To outsiders, it looked like a fairy tale. Julian Ashford was handsome, wealthy, and the future head of the most powerful family in the city. Elena was merely the daughter of a struggling businessman who had passed away years earlier.

As she stood in front of the courthouse holding their marriage certificate, Elena felt something she had not experienced in years. Hope.

She glanced at Julian standing beside her. His expensive black suit fit him perfectly. His sharp jawline and cold gray eyes made him look more like a model than a businessman.

Julian never looked at her.

The entire ceremony had taken less than fifteen minutes. No flowers. No family. No vows.

Just signatures.

'It's done,' Julian said flatly.

Elena forced a smile. 'Yes. We're married now.'

Julian's expression remained unreadable. 'Don't misunderstand. This marriage changes nothing.'

The words hurt more than she expected.

'I know,' she whispered.

Julian walked away without another word, already answering a business call.

Elena watched him disappear into the crowd. Even after marrying her, he looked as though he couldn't wait to escape her presence.

Still, she told herself things would improve.

People could change.

Love could grow.

At least that was what she wanted to believe.

Three years later, Elena realized how wrong she had been.

The Ashford Mansion was larger than some hotels. Marble floors stretched endlessly beneath crystal chandeliers. Servants moved quietly through the halls.

Yet despite all the luxury surrounding her, Elena felt completely alone.

She sat quietly in the dining room while Julian's family enjoyed breakfast.

'Claire returns tomorrow,' Margaret Ashford announced happily.

Immediately the atmosphere brightened.

'Really?' Julian's younger cousin asked excitedly.

'Finally,' another family member added.

Only Elena remained silent.

Claire Bennett.

The woman Julian had loved before their marriage.

The woman everyone believed should have become Mrs. Ashford.

Margaret glanced at Elena and frowned.

'Why aren't you saying anything?'

'What should I say?' Elena asked softly.

'You could at least pretend to be happy.'

'I am happy if everyone else is happy.'

Margaret rolled her eyes.

'That's exactly why nobody likes you. Always acting like a victim.'

The table erupted in laughter.

Elena lowered her gaze.

No one defended her.

Not even Julian.

He simply continued drinking his coffee as though the conversation had nothing to do with him.

A familiar ache settled inside Elena's chest.

Three years.

Three years of trying.

Three years of cooking for the family, attending every event, supporting Julian's career, and enduring countless insults.

Yet she remained an outsider.

The moment breakfast ended, Julian stood.

'I'm leaving for the office.'

'Julian,' Elena called gently.

He paused.

'What?'

'Would you be home for dinner tonight?'

His eyes briefly met hers.

'Probably not.'

'I understand.'

'Good.'

Then he left.

Just like always.

The mansion felt colder after his departure.

Elena returned to her room.

On her bedside table sat a small wooden box.

Inside were dozens of letters.

Letters she had written to Julian over the years.

Letters she never had the courage to give him.

Every page contained the feelings she could never express aloud.

She opened one randomly.

'Dear Julian, today you smiled at me for two seconds. I know it sounds ridiculous, but those two seconds made my entire week brighter.'

Her eyes filled with tears.

How pathetic.

Most wives expected affection.

She celebrated basic politeness.

A knock interrupted her thoughts.

One of the servants entered nervously.

'Madam, Miss Claire has arrived early.'

Elena froze.

'She's here now?'

'Yes.'

Before Elena could respond, excited voices echoed through the hallway.

Claire had arrived.

The entire household rushed downstairs.

Elena followed more slowly.

The moment she entered the foyer, she saw them.

Claire stood at the center of the room wearing an elegant cream coat. She was beautiful, confident, and effortlessly charming.

Julian stood beside her.

Smiling.

Actually smiling.

Elena couldn't remember the last time she had seen that expression directed at anyone.

'Julian!' Claire laughed.

'You haven't changed at all.'

'Neither have you.'

The warmth in his voice stunned Elena.

Margaret immediately embraced Claire.

'Welcome home, dear.'

'I missed everyone so much.'

Claire's gaze finally landed on Elena.

'Oh.'

The smile on her face faded slightly.

'Hello, Elena.'

'Welcome back,' Elena said politely.

Claire nodded.

'Thank you.'

The interaction lasted only seconds.

Yet Elena somehow felt like an unwanted guest inside her own marriage.

Over the following weeks, Claire became a permanent presence.

She attended family dinners.

Business events.

Charity galas.

Even private gatherings.

Everywhere Elena went, Claire appeared.

And every time she did, Julian seemed happier.

One evening Elena returned home carrying groceries.

As she entered the mansion, laughter drifted from the living room.

She paused.

Julian and Claire sat together on the sofa reviewing old photographs.

'Remember this trip?' Claire asked.

'Of course.'

'You carried me down an entire mountain after I injured my ankle.'

Julian laughed.

'You refused to stop complaining.'

'Because it hurt.'

'You were impossible.'

They both smiled.

The sight felt like a knife twisting inside Elena's heart.

Not because Julian was laughing.

But because she realized something devastating.

He was capable of being warm.

Capable of being kind.

Capable of loving someone.

That someone simply wasn't her.

Later that night, Elena sat alone in her bedroom staring at her reflection.

Dark circles surrounded her eyes.

Her smile had long disappeared.

She barely recognized herself anymore.

A notification appeared on her phone.

Family Group Chat.

Curious, she opened it.

The latest photo showed Julian and Claire standing together at a charity event.

Someone had added a caption.

'The couple that should have been.'

Several family members reacted with laughing emojis.

Others agreed.

No one objected.

No one defended Elena.

Her hands trembled.

For a long moment, she simply stared at the screen.

Then something inside her quietly cracked.

Not dramatically.

Not loudly.

Just enough to leave a permanent fracture.

For years she had convinced herself that patience would eventually earn love.

That sacrifice would eventually earn respect.

That loyalty would eventually earn a place in this family.

But sitting alone in the darkness, Elena finally faced a painful truth.

Some people only tolerated her existence.

Others wished she would disappear entirely.

And the man she loved most had never truly chosen her.

Outside, rain began falling against the windows.

Inside, Elena closed her eyes and whispered words she never imagined saying.

'Maybe everyone would be happier without me.'