The moment I saw his face through the crowd, my blood ran cold. Nolan Reed—the man I mourned, the man whose funeral I attended—was standing right there, very much alive. “Adeline, you must have had this planned long ago,” he said, his voice dripping with accusation. He was wrong, but I couldn’t find the words to defend myself.
I glanced at my sister, Kaylee, who was clinging to his arm, her eyes gleaming. She had been the one who told me Nolan was dead. She had been the one who convinced me to move on. “He’s clearly Nolan,” Kaylee whispered, barely hiding her excitement.
My hands trembled. I thought I’d buried him. I thought I’d started over. And now, everything I’d rebuilt was crumbling.
Nolan stepped closer, his jaw tight. “I regret so much leaving all my assets to you two back then. ”
The words hit me like a slap. The money, the estate, the promises—it was all tangled up in this mess.
Kaylee shot me a look, something between pity and satisfaction. “What exactly are you up to? ” Nolan demanded. “Since he is indeed Nolan Reed, then pay me the money immediately.
”
I felt the room closing in. My chest tightened as I realized what this meant. My fiancé, Neil, stood frozen beside me, watching the scene unfold. My sister had betrayed me.
The man I loved was alive. And I’d been played like a fool. Then Nolan pulled out a document, waving it in front of me. “It’s written in black and white that after his passing, half his assets go to Maureen for her old age, and with the other half for your wedding.
”
Wedding. The word echoed in my ears. I was hours away from marrying Neil. And now, Nolan was here to reclaim everything, including me.
“You really are still alive? ” I whispered, my voice cracking. Nolan’s eyes softened for just a second. “I thought I could never see you again.
”
But then Kaylee stepped between us, her voice sharp. “He’s clearly a con artist. Don’t believe him. ”
I shook my head, pieces clicking together.
She knew. She had to have known. “You knew clearly he was my husband, huh? ” I said, turning to face her fully.
Kaylee’s face paled. “That’s enough,” she said quickly. But I wasn’t stopping. Months of lies, months of them whispering behind my back, months of watching them get close—it all made sense now.
Nolan had never been dead. Kaylee had hidden him away. And together, they’d taken everything from me. My voice broke as I looked at them both.
“I’ll only regret not divorcing you sooner. ”
Nolan flinched like I’d struck him. I grabbed my bag, steadying myself. I wouldn’t let them see me fall apart.
Not here. Not now. And as I turned to walk out the door, Nolan’s voice followed me, low and dangerous. “Adeline, you can’t marry anyone else.
”
I stopped. He didn’t say please. He didn’t say he was sorry. I looked back at him, my heart pounding.
He had to be stopped. Before I could even think about what came next, I knew one thing for certain. He wasn’t going to let me go.
