Blurb：
I entered a marriage of convenience with Liam Vincent, bound by family ties but torn by unspoken love. On our wedding night, he confessed his heart belonged to another—Chloe, a girl from humble beginnings whose pride and resilience captivated him. I hid my seven-year secret crush and agreed to a two-year contract: he would secure control of the Vincent Group, then we’d divorce. But when danger struck at my birthday party, Liam rushed past me to save Chloe, leaving me injured and heartbroken. Discovering his heartfelt promises to her, I realized my place was temporary. Now, as the divorce looms, will Liam’s feelings shift, or will pride and duty keep us apart? Dive into this emotional rollercoaster of love, betrayal, and hidden desires.
Content：
I married Liam Vincent through a marriage of convenience between our families.
On the night we got our marriage certificate, he smoked by the floor-to-ceiling window and told me he had a girl he truly loved.
That girl was poor. Yet she was proud and had a strong will to overcome difficulties.
After a moment of silence, I didn’t confess my seven-tear feeling for him as I had planned to.
Instead, I asked, “So what do we do?”
He gave a faint, cool smile.
“Let’s make it two years. By then, I will control the Vincent group.”
“We’ll divorce. But don’t worry, I’ll compensate you and the Sullivans.”
I agreed.
But when that day finally arrived, he was the one who changed his mind.
Three months after marrying Liam, I finally met Chloe.
It was my birthday.
The Vincent family had prepared it for half a month — venue, desserts, drinks, everything had to be the best.
I heard someone exclaim,
“Old Mr Vincent really values this granddaughter-in-law.”
“Probably everyone with power and influence in Northwood is here.”
That was true.
Yet, even so, something unexpected happened.
The chandelier above suddenly fell.
At that moment, only a server and I were underneath.
Panic erupted around us. I was about to move away when I saw Liam push through the crowd and rush over.
Then he passed right by me and pulled that server to safety.
In the end — my arm was struck, leaving a gash, while that server was held protectively in Liam’s embrace.
I had never felt so awkward.
But soon, Liam reacted. He released the person in his arms, walked over, picked me up, and took me to the hospital.
So no one dwelled on what had just happened.
When I woke up, I saw Liam standing by the hospital window, on a phone call.
“You shouldn’t have come today. If you got hurt, what would I do?”
“I will divorce her eventually. Just wait for me, okay?”
I realized then that the server was Chloe.
The girl he wanted to marry but couldn’t.
He turned around, noticed I was awake, and let out a slight sigh of relief.
I wanted to smile, but I couldn’t.
He walked over and raised an eyebrow.
“You’re awake?”
I said yes.
In the three months since our marriage, we appeared respectful and harmonious in public.
Actually, aside from the night we got married, we hardly spoke.
Now, the silence hung in the air as usual.
After a long while, he asked, “Aren’t you going to ask for an explanation?”
I said no need — I had already guessed who that person was.
He chuckled softly,
“You’re as sharp as you were in school.”
After he left, a friend came to visit me.
“The Vincents are in chaos right now.”
“You have no idea how worried Liam looked when he carried you here.”
“I’m really happy for you.”
“When you first got married, I was worried. But now, I feel like it’s only a matter of time before you win over his unattainable heart.”
Sunlight streamed in through the window.
I suddenly remembered, half an hour earlier, I had been in my room opening gifts.
It was only at the very end that I noticed Liam’s gift.
It was a necklace.
From a very famous brand.
I put it on right away.
But earlier, I had seen a bracelet from the same brand on Chloe’s wrist.
The gift I had been overjoyed to receive was just something he picked up on the side while buying her bracelet.
I spoke up abruptly, “I’ve already agreed to divorce him in two years.”
My friend stood up suddenly, seeming to realize something, looking at me in shock and anger.
“What? Why? Are you crazy?”
“Is he seeing someone else?”
I smiled.
That wasn’t it.
Liam wasn’t that kind of man.
On the contrary, he protected Chloe meticulously.
He loved her carefully, afraid that ill-intentioned people might trouble her, or that she’d bear any bad reputation.
Aside from me, only a few of his close friends knew he had fallen for a girl outside our social circle.
“No.”
“As for the reason… I can’t tell you right now. No matter what, it’s already decided. I gave my word, and I’ll keep it.”
Spending a lifetime with a man who didn’t love me.
Versus the practical benefits he could offer me and my family.
Anyone would know which to choose.
My friend was silent for a moment and didn’t ask further.
Finally, she just said, “But you’ve liked him for so many years.”
I sighed.
So what?
I met Liam when I was sixteen and was his deskmate for half a year.
When I was sick, he carried me to the infirmary and stayed with me all morning, missing an important basketball game.
When others gossiped about my mom being the other woman and me being the illegitimate child, he defended me.
We participated in academic competitions together, hosted School Gala together.
He said, “May everything go well.”
And I added, “Let’s step into the new journey together.”
Yet, at twenty-three, when we were about to get engaged, sitting face-to-face at the same table.
He looked at me distantly,
“Have we met before?”
He had forgotten me.
But I hadn’t changed much.
I was still quiet, with long hair and a blue dress, not smiling much.
The only difference was that my once bare face now wore light makeup.
Turns out, those things I saw as lifelines were just casual acts of kindness from him.
He was just a good person, not good to me specifically.
So I just smiled, pretending not to care.
“Don’t you remember? I’m Sophia Sullivan. Your classmates in high school.”
Liam looked up, his furrowed brow relaxing.
He sighed, “It’s you.”
Liam personally came to pick me up on the day I was discharged.
The hospital room was filled with things — fruit baskets and flowers from friends and relatives, along with my toiletries and clothes.
He carefully packed them all and handled the discharge procedures.
When we went downstairs, he carried all the bags.
The elevator was crowded. He stood beside me, leaning slightly to shield me.
Even in such moments, he remained composed.
Not looking the least bit flustered.
Outside the elevator, I sincerely thanked him.
Liam glanced at me.
“No need to be polite. After all…”
He paused there.
His gaze shifted past me, looking in another direction.
I followed his line of sight.
And saw Chloe.
She was dressed simply, supporting a middle-aged woman, walking out.
After a moment, I noticed the middle-aged woman had a slight limp, walking unsteadily.
I collected my thoughts and turned back, but Liam was already gone.
He left quickly.
I hurried to catch up. Whether it was because I wanted to talk to him or was genuinely curious, I somehow blurted out,
“Aren’t you going to check on them? I can go back alone.”
Liam stopped abruptly.
I bumped into his back.
He looked down, his expression cool.
“No need. Let’s go.”
I nodded blankly, then heard his voice again.
Light, but with a hint of warning.
“Sophia.”
“I told you about Chloe because I didn’t want complications.”
“But if you think that means you can interfere in our business.”
“You’re mistaken.”
The hospital lobby was bustling with people. I lowered my eyes, “Okay.”
“Sorry, I spoke out of turn.”
He cherished Chloe so much. Naturally, he didn’t want outsiders to see her struggles, to look down on her or belittle her.
After that day, I never brought up Chloe again.
Neither did Liam.
But I knew he kept close tabs on her.
It was hard not to overhear things.
I learned that Liam had discreetly arranged a job for Chloe.
Well-paying and respectable.
To protect her pride, he went through several layers of contacts. Even the final person handling it didn’t know it was actually Liam’s doing.
He had put so much thought into it.
Over time, even I felt that if they didn’t end up together, it would be because fate was cruel, unwilling to let soulmates unite.
My relationship with Liam remained lukewarm.
He had felt somewhat guilty about my injury, but I foolishly ruined that guilt with my thoughtless remark at the hospital.
Our relationship only eased two months later.
It was because of Chloe.
Her mother, that middle-aged woman, had been in a car accident a few years ago and already had leg problems.
She needed check-ups every few months.
That day, it was raining. While collecting clothes at home, she slipped, hit her head, and was found by a neighbor who took her to the hospital.
Liam was in another city, in meetings all day.
Chloe couldn’t reach him, desperate, she came to the Vincent estate.
That day, Mrs Vincent had just returned from an auction with some jewelry and invited me over to choose a few pieces.
Midway, I heard a knock at the door.
For some reason, my eyelids twitched. I stopped the housekeeper from answering and opened the door myself.
I opened it to see Chloe’s pale, helpless face.
She saw me, paused, then pursed her lips.
“I need to see Liam.”
Before I could respond, Mr Vincent walked out, his voice stern.
“Sophia, who is it? I heard someone asking for Liam.”
Startled, I locked eyes with Chloe.
Then I turned back, smiled slightly, and took Chloe’s arm.
“Grandpa, she’s my friend. Here to see me.”
Mr Vincent gave us a meaningful look, then finally nodded.
“If you have matters to attend to, go ahead. I’ll have the driver take you.”
I said okay and led Chloe out of the Vincent estate.
I didn’t use the family driver.
Instead, I took one of Liam’s cars from the garage.
Chloe initially refused to get in.
She asked, “Do you know where Liam is?”
After Liam and I married, she had cut off contact with him. My birthday was the last time they spoke.
In some ways, she was indeed a proud and resilient girl.
I rolled down the window, my expression cooling.
“He can’t come back.”
“Since you came looking for him, it must be urgent. Whatever he can do, I can do too. Get in, I’ll help you.”
“If not, forget it.”
Chloe looked at me deeply, then got into the passenger seat.
She gave me the hospital address.
I drove straight there without hesitation.
At the hospital, I handled the paperwork, paid the fees, and through a friend, got the best doctor available.
Once everything was settled, I went to the waiting area outside the operating room and saw Liam.
Across the hallway, the man looked travel-worn, kneeling to comfort the girl he cherished.
He reached out, wiped her tears, then took off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
He told her, “I’m here for you.”
Chloe nodded, her eyes red.
I thought, my presence was no longer needed.
I left the hospital, opened Liam’s chat, and briefly explained the situation.
Then, I went home, showered, and went to bed.
At 1 a.m., he responded briefly.
[Okay.]
[Thank you.]
It wasn’t until the next evening that I saw Liam again.
I was in my pajamas, coming downstairs, and ran right into him.
He stiffened, looked at me, and seemed momentarily stunned.
I didn’t ask about Chloe.
But Liam actually brought it up himself.
After explaining, he looked up and added,
“She wanted me to explain — on your birthday, she didn’t mean to cause trouble.”
I was surprised.
After staring at him for a while, I nodded.
“Okay, I understand.”
From that day on, thanks to Chloe, we inexplicably grew closer.
When visiting the Vincent family, Liam would actively serve me food, walk with me, and occasionally speak to me softly, almost tenderly.
After graduation, I started a studio with a friend. It was doing alright.
I stayed busy, and our schedules aligned.
Over time, Liam would even drive me to and from work, make breakfast, and ask if I wanted anything when he traveled.
Whatever I mentioned, he bought me.
He also bought things for Chloe, but never asked her, never gave them to her directly.
Those items reached her through various roundabout ways.
Raffles, freebies, company gifts…
For her, he went to great lengths.
She was proud. That medical bill was clearly noted as a debt, unwilling to owe Liam anything.
Once, Liam returned home.
He was drunk, collapsed on the sofa, and told me,
“She’s dating someone.”
I was stunned, feeling sorry for him.
“What?”
He laughed, “Do you think she doesn’t believe in me?”
“Doesn’t believe I can measure up to those people.”
Simply put, he felt Chloe didn’t believe he could break free from the Vincent family’s control, divorce as promised, and marry her.
Liam’s parents died early. He was raised by his grandfather.
He had no full siblings but two cousins.
And several uncles.
None of those relatives were easy to deal with.
Over the years, they competed for right of inheritance, all wanting to be the true head of the Vincent family.
Liam had suffered under them.
Right after graduation, he tried starting his own business, but just as it gained traction, someone schemed against him, leading the business to failure.
Otherwise, he would have inherited the Vincent’s assets and been with Chloe long ago.
He could endure hardship but couldn’t bear to see Chloe suffer in poverty with him.
Honestly, Liam was young, with few experiences. Compared to others in the Vincent corporation, he was at a disadvantage.
Mr Vincent loved him, but he was old. The Vincent family would eventually be handed over to those uncles if Liam couldn’t be strong enough then.
And I was the partner Mr Vincent personally chose for Liam.
Sometimes, I wondered.
I’d liked him for so many years, we were married, rightful husband and wife.
We’d vowed in church to share honor and disgrace, support each other for life.
How did we end up like this?
Once I hoped, what if mutual feelings would develop?
In two years, what if he came to like me?
But that thought was fleeting.
I’d liked Liam for seven years.
I wanted nothing more than for him to achieve his wishes.
So I said, “I believe in you.”
He looked up suddenly, laughing softly.
Finally, he closed his eyes, murmuring, unclear if drunk or dreaming,
“You’re such a good girl. Why did you marry me?”
After that day, he got busier.
I bet he was afraid Chloe might really marry someone else.
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