Blurb：
After believing her fiancé Hubert Parker died days before their wedding, Rose discovers shocking messages revealing his elaborate fake death scheme. As Ashford’s elite whisper about her quick engagement to another powerful heir, Rose uncovers Hubert’s affair with a secret lover in Westin. Supported by friends Ryan Wood and Sean Smith in this deception, Hubert plans to return for their wedding—but Rose’s grief turns to cold calculation. This emotional rollercoaster blends betrayal, revenge, and second chances, perfect for readers who love strong female leads turning tragedy into triumph. Will Rose expose Hubert’s lies or craft her own revenge?
Content：
Hubert Parker and I had been together since our teenage years.
We went from innocent first love to planning a lifetime together.
But a week before our wedding, he died in a sudden accident.
I cried until I nearly passed out, only to see strange messages flashing before my eyes.
[Can someone please tell the poor female lead hes not really dead?]
[Huberts secret lover ran away after hearing about his wedding. He faked his death that very night and flew overseas to chase her. The female leads crying by his grave while the mistress is crying in his bed. This is killing me!]
[What a pity. When he finally came back, she knew nothing and still married him with a smile]
Half a month later, news spread across Ashford that I was engaged to the heir of one of the citys most powerful families.
One of Huberts closest friends confronted me in disbelief.
It hasnt even been that long since Hubert passed, and youve already found someone new?
Hes gone. I cant spend the rest of my life in mourning, can I?
Chapter 1
When lines of text started flashing before my eyes, I thought it was just grief making me hallucinate.
But the messages didnt stop
[If the female lead goes up to the rooftop now, shell realize the male lead isnt dead at all.]
[Shes barely eaten in two days because of him. Hows she supposed to climb to the rooftop in that state?]
Dragging my lead-heavy legs, I forced myself up the stairs toward the rooftop.
There was only a short flight left when I heard a voice I knew better than anyonelight, teasing, and familiar.
My funerals not even over yet?
The voice came from the phone of Huberts close friend, Ryan Wood.
Not yet, man.
Wheres Rose? She hasnt figured anything out, has she?
Ryan replied, No way. Shes been running herself ragged the past two days. Nearly fainted yesterday from crying too hard. Shes probably still in her room sobbing right now.
Huberts tone was casual. Make sure you keep comforting her for me.
Another friend beside him, Sean Smith, chimed in, half-joking, But seriously, Hubert, youve really fallen for that little sugar baby of yours, havent you?
Faking your death and flying all the way to Westin just to chase her. You even made us play along too.
The messages were right.
I gripped the railing so tightly my knuckles turned white.
Every cell in my body trembled.
I heard Hubert say, Whether Ive fallen for her or not isnt your concern. Just help me keep it from Rose.
Ryan asked, So, are you still going through with the wedding?
Of course. Once Im back, everything goes on as planned. But before that, cant you let me go a little crazy for love?
Well, thats fair.
After marriage, Ill only be allowed to orbit around one person. Might as well enjoy this while I can, haha.
The three of them laughed in silent understanding.
But my blood froze like ice.
I had prayed countless times that Hubert might still be alive.
But never in a way like this.
The messages popped up again.
[The female leads seen the truth! Ahhh, I hope she wakes up soon!]
[Go out there and tear that scumbag apart!!!]
But I didnt rush out to expose him.
I turned around and quietly walked down the stairs.
After retching over the toilet for a while, I stared at the woman in the mirror.
Her eyes were bloodshot from sleepless nights, her face pale and hollow.
I cupped some water and splashed it on my face.
Then wiped away the traces of tears with a towel.
[As expected, the female lead knows the truth but still chooses to endure it. Im so mad right now!]
[Of course she does! She loves him too much. And after hearing hed still marry her when he comes back, she decided to swallow her pain.]
[I think shes just waiting for the right time to strike back.]
When I stepped out of the room, Ryan handed me two tissues.
His face was filled with feigned sympathy. Rose, dont be too sad. Huberts watching over you from above. He wouldnt want to see you like this.
I looked up at him, taking in the overly solemn expression he was trying so hard to fake.
Chapter 2
Do you think Hubert might still be alive?
Ryan froze for half a second before quickly regaining his composure.
H-how could that be? They already recovered his clothes and shoes from the river. You saw them yourself.
A week ago, Huberts car had plunged into the river late at night.
The police concluded hed been swept away by the current while trying to escape from the vehicle.
Id stayed by the riverbank all night without closing my eyes.
The rescue team searched for days and only found his jacket and shoes. Id been so devastated I nearly passed out.
Today was supposed to be our wedding day.
I held our photo and cried until my head throbbed.
And now, to learn all of it was staged by him
My grief had been nothing but a cruel joke.
[The male lead really outdid himself this time. Cheating and playing the victim? Thats just pathetic.]
[Right? At first, I thought this story was going to be a sweet romance. Turns out its just heartbreak served cold.]
[The female leads such a stunning socialite from Ashfords high society. If he doesnt want her, Ill take her any day.]
The nausea and ache in my chest eased a little, thanks to those comforting comments.
Ryan spoke again. Rose, dont let your thoughts run wild. If Hubert could see you right now, hed be heartbroken.
Heartbroken, huh
What an ironic word.
I had even thanked him for helping me arrange Huberts funeral just this morning.
It turned out they were all just the same underneath.
Following the comments hints, I searched for the account of Huberts mistress on social media.
That was when I discovered shed appeared right under my nose countless times.
She was a small influencer under Huberts media company, named Jenna Song.
Her account was called ParkerAndJenna.
The latest video showed a street in Westin, where two people held hands and embraced like theyd finally reached the end of a long journey.
And I could recognize that small mole on the mans hand.
The caption read: In the year of purest love, he left behind the fiance his family had chosen for him and crossed more than ten thousand kilometers to find me, all the way from Ashford to Westin.
The video went viral, and the comment section was filled with praise for their beautiful love story.
Its like a real-life forbidden romance! A billionaire chasing his lover across the worldso romantic!
This plot feels familiar. The billionaire-chasing-his-runaway-lover story just came to life for real! Ahhh!
Rich men really are hopeless romantics. Where can I find a sugar daddy?
Then the messages appeared again.
[Are these commenters even real? This isnt romance, its an affair scandal.]
[Fiance his family had chosen for him? Please. Stop glorifying the cheater. The fianc the female leads family set her up with before was literally supposed to be the storys main villain!]
Hubert and I werent in an arranged marriage.
We met back in high school.
By then, my parents had already chosen a match for me.
He was Liam Park, the heir to one of Ashfords most powerful families.
But I didnt want to marry him.
My parents marriage had been built on interests, not love.
Growing up, I watched them act affectionate in public, only to bring different lovers home in private.
The rare times they were together always ended in shouting and blame.
I was tired of that kind of hollow, broken relationship.
So, I rejected the idea of marrying for convenience.
During my second year of high school, Hubert was assigned the seat behind me.
When I was at my lowest, he came into my life like a ray of sunshinewarm, persistent, and impossible to ignore.
Saying yes to his confession felt completely natural.
We grew together from high school sweethearts to a couple planning our wedding.
Not long ago, we even returned to our old school to give a talk.
Everyone envied us as the perfect match.
People said our story was a school romance come to life, and I believed them.
I truly thought Id found real love.
Chapter 3
I never realized that the one person I thought would never betray me had already found himself another woman.
In her videos, the girl called him honey in a sweet, clingy voice.
She posted clips titled Little Moments with My Sugar Daddy, and countless followers kept urging her to upload more.
Hubert would hold her in his arms, filming trendy couple dances together.
Even though his face never appeared, it was obvious he was enjoying every second.
All those business trips he talked about, he took her along each time.
And every night I thought he was working late, he was actually in someone elses arms.
Once, I told him not to push himself so hard.
He smiled and said, I just want your parents to respect me. I also want to earn more, so I can give you a wedding everyone envies.
Five minutes before the accident, Hubert sent me a message: No matter what happens, Ill always love you.
Every time I read that text, I cried all over again.
And now, it all felt like a bubble that had burst into nothing.
[The male lead even had his fake-death story all figured outswept downstream, rescued by some kind family, and conveniently struck with amnesia.]
[The worst part? The female lead actually believed him, married him, and lived a miserable life, trapped in a cycle of forgiveness until she died broken-hearted. Why are authors still writing this kind of toxic old-school drama?!]
[But hey, the storys taking a twist now. The female lead found out the truth early. Please let her not repeat the same mistake this time!]
I went downstairs.
On the living room couch sat Huberts mother, Susan Parker.
When she saw me, her eyes, red and swollen from crying, narrowed sharply.
If you hadnt insisted he come back, my son wouldnt have driven into that river. Youre the reason hes dead. His blood is on your hands.
Hubert had been on a business trip out of town.
The day after Huberts accident was supposed to be the day we tried on our wedding outfits.
Hed lost control of his car that night and plunged into the river.
When I first received the news of his death, I forced myself to stay calm and comfort his mother.
But she shoved me hard and screamed, You jinx! Youre the reason my sons dead!
[The female lead should run while she still can. A house without blessings isnt worth stepping into.]
[She wont. A few days ago, the male leads mom called her a curse and said she doomed her husband to die, and she actually blamed herself. After being tormented by that old witch, shell just end up getting tortured again when the male lead comes back from his fake death.]
Susan and I never got along.
Before the accident, hed promised me that after our marriage, we wouldnt live with her.
But lately, out of guilt, I let her take out all her anger on me.
Now, watching her clutching Huberts photo, I suddenly found the sight almost comical.
Before I realized it, a laugh slipped out.
Susan exploded instantly. What the hell are you laughing at?
She jumped to her feet, about to slap me.
Sean rushed over to hold her back. Please, maam, calm down. Rose is just heartbroken and not thinking clearly. Dont take it to heart.
Ryan added, Rose, just apologize to her, okay?
I slowly walked over to Susan.
She turned her head away, thinking I was about to comfort her.
No matter what you say, Ill never forgive you. You and my son were only engaged, not married. Dont even think about getting a penny of his inheritance.
But I only leaned closer.
Whispering in her ear, I said, Your son got exactly what he deserved. When are you going to join him, you old hag?
She gasped, clutching her chest, and collapsed onto the couch behind her.
[Hahaha, the old witch finally got what she deserved! Team female lead all the way! Lets see who dares to mess with her now!]
Chapter 4
[Finally! The female lead isnt putting up with her anymore.]
The room descended into chaos as the relatives rushed toward Susan.
She pointed a trembling finger at me. Its her! Shes the one who killed my son! Ryan, call the police and have her arrested!
[The male leads mom is completely unhinged. No wonder she raised such a jerk of a son.]
[The female leads finally standing up for herself. This is so satisfying!]
[I just hope shes truly done this time. Im scared shell cave the second the male lead comes back]
Tears welled in my eyes. Since you hate me so much, Mrs. Parker, Ill move out of this house.
Rose, dont say that. Youre upset right now.
Its fine. Stop trying to talk me out of it. The longer I stay, the more it hurts her. Ive already decided to leave.
Ryan and Sean exchanged a look.
This clearly wasnt part of their plan.
Ryan stepped aside and sent a message to Hubert.
Hubert replied, You know how my mom is. She raised me on her own. It hasnt been easy. Tell Rose to be more understanding.
But your mom keeps cursing at her. Shes dead set on moving out.
Then let her. Once Im back, I can talk her into coming home.
Got it. Ill leave it for now.
Of course, I couldnt hear their conversation.
But thanks to the messages, I knew exactly what was said.
After packing up the things that belonged to me, my friend, Holly Park, helped me call a moving company.
Rose, are you sure youre okay? she asked carefully.
Shed seen with her own eyes how shattered Id been just a few days ago.
Im fine, I said, shaking my head. Right now, I just want to find a place to move into as soon as possible.
Then something seemed to occur to her.
My brother has a villa. He hasnt stayed there since he went abroad. You can move in for now until you find somewhere better.
The messages suddenly flooded in.
[Our dark, obsessive second male lead is finally about to show up! The original story barely gave him any scenes, but honestly, I kind of love his character.]
[He texted the female lead, and she still hasnt replied. His villain arc just leveled up to max.]
Second male lead? Liam Park?
I didnt even have his number, only his old contact from middle school.
And that account had been hacked for years, sending me random links every month or two.
Afraid they were viruses, Id never opened any of them.
I even muted the notifications.
So, Id missed the message he sent me a week ago.
He wrote: Do you need help?
That same night, news broke all over Ashford that the rescue team was searching the river for Hubert.
A video of me crying during an interview went viral online.
Many people felt sorry for Huberts tragic death and sympathized with me.
Liams message had been sent that very day.
I hadnt seen his message back then, so of course, I never replied.
After thinking for a moment, I decided to send a polite response anyway: No, thank you.
He replied almost instantly: Alright.
That short exchange brought back the memory of the day Hubert confessed to me.
Hed asked me to meet him by the grove next to the school building.
The wind that day was strong, whipping my hair across my face.
As I brushed it aside, I looked up and saw Liam standing on the top-floor balcony.
He leaned casually against the railing, his dark eyes calm as they followed me.
I looked at him for a moment.
Then lowered my gaze, smiling as I said to Hubert, Okay.
When Hubert leaned in and kissed my cheek, I looked up again.
The boy at the end of the corridor was already gone.
Only the branches above us kept swaying wildly in the wind.
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