The Nights Everything's Changes

⚠️ CONTENT WARNING

This story is not for the faint of heart.

A MARRIAGE BUILT ON LIES explores dark romance, betrayal, obsession, manipulation, infidelity, and the painful consequences of secrets hidden behind a seemingly perfect marriage.

Expect intense emotions, complicated relationships, morally gray characters, jealousy, heartbreak, mature themes, and situations involving compromised consent.

This story also contains themes that some readers may find disturbing or triggering.

These elements are included as part of the story's conflict and should not be taken as examples of healthy or acceptable behavior.

As the story unfolds, expect passion, temptation, forbidden attraction, heated confrontations, complicated desires, and mature romantic themes.

Not every character will make the right choice.

Not every relationship will be what it seems.

There will be lies that look like love, promises that hide betrayal, and desires that come at a dangerous price.

Read at your own discretion and prioritize your comfort while reading.

If you're ready to enter a marriage built on secrets, a love born from betrayal, and a journey where broken hearts may find an unexpected second chance...

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Hello, my dearest readers!

Before you begin this story, I just want to take a moment to say thank you for giving A Marriage Built on Lies a chance.

This is a story I've been wanting to write for a long time, and I hope that as you turn each page, you'll allow yourself to get lost in Jasmine's world the lies, the heartbreak, the secrets, the betrayal, and the unexpected love that will slowly unfold along the way.

But let me warn you...

This is not going to be a simple love story.

There will be moments when you'll love the characters.

Moments when you'll question their decisions.

And probably moments you'll hate me, because of the things they do.

Please remember that all the characters in this story are fictional. They are flawed. They make mistakes. Some of their choices may frustrate, anger, or even disappoint you.

Not everything they do represents what is right or acceptable in real life.

As mentioned in the content warning, this story contains mature and dark themes, including betrayal, infidelity, manipulation, emotional trauma, complicated relationships, and situations involving compromised consent.

Please read at your own discretion.

This story will also bring you romance, tension, jealousy, emotional moments, unexpected twists, forbidden attraction, and scenes that may make you scream, cry, or fall for a character you never expected to like.

And yes...

Jasmine, Jared, and Kalex are going to take you on one complicated journey.

So, if you're ready...

Welcome to a story where love isn't always what it seems.

And welcome to a journey where one lie can change everything.

---

For this story, updates will be posted once a day only.

I know some of you may want several chapters in one day, especially when the story ends on a painful cliffhanger, but please bear with me.

I have a lot going on outside of writing, and I also want to make sure every chapter receives enough time, attention, editing, and care before I post it.

Writing isn't always as simple as sitting down and typing.

There are days when ideas come easily, and there are also days when I have to stare at the screen for hours just to figure out how to continue one scene.

There's editing, revising, proofreading, planning future chapters, and making sure the story remains consistent from beginning to end.

That's why I've decided to keep the schedule at one update per day.

I hope you can understand and respect the schedule. 🤍

And if a chapter ends with a painful cliffhanger...

Please don't blame me.

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Please don't be afraid to share your thoughts after reading.

Tell me who you love or hate.

Who you think is lying.

Your theories and predictions.

And whether you saw a plot twist coming.

Most importantly, tell me what you think about Jasmine, Jared, and Kalex.

I genuinely love reading your reactions, theories, comments, and predictions. Sometimes, your reactions are one of the things that motivate me to keep writing.

But please remember to keep the comment section respectful.

You're absolutely allowed to hate a character, disagree with their actions, or have your own theories and opinions.

But let's remember that we're all here because we love stories.

Some characters may make terrible decisions, but that doesn't mean we need to attack readers who happen to like them.

Let's discuss the story without attacking each other.

I hope that when Jasmine's story finally reaches its conclusion, you'll understand why every lie, every heartbreak, every mistake, and every unexpected encounter had to happen.

Until then...

See you every night.

With love,

Anne Author

---

PROLOGUE

The elevator doors opened, revealing the luxurious penthouse waiting for us.

I stepped inside with a smile, my heart still filled with excitement.

Finally, we were alone.

Our honeymoon was supposed to be the beginning of our life together, the first chapter of the marriage I had dreamed about for years.

I turned toward my husband.

“It's beautiful.”

He didn't answer.

I frowned.

“What's wrong?”

He remained standing near the door, his expression unusually serious.

“Jasmine, we need to talk.”

Something in his voice made my smile disappear.

“About what?”

He took a deep breath.

“There’s something I should have told you before we got married.”

He looked away for a moment before finally meeting my eyes.

“I’m gay.”

For a few seconds, I couldn't process what I had just heard.

“What?”

“I’m gay, Jasmine.”

I stared at him.

Then I laughed.

Not because it was funny.

I couldn't believe he was serious.

“You’re joking.”

“I’m not.”

My chest tightened as I stared at him.

“Then why did you marry me?”

“Because I need your help.”

“Help?” I repeated, my voice rising. “What kind of help?”

“Jasmine—”

“Don’t!”

I stepped away from him, my disbelief slowly turning into anger.

“You let me believe you loved me.”

“I do care about you.”

“Care about me?”

A bitter laugh escaped me.

“You married me knowing you didn't love me the way a husband should!”

He didn't answer.

And his silence hurt more than anything.

I felt tears burning my eyes.

“I want a divorce.”

His expression changed instantly.

“No.”

I stared at him.

“No?”

“Please, Jasmine. Just listen to me.”

“I've heard enough.”

I turned toward the door.

He quickly stepped in front of me.

“Don't leave.”

“Move.”

“Please.”

His voice was desperate now.

I looked at him, confused and furious.

“What more could you possibly want from me?”

He swallowed.

“I need you to stay.”

I stared at him in disbelief.

“After everything you just told me?”

“I know what I did was wrong.”

“Then why should I stay?”

He hesitated before finally saying,

“Because of my inheritance.”

I froze.

“What?”

“My family has a condition attached to it.”

He lowered his gaze.

“My grandfather's will states that I can only receive my inheritance if I'm married and remain married for a certain period of time.”

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

“So that's why you married me?”

He said nothing.

“You used me.”

“Jasmine, please—”

“You married me because you wanted your inheritance.”

“I was desperate.”

“And what am I supposed to do with that?”

He stepped closer.

“Stay with me for one year.”

I stared at him.

“One year?”

“Yes, just one year. After that, I'll give you the divorce you want.."

I shook my head.

“You're asking me to pretend to be your wife for an entire year after telling me you're gay?”

“I know I'm selfish.”

“It's more than selfish.”

Tears finally slipped down my cheeks.

“You destroyed everything I believed about us.”

“I know.”

He looked genuinely desperate now.

“But please. Give me one year.”

I wanted to slap him. I wanted to scream at him, curse him, and demand to know how he could deceive me so cruelly.

But beneath all that anger was a painful truth I couldn't deny.

I still loved him.

Even after everything.

And that was what made his betrayal hurt even more.

I clenched my fists, fighting back the tears burning in my eyes.

“You bastard,” I whispered, my voice trembling with anger.

I wiped my tears and looked away.

“One year,”

His eyes widened.

“Jasmine—”

“One year,” I repeated, my voice cold.

“But after that, we're done.”

He nodded quickly.

“Thank you.”

I didn't answer.

Instead, I walked out of the room without looking back.

The doors closed behind me, shutting him and the life I had imagined with him out of sight.

Tonight was supposed to be the beginning of my happily ever after.

Instead, it became the night everything I believed about my marriage came crashing down.

I kept walking until I reached the parking area, my mind still struggling to process what I had just discovered.

I should have gone home.

But I couldn't.

I needed somewhere far away. Somewhere quiet. Somewhere, no one would know me.

I pulled out my phone and booked a car.

A few minutes later, a black sedan pulled up in front of me."

“I quickly wiped the tears from my cheeks before getting into the car. I slid into the back seat and quietly closed the door behind me.”

“Where to, ma'am?” the driver asked when I got inside.

"Tagaytay."

As the car pulled away, I looked through the window at the hotel slowly, disappearing from view.

I pressed a hand against my chest.

It hurt.

But I refused to cry.

Not tonight.

I opened the map on my phone and stared at the destination I had chosen.

I didn't know what I was looking for there.

Peace, Distance perhaps.

Or simply a place where I could forget that my husband had never truly been mine.

I leaned my head against the window as the city lights passed by.

For tonight, I didn't want to be a wife.

I didn't want to be the woman who had been betrayed.

Hours later, the cool breeze of Tagaytay greeted me.

The streets were quieter than the city, the air colder, and the lights scattered across the hills looked almost peaceful from a distance.

I stepped out of the car and took a deep breath.

Maybe this was what I needed.

A fresh start.

Even if it was only for one night.

I walked toward a quiet spot overlooking the city. There were only a few people around, most of them keeping to themselves.

I found an empty bench and sat down.

“Tonight, I'm done being the good girl.”

I whispered the words to myself.

Then I heard a voice behind me.

“Sounds like you're having a bad night.”

I froze.

Slowly, I turned around.

A man stood a few steps away.

Tall.

Dark-haired.

His hands were tucked casually into the pockets of his jacket as he looked at me with an unreadable expression.

I didn't know him.

And yet, there was something strangely calming about his presence.

“I'm fine,” I lied.

He gave a faint smile.

“You don't look fine.”

I looked away.

“Maybe I just needed to get away.”

“From someone?”

I glanced at him.

“From everything.”

He nodded as if he understood.

He didn't ask another question.

Instead, he moved toward the railing and looked out at the view.

For a few moments, we stood in silence.

Two strangers.

Two separate reasons for being there.

Neither of us knew anything about the other.

Then he looked at me again.

“Do you always run away when things get difficult?”

I almost laughed.

“No.”

I paused.

“Just tonight.”

His lips curved into a small smile.

“Then tonight must have been something.”

I looked at him, and for some reason, I smiled back.

It was the first genuine smile I'd managed all evening.

I didn't know his name or his story, nor did I know why he was alone in Tagaytay that night.

But somehow, meeting him felt like a strange kind of escape.

And maybe that was exactly what I needed.

One escape from my broken marriage.

A chance to forget the rules.

A moment when I could simply be Jasmine.

What I didn't know was that the stranger standing beside me was about to become the one man I should have stayed away from.