chapter one: the arrest

Chloe's POV

That morning, I watched him get ready. His suit was perfect. For a second, I remembered why I fell for the idea of him.

“Ready to make us official?” he asked, smiling.

I forced a smile back.“I’m ready.”

It was the truth.Just not the one he thought.

---

The ballroom was too much. Too many flowers, too many of my father’s rich friends. I watched them from my window.

My father stood there, looking proud enough to break my heart. Beside him was Richard, Dad’s best friend. He wasn’t drinking his champagne—just watching. His calm gaze made me feel strangely steady.

And in the third row… a woman with tired eyes. Two small children squirmed beside her.

His real family.

My heart turned to stone.

Everyone was here. Perfect.

Almost everyone.

My eyes went to the empty chair in the front row.That was Rita’s spot. A last-minute trip had taken her to Singapore.

I’ll be watching in spirit,she’d texted.

---

My dad knocked and came in. “My darling girl,” he said, eyes shiny.

This dress cost more than a car.It felt like a costume.

“You look…”

“Like a liar,Dad?” The words just fell out.

He looked confused.“Just nerves. It’s normal.” He held out his arm. “Ready?”

Walking down the aisle felt like a bad dream. I glanced at Rita’s empty chair and pretended she was there, winking, holding our secret.

Then I saw Clement. Smiling like he’d already won. He was looking at my family’s money—his ticket up.

He wasn’t looking at me.

---

My dad put my hand in his. It was sweaty.

“Take care of my heart,”Dad said. It sounded like a warning.

“With my life,sir,” Clement said smoothly.

So good at lying.

The priest began. “Dearly beloved…”

My mind snapped back to one week ago.

---

I’d come home early with a headache. The house was quiet.

Then I heard his voice from our bedroom.Mean.

“Don’t worry,babe. The bitch doesn’t suspect a thing.”

I froze.

“The wedding is next week,”he was saying. “Once we’re married, I find the money. I’ll wait six months, then leave her. She’s just the ladder. You and the kids get everything.”

A woman’s voice, tinny and sad: “Bryan misses his daddy.”

“Tell Bryan daddy is working hard for his future.”

I didn’t scream. A cold, clear feeling took over.

The love wasn’t just gone.It had never been real.

Every nice thing was a line.Every plan, a trick.

So I made a new one.

---

“If anyone knows a reason these two should not be married,” the priest said, “speak now.”

The room held its breath.

This was my cue.

Silence.

Then, the door at the back opened.

Two police officers walked in. Their boots were loud. The music died.

Clement kept smiling,confused. Head tilted like a puppy.

They stopped in front of us.

“Clement Rake?”

“Yes?Officers, there’s a mistake. This is my wedding…”

“Your wedding is over,sir. You need to come with us.”

“For what?”

“Fraud.And bigamy.”

The word bigamy hung in the air.

Clement’s face went white. He looked at me. His eyes, always full of fake love, were just wide and lost.

“Chloe?”he whispered. “Baby, what’s happening? Tell them.”

I let go of his hand. Took one step back. Looked right at him.

“I’m not a ladder,Clement.”

I nodded to the tired woman now holding her face.

“And she just closed your bank.”

The confusion in his eyes shattered. He understood.

“You…you knew?”

I didn’t answer.I turned my back.

---

“CHLOE! WAIT! I LOVE YOU!”

He yelled,scrambling as the officers grabbed him. The click of handcuffs was the loudest sound I’d ever heard.

I didn’t look back. I walked up the aisle, alone in white, through a sea of shocked faces.

My dad stood pale.

Richard was beside him,holding his arm. But Richard’s eyes—his intense grey eyes—were locked on me.

He didn’t look shocked.

He looked like he respected what he saw.

---

I pushed through the doors and ran.

In my car, it all hit me. I ripped the veil off, threw it on the seat. Then I cried. Ugly, shaking sobs.

My phone lit up.

Unknown: You evil witch!

Clement’s Mom: We’ll ruin you!

Then, a message. A picture of a smiling woman with two little kids.

RealWife_23: Please. Call off the police. For my kids. We need him.

Real wife.

The words swam in my tears.I’d seen her photos. The life he was “working so hard” for… with my money.

---

My phone rang. Rita.

I answered,voice broken. “It’s done.”

“Oh,Chloe.” Warm, even from across the world. “I saw it. He got what he deserved.”

I cried again,exhausted.

“Go home,”she said softly. “To your dad’s. Don’t be alone.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll come straight to you.I promise.”

That promise felt like a rope.“Thank you.”

---

My phone rang again. Dad.

“Hi,Daddy.”

His voice was steady.The only solid thing left. “My sweet girl. I’m so sorry. Richard is making calls…”

“It’s all true,Dad. Another wife. Kids. He was going to take everything and leave.”

A long silence.Then, pure dad-anger. “That heartless bastard.”

“Come home. Now. The plane is waiting. This house is your safe place. Do you hear me?”

Safe place.“I hear you.”

“Just get to the plane.Maria’s making up your old room. Come home, Chloe. Let me take care of you.”

“Okay,Dad. I’m coming.”

---

I started the car. Didn’t go to my apartment full of lies. Drove to the private airfield.

Our jet waited,clean and white.

I walked across the pavement. The hem of my huge dress dragged, getting dirty. The flight attendant didn’t blink at a lone bride.

“Welcome,Ms. Dufort,” she said, eyes kind.

I fell into the seat. As we flew over Orlando, I stared at my reflection in the dark window.

A ghost in a wedding dress,leaving everything broken behind.

---

I was going home.

But the hopeful girl who left a year ago was gone.

I didn’t know who this person was,coming back.

All I knew was this:

Clement Rake didn’t just take my trust.

He took my whole world.

And I had no idea how to find a new one.