LOGINFive years ago, Elara Vance poured her heart into letters for a boy she had never met letters that kept him alive during his darkest days. But when her closest friend stole her identity, Elara never corrected the lie. That friend, Selene Ward, died of a terminal illness, leaving behind a legacy Elara could never claim. Now married to Mason Lorne the man who once loved her words but believes they belonged to Selene, Elara lives under the shadow of a ghost. Mason’s heart still belongs to the dead, and every act of kindness Elara shows is twisted into proof of her supposed jealousy. When an unexpected encounter with Selene’s grandmother reignites old wounds, Mason’s accusations grow crueler. Pressured by both families for an heir, trapped in a loveless marriage, and silenced by the weight of her own guilt, Elara makes a choice to disappear. But in her absence, she leaves behind the truth. And when Mason finally sees it, regret will be his only companion
View MoreChapter One
Elara's POV
It was today. Just like every marriage had an anniversary, mine did but it was a constant reminder that I was the second choice, I was the one who stood in the gap of some else. I've always craved to be Mrs. Lorne. But that dream almost did not happen but fate has other stories to tell but here I am suffering immensely the sins of another.
I know you must be thinking I am the bad guy in this story, maybe I stole someone else's husband, but it was quite a steal, and I regret it now. I should have let things go.
My name is Elara Vance. The only daughter to the Vance family. I come from an average family, nothing much but we could afford three square meals without a fault. I was married to the dreamiest man in the city. Mason Lorne. The CEO and billionaire of the Lorne Enterprise, a family business he took charge off when he was just a teenager, after his father had passed.
But I was married to him now, on the outside we were a perfect couple and Mason was polite but behind he close doors, he cared less about me.
I hoped to change things that year as we clocked two years together. It has been a rollercoaster of emotions and our marriage was like a plaster to a leaking gas pipe.
While I stood in the kitchen, I used my hand towel to wipe off the sweat off my forehead as I stared in admiration. I had prepared a master piece, the Mansion was Empty, I had leased all the household staff on a abrupt day off to spend the day with my husband, Mason.
I carried the last plate, heading to the dinning table when I heard approaching steps, he walked down the stairs already dressed up for work, as he usually do but it was a Saturday... What could he have to do on a Saturday, when he has assistants to do all the dirty work.
My eyes ran through him, he was wearing the tuxedo black suit he had gotten from his last trip to Paris, his hell was well gelled back, his blues yes lingered at the table for a moment but a frown appeared on his face in displeasure.
"What's going on here? And where are all the staff?" He asked looking around not caring what was on the table.
I stood there, as I gulped down the saliva that had stuck on my throat, before I hastily took off the apron I had on and undid my hair, I had tied up in a ponytail.
I was dressed in a simple red gown, my dad had bought for me for my graduation for college, it still fitted and it served the purpose well.
"Uhmm... Mason.. I sent them away." I said, trying to mask up a smile.
" And why would you do that? What gave you the right to do that?" He requested, I froze for a second, then proceeded to say.
"It's our anniversary...today...and I was ho...ping that you spe...nd it with me.." I said, I didn't fear him. I just feared his response. Mason was never abusive physically, he just didn't care. I know he blamed me for all that happened. I was the reason his happiness was shattered. His eyes held so much hate for me, I knew he couldn't stand me but there was still a glimmer of hope that he could have breakfast with me for the first time in two years.
It's been two years and I didn't know what Mason's touch felt like, he had left me on the night of our wedding to catch some fun with his buddies and got drunk. We barely saw each other, he leaves home at the break of dawn and returns at the dead of dust. Just to avoid me.
This marriage was built on shambles and I have to make him see reason for this marriage to work.
He looked at me, like I was playing a joke, "anniversary?" He questioned and I nodded immediately.
The silence that reign between us was definite. He then broke the silence saying." I have a meeting today with the president, you can suit yourself or buy whatever you need." He said, and just like that he walked out the door, not waiting for my response, but the loud thunder of the door shrieked me back to reality.
Feeling lost and defeated, I collapsed to the chair in utter disappointment. I stared at the drugs I bought earlier today to make Mason want me so I could have a baby for the Lorne family but all was shattered, I had an appointment with him today and it was the same old story.
The Lorne family had booked an appointment with the family doctor for me, I was tired but I didn't have the liver to tell anyone I was Mason's wife for two years and he never touched me. Everyone assumed our not ability to conceive was my fault but how was it possible if Mason avoided me like a pandemic at home? I didn't know I was in tears until the tear hit my hand, that rested on the table. I wiped them off quickly as I stood up,
"It was all for nothing..." I said to myself , as I grabbed my hand bag, resting on the couch, heading for the hospital for my monthly routine check up.
I got into my car, as I started the engine, and drove off to the hospital,
The ride was long and quiet for me, as soon as I got to the hospital, I got out after parking, as I walked down to the main entrance, the nurses knew my face by now already.
"Good morning, Mrs. Lorne..the Doctor would see you shortly..." She told me, I tried to mask up a smile as I nodded, I headed to the waiting room, my phone binged, thinking it was Mason, it was only a reminder alarm for my visit to the hospital.
I breath out, as I turned only to crash into someone, her bag fell to the floor, I immediately bent over to pick it up,
"So sorry ma'am..." I said as I rose up my eyes met with her gaze, she looked at me as if trying to remember.
"Elara darling....?" She called, she was the sole reminder of the cause of all my problems.
"Grandma Mag...." I called...
Chapter 21Elara's POV I lay sprawled on the bed as the sun rays escaping through the curtains hit my face. I slowly opened my eyes, and I was still feeling very much asleep, but I couldn't find him around. The bed was empty, and the room was quiet, maintained, and I called. I slowly drifted my dusty. I slowly shut my eyes again, trying to muster the only energy I could find. Slowly, I regained my strength as I sat up, rubbing my eyes. When the duvet fell over my chest, it was only then that it dawned on me that I was without clothes, literally nothing.I gasped,"Wait, what the hell happened last night?" I tried my best to search my brain for the memory of last night, but it all came in flashes. I heard his voice, his deep voice, whispering it to me. It flashed back to my reality. We actually made love last night. I instantly felt a hot blush flush my cheeks and the tip of my nose. I didn't know what to feel, whether to be happy or sad, or to be scared. What if he had changed?
Chapter 20 Elara's pov We walked into the room, I supposed Wanmin, but he hand shut the door behind him, all the tears instantly got replaced by my fear as my heart skipped a bit. I turned slowly to him, he didn't say anything. The room was big with a king-sized bed with rose petals on it saying"Happy honeymoon." But this wasn't our honeymoon we were just drenched in the rain," This is for newly wedded couple...s" I said slowly, dragging my words."I know that....since we couldn't have our honeymoon, don't you think tonight makes it perfect?" He said, my chest tightened as I swallowed hard in nervousness.His gaze was glued to mine, like if he took it off, I'd disappear."Honeymoon?" I scoffed, feigning lack of interest. "Don't you think it's too late for that? We're 3 years in already."Mason flashed a warm smile, "you can say it is considering the way our anniversary went." He said, but I didn't mind.."You need to get dressed, and change into the dress I asked the motel to pro
Chapter 19Mason's POV "Do not test my patience." My father said briefly, his gaze fixed on me. The tension in the room began to increase, I felt a warm hand pull me away from my father."Mason.... please... don't" Elara's small voice said."You! You're the reason for this shenanigans!" my mother charged at Elara.The look of disbelief was all over my face, "What's with you two? You both asked me to marry her shortly after the death of Serene." I could understand why the sudden shift, 3 years ago they shifted me to her and now it's too Betty."You want to know? Yes, we asked you to marry her but what has been the product of this sham marriage? No child! No heir!!""And somehow it's her fault?"I threw back at them, I began hearing sniffing from? Behind me, it was Elara who was crying."You're wrong because in the three years we were married I didn't for once touch her." I dropped the bombshell, but it didn't matter."What are you talking about?" My mom drew close,"You heard me. I kn
Chapter 18Mason's POV There was no way, Brent was telling the truth, but the look on his intercepted my thought of the possibility of him lying."What do they want wth her files and my marriage certificate to Elara?" I asked, but there was no justifying answer for that."I don't know Mason. At first, it's a suspected enemy from your dad's past, and now this..." his voice cracked, "this is a mystery already." He concluded.I turned to Elara, her face went pale, and she was scared to the wits."Do you think Serene is alive?" Elara said as Brent and I turned sharply to her."Alive? She died three years ago from cancer, you know this...so how possible?" Brent questioned, but then it hit me."Or it could be a family friend of hers or an acquaintance."Elara immediately cut in," I doubt that, Serene and her grandmother have been isolated from family ever since her parents died."Just the police chief walked up to me from behind Elara,"We've questioned your domestic staff, they're all say
Chapter 14 Elara's POVI always thought the walls of the house of Grandma were cozier than any other place I had ever lived in, but this night the coziness seemed to be coming down like a suffocating blanket. I was sitting crookedly on the old sofa, with my hands round a mug of chamomile tea which
Chapter 13 Mason's POVEven now I could feel the flavor of cheap whiskey on my tongue, although I brushed my teeth twice this morning. I looked at myself in the mirror, with fingers on the rim of the sink. Below my eyes dark circles hung. I had closed my jaw so hard, I was afraid I would snap a to
Chapter 12Elara's POV The smell of disinfectant lingered so badly in the air that it cut like a razor through my nostril. “Hospital smells,” That is what I found so unpleasant, sterile and clean and suffocating all at the same time. I jerked on the bed attempting to draw the thin blanket more t
Chapter 11Mason's POV He cut me off, " At least nothing. You should move on and forget all about Elara. She's not going to accept you back." His words lingered, as it triggered the tightness of my chest."You don't know that for sure." I fired back calmly, this time the waiter had brought my drin












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