chapter5

His Enemy’s Wife

The photograph spread across the internet before I even reached home.

By the time I stepped out of the car, my phone wouldn't stop vibrating.

Messages.

Calls.

Notifications.

I ignored all of them.

I already knew what everyone was talking about.

Me.

Julian.

Lucian.

The divorce.

The marriage.

My humiliation had become entertainment.

I walked into the house and found Julian waiting in the living room.

He looked nothing like the calm, confident man I had known for three years.

His jaw was tight.

His eyes were filled with anger.

"What did you do?"

I took off my coat.

"Good evening to you too."

"Don't play games with me, Evelyn."

"I'm not."

He walked toward me.

"You're marrying Lucian Blackwood?"

"Yes."

His expression hardened.

"You're doing this because of me."

I looked at him.

"Of course I'm doing it because of you."

He froze.

"I thought you wanted the divorce."

"I do."

"Then why him?"

I smiled faintly.

"Because you wanted another woman."

I stepped closer.

"I want another man."

His eyes darkened.

"You don't even know him."

"Neither did you know Vanessa when you decided to throw away our marriage for her."

His face changed at the mention of her name.

I continued,

"You made your choice, Julian."

"You can't seriously marry him just to hurt me."

"I'm not marrying him just to hurt you."

I paused.

"I'm marrying him because I chose to."

Julian grabbed my wrist.

"You're still my wife."

I looked down at his hand.

Then back at him.

"Not for long."

His fingers loosened.

I pulled my wrist away.

For the first time, he seemed to understand that the woman standing in front of him wasn't the same woman who had begged him to notice her.

His voice became quieter.

"Evelyn… don't do this."

I almost laughed.

"Don't do what?"

"Don't destroy everything."

I stared at him.

"You destroyed it."

Silence filled the room.

Then my phone rang.

Lucian.

I answered immediately.

"Hello?"

"Are you ready?"

I glanced at Julian.

"Yes."

"Good."

His voice was calm.

"Your lawyer has finalized everything. The divorce papers will be filed tomorrow."

My heart skipped.

Tomorrow.

It was finally becoming real.

Lucian continued,

"The wedding will take place tonight."

I blinked.

"Tonight?"

"I told you I don't like wasting time."

I couldn't stop the smile that appeared on my lips.

"You're serious."

"Completely."

Julian's eyes narrowed.

"Who is that?"

I ignored him.

"I'll be there."

"Good."

The call ended.

Julian stared at me.

"What did he say?"

I picked up my bag.

"My future husband is waiting."

His face went pale.

"Evelyn."

I stopped at the door.

He whispered,

"Please."

I turned around.

It was the first time Julian had ever said that word to me.

But it was too late.

"I hope Vanessa makes you happy."

Then I walked away.

---

Three hours later, I stood in front of a mirror.

A white dress.

A simple veil.

No excessive jewelry.

No crowd.

No celebration.

Just a private ceremony arranged by Lucian.

I stared at my reflection.

This wasn't the wedding I had dreamed of.

But perhaps that was the point.

My first wedding had been built on love.

Or what I thought was love.

This one was built on a decision.

A decision to stop being the woman who waited for someone else to choose her.

The door opened.

Lucian entered.

He stopped when he saw me.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

His usual calm expression disappeared.

His eyes moved slowly over me.

"You look beautiful."

I lowered my gaze.

"Thank you."

He walked closer.

Then stopped a respectful distance away.

"Are you sure?"

I looked at him.

"Yes."

"No pressure?"

"No."

"No regrets?"

I shook my head.

"None."

His eyes held mine.

"Then let's do this."

---

The ceremony lasted less than twenty minutes.

No cameras.

No reporters.

No guests.

Only a few witnesses and the lawyer handling our agreement.

When the officiant asked me if I accepted Lucian Blackwood as my husband, I took a breath.

Then answered,

"I do."

Lucian looked at me.

When his turn came, he didn't hesitate.

"I do."

The words sounded strangely permanent.

Even though our contract said one year.

Then Lucian took my hand.

He slipped the diamond ring onto my finger.

I looked at it.

My old wedding ring was gone.

A new ring had taken its place.

And with it…

a completely different life.

The officiant smiled.

"You may kiss your bride."

My heart stopped.

Lucian looked at me.

He didn't move.

He waited.

I realized he was giving me the choice.

I stepped closer.

His hand settled gently against my waist.

Then he lowered his head.

His lips touched mine.

Softly.

Briefly.

But something inside me shifted.

When he pulled away, his eyes remained on mine.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen.

His expression immediately changed.

"What happened?" I asked.

He turned the phone toward me.

A news alert filled the screen.

EVELYN HART SECRETLY MARRIES BILLIONAIRE LUCIAN BLACKWOOD.

Beneath it was another headline.

JULIAN WEST'S EX-WIFE IS NOW THE WIFE OF HIS BIGGEST BUSINESS RIVAL.

I stared at the screen.

Then another notification appeared.

This one was from Julian.

Only four words.

You will regret this.

I looked at Lucian.

He read the message.

His expression became cold.

Then he deleted it.

"Don't worry about Julian."

"Why?"

Lucian looked at me.

"Because from tonight onward…"

His arm tightened slightly around my waist.

"He's no longer the man you have to answer to."

He paused.

"He's the man who has to answer to me."

And somewhere across the city, Julian West stared at the news of our marriage…

and realized he had just lost me to the one man he had spent years trying to destroy.