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Financial Freedom

Author: Golden Butterfly
last update Last Updated: 2025-06-03 14:12:49

ARIA

The next morning light filters softly through the curtains, warming the room before I even open my eyes.

There’s a faint, delicate scent in the air—something floral and familiar. It pulls me from the edges of sleep, and when I finally blink awake, I see them.

Peonies. My favorite.

They’re arranged in a simple glass vase on the bedside table, their pale pink petals full and lush. For a moment, I just stare at them as my brain is still foggy with sleep, trying to piece together how they got here.

Then I see the note, tucked neatly against the vase.

The handwriting is unmistakable. It’s clean, precise, and somehow intimate, like every letter was written with care.

“For my wife. – D”

I sit up slowly and run my fingers over the edge of the note.

The simplicity of the gesture catches me off guard. It’s not grand or showy, not another overwhelming piece of the empire he’s built for me. It’s just… thoughtful. Personal.

Then I square my shoulders and prepare to face the day.

-

Nathan show
Golden Butterfly

First, thank you for checking in on me and little girl. Your kindness and concern truly touched my heart. I’ve missed you too. I'm really sorry for leaving you hanging these past few days without updates. Life has been a little overwhelming lately between personal matters and burnout, struggling to find the energy and clarity to write. To be honest, I’ve also been feeling discouraged. My current stories aren’t reaching the audience I hoped they would. Maybe they aren’t as engaging as I thought… and if that’s the case, I’d genuinely appreciate your honesty. Your feedback means everything to me. Maybe it’s time to take a break or try something new - a new book. But before making any decisions, I’d love to know your thoughts. Thank you for being here, even in the quiet moments. Your support is what keeps me going, truly. :)

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  • The Substitute Bride's Revenge    Anticipation

    ARIASix weeks after signing the marriage contract, I find myself finishing dinner alone in the mansion’s smaller dining room when Harrison enters with an urgency that is completely out of character.His usual calm movements are replaced by something close to haste, and his typically composed expression shows the faintest flicker of excitement."Preparations must begin immediately, Mrs. Sinclair," he announces, skipping the usual pleasantries. "The master arrives tonight."The words hit me like a jolt with my heart skipping a beat as I scramble to process them.After weeks of waiting, wondering, and imagining this moment, it’s finally happening.Tonight. I will meet the man who saved me from ruin… the man I married six weeks ago but have never actually met.The mansion springs into action almost instantly as the quiet routine of the past weeks gives way to a choreographed flurry of activity.Security measures are heightened. Guards take up new positions around the estate, electronic s

  • The Substitute Bride's Revenge    Growing Impatience

    ARIATwo weeks pass with agonizing slowness. I wake, exercise, study the intelligence reports, refine my strategic plans, eat meals prepared by staff who speak to me politely but reveal nothing of substance.My mysterious husband is still absent, yet evidence of his involvement surrounds me every aspect of my daily life.Handwritten notes appear on my desk every morning. A rare first edition of books I love that aren’t yet added to the collection materializes in the library with passages marked that relate directly to my situation.Fresh flowers replace the previous day's arrangements with varieties chosen to complement my mood.The household staff clearly receive regular instructions from him, sometimes implementing changes to my schedule or security arrangements without explanation.One morning I wake to find additional security cameras installed overnight. Another day, my exercise routine is modified to include self-defense training with an instructor who appears without introducti

  • The Substitute Bride's Revenge    Good News

    ARIADays into my new life as Elizabeth Sinclair, I wake to find the morning light streaming through the library windows in a way that makes everything feel more real, more permanent.The estate has begun to feel less like a sanctuary and more like a launching pad for whatever comes next.I'm sitting in my usual chair, nursing my second cup of coffee and trying to make sense of the financial documents Sofia left for my review, when Nathan appears in the doorway.There's something different about his demeanor this morning—a barely contained energy that suggests he's carrying news he's eager to share."Good morning, Elizabeth." He still says the name like he's helping me practice for a performance that starts soon."You look like someone who's been waiting all night to deliver interesting news," I observe, setting down my coffee cup.Nathan's smile is sharp. "Your first intelligence briefing has arrived."He pulls a thick manila folder from his briefcase and set it on the mahogany table

  • The Substitute Bride's Revenge    The Team

    ARIAThe next morning arrives with sharp clarity that feels like a jolt to the system. Everything seems sharper, more immediate as though the world is holding its breath.The morning brings introductions to the people who will shape my new life as Elizabeth Sinclair, and I can feel the weight of it all settling over me. It feels like putting on an expensive coat that doesn’t quite fit yet, the material stiff and unfamiliar against my skin.Harrison is the first to appear, as he always is, but something about him feels different. The easy familiarity we’ve built over the past few months is gone, replaced by a more formal, almost deferential air.“Mrs. Sinclair.” The title still sounds like it’s meant for someone else.I’ve been Aria for so long that hearing another name feels strange, like slipping into someone else’s life.He gestures for me to follow him. “I’d like to introduce you to your personal team.”We step into the library, and one by one, they file in, making me feel like I’m

  • The Substitute Bride's Revenge    Financial Freedom

    ARIAThe next morning light filters softly through the curtains, warming the room before I even open my eyes.There’s a faint, delicate scent in the air—something floral and familiar. It pulls me from the edges of sleep, and when I finally blink awake, I see them.Peonies. My favorite.They’re arranged in a simple glass vase on the bedside table, their pale pink petals full and lush. For a moment, I just stare at them as my brain is still foggy with sleep, trying to piece together how they got here.Then I see the note, tucked neatly against the vase.The handwriting is unmistakable. It’s clean, precise, and somehow intimate, like every letter was written with care.“For my wife. – D”I sit up slowly and run my fingers over the edge of the note.The simplicity of the gesture catches me off guard. It’s not grand or showy, not another overwhelming piece of the empire he’s built for me. It’s just… thoughtful. Personal.Then I square my shoulders and prepare to face the day.-Nathan show

  • The Substitute Bride's Revenge    New Identity (2)

    ARIAThe level of detail is staggering. Course descriptions that match my actual interests. Extracurricular activities that align with my personality. Even a disciplinary note for challenging a professor's outdated methodology, the kind of thing I absolutely would have done."You've thought of everything." It's not a question. It's an acknowledgment of the scope of what I'm seeing."He has." Nathan corrects me gently, and there's something in his voice that makes me look up. Respect, maybe. Or fear."Every detail has been considered, every potential question anticipated. Elizabeth Sinclair can withstand any level of scrutiny because she's real. She has a history, a background, a legitimate source of wealth that goes back decades."The weight of it settles over me like a heavy blanket on a summer day, suffocating and inescapable. Aria Taylor is gone, erased as thoroughly as if she never existed. In her place stands Elizabeth Sinclair, heiress and recluse, emerging from her self-imposed

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