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Home / Never Legally Mine / Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

All Chapters of Never Legally Mine: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1

I stared at the marriage certificate on my screen, then looked again.There was no mistaking the two names in the photograph.Daniel Pierce. Sophie Bennett.The date was today.Our fifth wedding anniversary.I kept staring until my fingertips went numb. Then I went to find Sophie.Holding out my phone, I fought to keep my anger under control."You signed a marriage certificate with Daniel?"Her expression changed. She didn't deny it.The room tilted. I swayed, and when I spoke again, I couldn't stop my voice from shaking."Then what am I to you?"Sophie sighed and softened her voice, coaxing me."Ethan, don't start. Daniel's having surgery soon, and the doctors aren't optimistic. Ever since we were kids, all he's wanted was to marry me."She paused, then added as if it should have been obvious, "I'm just granting him one wish."I was so angry I laughed."And you had to sacrifice our marriage to do it?""What do you mean, sacrifice our marriage?" Irritation sharpened her

Chapter 2

I'd just packed the last of my clothes when my phone rang.It was my friend Luke Carter."Ethan, you won't believe what I just saw. Your wife is hanging all over some guy. They're way too close. Damn it, I can't explain this over the phone. Get to the Black Rose. We'll catch them together!"I knew the man had to be Daniel, but Luke hung up before I could explain.After a moment, I decided to go.I'd already made up my mind to leave Wistmere.Three days earlier, I'd asked to transfer back to my family's corporate headquarters overseas. Tonight, I'd planned to tell Sophie I was moving to Farrowick permanently.Until today, I'd been trying to work out how to persuade her to come with me.That was no longer a problem.I'd explain things to Luke and say goodbye.Once I left, I probably wouldn't be coming back.Half an hour later, I opened the door to the bar's private lounge. Every face turned toward me.Luke and a few of our friends stood beside a table. Sophie was on the other

Chapter 3

The marriage certificate slipped from Luke's hand and landed on the floor.Our friends looked at one another, stunned.Sophie shifted uncomfortably, then frowned."Ethan, there's no need to say things you don't mean just because you're angry. Daniel's the one who's been mistreated. You know about his condition. He can't take this kind of stress. Your friend backed me into a corner. What else was I supposed to say?"Luke's face went red."I backed you into a corner? Did I drag you off and make you marry another guy?"Daniel stepped in front of Sophie, his face pale."Leave her alone. Everything she did was for me. If you need someone to blame, blame me. She hasn't done anything wrong.""Enough!" Sophie snapped.Her cold gaze settled on me."I did feel guilty about the marriage. I was going to explain everything properly. But now... I think we both need some space."She swept her eyes around the room, took Daniel's hand, and walked out without hesitating.Luke glanced at me c

Chapter 4

Sophie pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed."Do you have to be so sarcastic? I told you, his surgery is tomorrow. Why are you still making a scene?"You think walking out will solve anything? You'll hide somewhere for a few days, then come home. What will that change?"Even now, she thought I was just being difficult.When I said nothing, she reached for my arm and softened her voice."Trust me one last time. As soon as the surgery's over tomorrow, I'll start the divorce. Then we can get on with our life."Five years. I'd heard versions of that promise for five years.Every time she hurt me, she'd soothe me with the same assurances. Then she'd turn right back to Daniel and ignore everything she'd put me through.She made it sound as though she had no choice.But her excuses were hollow, her promises cheap. I couldn't stand hearing them anymore.I wanted someone who loved me back. Not a relationship that survived only because I kept asking for less.She reached for my s

Chapter 5

Daniel.There was no telling how long he'd been listening outside.Sophie froze, then looked alarmed."What are you doing here? You're supposed to be in the hospital."There was nothing frail about him now. He strode forward and grabbed her arm."Why haven't you answered my messages? I've been calling, too. I couldn't reach you. I was worried sick."Sophie stiffened and glanced at me, embarrassed.I stood there without reacting.All I wanted was to get out and leave both of them behind.When I reached for my suitcase, Sophie panicked. She shoved Daniel away."Move! Ethan's trying to leave. I can't let him go."The force of it sent him stumbling back several steps.Shock flashed across his face. He'd probably never imagined she would treat him that way for my sake.She didn't even notice. She hurried over and caught hold of me."Wait for me, Ethan. Just one more day. Once his surgery is over tomorrow, I'll come to Farrowick with you."Daniel glanced at the suitcase beside

Chapter 6

The plane touched down smoothly in Farrowick.I wheeled my suitcase out of the terminal and immediately spotted the most conspicuous group at arrivals.A tall man stood in front, his dark suit impeccably tailored. Everything about him was cool, controlled, and commanding.He held a sign loosely in one hand.Ethan Vale.My older cousin, Marcus Vale.Several bodyguards stood in a neat formation behind him. He had arrived with an entourage.As I approached, Marcus pushed up his sunglasses.His gaze traveled over me, sharp and assessing. There was no warmth in it."So you're Ethan," he said quietly, with unmistakable contempt. "The cousin who exiled himself to our British branch for a woman. Five years at the bottom, throwing away his future."Every word landed.My face burned. I couldn't look him in the eye.For Sophie, I'd hidden my family background. Left my parents behind. Given in, again and again, until I'd trapped myself in a relationship where I didn't matter.Other pe

Chapter 7

Early the next morning, Marcus arranged for me to go home.The car wound into a private hillside neighborhood, past tight security and beautifully kept grounds.Soon, our house came into view.A grand estate, with a sweeping courtyard and spacious, elegant rooms. Everything about it was expensive, understated, and built to last. The kind of home that belonged to a family whose wealth went back generations.People knew me as an ordinary junior employee who'd spent five years scraping by in Wistmere.No one knew I was a Vale.Our family's businesses reached across the world. Even my parents' branch of the family, far from the center of it all, had more money than most people could imagine.And I'd hidden every bit of it.Young and stubborn, I'd walked away from every advantage for a relationship that gave me so little in return.I'd chosen a cramped apartment in Wistmere. Chosen to spend my days accommodating Sophie, swallowing every hurt, wasting five years when I should have b

Chapter 8

Life settled into a steady rhythm.I'd long since stopped thinking about Wistmere or the people I'd left there.Then one evening, as I left the office, I caught sight of a familiar figure in the crowd.Sophie.Gone was the confident woman who'd always expected to get her way.She wore plain clothes. She'd lost weight, and exhaustion showed in every line of her face. But her eyes stayed fixed on me.She pushed desperately through the crowd, trying to get closer.My bodyguards stepped forward at once. Polite but firm, they blocked her path.No matter how many times she called my name, they didn't let her through.I stood on the steps and watched.Nothing moved inside me. For a moment, the whole thing felt strangely unreal.I realized how long it had been since I'd thought about her.All that hurt, all that bitterness that had once seemed impossible to escape—work and a new life had worn it away without my noticing.Only then did I remember the weeks after I'd left Wistmere.

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