Chapter 2 - THE BILLIONAIRE WHO NEVER EXISTED
Ella’s first instinct was not relief.
It was fear.
She stumbled backward until her shoulder hit the stone wall bordering the garden.
Ethan took one step toward her.
“Ella—”
“Don’t.”
He stopped.
The word came out smaller than she intended.
“Don’t come near me.”
His face changed.
Not anger.
Pain.
Good.
He deserved some.
Ella looked down at the mask lying in the grass.
Realistic latex.
White hair attached.
Wrinkled skin.
A full prosthetic jawline.
She looked back at Ethan.
“What is this?”
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Ella laughed once.
Broken.
“You let me marry you while pretending to be someone else.”
“I can explain.”
“You let me leave you.”
“I know.”
“You stood there and watched me destroy us.”
“I know.”
She shoved him.
Hard.
He let her.
“WHO IS VICTOR ASHBOURNE?”
Ethan looked toward the mansion.
Then answered:
“My grandfather.”
Ella froze.
“No.”
“He was.”
“What does that mean?”
“He died eleven months ago.”
The garden went silent.
Ella stared at him.
“He died?”
“Yes.”
“Then who did I marry?”
Ethan’s face tightened.
“Legally?”
“Don’t play games with me.”
“You married Ethan Vale Ashbourne.”
She stopped breathing.
Vale.
Ashbourne.
Ethan had never used the second surname with her.
He had always been Ethan Vale.
The struggling architect.
The man who rented a small apartment in Chicago.
The man who told her his family had “lost everything.”
Ella whispered:
“You’re an Ashbourne.”
“Yes.”
“Victor Ashbourne was your grandfather.”
“Yes.”
“And he was a billionaire.”
“Yes.”
Her knees almost gave out.
“Then why were you pretending to be poor?”
“I wasn’t.”
She stared.
Ethan continued.
“My father lost control of the operating company. I lost access to most family assets when I refused the succession agreement.”
“What succession agreement?”
May you like
He looked at her wedding ring.
“The one you just married into.”
