Done Being His Secret Wife, I Left Behind My Husband

The next morning, the surveillance feed showed Rosette nestled in Evren's arms, the two of them sharing cherries in a haze of intimacy. Evren covered her eyes playfully and pulled out a small, beautifully wrapped box from behind his back. "Rosette, I got you a gift. Open it and see if you like it." The moment she lifted the lid, my heart lurched. Inside the box lay a familiar brooch—my mother's keepsake. I remembered how Evren and I had attended an auction together once. The brooch had gone to a mysterious bidder for an absurdly high price, and he pretended to comfort me afterward, saying it was a shame we hadn't won it. Now I realized the truth—he had been the one who bought it in secret. Only to give it to his foster sister as a gift. My hands clenched around the bedsheet as I watched Rosette pin the brooch to her dress. She frowned. "It doesn't look as nice as I imagined," she said casually. "Analeia wanted it so badly, but now that I see it up close, it's nothing special." Evren chuckled, his tone lazy and indulgent as he brushed her neck with his fingers. "If you don't like it, I'll buy you another one." On hearing his words, her confidence grew instantly. She leaned in and kissed his cheek before tossing the brooch into the trash bin. "It's hideous anyway. Throwing it away is being generous!" I sat on the hospital bed, trembling, fighting through the pain that racked my body. Ignoring the doctor's protests, I slipped out of the ward. When I reached home, pale and weak, they were standing together in the living room, planning a vacation. Seeing me in the doorway, disheveled and silent, a flicker of smug satisfaction flashed in Evren's eyes. "So you finally came back," he said coldly. "You had the nerve to walk out yesterday without a word. Tsk. No respect for your elders at all." I didn't respond. My vision blurred as I headed straight for the trash bin in the living room and gently lifted the brooch out as though it were made of glass. Rosette laughed softly behind me. "I didn't know you had a habit of picking things out of the trash, Sister-in-law. But unfortunately, anything I throw away—no one else is allowed to keep. I'd rather destroy it." Evren's expression darkened. His gaze turned sharp and frigid. "Analeia, give the brooch back. It belongs to Rosette." Tears welled in my eyes as I stared at him, forcing the words out between trembling lips. "That brooch was my mother's keepsake. You knew that." But there was no trace of pity in his eyes, only cold indifference. He had long forgotten the man he once was—the man who swore he'd make me the rightful mistress of the Johnson family, the man who promised to find and return my mother's brooch to me. Now, every vow he'd ever made meant nothing. He strode over and yanked the brooch from my hand. In doing so, it tore open the barely healed wound on my arm. I winced, blood seeping through the fabric. It was only then that he seemed to notice something was wrong. He grabbed my arm, pulled up my sleeve and froze. "Analeia... you're hurt?" He pushed up both sleeves, revealing the bruises and bandages. For a fleeting second, the ice in his eyes melted. His expression shifted to shock then panic. He quickly supported me onto the sofa. "What happened? You've never hidden things from me before." My lips parted, ready to speak—but Rosette stepped in with perfect timing. "Sister-in-law, you're hurt! Why didn't you say something? Go rest first." Then, turning to Evren, she added sweetly, "Brother, go buy her some medicine. We can talk later." Evren nodded, grabbed his keys, and left. As soon as the door closed, Rosette walked over, the brooch glinting in her hand. Narrowing her eyes, she snarled. "Analeia, why do you always cling to Evren? If it weren't for you, I'd be the one married to him! You stole everything that should've been mine!" I stared back at her coldly as she pulled a divorce agreement from her bag and laid it on the bed. "If you want this brooch," she said smugly, "sign it. Then it's yours." She tossed a pen toward me. Before she could say another word, I picked up the pen and signed my name without hesitation. Rosette froze, her smirk fading into disbelief. I looked up calmly and held out my hand. "Now," I said quietly, "give me back the brooch."

Rosette's lips curved into a sly, mocking smile. "To tell you what," she said. "The day after tomorrow is my birthday. If you agree to be my servant for one day, I'll return the brooch to you." I clenched my fists so tightly my nails dug into my palms. After a long silence, I forced myself to nod. "I'll do it." When her birthday arrived, Evren rented out an entire underground club for her celebration—all because Rosette had said she wanted a thrilling party. The place glittered with lights and laughter. Evren's friends gathered, raising their glasses to the birthday girl. And, as always, the spotlight belonged to the two of them—Evren and Rosette. He gently placed a lace birthday veil on her head, then smiled as he took out a small velvet box. "Rosette," he said softly, "this is your surprise." Inside lay a diamond ring. Evren knelt on one knee to slip it onto her finger, and his friends burst into teasing murmurs. "Why does this look like a proposal? If I didn't know better, I'd think they were getting married." "Well, they're not blood-related anyway. If she weren't his foster sister, I bet Evren would've married her long ago." Their laughter echoed across the hall. I stood silently in the shadows, my heart splitting open, trembling so hard I could barely breathe. Then, suddenly—a heavy clang echoed through the air as a massive iron cage descended from the ceiling, containing several hunting dogs. It was supposed to be part of a performance, an underground dog-fighting match for entertainment. But in the next instant, a metallic crack pierced the air, and the chain snapped. With a sharp clang, the chain snapped. The cage crashed to the floor, its lock breaking apart. The starving hounds burst free. Screams erupted as the dogs lunged at the crowd. One of them charged straight toward me. I froze. My body refused to move. Evren shouted my name somewhere in the chaos—but the next second, searing pain exploded through my arm as the dog's fangs tore into my flesh. When I opened my eyes again, Evren was already outside, holding a trembling Rosette in his arms, shielding her. Just when I thought I would die there, the sound of a dog's pained whimper filled the air. Evren turned back, blood dripping from his palms, and glanced at me—cold and distant. "Take her to the hospital," he ordered his assistant flatly. I watched his retreating back through a haze of tears until my vision went black. ... When I woke up, the scent of disinfectant filled the room. A nurse was changing my IV drip. Moments later, Evren's assistant entered, carrying a small box. "Where's Evren?" I asked weakly. "Mr. Johnson is busy," he replied politely. "He asked me to bring you this." Inside the box was a brooch. I held it tightly, feeling a flicker of relief—at least Rosette hadn't gone too far this time. After the assistant left, I scrolled through my phone absentmindedly. That's when I saw it: Rosette's new post. A video, uploaded an hour ago. She was standing on a yacht's deck, leaning against a familiar pair of arms—the same hands that had once held me. The caption read: [The person who loves me the most, even when afraid, still spends every second comforting me.] My vision blurred. The last bit of hope in my heart shattered completely. I remembered how, years ago, Evren once panicked and rushed to the hospital just because he'd been scratched by a monkey during the mountain hike. But now, covered in his own blood, he could still take Rosette out to watch the sea—leaving me alone in a hospital bed, not even asking if I was alive. ... A week later, I was discharged. When I got home, I heard laughter coming from the living room. Evren and Rosette were playing some kind of game. When Evren took the blindfold and tied it around his own eyes, Rosette pulled out a document from behind her back. "Brother," she purred, "you still owe me one last birthday gift. Can you give it to me now?" Evren smiled indulgently. "Anything you want." "Really? Then I want your signature," she said sweetly. "But you can't peek. You trust me, don't you?" "Of course," he chuckled. "Whatever you want, you can have it—even if it's my entire fortune... or my life." Without hesitation, he signed. When she tucked the document away—her face lit up with triumph. It wasn't just any paper. It was our divorce agreement. A moment later, Evren removed his blindfold, grabbed her by the waist, and pressed her down beneath him. Their laughter turned to breathless whispers, their silhouettes tangling together. Between gasps, Rosette murmured, "Brother, Analeia's been in the hospital for a week. Aren't you going to visit her? Won't she notice the brooch is fake?" Evren smirked. "Don't worry. I had a perfect replica made. Unless she gets it appraised, she'll never know. My little Rosette's too mischievous—throwing the original into the sea."

Evren brushed the tip of Rosette's nose with his finger, making her giggle and blush. The two of them flirted and whispered sweet nothings, completely unaware that I was standing just outside the door. My mind went blank. My face was as pale as paper. It felt like all the strength had been drained from my body. Suddenly, the little charm hanging from my phone slipped loose and hit the floor with a sharp clink. Startled, I looked through the crack of the door—and met Rosette's gaze. Her eyes curved with satisfaction as she leaned closer into Evren's arms, while he remained oblivious to my presence. Holding him tightly, Rosette turned slightly toward my direction, a sly smile tugging at her lips. "Hehe, that brooch? I threw it into the shallow waters by the shore. If someone were desperate enough to dive for it, maybe they'd find it." Evren let out a low hum, pressing a lingering kiss on her forehead. His voice was deep and lazy. "It doesn't matter. If I say it's real, then it's real. Analeia won't doubt my words. Now focus on me." My knees buckled. I slid down against the doorframe, trembling, listening to the sickly sweet sounds from inside. My chest tightened until I could barely breathe. Somehow, I forced myself to leave the house, made it to the underground garage, and drove away in one of Evren's cars. By the time I reached the beach Rosette had mentioned, dusk had already fallen. The beach was quiet, empty except for the sound of waves lapping against the shore. With such a long stretch of coastline, finding that brooch was nearly impossible—but I searched anyway. I waded along the shallow waters, combing the sand bit by bit. Two days and two nights passed, and I still found nothing. Eventually, I collapsed from exhaustion and was taken to the hospital. While I lay there half-conscious, a message arrived on my phone—from Rosette. [I heard you spent two days looking for that brooch and ended up in the hospital again. You'd better be careful, or you might lose the baby. Honestly, I lied that day. I threw the brooch into the sewer.] My hands trembled as I read the message. Rage boiled in my chest, and I started coughing violently. The doctor said he'd informed Evren—but he never came. Not that day. Not the next morning either. When I was finally discharged early the following day, I checked my phone again. Evren had sent me a message. [Rosette, today marks your 7,365th day with the Johnson family. I want to give you a surprise.] A photo followed. His bare chest filled the screen. Near his heart bloomed a freshly inked gardenia—Rosette's favorite flower—and beneath it was her initials. He'd gotten a tattoo for her. Once, when we were still in love, I mentioned wanting to get matching tattoos—to leave a symbol of us on each other's skin. But he had rejected me outright. He'd said tattoos were childish, pointless, and that he hated them more than anything. Now, I finally understood. It wasn't that he hated tattoos. He just hated the idea of having mine. I stood at the hospital entrance, staring at the photo until my tears blurred it out of focus. A bitter smile crept across my lips as I deleted his message. ... When I returned home, Evren was waiting in the living room. The moment he saw me, he stood up quickly and walked over, a trace of panic and guilt flashing across his face. "You're back," he said, forcing a smile. "Did you... see the message I sent you?" I lowered my gaze, my expression hidden in shadow, and shook my head slowly. "No. What did you send?" Evren's shoulders relaxed in relief. "Nothing," he said quickly. "Oh." I turned calmly and headed to the bedroom. A few minutes later, Evren came in carrying a glass of orange juice. "Drink this," he said softly. After he left, I poured it straight into the toilet. Obviously, he'd forgotten I was allergic to oranges. Five minutes later, he returned to collect the glass. Seeing it empty, a faint smile curved his lips. I lay down, pretending to sleep, when the faint murmur of voices drifted from the living room. "Brother, are you sure she's asleep?" "I put a sleeping pill in her orange juice. Since I promised to give you a surprise tonight, I won't let anyone interrupt us." "Hmph. You sent the wrong photo. Aren't you afraid she'll see it?" "Don't worry. She said she didn't get it." Rosette giggled softly. "And what if she did?" There was a long silence. Then Evren spoke, his voice calm and chilling. "Then we'll get a divorce."

I lay in bed, tears streaming down my face. Evren's words from last night echoed in my ears—so calm, so detached. It was then I understood: our marriage meant nothing to him. For Rosette, he could do anything. ... The next morning, Rosette barged into my room holding the divorce papers. She threw them on the bed with a sneer. "My brother has already signed. You'd better handle the rest and file the divorce yourself. Don't you dare play any tricks, or you'll regret ever staying in this house." I lowered my head slightly, giving her a cold, humorless laugh. "Don't worry. I want this divorce finalized faster than you do. I'll file it as an urgent case—it'll be done in seven days." Her lips curled. "Good. You said it yourself. I expect to see that divorce certificate when it's done." A week later, my father's company would officially withdraw its investment from the Johnson family. When that happened, I'd finally be free of Evren—completely. That day, I planned to bring the brooch to my mother's grave. But Rosette insisted on tagging along, clinging to me the entire way until I gave in. At the cemetery, she stood behind me, sunglasses hiding her eyes but not the smirk on her lips. "It's just a stupid little brooch. You treat it like a treasure. That kind of petty sentiment really doesn't suit someone who married my brother." Before I could respond, a sudden chill grazed her neck. A knife—gleaming cold in the sunlight—was pressed against her skin. "Hand over your money!" the man barked. "And anything valuable you've got!" Both of us froze. Rosette burst into tears, trembling. "Please don't hurt me! I'm Evren's sister from the Johnson Corporation—I'm pregnant with his child! If anything happens to me, my brother will make sure you pay!" The man, clearly a fugitive hiding from the law, gave a mocking laugh. "Funny, I've heard Evren's supposed to be single. I didn't know he had a wife let alone a sister carrying his baby! What kind of twisted family is this?" "Well, fine then, I'll let your precious brother buy you back!" He tied us both up and forced me to call Evren. Less than half an hour later, Evren arrived, clutching a black duffel bag. He was alone. His face was tense, his eyes darting straight to Rosette before glancing briefly at me. "The money is here. Let them go!" The man sneered. "I'll release one. You choose. Who knows if you've already called the cops?" Then he pressed the knife deeper against Rosette's neck. A thin line of blood bloomed across her pale skin, staining her collar crimson. "Brother! I'm scared!" she cried, clutching her stomach. "My belly—it hurts! What if something happens to our baby?" Evren froze, feeling torn. His gaze flickering toward me. For a second, guilt softened his features. "I'm sorry, Analeia," he said quietly. "Rosette is terrified, and she's carrying the Johnson family's child. I can't risk her life." Then he turned to the kidnapper and pointed. "I choose her." "Evren!" I cried, my eyes burning. "I'm carrying your child too! Can't you see?" My voice trembled. My hands instinctively cradled my swollen belly, feeling the faint flutter of life within. But Evren only frowned, his eyes cold and distant. "You won't be harmed. I've paid him, and once I get Rosette to the hospital, you'll be safe." That was the moment something inside me shattered completely. I closed my eyes, tears spilling freely, the last trace of warmth in my heart extinguished. Evren took Rosette from the man's grasp, wrapped her trembling body in his arms, and left without looking back. Leaving me behind to face death alone. When the sound of sirens finally echoed through the cemetery, the kidnapper panicked. He slashed his knife toward me. Pain seared across my neck as blood gushed out. The doctors later said that if the blade had gone a little deeper, it would've severed my artery. I survived—but barely. Lying in the hospital bed, my body trembled uncontrollably. Evren never called. He didn't even send a single message. Instead, I overheard the nurses chatting outside. "Did you see the news? Evren's sister was kidnapped! Poor thing, she got her neck cut. He's been searching the entire city for a pink gemstone to cheer her up!" "God, what a perfect brother! She gets hurt, and he turns the whole city upside down to make her smile. That's devotion." I let out a quiet, bitter laugh. So that was it. While I was lying here, barely alive, Evren was too busy comforting Rosette. Whether I lived or died didn't matter to him at all.

It wasn't until the next day that Evren finally remembered my existence. I was still lying in my hospital bed when I received his message. [I heard you only suffered some minor injuries. If you're feeling better today, come with me to Mount McKinley.] "What for?" I replied. "To check on our love lock—and maybe add a new one." That single line rekindled a small, fragile spark of hope in my chest. On the way there, Rosette sat in the front passenger seat as always. The spot was practically her throne—complete with her custom vanity mirror, a plush rabbit seat cover, and her makeup neatly arranged in the compartment. Evren once told me that Rosette was his "little sister," spoiled by everyone in the family, and that I, as her sister-in-law, shouldn't mind. He also claimed that she got carsick easily and could only sit in the front. Now, I realized what a joke that was. The truth was simple: no one—not even me—was ever allowed in that seat. It belonged to her. I lowered my head, a bitter smile tugging at my lips. When we arrived at Mount McKinley, Evren told me to head up first while he stayed behind to "help Rosette settle." After a few steps, I realized I'd forgotten my hiking pole and turned back. That's when I heard them. Evren's voice was soft, gentle—full of the tenderness I hadn't heard in a long time. "Don't worry, Rosette. I'll cut off that love lock today. You won't have those nightmares again." Her delicate voice followed, laced with fake worry. "What if Sister-in-law doesn't agree?" He chuckled lightly. "Don't worry. I told her we're replacing it with a new one. Once it's cut, I'll just say I forgot to bring the new lock. Problem solved." My breath caught in my throat. The hand holding my bag trembled. So this was his plan all along. To erase everything between us. The lock I'd bought—the new one meant to symbolize a fresh start—suddenly felt like a cruel joke. When we reached the mountaintop, Evren handed me the bolt cutter. His expression was calm, practiced. I looked straight into his eyes, voice quivering. "Do you still remember the vow you made that day?" He paused for a moment, then nodded. "I remember..." I exhaled slowly. The pain had dulled into a strange sort of clarity. Back then, Evren had woken me at three in the morning so we could climb this mountain before sunrise. He wanted to hang our lock at the very peak, where the first rays of light could bless it. He promised to love me for a lifetime—to never betray me. And if he ever did, he swore, the day he cut that lock would be the day he walked naked down the entire mountain in penance. Now, that oath felt like a cruel parody. "Good," I whispered. "Then remember it well." Click. The sound of metal snapping echoed in the still air. Our love lock tumbled down the cliff, disappearing into the mist below. I stood silently as Evren feigned regret, frowning as though he'd simply "forgotten" the new lock. "Next time," he said softly, "I'll bring another one. We can hang it together." I smiled calmly, almost serene. It was as if I had finally let go of every wound he'd ever given me. "Evren," I said gently, "the lock is broken. Isn't it time you kept your promise?" His face froze. For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, under the chill of the mountain air, he began to undress. Step by step, he walked down the slope, bare-chested in the biting wind. Couples hiking nearby stopped to stare, some even snapping photos. By evening, 'Johnson Corporation's CEO Walks Bare-Chested Down the Mountain' was trending across social media. When we finally reached the base, Rosette's eyes brimmed with tears. She rushed forward, draping her coat around his shoulders, her voice trembling with theatrical sorrow. "It was just a mistake! Did you really make my brother go down like that? Don't you know it's freezing in the mountains? How could you be so heartless?" Her words cut through the air like knives. Evren stroked her hair, his tone tender. "Don't cry. I made that vow myself, so I had to honor it. As long as my little sister stops having nightmares, I'll do anything." Rosette nodded pitifully, though the flicker of satisfaction in her eyes didn't escape me. Neither of them looked my way. On the drive back, Evren got a call from his assistant about a business banquet. He intended to decline—until Rosette started pouting. In the end, he brought us both along. "Leia," he said gently as we arrived, "you're pregnant. Don't move around too much. Stay here and rest. I'll take Rosette to greet a few people." After they left, I sat quietly in a corner, trying to steady my breathing. Then my father's message came through. [Three days from now, I'll visit the Johnson Corporation to finalize the withdrawal.] Almost immediately after, my lawyer texted as well. [Your divorce certificate will be processed in three days.] The words brought a dull ache to my chest, but also a strange relief. It was almost over. Feeling stifled by the crowd, I stepped outside for some air, drawn to the soft sound of the fountain beyond the hall. But as I turned the corner, I froze. In the dim light near the service corridor, I saw Rosette—speaking in a harsh whisper to a woman dressed in a janitor's uniform. "I told you to stop showing up here!" Rosette hissed. "You're like a damn ghost haunting me! I'm already pregnant with the Johnson family's heir—do you really think I can't pay off Dad's gambling debt now?"

I stared wide-eyed in shock. I hadn't expected that Rosette had secretly found her own relatives behind the Johnson family's back—and was even using Evren to her advantage. A bitter laugh escaped my lips. The man who gave all his sincerity had been deceived all along. When I quietly slipped away, I went straight home and arranged for two packed suitcases to be sent to my father's place in advance. Once the divorce certificate arrived in three days, I would finally be free of Evren—free from everything that tied me to him. For three days, he didn't come home. Not a single call, not even a text. Then, around four in the morning on the third day, my phone buzzed beside the bed. It was him. [There's a Johnson family banquet today. Come with me. I'll wait for you at the old residence.] For a long moment, I couldn't believe my eyes. After all this time—after dreaming for years of being acknowledged by the Johnson family—was it really happening now, just as I was about to leave? Tears welled in my eyes. That small, stubborn part of me that still longed for hope made me put on a yellow evening gown and go to the Johnson estate. The moment I arrived, Rosette blocked my way. Her gaze swept over me with open disdain. "Analeia, I can't believe you're actually this shameless. One text message and you came running? You really thought you could step into the Johnson family's house?" My brows furrowed. "What do you mean?" "That message was from me," she sneered. "I didn't think you'd be stupid enough to fall for it." She grabbed me roughly by the arm and dragged me down a deserted hallway, stopping in a quiet corner. A full glass of red wine splashed down my hair and dress, the liquid dripping cold against my skin. "Stay here and watch," she said smugly. "Watch how I get my name written into the Johnson family registry." I clenched my fists, turning to leave—but then I saw Evren walking onto the stage, supporting his father. He smiled as he looked at Rosette, his eyes filled with warmth I hadn't seen in years. He invited her to join him on stage, publicly declaring her as the only woman he would ever recognize as his wife. Then came the "fortune reading." Everyone held their breath as the tarot cards were revealed—three cards of misfortune. Evren's smile faltered; he frowned, clearly displeased. Without hesitation, he drew three new cards from the deck and flipped them over—each one an omen of good fortune. "Rosette is carrying my child," he said firmly. "Since she's the one I've chosen, luck or fate means nothing." Applause erupted across the hall. None of them knew that I was already married to Evren. After all, I had never been invited to a single family banquet, never had a wedding. Now I understood—Evren could break every family rule for the woman he loved. He just never loved me. Covered in red wine stains, I slipped out through the back door, planning to leave quietly. But near the corridor, I overheard Evren speaking to his father. "What about Analeia? She'll see the engagement news tomorrow. You haven't divorced her yet." "Don't worry, Dad. I've been too busy with the banquet to go home. Once it's over, I'll talk to her. She loves me too much to resist anything I say. After I marry Rosette, I'll still keep Analeia outside. No one will ever find out." "What about her father's investment?" "I'll smooth things over—say a few nice words, buy some gifts. She won't dare tell him anything." I stood frozen in the shadows, my whole body trembling. Tears streamed down my face, hot and endless. When I finally stepped out of the Johnson estate, my father's car was already waiting. Before leaving, I sent a final message to Evren. [Congratulations on your engagement.] Attached was a photo of our freshly issued divorce certificate. As the car pulled away, I rolled down the window and looked one last time at the gates I had once dreamed of walking through. A small, bitter smile tugged at my lips. I took off my wedding ring and tossed it out the window—along with my broken SIM card. Just then, Evren came running out of the house, his face pale and frantic. For a second, our gaze met. His eyes were filled with anger and confusion. "Analeia!"