The Husband's Deadly Game

Ava Chen, adopted into the Hamilton dynasty, lived a life of polished perfection, her cool-girl facade masking a vibrant inner world obsessed with cheeseburgers and artisanal donuts. Tonight, at the annual Children' s Literacy Gala, everything changed. Skyler, the newly discovered "true" heiress, fueled by jealousy, wished on an antique locket for everyone to see the "real" Ava. Suddenly, Ava' s every internal thought, from her deep-fried cravings to her scathing social commentary, became audibly broadcast to everyone nearby. Her meticulously crafted mask shattered, public embarrassment her constant companion. This bizarre "superpower" sabotaged her family's prestigious arranged marriage with the powerful Julian Astor, who rejected her publicly, sparking her adoptive parents' outrage. Branded a "liability" and a "public glutton," Ava was banished from their opulent mansion, deemed an utter disgrace. Humiliated and perplexed, Ava couldn't understand why her mind had betrayed her with such mundane, food-focused secrets. Why was she cursed with this bizarre ability? What was the true source of this unpredictable chaos that had cost her everything? Yet, even amidst the chaos, a strange sense of liberation stirred within her. Cast out but unburdened, Ava found refuge in an unexpected place: her childhood friend Rhys' s cozy bookstore cafe. Now, with nothing left to lose, she must navigate a world where her inner voice is a public spectacle, and somehow, find her true self amidst the delicious chaos.

A sharp gasp. Cold air filled my lungs as my eyes snapped open. I was in the familiar leather armchair of the Vanderbilt library, sunlight streaming in. June 10th. The day I was to choose my bride. Just moments ago, or so it felt, I was pushed from a penthouse balcony. The rain slicked my face; Seraphina' s sneering expression, Leo' s hands, then her final, venomous whisper: "You shouldn't have chosen me, Ethan. You were always too weak." Then, darkness swallowed me whole. I remembered every manipulated moment-the fake accidents, the endless lies, the plundered fortune, my shattered heart. I had chosen her, Seraphina Ashworth, only to be left a hollow shell, betrayed by the woman I loved and her conniving lover. To die such a humiliating, lonely death. Why was I back? Was this some cruel trick of fate, an unfathomably twisted joke from the universe? Could I really be reliving the very day my misery began, the day I picked the woman who would destroy me? The bitterness was overwhelming, the injustice absolute. But my hands, strong and steady now, confirmed it. I was reborn. And this time, I wouldn't be weak. I wouldn't be a fool. I would choose differently, decisively, and ensure my betrayers paid every last penny.

My husband, Ethan Cole, was New York' s legal golden boy-revered for his legal prowess and, more famously, for his legendary adoration of his wife, Sarah Miller. "My North Star" tattooed over his heart, cross-country flights for a few hours with me; I believed this perfect fairytale for years. Then, the crash. Arriving at his office to surprise him, I overheard his junior associates' crude jokes: "Boss is off to Napa with Jessica Vance for a 'client retreat'." Napa? He'd texted "Chicago deposition." My world tipped. The video landed, sent by Jessica: her, tied with Ethan' s silk tie, his face consumed by a desire I hadn't witnessed in years. It plummeted deeper. That night, he drugged my tea. Then, he brought her into our bed, right beside me, believing I was out cold. Her moans, his rough whispers, Jessica' s sweat-damp hair brushing my cheek-the ultimate, sickening violation. The man who once cooked me gourmet breakfasts became a depraved stranger, brazenly flaunting his infidelity inches from me. How could he? My reflection showed tear-streaked eyes, but pain became icy resolve. No screaming. No breakdowns. A chillingly precise plan formed. I took a burner phone, texting him-my husband, the famed attorney-as an anonymous "Ms. Evans": "My husband is cheating with his assistant. What should I do?" His reply, professional and prompt: "Secure all evidence of his infidelity. Bring it to me." So, I did. I formally retained Ethan Cole to handle my divorce. Game on.

Ethan Miller always felt like a ghost, invisible in his own home. He yearned for his biological parents' love, but their affection, their very sight, was reserved for his adopted brother, Kyle – the golden boy who perfectly filled the void Ethan had left. Then, terror struck. He was kidnapped, brutally tormented. A desperate call reached his FBI profiler father, who, in Ethan' s darkest hour, dismissed him as a mere nuisance: "Your brother's debate is what matters today!" Days later, Ethan's body was found, brutally murdered. His own parents-an FBI agent and a medical examiner-worked the scene, professionally examining the unrecognizable remains. They handled his personal effects, his ruined clothing, utterly blind to the son they held in their hands, prioritizing another' s success over his very life. How could they not see him? How could he be so utterly erased, dismissed even in death, by the people who gave him life? The gut-wrenching irony was an agony even for a ghost. But the truth couldn't stay buried forever. A small receipt and security footage would shatter their denial, forcing them to confront the unrecognizable horror. And when the kidnapper' s chilling confession revealed Kyle' s calculated betrayal as the mastermind, their perfect family would finally, explosively, unravel before the world.

The annual "Vintage Harvest Charity Ball" was meant to be a crowning jewel for the Miller family, a night of proud philanthropy and confirmed alliances. Instead, it became the stage for my public execution. My fiancée, Victoria Lexington, snatched the microphone, her smile frozen, her eyes devoid of warmth. In front of a stunned ballroom of California' s elite, she declared she' d found "authentic love" with a bronzed fitness influencer, Chase Ryder, publicly dumping me and shattering decades of Miller family honor. My blood ran cold as whispers turned to a roaring judgment, humiliation searing into every fiber of my being. Headlines screamed "LEXINGTON HEIRESS DUMPS MILLER SCION AT FAMILY GALA!" and the weight of public spectacle, coupled with the profound sting of personal betrayal, was suffocating. Then, in a truly grotesque twist, Tori's father, desperate to salvage his crumbling business ties, offered me his other daughters-like spare parts for a broken deal, adding insult to profound injury. How could someone so casually burn everything down, yet brazenly provoke us further, twisting reality to paint themselves as the wronged party? Their continued taunts, their unapologetic audacity, only fueled the fire, transforming my heartbreak into a simmering, ice-cold rage. The public seemed to side with their "authentic love" narrative, leaving me alone in the fallout. But my grandfather, Arthur Miller, spoke of "pruning diseased branches" and protecting the vineyard, transforming a public humiliation into a cold, dangerous promise. This wasn't just about a broken engagement. It was a calculated declaration of war against the Millers, and I was about to unleash the quiet, ruthless power of my family' s way. Now, it was my turn to redefine the terms of engagement and cultivate a future on my own terms.

I was Sarah Miller, the top rider at Sterling Meadows, surrounded by my closest friends and acclaimed mentor. That day at the nationals should have been my triumph, but it split my life in two. Cornered by a dangerous rival, Rocco, my friends Ethan and Liam had a choice: me or Chloe, a new, supposedly "delicate" student. They chose Chloe, mumbling excuses about her inexperience, and then they walked away. They abandoned me to a notorious criminal who intended to harm me, or worse, my prize stallion, Comet. Despair, cold and sharp, enveloped me as Rocco' s men closed in, ready to orchestrate a devastating "accident." How could my closest friends, my trusted mentor, leave me to such a fate, a hollow promise echoing behind them? The betrayal shattered me more than any physical threat, leaving me reeling, utterly broken. But then, chaos. I woke up, not in a stable, but on a private plane, then in a room I hadn't seen since childhood: Kingston Ranch, Montana. My father's empire. My secret. The truth of my lineage was a shield I never knew I had, and now, it was time to understand why.

Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?

My life with Ethan Cole, the charismatic tech CEO, was perfect. I was his beloved wife, carrying our first child, convinced I was the center of his universe. But when my father fell ill, Ethan disappeared from my life, only to reappear in a crushing photo: his arm intimately around my successful cousin, Olivia Hayes. My world shattered. The betrayal ran deeper than I could have imagined. I discovered I was merely a meticulously chosen stand-in, a grotesque copy of Olivia, the woman he truly loved. He even desired our child to have *her* features, a living link to his obsession. Every tender gesture, every shared dream, was a calculated lie, meaning my marriage, my love, and my pregnancy were all built on his monstrous deceit. A cold rage blossomed within me; how could I have been so blind? He believed he owned me, that I would never leave, especially with a baby on the way, confident I was a compliant fool. He was terribly wrong. I would not be his vessel, his substitute. When he least expected it, while he was still flaunting his obsession, I quietly underwent an abortion. Then, using his arrogance against him, I meticulously orchestrated my escape, securing my divorce and vanishing without a trace. He thought he was playing me; I showed him exactly who was being played, leaving him a devastating truth about his own making.

Two years ago, Nina married a man she had never met. She didn't know his name or his age; she knew nothing about this person she was married to. Their marriage was nothing more than a contract with conditions, and one of the clauses was that she should not sleep with another man. Yet, Nina lost her virginity to a stranger when she knocked at the wrong door one night. With the compensation she had to pay weighing her down, she decided to draw up a divorce agreement on her own. When she finally met her husband to hand over the papers, she was shocked to find that her husband was none other than the man she had “cheated” on him with!

After being kicked out of her home, Harlee learned she wasn't the biological daughter of her family. Rumors had it that her impoverished biological family favored sons and planned to profit from her return. Unexpectedly, her real father was a zillionaire, catapulting her into immense wealth and making her the most cherished member of the family. While they anticipated her disgrace, Harlee secretly held design patents worth billions. Celebrated for her brilliance, she was invited to mentor in a national astronomy group, drew interest from wealthy suitors, and caught the eye of a mysterious figure, ascending to legendary status.

The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."

Life was a bed of roses for Debra, the daughter of Alpha. That was until she had a one-night stand with Caleb. She was sure he was her mate as determined by Moon Goddess. But this hateful man refused to accept her. Weeks passed before Debra discovered that she was pregnant. Her pregnancy brought shame to her and everyone she loved. Not only was she driven out, but her father was also hunted down by usurpers. Fortunately, she survived with the help of the mysterious Thorn Edge Pack. Five years passed and Debra didn't hear anything from Caleb. One day, their paths crossed again. They were both on the same mission—carrying out secret investigations in the dangerous Roz Town for the safety and posterity of their respective packs. Caleb was still cold toward her. But as time went on, he fell head over heels in love with her. He tried to make up for abandoning her, but Debra wasn't having any of it. She was hell-bent on hiding her daughter from him and also making a clean break. What did the future hold for the two as they journeyed in Roz Town? What kind of secrets would they find? Would Caleb win Debra's heart and get to know his lovely daughter? Find out!