He Proposed to My Sister on Our Anniversary Chapter 1

On our third anniversary, Liam booked the most exclusive cruise ship in Seattle and proposed to my adopted sister, Rachel Snow, in a live broadcast streamed across the entire internet.

My phone still held a message he had sent half an hour earlier: "I love you, go to bed early."

On the screen, he knelt on one knee, holding a pink diamond, his eyes filled with a tenderness I had never seen directed at me.

"Rachel, from today forward, you are my only wife."

The comments section went wild. Everyone called it a match made in heaven.

I stood at the cruise ship's entrance, looking at the plain wedding band he had slipped onto my ring finger three years ago.

Half an hour earlier, after sending that message, he had added another.

"Chloe, the three years are up. Tomorrow, I'll give you what you are owed."

I raised my hand, wiggled the ring, and let out a laugh.

"Liam, I have received your 'settlement.'"

From today on, I will return every bit of humiliation you inflicted upon me, inch by inch.

* * *

It was the third year of my secret marriage to Liam Caldwell.

He had booked Seattle's most luxurious cruise ship to propose to Rachel Snow, live-streaming it across the entire internet.

Liam, CEO of Caldwell Enterprises, a man usually so cold and reserved, was now on one knee.

He held a dazzling pink diamond, his eyes filled with profound emotion.

"Rachel, from today on, I will let everyone know that you are my only wife."

The comments section was flooded with envy. Everyone was exclaiming it was perfect love.

My phone screen was still paused on the message Liam had sent half an hour ago:

"Still busy tonight, I'll be staying home. Go to bed early, don't wait up for me."

Watching the deeply affectionate man on the screen, a wave of nausea churned in my stomach.

We had registered our marriage three years ago.

That very night, he suddenly told me that the Caldwell family's rules were strict; to inherit the company, he had to maintain a single image for three years, or all his assets would revert to the family.

"Chloe, I'm sorry to put you through this for three years. Once I inherit Caldwell Enterprises, I promise to give you the most spectacular wedding imaginable."

His tender whispers felt like yesterday, but today marked the end of those three years.

He did indeed hold the city's most spectacular ceremony, but the bride wasn't me. It was Rachel Snow, my adopted sister.

I turned off the live stream and changed into a simple black dress.

Pulling open a drawer, I found our marriage certificate, neatly placed there from three years ago.

I didn't cry. My hands didn't even tremble.

Half an hour later, I arrived at the cruise ship dock.

Tonight was a socialite gala for the city's elite.

Using my identity as the heir to Hayes Group, I slipped past security unnoticed and walked into the ballroom, which was adorned with white roses.

On stage, Rachel was in tears, nestled in Liam's arms, letting him slip the priceless ring onto her ring finger.

I stood in the center of the ballroom, my expression calm, and clapped my hands.

The sharp sound was strikingly out of place amidst the romantic music.

Everyone's gaze instantly focused on me.

The smile on Liam's face froze.

Rachel flinched, instinctively burrowing deeper into Liam's embrace, and spoke with a sniffle, "Chloe Hayes, why are you here? Today is Liam's and my happy day. Are you still mad at me?"

Liam pulled her closer, and the tenderness in his eyes vanished, replaced by a bone-chilling coldness as he looked at me.

Before he could speak, I directly pulled out my marriage certificate and handed it to several uniformed police officers who were already waiting nearby.

"Hello, I'd like to report someone for bigamy."

Police sirens, I realized, had started wailing from the dock.

The romantic, beautiful proposal scene instantly plunged into dead silence and chaos the moment the police rushed in.