I thought the worst thing Nathan had done was lie to me for weeks.

I was wrong.

The truth was much worse.

That afternoon, after leaving the wedding studio, I went straight to the lawyer my grandmother had trusted for years.

I didn’t cry.

I didn’t ask for explanations.

I just placed the documents on his desk.

—Find out everything about Nathan Cole.

The lawyer looked at me.

—Madison, are you sure?

I nodded.

—I’m sure I don’t know the man I was going to marry.

Three hours later, my phone rang.

The lawyer’s voice sounded serious.

—Miss Parker, there is something strange.

—What?

—Nathan and Chloe’s marriage wasn’t just a favor.

I stayed silent.

—They signed a marriage agreement six months ago.

My fingers tightened around the phone.

—Agreement?

—Yes. It says that if they remain legally married until a certain date, Chloe will receive a large inheritance from her grandfather’s trust.

I closed my eyes.

So that was it.

Not love.

Not unfinished feelings.

Money.

—What date?

There was a pause.

—Thirty days from now.

My wedding day.

I laughed softly.

Everything suddenly made sense.

Nathan didn’t need Chloe forever.

He only needed her until my wedding.

After that, he could divorce her, marry me, and continue pretending nothing happened.

I had not been his future wife.

I had been his escape plan.

That night Nathan came to my apartment again.

This time he didn’t bring food.

He brought flowers.

The same flowers he had given me when he proposed.

—Madison, let’s calm down.

I looked at the bouquet.

—You bought these for me?

—Of course.

I smiled.

—Or did you take them from the wedding budget?

His expression changed.

Only for a second.

But enough.

—What are you talking about?

I placed the studio receipt on the table.

Then the lawyer’s report.

Nathan stopped breathing.

—Where did you get that?

—Does it matter?

I looked at him.

—What matters is that you were planning to marry me while still being legally tied to another woman because you needed her inheritance.

His face turned cold.

—You investigated me?

—No.

I answered calmly.

—I finally started protecting myself.

He stepped closer.

—Madison, you don’t understand the situation.

—Then explain.

Silence.

A long silence.

The first time in seven years, Nathan had no perfect answer.

Finally he said:

—Chloe’s grandfather left a condition.

—If she isn’t married on the inheritance date, everything goes to charity.

I laughed.

—So you sacrificed me to save her money?

—It wasn’t like that.

—Then what was it?

His voice became softer.

—After the divorce, I was going to marry you.

I stared at him.

—Nathan.

—Do you hear yourself?

—You were asking me to spend my life with you while hiding that you had another wife.

He lowered his eyes.

For a moment, I almost remembered the man I loved.

Almost.

Then my phone vibrated.

A message.

From Rebecca.

“Maddie, please don’t hate us. Nathan’s family pressured everyone. We thought this was the easiest way.”

I showed him the screen.

—The easiest way?

Nathan looked away.

And that was my answer.

Everyone knew.

His family.

My friends.

Everyone except me.

The next morning, I received another surprise.

A package arrived at my apartment.

Inside was my wedding invitation.

But not mine.

Nathan and Chloe’s.

The design was exactly the same as the one I had chosen.

Same flowers.

Same font.

Same words.

Only the names had changed.

I stared at it for a long time.

Then I noticed something written on the back.

A handwritten note.

Not from Nathan.

Not from Chloe.

From someone else.

It said:

“Madison, if you are reading this, it means Nathan failed to hide the truth.”

“Meet me tonight.”

“Because there is something about Nathan Cole’s first marriage that even Chloe doesn’t know.”

At the bottom was a name.

A name I recognized immediately.

Nathan’s mother.

And for the first time…

I wondered if Chloe was not the only person Nathan had deceived.