My Seven-Year Ice House Marriage Was Ruined By My Family Chapter 03

My Seven-Year Ice House Marriage Was Ruined By My Family Chapter 03

I already knew they’d signed the marriage papers at City Hall, but seeing the certificate still hit me hard.

Maris snatched it up and hid it.

“Sable, it’s not what you think…”

Her eyes welled up again.

“I just wanted a family so badly. I asked Blaise to marry me in name only.”

Blaise snapped out of it and rushed over to me.

“Sable, I was only helping Maris out. As soon as everything is settled, I’ll end the marriage.”

“Don’t worry. It’s only for one year.”

I pulled away.

“Not three years. One year?”

Everyone froze.

Blaise stared at me in disbelief.

“Sable, you… you knew?”

I nodded.

“I heard you last night when I went looking for you.”

Maybe I was too calm, because Blaise started to squirm.

“Sable, aren’t you angry?”

My mom pulled Maris into her arms.

“Being angry won’t change anything. This has nothing to do with Maris. We asked Blaise to do this.”

My throat tightened.

“Why?”

“You and Blaise were going to end up together anyway. What’s the big deal if you wait another year or two?”

Dad chimed in.

“Maris has it rough, living alone in the city. Of course we had to put her first.”

My nails dug into my palm.

I forced the words out.

“So you let me wait three years while the whole town laughed at me.”

Brennan’s face darkened.

“Maris has been through a lot and never complained. You got a few comments. How bad could it really be?”

It felt like someone had torn a hole through everything I believed about my family.

Brennan didn’t used to be like this.

When Mom and Dad ignored me over Maris, he used to stick up for me.

He even told me that no matter how little our parents cared about me, he’d always be there for me.

Now he was on Maris’s side.

Tears spilled down my cheeks.

“She’s had it rough, so I deserved to be lied to for three years? I even had to give up my own fiancé?”

“Sable, please don’t blame them. This is all my fault. I’m sorry.”

Maris stepped toward me, reaching for my hand as if she wanted me to forgive her.

Before I could move, she stumbled sideways.

Brennan stepped between us.

“Sable, enough. Maris already apologized. Why are you still arguing with her?”

I stepped back, stunned by his reaction.

Blaise rushed over to Maris.

“You okay?”

Maris held a hand to her chest, looking fragile.

“I’m fine, Blaise. Please don’t blame Sable.”

Blaise finally snapped.

“Sable, I told you I’d marry you next year. Why do you keep making this harder?”

My mom panicked.

“Take Maris somewhere quiet. She needs to rest.”

They hurried out with Maris.

The door closed behind them.

Cold air slipped through the gap and chilled the room.

Then my phone buzzed.

[I’ve got everything ready for the wedding. Picked it all based on what you like.]

My eyes burned, and tears nearly spilled again.

So someone really would cherish me like that.

My phone buzzed again.

[Sable, the overseas transfer is confirmed. I leave the day after tomorrow.]

[You still have time to change your mind.]

I stared at the empty house.

All I felt was a hollow silence.

I was the one who didn’t belong here.

[I don’t regret it.]

That night, my parents didn’t come home.

I didn’t care.

I packed my bags instead.

The next morning, Blaise showed up, his face tense with anger.

“Sable, why have you been telling everyone Maris is the other woman?”