Married to a Trap I Already Escaped Chapter 01

Married to a Trap I Already Escaped Chapter 01

My best friend was obsessed with playing matchmaker.

To show off her relationship with the richest man in town, she paired everything at home, from toothbrushes to slippers, and even turned me into her little matchmaking project.

“It’s called being a perfect match.” She’d gush. “My assistant and my husband’s executive assistant! They’re made for each other!”

In my past life, this absurd forced pairing had ended with me married to Xavier Minel.

For three years after our wedding, he treated me so well, spoiling me rotten, making me believe I’d truly married for love.

All that changed when I was nine months pregnant, hemorrhaging during a difficult labor, begging him to come to the hospital and sign the consent forms for surgery.

Instead, he laughed scornfully over the phone, “A beggar’s bastard, something that doesn’t even deserve my signature.”

I went cold, frozen to the bone, as he tore apart three years of our so-called love with every word.

“Didn’t you want to play along with your best friend’s little matchmaking game? My Anne and I are the real match! As for someone like you… you only deserve to sleep with some filthy homeless guy!”

The man who’d shared my wedding night bed was a homeless drifter. He’d spent three years weaving a web of lies and fake affection, all to destroy me and avenge Anne Dorval.

I closed my eyes on the operating table, consumed by despair and fury.

When I opened them again, I was right back to the day my best friend had insisted on setting us up.

***

Sophie Pittt was chattering nonstop beside me.

“Fran, what do you think of Xavier Minel, Hubert Garrel’s executive assistant?”

“He’s Hubert’s right-hand man, and he’s so handsome; he’s perfect for a beauty like you!”

I stared at the scene in front of me, my nails digging into my palm until they drew blood.

The sharp pain was a brutal reminder that I was really alive again.

In my past life, Sophie had dragged us into this absurd “perfect match” nonsense just to show off her relationship with Hubert.

Out of loyalty to our years of friendship, I’d reluctantly agreed to meet Xavier.

And Xavier was a master of deception.

He’d put on a gentle, refined act, caring for me in every little way.

For three years of marriage, he’d catered to my every wish, making me think I was a happy wife.

It wasn’t until that horrific surgery that I heard him insult my unborn child.

That I finally learned the truth: the man in my wedding bed had been a stranger, a drifter.

A wave of nausea washed over me, and I slapped away the photo Sophie held out.

“Not interested.” Sophie froze, stunned.

“Fran, you usually go along with everything I say! Xavier is really great!”

I met her gaze directly.

“If you love matchmaking so much, go buy two dogs and pair them up.”

“I refuse to be your tool to show off your so-called love to the world.”

Sophie’s face flushed red, and Hubert, sitting beside her, frowned.

“Fran, Sophie means well.”

I grabbed my handbag and strode toward the door.

“I can’t afford this kind of ‘good intention’.”

I pushed open the private room door and collided head-on with a man.

I’d recognize that scent anywhere. It was Xavier’s.

In my past life, those eyes had deceived me for three whole years.

“Miss Larson, in such a hurry to leave?”

His voice was low, but I couldn’t help stepping back, putting distance between us.

“Move.”

Xavier raised an eyebrow, clearly caught off guard by my cold hostility.

He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a whisper.

“Miss Larson seems to have quite a grudge against me.”

“Have we met before?”

I lifted my chin and shot back. “No, but I don’t like the look of you.”

Xavier let out a soft laugh. “Miss Larson has a refreshingly straightforward personality.”

“Though, is it really polite to reject Mr. Garrel and Miss Pittt’s kindness so bluntly?”

I curled my lips into a cold smile. “Why should I save face to people who want to trample on mine?”

With that, I brushed past him and walked out. Xavier’s gaze burned into my back as I left.

Back at my apartment, I immediately started packing to move. I needed to get far, far away from Xavier.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Xavier stood outside, holding a file folder.

“Miss Larson, I think we need to talk.”

I tried to slam the door shut, but he jammed his hand in the way, stopping it cold.

“About the company your father left you, don’t you want to know its current situation?”

I froze. The company my father had left behind was the only thing I cared about, my life’s work.

In my past life, after we married, he’d taken full control of it, and in the end, it had all become Anne Dorval’s dowry.

I scowled and let him in.

Xavier tossed the file onto the coffee table.

“The company’s cash flow is broken. Without an injection of funds within three days, it’ll go bankrupt and be liquidated.”

“And right now, I’m the only one who can provide that money.”

I turned to look at him. “What’s the catch?”

Xavier leaned in, closing the distance between us. “Marry me.”

I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“Xavier, what are you really after?”

“I’m after you.”

He was too good at pretending. Having died once, I would never fall for his lies again.

I picked up the file and tore it in half.

“Let it go bankrupt then.”

“I’d rather beg on the streets than marry you.”