Found Out My Fiancee, the Actress, Was Married to Someone Else

The night I had planned to propose, I stumbled upon a marriage certificate hidden in her closet.

I stood frozen, my eyes fixated on the photo of the two of them, smiling as if the world could do no wrong. The image hit me like a sledgehammer, a sudden shock that made my chest tighten with pain.

Just then, Eleanor Miller’s voice pierced through the silence, sharp with irritation. "Where did you disappear to? You slipped out the moment the party started."

"Maverick covered for me. He drank so much he’s sick now."

Her tone softened at the mention of Maverick, a flicker of concern slipping through.

I let out a bitter laugh. "Isn’t that his job?”

After all, he was your real husband.

Before she could respond, another call lit up my screen. Relieved to have an excuse to end the conversation, I answered without hesitation.

I took a steady breath, my voice calm but resolute. "I accept your proposal. Let’s go tomorrow and get our marriage certificate."

Part 1

It was nearly dawn when Eleanor finally stumbled home, her fists pounding on the door in an angry rhythm, echoing through the quiet.

She gave the door a few more kicks as if the sound alone could summon me to her side.

I knew her act too well; she wanted me to notice, to come running and to soothe her frustrations.

But instead of preparing her usual hangover soup or hurrying to let her in, I stayed where I was, unmoved.

When I didn’t open the door, she finally huffed in irritation, digging out her key and letting herself in. Her gaze swept over the room, landing on the empty bottle on the coffee table. Her expression darkened, a scowl tightening her features.

“Isaac, what’s this?” she snapped. “You skipped out on drinks at the dinner table just to come home and drink alone?”

“Do you even realize how many drinks Maverick had to take for me tonight?”

I remained seated on the sofa, unflinching, a bitter smile tugging at my lips.

Tonight, I’d let everyone know at the gathering what I was planning to propose. No one would’ve given Eleanor a hard time; they were just keeping her occupied. I’d left the dinner early to prepare the proposal set up, hoping to surprise her tonight.

Thinking I needed something more formal, I reached for a suit in the closet. But instead, my fingers brushed against a document, a marriage certificate with Eleanor’s name on it, dated just two days prior.

Without a word, I tossed it at her, my voice like ice. “Explain this.”

Just moments earlier, Eleanor had been all smug and selfassured, but now she deflated, a flicker of panic betraying her calm.

“It’s not what you think,” she stumbled over her words. “I… I lost a game of Truth or Dare that night.”

“I picked Dare and the dare was to get a marriage certificate with Maverick.”

The flimsy excuse seemed to restore her confidence. She quickly turned defensive, her tone shifting as she accused, “But what about you? What right do you have to go through my things?”

“This is my home,” I replied.

Sometimes, a broken heart wasn’t more than a fleeting revelation. With Eleanor’s cold words, the last trace of warmth in my heart faded away.

For a moment, I stood stunned, then forced a weary smile. “You’re right. I’ve only myself to blame.”

The moment I saw that marriage certificate, I should’ve walked away. What was I still clinging to?

When we first decided to live together, I already knew Eleanor’s strongwilled nature. I didn’t want to overwhelm her by revealing my true identity, so I kept it hidden, claiming I was just renting an apartment.

Eleanor’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she invited me to stay at her place, saying, “Isaac, from now on, this will be our home.”

Those words made me choose this place, staying in her modest eightysquaremeter apartment rather than my own spacious home. Three years passed and I stayed for her.

This was the first place Eleanor bought with her own earnings from acting. She once told me, “This place may be small, but I poured my heart into making it mine.”

“I’m going to live here to keep myself grounded, to remember my purpose, to become the best actress I can be.”

Back then, her ambition stirred something in me. I was so moved by Eleanor’s drive that I reshuffled my entire roster, reassigning some of my best talents to other managers just so I could focus solely on her. It felt fair to show her that level of dedication, especially since she was the woman I loved.

But now, her actions felt like a slap across the face. She couldn’t see that I was disillusioned; she actually believed I’d come to my senses.

Sitting beside me, Eleanor’s tone softened as if nothing had happened. “Isaac, I’ll divorce Maverick in a few days. Let’s just pretend this never happened, alright?”

“You don’t understand how many drinks Maverick took for me tonight. Tomorrow, go apologize to him.”

“Then, let’s move on.”

She looked at me with hopeful eyes, oblivious to the chill seeping through me. I forced a bitter smile, one that barely reached my eyes.

I scoffed, “No.”

“I…” I was going to say I’d be out of her life by tomorrow.

But a shrill ringtone cut through the tension. I was close enough to hear Maverick’s voice, whining on the other end, “Eleanor, I’m not feeling well.”

“Will you come keep me company?”

Her tone softened instantly. “Wait for me; I’ll be there soon.”

“Be good until I get there, alright?”

She hung up, turning back to me with an impatient look. “Isaac, I don’t have time to argue. Maverick needs me and you need to reflect on how unreasonable you’ve been. Tomorrow, go apologize to him.”

I nodded numbly, but deep down, I knew the truth: I’d never forgive Eleanor. By morning, I’d be gone.

I spent a sleepless night on the sofa, watching dawn’s first light slip into the room like a reminder of the end. A bitter smile crept onto my lips; Eleanor hadn’t come back all night.

I rose, heading to the bathroom. After a shower, I slipped into the suit I’d planned to wear for the proposal. But the truth settled over me like a cold shroud: she’d already become someone else’s wife.

Staring at my reflection, a bitter scoff escaped my lips. How painfully ironic it all was.

I made up my mind to leave everything behind. Let her deal with it all. The sight of those things would only bring back memories I wasn’t ready to face. I wanted no part of it anymore.

Just as I turned to leave, the door creaked open; Eleanor had returned.

Her smile vanished the moment she saw me, replaced by a thin, hard line. Her face hardened as she spoke with clear irritation. “Dressed like that to apologize? Are you trying to provoke Maverick?”

For once, she spoke earnestly, her voice cutting through the air. “Isaac, if you’re going to apologize, at least make it look sincere.”

“Grey Forge? Maverick could never afford such a luxury. Did you wear this suit to humiliate him on purpose?”

“Is that it? Showing off what you have? Honestly, you make me sick.”

In the past, I would have apologized and gone to great lengths to comfort her. But now, the curtain had fallen. It was over.

I didn’t have the energy to waste another word on her. I moved toward the door, but she stepped in my way.

Her expression darkened further. “Are you going to apologize like this?”

I rubbed my throbbing temples, my voice steady as I responded, “Step aside. I’m going to register my marriage.”

A flash of unease flickered in Eleanor’s chest, a vague sense of dread creeping in before it swiftly morphed into anger.

She snapped, “Isaac, enough!”

“You’re just talking about marriage to get under my skin, aren’t you?”

I raised my hands in silent surrender, trying to show that I didn’t intend to provoke her.

But the sight of my unspoken gesture only fueled her fury. She was convinced I was doing it to spite her. “Fine,” she spat. “Go ahead, get married. And when you come back, bring me the certificate.”

I turned to leave, but her sharp voice followed me like a whip crack. “Isaac, if you walk out that door today, don’t bother coming back.”

She knew exactly which strings to pull. In the past, whenever we fought, she’d tell me to leave and I’d always give in.

I had forgiven her time and time again, knowing how hard she’d worked to make a name for herself, rising from nothing to where she was. I genuinely cared for her, so I’d always let things slide, even when I was fed up.

But now, the well of forgiveness had run dry.

I looked back at Eleanor one last time, my gaze full of quiet sorrow. I told myself I was done, but the pain still lingered like a dull ache.

For a brief moment, a glimmer of satisfaction danced across her face as if she thought I’d crumble and beg for her forgiveness like I always did.

This time, I turned away without a second glance, quickening my steps as I left without hesitation.

Behind the wheel of my Phaeton, I sped down the main road, my mind clouded by memories and a dull ache throbbed relentlessly in my temples.

My original dream had been to become an actor, but my family never fully supported it despite offering their financial backing.

As the youngest, I wasn’t expected to carry the family’s weight. They just wanted me to follow my heart, but they didn’t believe the entertainment industry was where I’d find success. They thought I didn’t have the right look to break through in a world so obsessed with appearances and sadly, they were right.

Though I had the acting chops, fame never came. My looks weren’t striking enough to grab the spotlight in an industry built on aesthetics. But I refused to fade into the background. I was determined to carve my path on my own terms. So, I shifted gears and decided to manage talent instead.

That decision turned out to be the right one. Armed with my acting experience, a sharp eye for scripts and a keen sense of market trends, I helped shape the careers of rising stars and quickly became a soughtafter name in talent management.

When I first met Eleanor, she was just another unknown actress. She had a look, but something was missing an indefinable spark. What truly propelled her forward, though, was her relentless drive. It reminded me of myself and that’s what made me want to help her.

I signed her to my agency despite the murmurs of doubt from others in the industry. “Isaac’s made a mistake this time; she’s just dead weight.”

Eleanor overheard their whispers, her eyes welling up with tears as she gripped my hand. “I’ll show them that you made the right choice.”

I gently ruffled her hair, telling her there was no need to feel the weight of their judgment.

I stood by her through every audition, every rehearsal, every practice session. As the days passed, she grew to trust me and we fell deeper in love, each of us silently promising a future together.

As Eleanor’s career soared, so did our relationship. It grew stronger with each passing day, a foundation built on trust and shared dreams. I was ready to propose when I discovered she had already registered her marriage with Maverick.

I’d noticed the growing closeness between her and Maverick, but she assured me it was nothing more than a siblinglike bond born out of her concern for him. I never questioned her loyalty; I believed in us. I thought her growing distance was simply a product of the pressures of fame.

But now, I couldn’t keep deceiving myself; this relationship had turned sour. It was time to face the truth.

Eleanor had never known who I really was. She always saw me as just a regular guy who managed to make it after switching careers from acting to talent management.

The reality, though, was far different. I was the young master of the Thomas Corporation. I couldn't help but wonder how she would react if she ever learned the truth about me.

As I sat in the marriage registry office, signing my name, last night’s phone call lingered in my mind like an echo.

“Marrying me wouldn’t be so bad, would it? Your family keeps nudging you to settle down and I could use a partner, too.”

“Don’t worry, Isaac, I’m not into you.”

Her words had eased a knot I hadn’t even realized was there. I didn’t think I could ever love another woman like I once loved Eleanor.

Just as I took the red marriage certificate in my hand, Sofia Moore snatched it away, her fingers curling around the document.

I blinked in confusion. “What’s this about?”

“I’ll keep it. We agreed to this, but I don’t trust leaving it with you.”

“Getting married today has made me happy, so I’m giving you a week off. See you around.” With that, she waved and drove off, leaving no room for argument.

I bit back on any response. Fine, it was her company and she could call the shots.

A break might be exactly what I needed, especially if it meant avoiding any runins with Eleanor. Right now, she was the last person I wanted to see. But I knew avoiding her for good wasn’t practical; time off wouldn’t solve everything.

Back at my place, I sat there for what felt like hours, turning everything over in my mind before I finally sent Sofia a message. [I’m done managing Eleanor.]

A few moments later, Sofia’s voice crackled through the phone. “You should’ve walked away from her ages ago! Think of all the messes you’ve cleaned up for her these past few years.”

“She honestly believes the name ‘Eleanor’ is enough to rule the industry!”

As Eleanor’s fame had grown, so had her ego. The awards piled up and with them, the rumors of her bullying new talent, stirring up drama on the set and treating the staff like dirt. And yet, I had been the one to smooth over every scandal, to step in, apologize and even leverage my family’s influence to clean up the messes.

I’d shielded her from the fallout time and time again. Back then, I had loved her enough to be her protector, but that devotion had long since withered away.

Ending the call, I felt a weight lift off my chest. A strange, almost foreign sense of peace settled over me. Exhausted, I collapsed onto the bed, the room's quiet almost soothing. The contract was nearly up and I wasn’t planning on sticking around in this industry for much longer.

For the next few days, I drifted through a haze of eating and sleeping, my mind floating in a quiet, dreamlike rhythm.

Just as I drifted through a dreamlike haze, my phone suddenly erupted with the sound of “Call Me Queen” blaring through the silence.

A frown tugged at my lips as I recognized the ringtone; it was Eleanor. She had chosen it herself and at the time, I had found it amusing, almost amusingly vain. But now, in the quiet of my mind, I realized I had always catered to her every whim in both work and life. If anyone truly deserved to wear the crown, it had been her.

I picked up the phone and her sharp, demanding voice sliced through the calm. “Isaac, you were supposed to be with me on set today for my audition! Where are you? Are you trying to humiliate me?”

I didn’t hesitate. “Your work is no longer my concern. Why are you calling me?”

“Get in touch with your current manager.”

There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by the sound of her breath catching. Eleanor had always relied on me, always. For her to be met with indifference was foreign.

She took a deep breath and when she spoke again, her tone had softened, almost pleading.

"Isaac, it's been days. How long are you going to fuss?"

“I know you’re still mad at me, but can’t you see the bigger picture? This contract is everything to me; it’s an S+ project.”

Her voice was tinged with impatience, yet I could hear the familiar pleading edge underneath.

But as her voice softened, I heard laughter and chatter in the background, a celebratory air thick in the room.

“Congratulations, Maverick! You’ve been promoted from assistant to Eleanor’s manager!”

The voices around him cheered their praise, a dagger to my chest.

“Working with Eleanor, you’ll climb to the top quickly. Maverick has a bright future ahead!” they declared, voices brimming with certainty.

Maverick’s voice came next, humble but laced with a sugary sweetness. “I still have a long way to go. I'm just lucky, really.”

“I’ll need plenty of guidance from my seniors.”

I clenched my hand into a fist, my grip tightening as the realization hit me. Sofia had warned me about Eleanor being assigned to Tom. But now, she was being handed over to Maverick.

It was clear as day Eleanor was behind this. There was no other way an unknown assistant could suddenly land the manager role for a toptier celebrity like her.

I closed my eyes for a moment, inhaled deeply and then responded, "Isn’t your new manager standing right next to you? Don’t bother calling me again."

I ended the call before she could fire back a response.

From a purely professional standpoint, Eleanor choosing Maverick as her manager was nothing short of selfsabotage. As her former manager, it hit me like a punch to the gut.

Did she honestly believe that her fame granted her the freedom to act without consequence in this industry?

I glanced at the date. My vacation was over and the reality of work loomed large.

I looked at myself in the mirror, unshaven and worn out and forced a smile.

"Well, that’s just what I needed," I muttered to myself.

After a quick cleanup, I drove to the company’s underground parking garage.

The moment I swung open the car door, Eleanor appeared from the corner, her presence sharp and commanding.

Before I could even react, she slapped me hard across the face.

Her eyes were burning with anger as she hissed, "Do you know how long I’ve waited for you? I’m going to be late!"

I rubbed my stinging cheek, anger simmering beneath the surface.

She froze for a moment, her fury intensifying as she snapped, "I begged the director to delay my audition for you!"

"You’re coming with me to the set right now."

I stood my ground, refusing to budge, which made Eleanor call for her bodyguards.

Though I had no intention of going with her, I wasn’t eager to be boxed in by three burly men in the parking lot, unable to make a move.

"Mr. Thomas, please cooperate," one of the bodyguards said with an apologetic tone.

They weren’t there to harass company staff; of course, they were simply doing their job.

Reluctantly, I nodded, knowing it was easier to comply than stir up more trouble. I agreed to go with Eleanor to the set.

Maverick was already seated in the car. Eleanor opened the passenger door for me and explained with a quick glance, "Maverick is my manager now. It’s only natural he accompanies me."

"He’s not feeling well today, so I had him sit in the back. Hope that’s alright."

I smiled, cold and tight, keeping my voice level. "As you wish."

I spared her a glance before settling into the passenger seat.

Eleanor, clearly irked by my lack of enthusiasm, slammed the door with a sharp thud before getting in herself.

As the car pulled away, she struggled to contain her fury, her voice dripping with frustration. "Isaac, enough is enough. From the moment I called you, you’ve been nothing but rude."

"I’m human too and even I have my limits."

I stared out the window, watching the world blur past and shot back, "Then stop putting up with it. Why come to me? Just take Maverick to the set."

"You think you're so important! A toptier star who still needs me to hold your hand?"

Maverick, sensing the tension, jumped in to smooth things over. "It’s my fault. Eleanor felt sorry for me; she had no support at the company and so she asked me to step in as her manager instead of the old one."

"If Isaac were still her manager, none of this would be happening."

"I’ll just go back to being her assistant. That’ll make everyone happy."

I caught a glimpse of Maverick in the rearview mirror, unable to hide the smug grin creeping across his face. His little act didn’t fool me. I shook my head in disbelief.

It seemed he still hadn’t grasped it that I had chosen to walk away from managing Eleanor, not the other way around, where she had cast me aside for Maverick.

"Don’t read too much into it; that’s not how it went down."

Though I said this to ease Maverick, I could already hear the sharp edge of impatience in Eleanor’s voice, honed from years of experience.

I signaled for the driver to roll up the windows, but Eleanor’s voice rose immediately. "No, Maverick’s afraid of the air."

"Isaac, are you trying to cause trouble on purpose?"

I turned to face her, my voice laced with sarcasm. "Eleanor, have you forgotten I’ve got a migraine and can’t handle the wind?"

A tension I could almost taste builtin Eleanor as she watched my back, her unease creeping in like a shadow, as though control was slipping through her fingers.

Maverick, ever the "master of tea," hesitated before speaking up. "Eleanor, let the driver close the windows."

"As long as you two are happy, I’m fine with whatever.”

Eleanor couldn’t help but sneer, "Isaac, did you hear that? Maverick’s so thoughtful, even though you’ve got an issue with everything. You’re just petty."

"No surprise. The contract will be signed today, all thanks to Maverick."

"Consider it a punishment for your mistakes over the past few days."

Her words, shameless as they were, made me close my eyes, trying to block out the irritation.

I had hoped to part ways on good terms, but if she couldn’t recognize boundaries, she couldn’t blame me for being harsh when it was called for.

The car stopped and Eleanor bolted out, practically running toward the director.

I stepped out of the car with a calm ease, just about to enter the building, when Maverick’s hand landed on my shoulder. His usual obedience was gone, replaced by a confident, almost arrogant stance. He met my gaze with a look that screamed victory.

"Isaac, Eleanor no longer needs you as her manager, which is just the beginning. You probably don’t know, but we’ve registered our marriage."

"From now on, I’ll be a top manager. If it weren’t for Eleanor, you wouldn’t be where you are now."

I couldn’t help but laugh at his ignorance. How long had Eleanor played him, spinning her version of events?

"After all this time, it’s almost laughable."

"She once told me that you’re getting old; your looks aren’t anything special. Honestly, I don’t know what she was thinking when she was with you!"

Smugness oozing from every word, Maverick shoved me aside, signaling that he should go first.

I stepped back, a mocking smile curving my lips. "You two make a perfect pair. I truly wish you both a lifetime of happiness."

Little did he know, the S+ project he thought was a gift from Eleanor was something I’d worked tirelessly for, an investment I’d begged my family to back, a script I’d handpicked, all to present it to Eleanor as a wedding gift.