My Fiancé's Adopted Sister Turned Out to Be His Wife

Our family went bankrupt. My parents, crushed by endless debt, were forced by creditors to jump off a building.

I was sent abroad for an arranged marriage to a man I had never even met.

For three years, I lived a life worse than death.

And on the ninetyninth time I was forced to kneel and beg for forgiveness in the pouring rain, Easton Carter appeared.

He tore up the contracts. He gave up hundreds of billions just to buy back my freedom.

The day the divorce papers were finally signed, he knelt beneath the Eiffel Tower, holding a ring.

He said he didn’t care about my past. His only regret was not finding me sooner.

Back in the US, he cherished me for two whole years.

If I wanted stars, he gave me stars. If I wanted the moon, he gave me the moon. The only thing he never gave was a wedding.

On our third Valentine’s Day, I took our ID cards and went alone to register for marriage, wanting to surprise him.

The clerk stared at the screen, their face pale with shock.

“Miss Chandler, are you sure these documents are correct? Mr. Carter has already been married. It’s been five years.”

——

The noise around me kept buzzing, but it felt like my heart had skipped a beat.

All I could hear was the ragged, painful sound of my breathing.

“What did you just say?”

“Could there be a mistake? Please check again. Easton isn’t married. That’s impossible.”

My voice shook, cracking under the weight of disbelief.

The staff member, clearly uneasy, wiped the sweat from their brow and slowly turned the screen toward me, pointing to a single word: Married.

“Miss Chandler, see for yourself. Easton Carter is indeed married. Today marks five years exactly. The registered spouse is Addison Hayes. Do you know her?”

Everything around me collapsed. The world tilted and spun.

I stood there, frozen, until a bitter smile curved on my lips.

“I know her. Sorry, I must’ve made a mistake.”

How could I not know her?

Addison was the socalled adopted sister Easton brought home from the orphanage, or at least, that was the story he told me.

I just never knew when that ‘sister’ became his wife.

A thousand doubts pressed down on my chest, so heavy I could barely breathe.

I didn’t even know how I managed to get out of the building. By the time I came to, I was already standing outside.

Couples who had just registered passed me by, casting glances filled with pity and awkward sympathy.

Their happiness only made the ache in my chest worse.

Just as I was about to call Easton, a message popped up: [Avery, I haven’t seen you in eight hours. I miss you so much it’s hard to breathe. You better make it up to me tonight!]

I used to think words like that meant love.

Now, they just felt like a cruel joke.

My nails dug deep into my palm as I trembled and typed back, [Okay. I have something to ask you tonight. Come home early. I’ll wait.]

Still dazed, I hailed a taxi and headed straight to the bar I used to love before going abroad, the one place I knew could drown out my thoughts.

But just as I reached the private room door, a voice from inside stopped me cold.

A voice I knew far too well.

His friend swirled the wine in his glass and teased with a grin, “What dragged you out tonight? Got your little wifey tucked in nice and quiet?”

“I told her I was working late. Avery’s obedient didn’t question a thing.”

He glanced over with a smirk. “Besides, you know what day it is. Everything ready?”

The friend patted his chest with pride.

“Of course, your fifth wedding anniversary with Addison. I’ve helped you celebrate it every year. How could I forget?”

Then he chuckled, shaking his head.

“Still in your honeymoon phase after five years? Come on, man. I don’t even treat my girlfriend half as well. You’re frying my brain cells with all this effort.”

He sighed, eyes filled with emotion.

“I can’t give her a real title, so I try to make it up to her. She loves her ritual, so I do my best to make everyone count.”

“Avery’s Valentine’s gift arrived, right? Put it in my car later. I’ll bring it home and give it to her.”

His buddy nearly lost it.

“I’ve got no issue with you spoiling your wife, but spoiling two at the same time? That’s beyond me. You’re in love with Addison, so why bring Avery back? You’ve kept the marriage a secret all this time. She’s bound to find out sooner or later. Then what? Are you going to ask Addison to step aside?”

His face instantly darkened.

“Addison is my legal wife. I’d never let her go.”

He took a breath, voice low.

“I made a promise to Avery’s parents before they passed. I said I’d take care of her. If I’d returned sooner, she wouldn’t have been forced into that overseas marriage. I heard those three years nearly broke her…”

“I owe her. I have to make it up to her, anything she wants. Anything, except marriage.”

His friend groaned in frustration.

“Don’t tell me you still haven’t let go of her? If it’s just sympathy, then get her out of that mess and give her money. Isn’t that enough?”

“Partially,” he muttered. “After all… I did love her once. Even now, I still like her.”

Just as those words fell, the sharp click of high heels echoed around the corner.

She appeared sweet and radiant, speaking into her phone with a gentle smile.

“If your gift’s not special, I won’t forgive you.”

Panic swept through the private room like wildfire.

“Remember, don’t mention her in front of her,” someone whispered in a panic.

Tears welled up without warning. I turned and fled the bar, humiliated.

The moment I stepped outside, I gasped for breath, desperate for air, but no matter how hard I tried, my lungs refused to fill.

Before coming here, I had made up a thousand excuses for him.

Maybe she was forced into marriage, and he had stepped in to help.

Maybe she had lost everything, and he helped her rebuild.

I wanted to believe that because of love, he couldn’t have betrayed me.

But no matter how many reasons I tried to tell myself, none of them could hold up against this cruel truth.

Every excuse shattered into silence because the only reason left was painfully clear.

He simply didn’t love me anymore.

It was that simple.

Rain mixed with tears as they streamed down my face. I stood by the roadside, arm raised, trying to flag down a taxi.

Behind me, the voices of employees buzzed with excitement.

“Isn’t that the hidden wife he’s been keeping out of the public eye? I heard they’ve been married for five years now. She’s gorgeous, way prettier than any celebrity. No wonder he hides her. He’s probably scared someone else might snatch her.”

“Obviously! Did you see how they decorated that private room? Do you even know how much that cost?”

Someone raised five fingers.

“Fifty thousand? That’s more than my whole year’s salary!”

“No, you idiot, five million! Do you think the rich live like us? All those diamonds used for the décor were flown in from South Africa. I’ve worked here for ten years, and I’ve never seen a private room that is blinding. And don’t even get me started on the gift he gave her!”

Just as I was on the verge of collapsing, a taxi finally rolled to a stop.

I rushed inside, terrified that even a second’s hesitation would send me running back to him.

A tangled mess of emotions tore through my chest like poisoned needles, each breath a stab to the heart.

It felt like something had been violently carved out of me. Even breathing burned.

When the car reached the gates of the university, I couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“Let me off here,” I said quietly.

I stepped into the rain, walking across the campus lawn, not bothering to shield myself or look back.

People turned to stare, but I didn’t care.

Someone whispered excitedly nearby, “Isn’t that Miss Chandler?”

“Who?”

“You don’t know her? Have you never checked the forums? Back then, her love story with Senior Carter was everywhere. Childhood sweethearts got accepted into this university together, and on the very first day, he confessed to her in front of everyone. It was legendary. No drama could ever top their story.”

“But Senior Carter isn’t with her. Should we go ask? I heard they’re secretly married. Maybe we can even score some wedding candy.”

“Forget it. Didn’t you see her face? Let’s go. Don’t mess with her mood.”

Their voices faded into the distance, leaving only a heavy silence behind.

Bitterness welled up in my chest, so sharp it was hard to swallow.

He had been the older boy next door, my socalled childhood sweetheart.

From the earliest memories I had, he was always running after me.

As kids, we used to play house. He once fought off an entire group of children just to make me his pretend bride.

To make me smile, he even stole Aunt’s heirloom ring, claiming it was our token of love.

He told me one day he’d use it to propose for real.

For eighteen years, we had never been apart.

After the college entrance exams, his family wanted to send him abroad.

He knelt in the pouring rain for a full day and night with no food, no water, just to fight it.

In the end, they gave in and let him stay.

On university entrance day, it happened to be my eighteenth birthday.

At the opening ceremony, he had bribed the entire student body. Every student held up a banner that read. [Easton and Avery forever, never to be parted.]

I could never forget that moment.

The principal and teachers wore darkened expressions as drones lit up the sky, spelling out my name.

Right beside me stood Easton, holding my hand, filled with determination.

That burning gaze of his made my heart skip a beat.

Overwhelmed, I leaned over and kissed him lightly on the cheek.

That marked the beginning of our fouryear whirlwind love story.

Our relationship was posted on the school forum and remains pinned there even now.

But after graduation, he was still sent abroad.

Before he left, he held me close, his eyes red as he lay beside me in the hotel bed.

We didn’t cross any lines, but the longing in his gaze was too deep, too sharp. I couldn’t even keep my eyes open.

He whispered gently in my ear. “Avery, wait for me for two years. When I come back, I’ll marry you.”

“Don’t marry anyone else.”

When I closed my eyes, he didn’t see the smile tugging at my lips, sweet, full of hope.

But soon after he left the country, everything collapsed.

That night, I lost everything: my family went bankrupt, my parents died, and even my freedom was stripped away.

I was taken abroad, forced into a marriage I never chose, and lived through three years of unbearable torment.

I had thought of running. I had thought of ending it all.

And just when I was about to give up, he appeared.

With one contract worth hundreds of billions, he shattered that man's control.

The divorce papers were signed swiftly, without hesitation.

On the plane home, I traced his features in my mind with trembling fingers.

He hadn’t changed, still just as handsome, just as unforgettable.

I thought my nightmare was over.

I thought happiness had finally returned to me.

But the moment I stepped into the villa, I was met with shelves of childish dolls.

And standing before me, in a revealing nightgown, was her.

He panicked.

“She’s my sister. Adopted from an orphanage. She looked pitiful, so I took care of her for two years.”

But I didn’t miss the flicker of pain in her eyes.

As a woman, I saw it clearly. Her feelings for him ran deep.

After I returned to the country, she had been sent away from the Carter house.

Back then, I thought it was just a onesided crush.

But now, it seemed the one who didn’t belong was me.

By the time I got home, it was already past one in the morning.

The villa was dark, with not a single light on.

He sat alone on the couch, looking like he’d been waiting for hours.

The moment the door opened, he rushed over, eyes filled with worry.

He pulled me into a tight embrace, his voice trembling as he spoke, “Avery, where did you go? Why didn’t you tell me before leaving?”

“Do you have any idea how worried I was? I was scared that he came back and...”

Scalding tears landed on my shoulder, seeping through my clothes.

“Promise me you won’t vanish again, alright? I’m begging you, Avery.”

“I can’t afford to lose you a second time.”

His voice trembled with such sincerity that it almost made me believe him.

Ever since I came back to the country, he had messaged me every hour whenever he left for work.

Checking if I was still at home, making sure the man from abroad hadn’t appeared again.

Last month, I went to the supermarket and didn’t see my phone in time.

He abandoned a hundredbillion project just to rush home.

The moment he saw I was safe, his eyes welled up with tears.

His hands trembled as he clutched me, just like now.

“Avery, thank goodness you’re alright...”

From that day on, five bodyguards followed me wherever I went.

Only when I finally complained about the inconvenience did he pull them away.

I used to believe that was love.

But now I understood that it was never about protection.

Those men were likely stationed not to shield me from danger but to prevent me from crossing paths with Addison to keep the truth hidden from me.

The love had once been real.

But now, the absence of it felt just as real.

I forced a faint smile and gently pried his hands off me.

“Sorry, I went out shopping. My phone died. I didn’t see your messages.”

A moment later, the living room lights flickered on.

Soft light poured over the rose petals scattered across the floor. The threetiered cake on the table, and the wedding ring clutched tightly in his palm.

Just as three years ago, he got down on one knee; his expression was solemn and reverent.

“Avery, marry me, will you?”

“The wedding I promised is three years late. Before, I was afraid you hadn’t healed. Now, I want to make it up to you properly.”

I was just about to ask, ‘Are you really ready to marry me?’

When his phone vibrated violently.

“President Carter, something’s wrong. Addison had a bleeding ulcer and was rushed to the hospital. The surgery needs a family member to sign…”

The voice didn’t even finish.

All that remained was the sight of his back as he rushed out.

He didn’t even bother checking the ring size; he just shoved it roughly onto my finger.

Then he threw on a coat and left without so much as a glance back.

“Avery, something urgent came up at the company. Wait for me to come back.”

I looked down at the diamond ring digging into my skin, the metal slicing open my flesh. Blood slowly seeped out, staining the stone.

Tears slipped silently down my cheeks.

As if under a spell, I grabbed my stilldamp coat and ran after him.

At the hospital’s emergency entrance, I saw a side of him I had never seen before: frenzied, furious, completely out of control.

“Didn’t I tell you to watch her? How could you let her drink herself into a stomach bleed?”

“What the hell were you doing?”

His friend looked like a scolded child, head hung low in guilt.

“There was nothing I could do! I can’t control your wife, can I? She was upset and insisted on drinking with me. What was I supposed to do, leave her there alone?”

“Anyway, they’re still waiting for someone to sign the surgery papers. Stop yelling at me and go sign already.”

Easton scribbled his signature with a fury that nearly tore through the paper, his voice sharp and icecold.

“Remember this: Addison is my legal wife. Her surgeries don’t need my approval. Next time, all of you are fired.”

The surgery lasted for an hour. He remained outside the whole time, motionless.

His friend, not wanting to get dragged any deeper, muttered some excuse and slipped out of the hospital.

When Addison was wheeled into the room, Easton’s eyes reddened.

“How could you be so reckless? Don’t you know your own limit?”

Addison burst into tears, her voice trembling with grievance as she collapsed into his arms like a wounded rabbit.

“But I missed you. Today is our anniversary. I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t be like this, but I really can’t share you with Sister Avery.”

"Easton, how much longer are we going to keep doing this?"

His back stiffened instantly, and at that moment, my breath stopped, too.

My nails sank deep into my palm, tearing the skin open. Drops of blood fell quietly onto the floor.

In the silence of the corridor, his sigh came, helpless, low.

"You know I can’t leave Avery. You're my wife. You should understand."

"In the future, I’ll spend more time with you. Please, stop hurting yourself. Even if not for me, at least for the baby inside you."

My heart cracked. Darkness closed in. And just like that, I lost all consciousness.

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital room.

The doctor’s voice was blunt and cold.

"Two months pregnant, and you didn’t know? Why were you out in the rain? If you don’t want the child, just have the surgery early."

Pregnant?

I froze, unable to speak. Tears slid down uncontrollably.

During those three years abroad, my body had already been pushed to the edge.

After returning to the country, Easton had even arranged a checkup for me.

The diagnosis was cruel: after two miscarriages and delayed treatment, I would likely never bear children again in this lifetime.

That day, Easton fell silent for a long, long time.

Then he brought in specialists from all over, doing everything he could to save what was already slipping away.

For three years, I never stopped taking medication, even when I had already given up.

But Easton kept comforting me, again and again. "It’s okay. Even if you can’t have children, we’ll adopt. I’ll never blame you."

And now, the child I had waited three years for had finally come, just at the wrong time.

A selfish thought took root in my heart.

I wanted to keep this baby. Raise it on my own.

I had no family and no friends.

This child was the only reason I still wanted to live.

But before that, I had to leave Easton.

I gently placed my hand over my stillflat stomach and whispered, "Baby, don’t blame Mommy..."

At dawn, Easton sent a message. [Something urgent came up. I’m going on a business trip. I'll be back in seven days.]

[Don’t worry, I’ve already asked the staff to arrange the wedding. Once I’m back, I’ll take you to see it all.]

[Avery, take care of yourself. Don’t make me worry.]

The nurses often whispered about the VIP ward on the top floor.

I knew Easton was there.

Taking care of Addison.

Not wanting to stay a moment longer, I completed the discharge procedures.

In the entire seven days that followed, I didn’t receive a single word from him.

Wedding decorations piled up in the villa like mountains. Delicate. Beautiful. It was clearly expensive, but there was not a trace of sincerity in any of it.

In those seven days, I quietly canceled my official documents.

Booked a oneway ticket out of here.

And erased every piece of myself I had left behind.

Three years was a long time.

The gifts he had given me filled the walkin closet, everything except the Carter family’s heirloom ring.

I sold it all at auction.

Donated the proceeds to mountain villages.

And just as I finished the last of it, Easton came home.

The moment he stepped through the door, he rushed toward me, eyes glowing with excitement.

He pulled me into his arms.

"Avery, the wedding venue is ready. The invitations are out. Let’s go try on your dress, okay?"

"Avery, I’ve waited five years for this day. Thank you for fulfilling my dream."

Before I could even say no, he had already taken me to the car.

On the way there, he spoke in vivid detail about our dream wedding. His eyes were sincere, his tone filled with longing as if he had cherished this moment all along.

I turned my head to the window, letting silent tears fall.

Panicked, Easton leaned over and gently kissed the tears from my cheek.

"Why are you crying? Avery, please don’t cry. It hurts me when you cry."

"Three days from now, we’ll be family. We’ll never be apart again."

But there was no future left for us.

At the bridal boutique, she was already there, holding the wedding dress in her arms.

His expression froze. "Why are you here?"

She pouted, her voice tinged with grievance.

"How could a sister miss her brother’s wedding? And this dress is so expensive, I wouldn’t feel at ease letting someone else handle it."

"Sisterinlaw, try it on. My brother picked it out just for you."

I slipped into the dress and stood before the fulllength mirror.

Behind me, his gaze clung to my reflection, eyes brimming with longing and infatuation.

"Avery, you’re still just as beautiful."

In the distance, she flung her hand and stormed off, her retreating figure heavy with reluctance.

He pulled me tightly into his arms.

Then she stepped forward with a camera, her forced smile stiff and unnatural.

"Brother, let me take a photo of you and Sisterinlaw?"

"Okay."

As she adjusted the angle, she accidentally stepped on a clothing rack.

In the next second, the rack toppled, bringing the chandelier crashing down with it.

Screams tore through the air.

Blood streamed from my forehead as I collapsed, completely disheveled.

The chandelier had crashed down on my leg, bones shattered, pain blinding.

In the blur of my fading vision, the last thing I saw was Easton rushing toward her.

"Addison, are you hurt? What about the baby? Please don’t scare me..."

Tears spilled freely from my eyes. "Easton..."

When I opened them again, the surgery was over. I was lying in a hospital room.

From beyond the curtain came the sound of Addison’s choked sobs.

"I didn’t mean to..."

Easton sighed, his voice low and tired.

"I’m not blaming you. But you’re not alone now. What if something happened to the baby? What if something happened to you? What do you want me to do?"

"Luckily, you’re alright. No more of this, just wait outside."

Footsteps faded into the distance. I slowly opened my eyes.

It was the same doctor from before. His expression carried disapproval.

"Miss Chandler, I told you last time, your pre…"

Before he could finish, I swept my phone off the bed and let it crash to the floor.

Easton bent down to pick it up.

I looked at the doctor, pleading silently, and slowly shook my head.

He sighed and spoke gently.

"You're out of danger now. Get some rest."

The door clicked shut. Easton turned to me, brows furrowed.

"What’s wrong with your stomach?"

"Nothing. Just an old injury, you know that."

There was a flicker in his eyes, something unreadable.

"Avery, let’s adopt a child someday. Treat them as our own. Don’t let this weigh on you."

"I already looked into it. The accident was caused by aging equipment at the store…"

"And Addison? You’re telling me it had nothing to do with her?"

Adopt a child? Or adopt her child?

I let out a bitter laugh.

His expression instantly darkened.

"You don’t believe me?"

"Addison’s just a young girl. How much strength could she possibly have?"

"You’ve been suspicious of her for three years and still haven’t let it go?"

"If there was really something going on, wouldn’t it have happened by now? Why would I have brought you back?"

Staring at his familiar face, I suddenly felt exhausted, so tired I could hardly breathe.

Seeing my silence, he softened his voice and gently took my hand.

"Avery, be good. It was just an accident. The doctor said your injuries aren’t serious, you can still attend the wedding. Worst case, I’ll carry you down the aisle. We’ve done that plenty of times as kids, haven’t we?"

For six hours, Easton never left my side.

Even while handling work calls, he stayed there in the hospital room.

It wasn’t until late at night that his phone rang.

On the other end came Addison’s trembling, panicked voice. "Easton, the villa’s on fire! I couldn’t catch the arsonist. He spoke French. The front door was sealed shut. Please… please come save me!"

In an instant, the illusion of tenderness shattered into pieces.

"A Frenchman?"

"Stay there. Cover your mouth and nose with a wet towel. Hold on, I’m on my way!"

He hung up and immediately told his assistant to arrive within ten minutes and save her.

Then he turned back to me, his eyes sharp and cold.

"Was it him?"

I let out a bitter laugh.

"You think he listens to me? If it were really him, why would he have agreed to the divorce back then?"

But he wasn’t listening at all.

"A Frenchman, who else could it be but him! Avery, I told you Addison is just my sister. Why are you so obsessed with her?"

"If I’d known it would come to this, I never should’ve brought you back! You two are so close that he even crossed the ocean to help you. I really underestimated you!"

The words I wanted to say caught in my throat.

Without a second glance, he stormed out of the hospital.

The doctor walked in, holding a medical report.

"Miss Chandler, due to the severity of your injury and miscarriage, your previous treatments have been rendered useless. You’ll no longer be able to have children. Please take care of yourself."

That night, my heartwrenching cries echoed down the corridor.

I laughed and sobbed by turns, looking every bit the lunatic.

At dawn, I discharged myself and went straight to the airport.

Just before boarding, a message from Easton arrived.

[Addison is out of danger. I’m not blaming you. I just hope you don’t turn into someone I can’t recognize. Avery, you weren’t like this before.]

[I’ll be staying here with Addison for the next two days before the wedding. Get some rest. Don’t let me down again.]

Was he truly caring for Addison? Or was he simply afraid I’d hurt his socalled “sister” again?

At that point, I no longer cared.

A notification popped up. My identity documents had been successfully canceled.

I snapped my SIM card in half and threw it away.

Without looking back, I boarded the plane.

Easton, this time, I set you free.

Let’s never meet again.