Once His Unwanted Wife, Now His Aunt Novel – Three weeks ago, I came within inches of death. My father dressed me in Jocelyn’s clothes and sent me out to lure in her stalker—claimed it was finally a way I could be of use. He gave his word I’d be protected. Said they’d be close by. But it was all a lie. While I was running terrified through the dark, begging for help, my husband Christopher was wrapped around my stepsister in our bed—sending me videos as I screamed into the void.
No one noticed I’d disappeared. Not my father. Not my husband. And when I stumbled back home, bloodied and barely holding myself together, all they gave me was a cold, mocking laugh. But today… I found something worse. A photograph. Christopher and Jocelyn, hand in hand on the courthouse steps. Between them, an ultrasound in a silver frame. They tied the knot the same day I nearly died. She’s carrying his child.
And I—the woman he vowed to love—was already erased. But what shattered me most was the truth behind my brother’s death. Three months ago, the heart he so desperately needed never reached him. Christopher had it redirected. To Jocelyn. She wasn’t even sick. “I didn’t need a new heart, Noelle,” she sneered, laughing as if she hadn’t destroyed me, “I just wanted the last person who loved you gone.” That day, I made three choices. First—I ended the pregnancy I no longer had the will to continue. Second—I signed the divorce papers and left them neatly on his desk.
Third—I picked up the phone and called the man I should have chosen from the start. “I’m awake now. I’m saying yes. Come for me in three days. Will you?” “I’ve waited for this moment for years,” he said. “I’ll be there.” In three days, I’ll be gone. And this time… they’ll feel the emptiness. But it’ll be far too late. Noelle’s POV “This time, I’m awake,” I whispered into the phone, choking on tears. “I accept your proposal. Come for me in three days… Will you?” His voice shot back, tense with concern. “Noelle? Are you hurt?” I swiped the tears away, steadied my voice. “No. I’m just done pretending.” “When should I come?” “Three days from now.” “This is your last chance, Noelle.
Don’t break my heart again.” The line went dead with a soft click. I pushed myself up from the hospital floor. A nurse glanced over and offered a kind smile. “You’re free to leave now, Noelle.” I nodded, thanked her, and limped my way out. I hailed a cab, absently scrolling through my phone. No messages. No missed calls. Not a word from the people who should’ve noticed. Oddly, that made things easier. I arrived at the house that had never truly been mine these past three years. My father was glued to a football game on TV. He barely glanced up before shouting, “Move it, you useless brat!” I stepped aside. “You couldn’t even lure the damn stalker.
You’re just like your dead mother—utterly worthless,” he hissed. The bedroom door opened. Out came Christopher, arm in arm with Jocelyn, both laughing like a joke had just landed. They froze the moment they saw me. Jocelyn dropped his arm. Christopher cleared his throat. I offered a bitter smile. No need for charades—I’d seen everything three weeks ago. “What are you doing here?” Christopher snapped. “You failed to catch Jocelyn’s stalker.” “If anyone had picked up their phone that night, maybe I could’ve helped,” I replied calmly.
A burning slap split across my cheek, stars exploding in my vision. My father stood in front of me, seething. “Ungrateful wench!” he bellowed. “Now you want to blame us for your screw-ups? Like you blamed Jocelyn for nearly ruining my business? Ma