A Decade in Her Place, Now She Wants It All

It was the tenth year of my substitute marriage when Olivia Roscente returned.

She stood in the center of the living room, luggage in tow, travel-worn yet radiant.

The entire family froze where they stood.

Olivia casually pushed her suitcase aside and stretched lazily.

"Traveling through thirteen countries is utterly exhausting," she said.

She glanced around, her tone light and cheerful.

"Where's Noah? He should be in elementary school by now. Why hasn't he come to see his mother?"

The air instantly turned icy.

Noah was Olivia's biological son.

Ten years ago, she had faked her death and fled on their wedding day, abandoning her one-month-old infant and fiancé.

The Roscente family were prominent figures in the Old Money Circles.

My parents, fearing to offend them, had pushed me—fresh out of university—onto the wedding altar.

For ten years, I had devoted myself to playing the roles of wife and mother.

Olivia's self-righteous demeanor made our parents visibly uncomfortable.

Their gazes simultaneously shifted toward me.

I lifted my teacup, a slight smile touching my lips.

"Noah went on vacation to Hong Kong with his father."

Olivia's brow immediately furrowed.

"Didn't I notify everyone I was returning today? You didn't tell Ethan?"

I took a slow, deliberate sip of tea.

A decade had polished me into composure.

I was no longer the little sister living in her older sister's shadow.

My silence infuriated Olivia.

She shot to her feet, her fingers trembling.

"Isabella Roscente! Stop playing dumb! I was the one engaged to the Roscente family! Now that I'm back, do you really think you can keep clinging to the title of Mrs. Roscente?"

I looked up, a faint smile on my lips.

"What are you talking about, sister? My husband and I have a wonderful relationship."

Throughout these ten years, I had accompanied Ethan Roscente to countless events.

Charity galas, business receptions, elite social gatherings.

Everyone in the Old Money Circles knew the Roscentes as a devoted couple.

Ethan had secured numerous business opportunities thanks to his reputation as a doting husband.

There might not have been love between us, but our bond of mutual benefit was unbreakable.

That was the source of my confidence.

Olivia stared wide-eyed, disbelief written across her face.

"Isabella Roscente! Have you no shame? He's your brother-in-law!"

I set my teacup down gently.

"No. We are legally recognized husband and wife."

I rose and smoothed my skirt, unwilling to waste more breath.

Our parents stood by, flustered and uncertain.

Olivia clutched our mother's sleeve, her voice trembling with tears.

"Mom! She's insane! Ethan and I were together since university! If not for me, would our family business be where it is today?"

Our parents had always favored Olivia.

But this time, Mother stole a glance at me and spoke in a faint voice.

"But... you were the one who ran away... and faked your death... we heard nothing from you for ten years..."

"There was no bride at the wedding! If not for Isabella, the Roscentes would have been humiliated! Our family would have been ruined!"

Olivia's face stiffened. She stammered.