My Marriage Was Built on Lies

In the days that followed, Clara often claimed she wasn’t fully recovered and ordered Sophie to cook for her.

She made Sophie carry her bag when she took the baby out for walks, and when she slipped out late to play cards, she left the baby behind and made Sophie watch him, warning her not to tell Daniel.

Sophie didn’t want any more conflict. She did everything without protest.

But every time she saw Clara with the baby, so close and content, her eyes still burned, until one night, Clara didn’t come home at all.

After Sophie finally got the baby to sleep, she drifted off as well.

Half-asleep, she was jolted awake when the door was kicked open.

Daniel stormed in and grabbed her, dragging her toward the door without a word.

“Daniel… let go of me!”

The baby woke with a frightened cry. Sophie’s voice trembled with helpless frustration. “What are you doing? You woke him!”

Daniel’s face was dark, fury barely contained in his eyes.

“And you still have the nerve to talk about the baby?!

“Just because you want him back, you teamed up with people who are after me. You let them think Clara was the captain’s wife, so they’d go after her. She’s been kidnapped because of you!

“You thought if something happened to her, the baby would come back to you? Keep dreaming.”

He handed the baby off to his aide, then turned back and dragged Sophie toward the car.

“You’re my real wife. You’re coming with me! We’re trading you for Clara.”

Sophie stared at him in shock.

Kidnapped? By whom?

She had no idea what he was talking about.

She clung to the doorframe. “Daniel, calm down. Clara being kidnapped has nothing to do with me! I don’t know those people; I would never hurt her!”

His eyes were bloodshot, burning with anger. “Stop lying. When I went to rescue her, Clara told me herself! You were the one who lured her out that night.”

Sophie almost told him that Clara had snuck out on her own to play cards.

But what was the point?

Daniel had never believed her.

Bitterness flooded her chest.

She slowly loosened her grip on the doorframe and stopped resisting.

“Take me, I’ll go in her place.”

Daniel froze for a second.

Why was Sophie being so compliant today?

But Clara’s safety was all that mattered, and he didn’t have time to think about it.

He shoved Sophie into the car, slammed his foot on the gas, and sped toward the abandoned graveyard where the kidnappers were waiting.

When they arrived, the man was holding Clara at knifepoint.

She was covered in blood, too terrified to even cry.

The kidnapper let out a cold laugh when he saw Daniel.

“Daniel Hart. You ended my career over a fight. My mother paid the price for it. Today, you’re going to cover her burial and settle what you owe me or I take your wife's life.”

Daniel’s voice shook with tension.

“Ryan Warren, calm down! You’ve got the wrong person!

“The woman you’re holding is innocent. The one beside me is my wife. Let her go, take mine instead. I’ll consider what you’re asking.”

When Ryan didn’t respond, Daniel stepped forward with Sophie, his voice tightening with urgency.

“Stop!” Ryan shouted.

“Don’t come any closer! Let your wife come over alone to make the exchange. Try anything, and don’t blame me for what happens!”

With that, he slashed Clara’s arm.

Daniel’s restraint snapped. He shoved Sophie forward.

“Go. Now.”