The Fake Heir's Silent Exit

One year after I was confirmed to be a fake heir, all my friends said I was like a completely different person.

I was no longer spoiled or entitled. I no longer desperately sought even a passing glance from my parents. And I no longer exhausted myself trying every possible way to win Jane Fraser's love.

The harsh reality of financial hardship left me running ragged every day. It also made me understand, with painful clarity, that affection and romance were the most useless things in this world.

As they wished, I stopped fighting. I stopped competing for anything at all.

Later, when Jane brought the real heir back home, I simply went quietly to the guest room and waited in silence, ready to give up everything that once belonged to me.

But those who had long wanted me to be obedient and well-behaved were suddenly driven mad. They asked me, over and over, why I had stopped fighting back.

In the early hours of the morning, when Jane Fraser brought the real heir back home, I didn't make a scene. I simply forced myself up despite the exhaustion and quietly went to the guest room.

As I passed Gale Boudreaux, he suddenly reached out and grabbed my hand.

"Alex, you've misunderstood me. I just came back to pick up a cufflink I left here last time. I'm not trying to steal Jane from you…"

Jane frowned, as if she was about to scold me for being jealous and overbearing the way she used to.

But I cut her off first, my tone calm.

"I know. I only married her because I took your place. She… was always supposed to be yours."

Truth be told, I had long since come to terms with it.

Marriages between wealthy families were never about individuals. They were about lineage, about alliances, about family standing.

When my fake heir identity was exposed, Jane had immediately asked for a divorce.

I had cried, made a scene, refused to eat, even threatened my own life with a blade—doing everything I could to force her to keep me as her husband.

And in the end, I barely managed to hold onto that title.

But what was the point?

My parents had already taken back everything they once gave me. Jane's family wouldn't give me a single cent either.

I was left clinging to nothing but a name, while in reality I lived in financial ruin and humiliation.

Gale seemed completely unprepared for my answer. After a two-second pause, he said, "Oh… good, then. I was worried you'd be upset about me joining Jane's company as her personal secretary."

He knew exactly where it hurt. He knew I couldn't stand seeing her and him get close.

I caught the satisfaction in his eyes, but I only nodded calmly.

"That's good. Once you've trained up, you'll be able to take over the Boudreaux family business. Your father… Mr. Boudreaux will be pleased too."

I brushed his hand away. "Sorry, I've been delivering takeout all day. I'm a bit tired. I'm going to lie down for a while. You two carry on."

The guest room door slowly closed behind me, and I shut my eyes in exhaustion.

That faint bitterness in my chest felt like a winter window left slightly open, letting in a steady seep of cold.

Drowsily, just as I was about to fall asleep, I suddenly heard the door being kicked open.

Jane stood there with a dark expression, right by my bedside.

She asked coldly, "What are you trying to pull this time?"