Behind The Glamour: My Wife's Secret

In Critport, the skies unleashed a torrential downpour.

Ellie Gordon was hurriedly escorted into the main building of Moon Manor by car.

Once admired in Critport as a top socialite, she now found herself a pawn in the Gordon family's scheme, substituting their daughter in an arranged marriage.

Her husband, Kaiden Thorpe, was the family's fourth child. Known for his early brilliance and talent, his detachment had led to his alienation from his family. A car accident had left him with disabled legs.

As night enveloped the manor, Ellie awaited her elusive husband.

Kaiden's absence hinted at his reluctance to meet her, perhaps a refusal to acknowledge her.

His absence, however, was a relief for Ellie, sparing her the dilemma of confronting him.

Exhausted from her ordeals with the Gordons, she shed her wedding dress and climbed into bed, seeking rest.

Time blurred as she drifted in and out of sleep.

Suddenly, the door clicked open, breaking the silence.

A tall figure entered.

Half-asleep, Ellie stirred at the sound.

Before she could gather her thoughts, the figure joined her in bed, gradually drawing closer.

The sudden warmth had awoken her fully.

The stranger swiftly turned, pinning her down.

His grip tightened around her neck.

"Who are you?" he demanded in a low, cold voice, like a beast defending its territory.

Moonlight revealed his face, his eyes colder than his voice.

Ellie, without a word, lashed out with a swift kick aimed at the man's vulnerable spot.

"Fuck!" he cursed, deftly dodging her attack.

Seizing the moment, Ellie broke free and leapt from the bed.

The room became a flurry of motion as they exchanged a series of moves.

Trained in martial arts, Ellie was usually unmatched, but she quickly realized the man's superior skill.

"I am Kaiden Thorpe's wife. If you don't leave, I'll call the guards to throw you out..."

Her threat was cut short as the man seized her throat, pushing her against the wall.

Suddenly, the lights snapped on, illuminating the room.

In the bright light, the man's features were striking-deep-set eyes, a prominent nose, and a stern jawline. He looked at Ellie with a mix of surprise and sarcasm.

"Who are you planning to throw out?"

His gaze shifted from the wedding dress in the corner back to Ellie.

Dressed in modest casual wear instead of a nightdress, Ellie was clearly on her guard.

A flicker of contempt crossed Kaiden's eyes.

Struggling for breath, Ellie managed to gasp, "You're... Kaiden?"

She had never seen Kaiden, who seldom appeared in public, but it made sense that the only man who could enter his private bedroom would be him.

Yet, his legs were perfectly fine, unlike what they said in the rumors.

Kaiden's eyebrows raised slightly, acknowledging her deduction, and he released her.

"Ahem..." Coughing violently, Ellie collapsed to the floor, vowing never to feel that suffocating terror again.

Indeed, Kaiden was as unpredictable and ruthless as rumored!

"So, about calling the bodyguards?" Kaiden asked, lighting a cigarette and gazing down at Ellie.

His eyes lingered on her neck, marked by his grip, its delicate skin standing out in the light.

Ellie felt a flush of shame.

She hadn't realized he was Kaiden when she threatened to call for help.

Kaiden, with a demeanor suggesting he held power over life and death, said coldly, "Choose how you wish to end."

Ellie knew that Kaiden was thinking about silencing her, since she had discovered the truth about his legs.

"Mr. Thorpe, I am legally your wife. You can't treat me like this!" she protested, her heart racing with fear.

"You are nothing but a woman whose background is a mystery. How dare you claim to be my wife, huh?" Kaiden's tone dripped with disdain as he exhaled a ring of smoke.

Ellie clenched her fists, feeling deeply humiliated.

Her origins were indeed unknown; even the names of her biological parents were a mystery.

The high society was now aware that Ellie was merely a substitute in the Gordon family, not their true daughter.

But was it her fault?

Was it ever her choice?

She never wanted this marriage to Kaiden.

Impatient, Kaiden pressed a button near the bed.

Soon, two bodyguards entered the room.

"Throw her out," Kaiden ordered coldly.

"Wait, Kaiden!" Ellie exclaimed in desperation. "I promise, I won't say a word about your legs!"

She had agreed to this marriage as a way to repay the Gordon family for two decades of care. Now, she considered her debt to them settled.

Kaiden, his face a mask of indifference, suddenly spoke with a hint of benevolence. "Ellie, if you manage to survive this night, you can remain as Mrs. Thorpe."

Boom!

Crack!

The night sky rumbled with thunder.

Lightning flashed, its brilliance fading, but the relentless rain persisted.

The forecast had predicted this downpour would last all night.

Today was meant to be her wedding day, standing as Kaiden's bride. However, Ellie found herself confronting the relentless severity of the storm outside...

In that moment, Ellie realized the truth.

Kaiden's intent was not merely to degrade her, he was setting a lethal challenge.

As a bride imposed upon him by his family, her demise would be a convenient solution for him.

"Don't touch me!" declared Ellie, standing with dignity. "I'll leave of my own accord."

Her eyes met those of the approaching bodyguards, warning them, "Remember, I'm the woman legally bound to Mr. Thorpe. It would be unwise to lay hands on your master's wife, wouldn't it?"

Her demeanor appeared compliant, even gentle, but a flicker of triumph shone in her eyes.

She believed her emotions were well-concealed, yet Kaiden saw through her facade.

Amusement stirred within him.

The Ellie he'd heard of, the Gordon family's daughter, was reputedly virtuous, dignified, and gentle – ideal for leading a prominent household.

But the woman before him defied those descriptions, her spirit unbroken even in adversity.

Hearing the disturbance, an elderly butler with white hair approached the master bedroom's doorway, but wisely stayed outside.

Kaiden valued his privacy and did not take kindly to uninvited intrusions into his personal space.

"Cayson, did you let her in?" Kaiden's tone was sharp.

In Moon Manor, only Cayson Buckley, who had looked after Kaiden since childhood, would dare to allow Ellie into his room without prior consent.

Cayson replied with a sigh, "Mr. Thorpe, solitude isn't forever. Mrs. Thorpe hoped Miss Gordon would become your wife, fulfilling her wish as your mother."

Kaiden, seemingly disregarding Cayson's words, responded icily, "This is the first and last time you do this, Cayson."

Only a week ago, Ellie was engaged to his nephew, Erick Thorpe.

Now, she stood outside in the rain, enduring hardship to be near him.

Kaiden mused on the fickle nature of women's affections.

He didn't desire someone already chosen by another.

Standing by the French window, Kaiden had a clear view of Ellie.

Amidst the lightning, Ellie's figure was visible outside the elaborate gates.

Her soft skin, defined eyes, elegant nose, and delicate lips made her strikingly beautiful, like a rare bloom in the night.

She was soaked to the skin as the rain streamed down her face, tracing a path from her forehead to her eyes, cheeks, and chin, before falling to the ground.

Yet, this did not mar her appearance; instead, it lent her a vulnerable allure.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, the woman in the rain looked up.

Through the blurred rain, Ellie's vision was limited to the tall silhouette standing by the French window on the second floor.

Aware that Kaiden was observing her, Ellie flashed a subtle smile, tilting her head and lightly waving towards the second floor.

Her demeanor appeared compliant and gentle, but on closer inspection, it was a clear challenge.

It was as if she was declaring, "I will become Mrs. Thorpe!"

"Send her back to the Gordons before she dies of hypothermia," Kaiden commanded, his presence chilling as he retreated to his study.

He had offered her a way out. However, if she chose to defy the odds, he wouldn't intervene.

-

Outside the main villa, the storm continued its relentless assault.

Once Kaiden vanished from the window, Ellie withdrew her gaze, her headache intensifying under the relentless rain, her body shivering with cold and fever.

She wouldn't have endured this if not for the Gordons' threats, using Cecelia Gordon, her adopted grandmother, as leverage to manipulate her into continuing their service.

The Gordons had never shown her kindness, only imposing strict demands. Even when she was admired as a top socialite, their dissatisfaction lingered.

Ellie remembered past abuses by the Gordons, resulting in bruises and severe fevers. Only Cecelia had shown her compassion, taking her to the hospital and caring for her.

Cecelia was the lone warmth in Ellie's years with the Gordons.

Suddenly, her phone rang, indicating an incoming call.

"Ellie, just plead with me, and you can stay by my side," said a familiar man's voice from the call, oozing condescension.

Ellie felt a wave of revulsion at his words and huffed irritably, "Erick, you are nothing but a cheater who betrayed me even though we were engaged. Screw you, you despicable bastard! You make me sick to my stomach!"

The Gordon and Thorpe families had arranged a long-standing engagement, with the Gordons selecting Erick's family as allies. They commanded Ellie to engage with Erick, someone she had no interest in. After her true identity was exposed, the Gordons switched their plans, pushing her to marry Kaiden to fulfill the engagement commitment.

On the eve of her wedding, Ellie caught Erick and Demi Gordon, the newly recognized Gordon daughter, in a compromising position.

This revealed their long-standing affair, and Ellie realized the Gordons' scheme to replace Demi with her in the marriage to Kaiden.

"I slept with Demi because you're too much of a prude. We were already engaged, yet you wouldn't even let me touch you!"

He failed to see the fault in his actions.

For Erick, Ellie's beauty was pointless if it remained untouchable.

"Ellie, Kaiden can't give you what you need, especially in the bedroom. If you want to live a good life, you have to stay with me."

"Erick, wake up! I refuse to stoop to your level! You're nothing but trash!" Ellie hissed.

A thought struck her, and she smirked before adding, "By the way, Erick, remember to call me Auntie Ellie in the future!"

After hanging up, Ellie felt a surge of triumph, picturing Erick's anger.

Given that Erick's father was Kaiden's half-brother, Erick was technically her nephew-in-law.

That scumbag Erick becoming her nephew felt like a small win for her.

As time went by, Ellie's consciousness was fading, her body fluctuating between cold and heat, struggling to remain conscious.

She was determined, and would not surrender.

What would become of Cecelia if she collapsed here?

The first light of dawn broke in the eastern sky.

It was now morning.

The rain, once heavy, dwindled to a drizzle before ceasing.

As maids opened the main gate of Moon Manor, a wheelchair rolled across the cobblestones, its wheels echoing.

Kaiden sat in the wheelchair, his demeanor relaxed. He noticed Ellie still at the door, drenched and visibly weakened.

Ellie's soaked hair clung to her face, her skin unusually flushed, and her lips alarmingly pale.

Yet, her eyes shone with a mix of determination and... defiance.

With a frail wave, she greeted him, "Good morning, Mr. Thorpe!"

Her voice, though feeble and raspy, seemed to resonate within Kaiden.

Kaiden frowned, his expression as unreadable as ever.

He gave Ellie merely two words. "Still alive?"

"Disappointed, Mr. Thorpe?" Ellie's feverish state lent a hint of daring to her words. "Remember, you said if I survived the night, I'd be Mrs. Thorpe."

He couldn't dismiss her now!

Kaiden expertly navigated the wheelchair, halting inches from Ellie.

Despite seated, his towering frame allowed him to effortlessly tilt Ellie's chin upward.

Leaning on the wheelchair for support, she gazed at him, her breath hitching in surprise.

Up close, Kaiden's features were strikingly clear, even the fine details of his eyelashes.

He looked at her, his eyes cold and unwavering.

"So, Ellie, you're so eager to be my wife? Hmm?"

"Ouch!" Ellie winced, feeling an intense pressure on her jaw.

"Does it hurt?" Kaiden's sneer lacked any humor. "Then tell me, Ellie, how do you plan to fulfill your duties as a wife in bed?"

In bed...

Duties...

The implication of his words made her cheeks burn.

Legally, she was bound to such responsibilities.

Kaiden observed her embarrassment with a trace of irony.

Hadn't she already slept with Erick? Yet here she was, feigning innocence.

"You'll need to do everything, given my disability," Kaiden said, his voice tinged with mockery, yet his expression unchanging.

Ellie's face flushed deeper, her eyes glued to the ground.

Kaiden was relentless in his charade of disability.

"Answer me," he demanded.

Swallowing her pride, Ellie stammered, "I can... try to learn... to do whatever is needed... I'm not afraid of..."

She pondered that Kaiden, despite his facade, seemed unlikely to engage with her, whom he deemed beneath him.

"Despicable," he muttered, releasing her abruptly. He noticed the red marks his fingers left on her skin.

She was such a delicate woman, he complained to himself with a snort.

Ellie, masking her relief with a composed smile, said, "I'm very much looking forward to living with you, Mr. Thorpe."

Kaiden's face darkened as he wheeled away.

This time however, he decided to let her stay and not have her thrown out.

Ellie's body, wracked by fever, swayed. Her vision grew hazy, and she fainted...

-

Awakening later, Ellie felt disoriented, her hand sore from the IV needle.

She was in a guest room adjacent to Kaiden's.

Battling her illness, she took her medicine, cocooned herself in blankets, and sweated profusely.

As sleep overtook her, a moment of clarity emerged.

Kaiden was a man best avoided; antagonizing him was unwise.

Ellie resolved to ignore his pretended disability. Curiosity, in this case, was not her ally.

After some time, she was woken up by insistent knocking.

"Mrs. Thorpe, Mr. Thorpe requests your presence in the small warehouse on the first floor concerning your dowry," a maid informed her, her face etched with concern.

Ellie knew little of the dowry prepared by the Gordon family, but her instincts told her it was bound to be problematic.

In the warehouse, the air was heavy with tension.

Kaiden sat in his wheelchair, an object in his hand, emanating a forbidding aura.

"Mr. Th..."

Bang!

Before Ellie could complete her sentence, Kaiden abruptly threw an object at her.

"How many more disgusting tricks do you have up your sleeve, Ellie?" he spat, his eyes icy.

The item hit Ellie, its contents scattering on her and the floor.

Among them were provocative lingerie and several boxes of medication.

Her mind racing, Ellie crouched to inspect them.

The boxes held various aphrodisiacs, including concoctions purportedly for conceiving a child, and even... potency-enhancing pills.

A clear insult to Kaiden, these items were an appalling inclusion by the Gordons in her dowry.

"Ellie, are you that desperate to share my bed and bear my child?" Kaiden's gaze was inscrutable.

Ellie, seething internally at the Gordons' insult, composed herself and stood. "Mr. Thorpe, I had no idea these items were included."

"And what about this?" Kaiden asked with a sardonic laugh, gesturing towards a makeup box on the table.

Ellie's heart raced as she approached the box for a clearer view.

Contained within were a fabricated photo of her and Erick, a heart-shaped necklace, and several affectionate letters, none of which were hers!

"Ugh!"

Kaiden's fingers abruptly pinched her cheeks, forcing her to look into his cold, dispassionate eyes.

These fraudulent keepsakes were an insult to Kaiden, a gesture no man would easily stomach.

"Ellie, to marry me while harboring another man's tokens... quite bold."

"I didn't. The Gordons arranged the dowry, I..."

Her attempt to clarify was futile.

Any explanation would seem like a feeble excuse.

Resigned, Ellie lowered her gaze.

She then bowed slightly. "I apologize."

She should have been more mindful of the dowry.

Kaiden's perception of her shifted.

Last night's defiance had faded, replaced by subservience.

"Ellie, many vie for the role of my wife. Don't assume you've secured a place just because you're here."

He was warning her.

Despite his estrangement from his father Jorge Thorpe and lack of influence in the Thorpe family, Kaiden's status as Jorge's only legitimate son still drew many aspiring brides.

Should it become known that Kaiden wasn't actually disabled, the competition would intensify.

The Gordons' dowry was discarded from Moon Manor like trash.

Reflecting on the origins of the supposed tokens of affection, Ellie realized the truth.

It was Demi's doing!

She had been the only one to access the dowry box before the wedding.