My Perfect Husband Had A Double Life?!

"Pack up your mother's things and leave this house for good!" Alexander Barnett snapped at his daughter, Rena Barnett.

At the mansion's grand entrance, a pile of crumpled clothes lay scattered, most beyond repair.

Rena's eyes were filled with tears as she stared at her mother's photograph on the ground.

She had flown back immediately upon receiving the heart-wrenching news of her death.

As she knelt to retrieve the photo, her half-sister Milly Barnett cruelly stepped on her hand, pressing down hard. Rena's teeth gritted in pain.

In a surge of emotion, she snatched the frame from the ground and slammed it against Milly's shin.

Milly let out a sharp cry, recoiling into the arms of someone who caught her just in time to prevent her fall. Her shin swelled instantly as she cried out, "Dad, Jasper..."

"Rena, have you gone mad? How could you hurt Milly?" Jasper Singh, dressed impeccably and looking like royalty, intervened. He was Rena's ex fiancé, and they had known each other since childhood.

Rena turned to him with disdain. They had been in a serious relationship and promised each other a future together.

However, just days before, she had stumbled upon Jasper and Milly, indiscreet and exposed in bed.

Jasper had admitted he couldn't help himself with Milly, calling her irresistibly sweet.

Heartbroken, Rena had broken up with him and had left to find peace.

Soon after, the devastating news of her mother's death reached her.

Alexander insisted her mother had been overly indulgent with her first love and had met her death during their intimate moments.

Rena refused to believe such disgrace about her mother.

Besides, it was well-known that her father had been unhappy in his marriage, pressing for a divorce to openly be with Milly's mother.

He didn't hesitate to kick Rena out of the house after her mother's death.

Something was definitely amiss.

Rena sneered as she eyed the contemptible pair and then her father, who appeared utterly disinterested.

She swore to herself that once she unearthed the truth, retribution would be theirs.

Clutching her mother's urn, Rena gathered the last of her belongings and left, her heart heavy with sorrow.

She drove to the only sanctuary left to her-the quaint house her grandmother had bequeathed.

Night had fallen.

Balancing her belongings, Rena stepped out of her car and was about to ascend the steps when she felt a presence behind her.

Whirling around, she recoiled at the sight of a grimy old man seizing her. His stench was nauseating.

With his teeth bared in a grotesque smile, he reeked of decay. "Gorgeous, you're stunning! Mr. Singh wasn't lying. You truly are a treasure!"

As he leaned in closer, sniffing her, he murmured, "You smell delightful. It won't be long before you're enjoying this too!"

"Release me! Help! Is there anyone who can hear me?" Rena thrashed against him, her efforts in vain as she was shoved to the ground.

Her screams echoed futilely across the deserted landscape-was this how her story would end?

As the man tore at her clothing, her resistance only intensified, her tears glittering in the moonlight, adding to her ethereal appearance. "No... Please, no..."

She felt utterly powerless. Despair overwhelmed her, and she shut her eyes.

Suddenly, the assault ceased. The man's weight lifted off her as he fell to the ground, a pool of blood spreading from his head.

Opening her eyes, Rena saw a tall, forbidding figure standing over her, gun in hand.

His intense gaze and rugged features were imposing, his presence almost spectral in the moonlight.

Upon closer inspection, she saw blood splattered on his clothing and his hands, his haunted eyes piercing beneath slightly curled hair.

The man suddenly fell to the ground.

Despite the chaos, Rena knew she couldn't abandon her savior. With determination, she hoisted him up and labored to carry him upstairs.

Reaching her home, she placed him gently on the couch.

He was undeniably handsome, with long lashes framing his eyes, a well-defined jaw, and lips that spoke of softness, yet his chest bore a deep, bleeding wound.

Realization struck Rena-he had been shot, using his fleeting energy to save her life.

"I promise, I'll do everything in my power to help you," she whispered to him.

She hurried to retrieve a first-aid kit from her supplies.

The metallic scent of blood filled the air, but Rena steeled her nerves as she began to staunch the bleeding and cleanse his wound.

Although skilled in medical treatment, she had never before dealt with a gunshot wound herself.

Steadying her breath, she took up the scalpel and tweezers and set about removing the bullet with careful precision.

As she worked, the man's face contorted in pain, his lips parting slightly from the pressure.

"Stay strong, you're not alone." She soothed him softly.

With the bullet removed, he simply needed rest to regain his strength.

Relieved, Rena looked around at the home filled with her grandmother's echoes, emotion welling up within her.

"Grandma, I promise, Mom's death will not be overlooked," she promised solemnly.

That night, she lay in her mother's old bed, seeking solace in her lingering essence.

Yet sleep eluded her, her dreams invaded by the haunting images of her mother's untimely demise.

As the first light of dawn filtered in, the man on the sofa began to stir, slowly opening his eyes.

He took in his surroundings with a groggy gaze and gingerly sat up, his chest sending jolts of pain through him at the movement. Glancing down, he noticed the bandaged wound.

Who had taken care of him?

Memories of the prior evening trickled back-he had been escaping his pursuers, had leapt from his car under gunfire, and had sought refuge.

A cry for help had reached him, prompting his intervention.

The house was modest, barely a handful of strides from one end to the other, and then he noticed a woman sleeping peacefully in her bed.

A surge of emotions stirred in his once numb heart.

Was this not Rena Barnett, the same woman who had once rejected his proposal so publicly?

What a twist of fate.

At a Payne family's gathering, he had been utterly enchanted by Rena's luminous allure and felt an irresistible pull towards her.

On a whim, he had resolved then and there that she must be his wife.

Under the intense gaze of his father, he had talked him into agreeing to his proposal to Rena.

Given the Payne family's formidable standing, Alexander had felt compelled to accept when he had been informed of his desire to marry Rena.

Yet, just as he envisioned his desires coming to fruition, Rena had proclaimed before all that she would sooner wed a beggar than align herself with an illegitimate son like him.

The rest of his family mocked him for being rejected by a girl from a lesser-standing family.

Following his father's demise amidst familial discord, he had clawed his way above his five siblings to assume leadership of the Payne legacy.

Though he had solidified his claim, his brothers and sisters bore grudges, seizing any chance to undermine him.

This very strife had led him right to Rena's doorstep.

Rena awoke abruptly, her eyes widening at the sight of him beside her bed. She gasped, momentarily speechless. "You..."

Emilio Payne's lips twisted into a sardonic smile, his expression otherwise unreadable. "Let's get married."

Marriage?

Rena was dumbfounded, her mind scrambling to catch up with the reality unfolding before her.

Was this a dream?

Or had this man completely lost his senses?

As she grappled with her thoughts, Emilio leaned in close, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that pulled her in like a vortex.

Emilio arched an eyebrow and his lips curled into a half-smile. "Reluctant?"

"Sir, we barely know each other, and you're proposing marriage. Don't you think that's a bit... hasty?"

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kellan Reed. If my memory serves me right, I saved you last night, which surely earns me a favor or two," he said, his voice smooth, concealing his true identity.

In his thoughts, he reasoned that Rena, now vulnerable and alone, was an easy target even compared to his own past as the disgraced, illegitimate son.

His plan was sinister-to aid her, win her heart, and then, at the height of her trust, abandon her-revealing his true identity only then.

For the moment, he would remain at her side as Kellan.

He was curious to witness what her reaction would be when the truth came out.

Would she despair and feel betrayed? Or would she regret ever trusting him?

He was almost too eager to find out.

Meanwhile, Rena's thoughts whirled in turmoil.

He had indeed saved her, a fact she couldn't ignore.

But marriage? Just like that...

She blinked, taking in the man before her. His rugged good looks were undeniable-last night, while tending his wound, she had noticed his sculpted abs and strong build. He was undeniably handsome.

Though marrying him wouldn't be the worst outcome, her recent heartbreak had left her skeptical of love.

She could never marry someone she just met, savior or not!

After a brief pause, she shook her head firmly. "There are other ways I can repay you for saving my life, but marriage isn't one of them."

A mischievous twinkle appeared in Kellan's eyes as he gently lifted her chin, his face inching closer. "Any other way?"

Rena's pulse quickened. What was he implying?

He couldn't possibly expect her to sleep with him, could he?

That was out of the question!

She hastily lowered her gaze. "I won't have sex with you..."

Kellan's chuckle was low, his breath warm against her ear, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine. "I only proposed marriage. Consider it. I can wait," he whispered.

Her heart thumped erratically.

His allure was almost overwhelming.

But why marriage?

Was it possible he had feelings for her? Impossible-they had only just met!

Kellan didn't press further and soon left, leaving behind only his number for her to call if she changed her mind.

Rena scoffed at the idea, promptly discarding the phone number into the trash.

In her grandmother's old house, devoid of life, even the balcony flowers had wilted away.

Rena sighed, her gaze drifting to the urn on the table. First, she needed to secure a burial plot for her mother.

She made her way to a local cemetery to inquire about the prices. The cost of a decent plot was a steep eighty thousand, while the more modest ones ranged from thirty to forty thousand.

Upon checking her account, she found it frozen by Alexander, leaving her penniless.

Taking a deep breath, she resolved to remain calm and determined to purchase a plot for her mother independently.

As she exited the cemetery, lost in thoughts of finding employment, a sleek red sports car screeched to a halt in front of her.

The window slid down, and Milly, with a smug lift of her chin, removed her sunglasses. "Well, if it isn't my dear sister? Looking a little disheveled, aren't we?"

Rena chose to ignore her, but Milly pressed on, "Life's been hard without the Barnett wealth, hasn't it? But cheer up. Dad's found a lucrative marriage arrangement for you!"