She Was The Joke, Now She's The Queen

Chapter 1 A Fragile Marriage Brinley Shaw set her resignation letter on the HR manager's desk, her fingertips smoothing the edge of the paper as though ensuring not a single fold or wrinkle remained. The manager parted his lips, a resigned sigh escaping before he spoke. "It's such a pity to see you leaving, Brinley. Are you absolutely certain about this?" "Yeah," Brinley said with a soft smile, her eyes curving like crescents. "I'd like to spend more time with my family." Stepping out of the company building, she was met by a flood of sunlight. She squinted against the glare and pulled a pair of sunglasses from her bag, slipping them on. Just then, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Ryland Francis, a real estate agent. "Mrs. Palmer, the owner of the villa you like has agreed to lower the price. Could you come view it this afternoon?" Brinley smiled at the good news. That small villa on the outskirts of the city--a place she had admired for a long time--stood far away from the noise and bustle of downtown. Its peaceful surroundings might just be the opportunity she needed to strengthen her fragile marriage with Colin Palmer. Married for two years, she and Colin had never once been in**mate. In the beginning, she had convinced herself his hectic work schedule was to blame, but gradually, doubts about her own attractiveness began to creep in. Finally admitting that something had to change, she quit her job to spend more time with her husband and salvage their relationship. That afternoon, she visited the villa. It turned out to be even more charming in reality than in the photographs. The elderly couple who owned it had kept a garden brimming with roses, their sweet perfume lingering heavily in the air. Standing in the middle of the sunlit living room, Brinley watched her shadow stretch long across the polished floor. "This is the one! How do we proceed?" she said in a firm voice. Ryland's face lit up. "Excellent! I'll prepare the contract immediately. By the way, will Mr. Palmer be joining you to sign?" Brinley shook her head. "No, he's tied up with work. I'll take care of it." "Alright then. Please bring all necessary documents with you tomorrow for the paperwork." On her way home, Brinley sent Colin a quick message. "I resigned and found a villa I love. I'm planning to buy it." His reply came almost instantly. "So sudden? But if it makes you happy, that's what matters. I'll come home early tonight; we'll celebrate." Warmth spread through Brinley's ch**t as she gazed at the screen. Colin had always treated her with care and tenderness. He remembered her favorite meals, always had sweet treats ready when she had her period, and never missed an anniversary without a thoughtful gift. Apart from his refusal to be in**mate with her--which upset her deeply--he was nearly the perfect husband. The following morning, Brinley dressed with special care before leaving for the real estate agency. She chose a pink-and-white dress, the very one Colin often praised as suiting her best. "Mrs. Palmer, please, have a seat," Ryland greeted her warmly. "I'll bring out the contract." Smiling, Brinley passed him a folder. "Here's a copy of my marriage certificate with Colin. I would like to register the house as a joint marital property." Ryland accepted it and tapped away at the computer for a while, but soon he frowned. "That's odd... The system isn't pulling up your marriage registration record." Brinley's smile faltered. "What do you mean by that?" "Probably just a system error," Ryland said quickly, trying to reassure her. "You can confirm it directly at city hall. It happens every now and then." Brinley's ch**t pounded wildly. A creeping sense of unease overwhelmed her. Forcing herself to stay calm, she replied, "Alright. I'll head there right away." Chapter 2 A Substitute The staff at the City Hall adjusted his spectacles, peering at the copy of the marriage certificate again and again. At last, he spoke. "Ma'am, the document you've presented is counterfeit. Our records show no marriage registration whatsoever between you and Mr. Colin Palmer." Brinley stiffened when she heard this. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came; her lips only twitched. "This... this can't be," she finally muttered, her voice almost inaudible. "We were married here... two years ago..." The staff shook his head, looking sympathetic. "I'm sorry, but this is the truth: I can't find any information about your marriage in our system. If you believe you've been deceived, it's best to report the matter to the authorities." Nodding stiffly, Brinley accepted the copy of the marriage certificate as he handed it back to her. Her fingers trembled when they brushed its edge. The document she had treasured for the past two years turned out to be fake. How preposterous! Outside the City Hall, Brinley halted on the steps, her head dizzyingly light. She needed time. She needed somewhere quiet to untangle the storm of thoughts threatening to consume her. She wandered into a small café nearby and ordered an iced black coffee, strong and bitter. The sharp taste filled her mouth, but it could not compare to the bitterness clawing at her heart. At that very moment, her phone lit up with a message from Colin. "Brinley, what would you like for dinner tonight? I'll pick something up after work." A surge of nausea rose within her as Brinley stared at the message on her screen. Drawing in a shaky breath, she typed, "Don't worry. I'll cook." Almost instantly, Collin replied, "Alright. I'll be home on time after work." Brinley didn't respond. Instead, she checked the clock; it was half past three. Then she decided to pay a visit to Colin's office without informing him beforehand. His tech firm was located in a modern tower on the east side of the city. She had delivered him lunch there many times, enough that the receptionist recognized her at once and greeted her with a smile, waving her through. The elevator carried her to the 28th floor, and she stepped out, following the familiar path toward Colin's office. But as she rounded a corner, the sound of his familiar voice drifted from the break room. "I'm conflicted, but you know... I just can't let go of Milly." Brinley stopped in her tracks, her body stiffening as though the world itself had frozen around her. Quietly, she backed up and pressed herself against a column, straining to listen. "What do you intend to do, then?" a man asked. Brinley recognized the voice immediately. It belonged to Vance Graham, Colin's close friend. "Are you planning to stay with Brinley while marrying Milly Russell? Colin, that's not fair." The words struck Brinley like a violent blow. She had to grasp the wall for balance. Milly Russell? Who was she? Colin was marrying that woman? Each word felt like a bl**e slicing into her ch**t. "I know it isn't fair," Colin admitted with a weary sigh. "But when Milly left to pursue her career abroad, I was heartbroken. Then Brinley came along... she reminded me so much of Milly that dating her finally brought healing to my broken heart." Brinley bit her lower lip until she tasted the metallic tang of bl**d. She reminded him of Milly? So that was what she was? A substitute? Chapter 3 Marriage Alliance "But later on," Colin continued in a hesitant voice, "I came to realize Brinley isn't like Milly at all. She's softer, depends on me more, and... loves me in a way Milly never did." Vance chuckled derisively. "And with that realization, you still justify deceiving her?" "I don't deceive her!" Colin's voice rose with sudden intensity before falling again into a whisper. "I truly do care for her... it's just..." "Just what?" Vance asked impatiently. "It's just that I can't seem to cut Milly off completely," Colin admitted, sounding torn. "She was my first love. When she came back from abroad and reached out, I couldn't push her away. But at the same time, I didn't want to give up Brinley." "So you went as far as to forge a marriage certificate, letting Brinley believe the two of you were legally bound?" The disgust was obvious in Vance's voice. "Colin, that makes you nothing short of a sc**bag." Colin fell silent for a few seconds before answering with a bitter, self-mocking laugh, "Yes, I'm a sc**bag. I want Milly's fire, Brinley's gentleness... I even let myself imagine how perfect it would be to keep them both in my life." "You must be delusional!" Vance snapped. "If Brinley ever found out about your double life, do you honestly think she'd forgive you?" "She won't ever know," Colin said, interrupting Vance. "She trusts me completely, never questions a thing. Even when she phoned while Milly and I were in b*d, she was too oblivious to notice anything unusual." Those words smashed Brinley's heart like a ruthless strike. Turning, she walked soundlessly toward the elevator. Each step felt unreal, as though she were moving through a heavy fog. The man she had loved for two whole years was nothing but a liar. ... Brinley had no idea how she managed to return home. Absentmindedly, she unlocked the door, drifted into the kitchen, and began preparing dinner mechanically. At half-past six, the sound of a key turning in the lock reached her ears. Colin entered with his usual charm, carrying a fresh bouquet of lilies. "I'm back." He leaned in and brushed her forehead with a k**s, smiling warmly. Brinley forced her lips into a smile as she accepted the flowers. Oblivious to her stiffness, Colin shrugged off his suit jacket and sniffed the air. "Mmm, what did you make? Smells delicious." "Your favorite. Grilled meat." Brinley turned away to place the bouquet into a vase, hiding her cold expression. Through the entire meal, Brinley kept her eyes fixed on him, studying every gesture. Collin's phone never left the table, lying face down, and every so often he flicked his eyes at it, as though waiting for a message. "My head aches a little," Brinley muttered after dinner. "Could you fetch me some medicine from upstairs? It's in the nightstand drawer." "Of course," Colin said immediately, springing up. "You just rest here." The moment he was upstairs, Brinley snatched his phone. The screen came on, requiring a password. She tried her own birthday, then their anniversary. Neither unlocked it. Just as she was about to attempt again, a message notification flashed across the screen. "Colin, wonderful news--I'm pr**nant!" Brinley's fingers froze. The words blazed before her eyes, stabbing her like sharpened steel. She stared in shock until Colin's footsteps began descending. Panicking, she dropped the phone back onto the table. Colin returned with the pills and a glass of water. "You don't look well. Do you want to lie down early?" Brinley accepted the pills, pretended to swallow, then replied, "I'm fine. By the way... is there something going on at the office? You kept glancing at your phone." For a moment, Collin stiffened, but then he quickly composed himself. "Yes, a project issue. I might need to head back later." "Then go," Brinley said with a gentle smile, though her heart was breaking inside. "Work always comes first." Colin slipped on his coat, pausing to k**s her cheek. "Don't wait up for me. Get some rest." As the door clicked shut behind him, Brinley's smile crumbled. Tears formed in her eyes, but she stubbornly tipped her head back, refusing to let them fall. Only after a long struggle did she finally pick up her phone, her hand trembling, and dial a number she hadn't called in two years. "Dad, I've decided. I'll return home... and I'll accept the marriage alliance you arranged." Chapter 4 Charity Gala Three months later A sleek black Maybach rolled to a stop outside the glittering club, its polished surface catching every shard of neon light. When Brinley stepped gracefully from the car, her eyes lingered on the grand entrance, ablaze with chandeliers and flashing lights. Tonight, the Knight family's annual charity gala was underway, drawing in the wealthiest and most influential figures in Bleron. Old memories pressed in, bitter and sharp, tugging a sarcastic curve at Brinley's lips. "Ms. Shaw, you've finally arrived." Ryan Bailey, the Knight family's longtime butler, hurried forward with quick precision, flanked on both sides by two lines of imposing bodyguards. Every gesture radiated deference. Brinley tilted her chin and gave him a faint, cold nod in acknowledgment. Ryan gestured politely. "This way, please," he said, moving ahead while those bodyguards followed, their presence alone drawing stares. Because of Brinley's identity, they bypassed the main hall and slipped through a private passage. At her quiet request, Ryan waved off the bodyguards, but their absence did little to lessen the attention she attracted. Her arrival still turned heads. Draped in a bold crimson gown with her hair swept into a sleek ponytail, Brinley radiated confidence--elegant and arresting in her simplicity. Recognition rippled through the crowd. "Isn't that Brinley?" someone whispered, awe and curiosity threading through their tone. "Oh my, what is she doing here? Since when did the Knight family's gatherings become open to just anyone?" "I heard Colin tossed her aside after catching her cheating. It was a whole spectacle. How does she still have the audacity to show up tonight?" "Shh, keep your voice down. She used to be the apple of the Shaw family's eye, but they've cut her off completely... Look at her, still carrying herself as if she matters." The sharp whispers rippled through the hall and drifted to Brinley, yet she remained unfazed. Settling elegantly into a quiet corner, she sampled the appetizers with calm detachment. Her serene poise only made the gossipers more irritated. At the front of their little pack was Renee Dale, daughter of Dale Group's CEO. With a sly smile curving her lips and a glass of w**e poised in her hand, she swept toward Brinley, her companions trailing behind. Renee's voice carried deliberately, her smile sharp as glass. "Well, if it isn't Miss Shaw. All by yourself tonight? Where's Mr. Palmer? Oh, that's right--I heard the two of you split. Hardly shocking. A man like him could not tolerate a partner who was unfaithful." Before Brinley could answer, one of Renee's companions leaned in eagerly. "Renee's right. No offense, Brinley, but do you really think showing up here will win Mr. Palmer back? That ship has sailed. Milly's the one by his side now--she's carrying his child." The sharp exchange only stirred the crowd further, hungry for drama. Brinley tilted her head just enough to meet Renee and her entourage with a cold glance. "You all seem awfully fascinated with my personal life," she said, her tone deceptively gentle but edged with steel. "My affairs, however, aren't open for your judgment. And as for why I'm here..." Her lips curved into a wry smile. "Does the Knight family need your permission before extending an invitation?" Renee faltered, her face reddening with fury. "Brinley, get off your high horse! Everyone knows about your scandal. How dare you show your face here? What, are you desperate? No man would ever want you now!" Brinley's eyes hardened, her voice cool and measured. "It's none of your business, Miss Dale." She tilted her chin ever so slightly, her tone laced with irony. "Instead of wasting your time on me, perhaps you should pay attention to Dale Group's stock. Word is, it's been plummeting thanks to some very poor decisions." The color drained from Renee's cheeks. "What are you talking about? That's complete nonsense!" Brinley arched a brow, and replied evenly, "Don't play d**b. You know exactly what I mean." She brushed Renee off with effortless grace, lifting a delicate pastry from the tray and taking a slow, unhurried bite as if savoring the sweetness more than the conversation. Across the hall, Colin was in conversation with a man, one arm draped possessively around Milly's waist. He turned instinctively at the sound of the commotion, his gaze locking on a figure he could never mistake. A jolt ran through him, his ch**t tightening at the sight of Brinley. Without sparing Milly a glance, he strode straight toward Brinley despite the surprised onlookers. "Colin?" Milly's voice faltered, her smile freezing. Her expression soured as her eyes landed on Brinley not far away, and she hastily hurried after Colin. Chapter 5 Painted Brinley As A Desperate Clinger "Brinley!" Colin's voice broke through the commotion as he shoved past the curious onlookers, urgency sharpening his stride until he was standing right before her. For a moment, his ch**t clenched with dread--afraid she might vanish again, slipping through his fingers the way she had before, leaving him to chase shadows in her absence. But when their eyes met, her gaze was icy, stripped of any trace of warmth. His breath hitched, the words he'd prepared dissolving on his tongue. The joy that had flared in his ch**t extinguished in an instant, like a bucket of cold water poured over his head. His expression hardened, and his tone became chilling. "What are you doing here? And why did you disappear back then without a single word? Do you know how much time and money I burned trying to find you?" His voice cracked with anger. "Tell me you didn't actually throw me away for someone else, like all those whispers claim." The sharp demand pulled every head toward Brinley, curious eyes cutting into her like bl**es. Milly hurried to Colin's side, clutching his arm with soft urgency. "Colin, please, calm down and talk it through. Miss Shaw must have had her reasons for vanishing without a word." She faced Brinley then, her sympathetic tone laced with gentle reproach. "Miss Shaw, I understand if you still carry feelings for Colin, but you should move on. Disappearing and then suddenly showing up again like this--surely you know it only makes things harder for everyone." Her words, disguised as soothing counsel, instead painted Brinley as a desperate clinger, a caricature of obsession. The judgment weighed heavy in the air, and the whispers around them grew sharper, more merciless. "Exactly--what is Brinley after, hanging around here like this when Colin has already moved on?" "Milly is being awfully generous--if it were me, I would've snapped by now." "This is the Knight family's event. They don't just let anyone wander in. Did she slip past security? Where's the organizer? Someone needs to toss her out." "Honestly, just sharing the same room with her drags down the class of this gathering." The restlessness spread quickly, whispers swelling into a low tide of outrage until someone had already gone to fetch the organizer, demanding Brinley's removal. Listening to Milly's so-called persuasion and the rising chorus of disdain around him, Colin exhaled softly, the sound heavy with weariness. "Brinley, I know you regret having left me. Why don't you apologize? Out of respect for our... history, I could even put in a word with Mrs. Knight and help you stay." Brinley only let out a derisive laugh, her eyes sweeping over Colin with a cold detachment that silently warned him to keep his distance. She lifted her glass and took an unhurried sip of w**e, her face serene, untouched by the tension around her. That effortless dismissal cut deeper than any sharp retort could have. A flicker of wounded pride shadowed Colin's expression. Before he could muster another word, a stocky middle-aged man bustled over, clearly the assistant to the organizer, his tone clipped and unfriendly. "Miss, this is a private event. If you don't have an invitation, I'll have to ask you to leave." The crowd leaned forward with undisguised anticipation, hungry to see Brinley humiliated and dragged out. Brinley arched a brow, a low, unreadable laugh slipping past her lips, offering no reply. Colin, unsettled by her silence, stepped in close, his voice taut with urgency. "Brinley, you'd really rather be tossed out like this than give me an answer--or even an apology?" Milly's fists tightened at her sides, though she plastered on a soft, understanding smile. "Miss Shaw, be sensible. Apologize to Colin. With all these eyes on you, why put yourself through more shame?" Every gaze in the hall pinned itself to Brinley, waiting for her next move as if she were the evening's entertainment. The air seemed to press in, heavy with suspense and the promise of mockery. Brinley finally placed her dessert aside, dabbing her fingertips with a napkin before lifting her gaze past Colin and Milly to the figure striding toward them. "Mathew!" A commanding voice rang out, laced with authority. Mathew Patel, the middle-aged man, spun around, ready to report to his superior that Brinley didn't have an invitation, but the newcomer's cutting glare froze the words in his throat. Without sparing Colin a glance, Ryan went directly to Brinley. He addressed her in a deferential tone. "Ms. Shaw, I deeply apologize for the disrespect you've endured. The fault lies entirely with me for failing to discipline my assistant. Please forgive this lapse." All color drained from Mathew's face. "Ryan, I..." His attempt at explanation was crushed beneath Ryan's glacial stare, sharp enough to silence him completely. Ryan's voice dropped into a measured calm that carried more weight than if he had shouted. "Who gave you the right to disrespect our guest in front of everyone?" he asked, each word edged with quiet authority. "How could you just assume that she walked in without an invitation?" The color drained from Mathew's face with every syllable. The crowd held its breath, stunned by the unexpected turn. Ryan was the Knight family's butler, a man who had faithfully served Thalia Knight for three decades, his voice carrying weight across Bleron's highest circles. And yet here he was, treating Brinley with unmistakable deference. Whispers rippled through the onlookers. Why did Ryan treat Brinley with such respect? Hadn't the Shaw family already severed ties with her? "Ms. Shaw, please forgive what happened just now," Ryan said once more, his voice respectful yet edged with nervous submission. "I know Mathew upset you, and I'll deal with him right away. Would you prefer to rest in the VIP lounge, or..." His words trailed, anxiety rising. Thalia had instructed him to treat Brinley with care, yet in the few minutes he was gone, everything unraveled. Brinley idly swirled the champagne in her glass, her expression composed. "I'll go along with whatever arrangements Mrs. Knight has made." "Understood!" Ryan bowed his head as he gestured for her to follow. "The lounge has been set with refreshments. Mrs. Knight was just speaking of you." Another g**p rippled through the crowd at his words. Thalia was the undisputed queen of Bleron's real estate world--a woman even the mayor deferred to. For crying out loud! She was personally hosting Brinley! Colin's gaze locked on Brinley, his expression tangled with disbelief and unease. Words rose to his throat but died there as she moved past him, her poise unbroken, following Ryan toward the lounge. Milly clutched Colin's arm, sensing the rigid tension running through him. While Ryan guided Brinley toward the grand spiral staircase that led to the second-floor VIP lounge, Mathew went crashing to his knees in a desperate gesture. "Ms. Shaw, please accept my apologies for my earlier rudeness. Please... grant me mercy just this once!" Brinley didn't so much as flinch, not even sparing him a glance. Ryan, on the other hand, halted in his tracks and leveled Mathew with an icy stare. "You've broken the family rules. That's why you're fired--not because of Ms. Shaw." He lifted a hand, signaling to the nearby guards before delivering his verdict with crisp authority. "Escort him out. Notify HR--his employment is terminated. Make it clear he will never be rehired." "Wait! Ryan, please--don't do this!" Mathew's desperate cries echoed for a moment before being muffled as the guards dragged him away. A heavy hush blanketed the banquet hall. Guests stood frozen, stunned by how swiftly judgment had been passed. Those who had sneered at Brinley minutes earlier now felt a cold dread crawl down their spines, realizing just how dangerous it was to stand on the wrong side of her. &6&