My Hidden Identity His Hidden Affair (Sharon) novel Chapter 1

Sharon Rincon's knuckles whitened as she gripped her phone tightly.

She'd finally gotten the call—one she'd waited five long years for. It was Daniel Canter, her grandfather's right-hand man.

"Ms. Rincon, your marriage to Mr. Colbert has officially passed the five-year trial your grandpa set.

"He says you can bring your husband home now. He's ready to get all his assets notarized to you early. What time works for you?"

"Really?" Excitement bubbled up in Sharon's voice, making it shake. "Mr. Canter, that's incredible! Today—right now, I'll be there!"

She hung up and let out a shaky, relieved sigh.

Thank God!

Her grandfather had finally forgiven her. Five years ago, she'd chosen her own marriage over the family's arranged match, giving up her heiress status to marry Gary Colbert—and now, it was all worth it.

She'd been right about him.

Gary was worth every sacrifice she'd made back then.

Today wasn't just the end of the trial—it was their fifth anniversary, too.

She was gonna hit him with a huge surprise—and a future that was finally real, no more secrets.

The notary office lobby smelled like old paper and ink—stuffy, official.

Her heart thudding, Sharon pulled out the marriage certificate she'd guarded like a treasure for five years and handed it carefully to the clerk.

She pictured Gary's face—shocked, happy, maybe even a little teary—and a soft smile pulled at her lips.

But as the clerk typed and checked the system over and over, his brows drew tighter. His face turned grim.

He looked up, his eyes sharp as he stared at Sharon. His voice was flat, no room for argument.

"Ms. Rincon, I'm sorry but this marriage certificate is fake. The system says you're unmarried."

"Unmarried?" The smile froze on Sharon's face. Her eyes went wide with shock. "That can't be true!"

The clerk didn't even acknowledge her panic. He just kept talking, cold as ice.

"As for Gary Colbert—he's married. His legal wife is Chloe Lopez."

"What?!"

It was like someone had bashed her over the head with a hammer. Her mind went totally blank.

She jumped out of her chair, her voice shrill.

"You're lying! That's impossible! My husband gave me this certificate himself. How could it be fake?!"

"System records don't lie." The clerk's face was emotionless. "They've got a five-year-old daughter, too. She takes her mom's last name—Mia Lopez."

"What?" Sharon stumbled, barely keeping her balance.

A daughter? Five years old?

So Mia, my precious goddaughter, is actually Gary and Chloe's kid?!

She'd only been pregnant two months—too early for the baby to be stable—when she'd suddenly tripped at home and lost it.

Getting pregnant had never been easy for her. That miscarriage had almost broken her.

She'd lain in that hospital bed, hurting so badly she couldn't breathe. But Gary? He'd just patted her back softly, his voice calm as he said, "Sharon, don't be upset. It's for the best the baby's gone. We're just starting our careers—now's not the time for kids anyway."

It turned out that it wasn't "not the time." It was that he already had a kid—on the very same day.

The treasure she'd lost? It was just an unwanted extra in his plan.

The clerk handed the fake certificate back to her. Sharon's hand slipped, and it clattered to the shiny floor with a loud "slap."

It was like a slap in the face. Mocking her five years of love, her total devotion—all a stupid joke.

She walked out of the office, and the bitter wind hit her face. It cleared her head a little, but nothing could chase away the cold in her chest.

Daniel followed close behind, his face worried.

"Ms. Rincon, Gary's a heartless je*k. Are you sure you don't want Mr. Rincon to step in? He'll get you justice."

Sharon shook her head slowly. But her eyes—once filled with shock and grief—were now cold, hard with determination.

She took a deep breath, her voice steady.

"No. Mr. Canter, tell Grandpa I'll be home in a month—with answers. And I'll take over the family business. Tell him not to worry."

With that, she turned, flagged down a taxi, and told the driver Gary's company address.