My Hidden Identity His Hidden Affair (Sharon) novel Chapter 3

Chloe's face tightened. She started forward without thinking. "That's..."

"Yep! Exactly!" Gary strode right over to Sharon, shoving the bouquet and gift box into her hands. "Take these home first. I'll be back soon, alright?"

Chloe tried to say more, but Gary shut her down with a sharp look.

It was plain as day he was in a rush to get her out of there.

Sharon curled her fingers into fists inside her sleeves. She stared at Gary's face, words hovering on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed them down.

She just nodded softly. "Okay. Come home early."

Outside the company gates, Sharon's tears finally broke free—hot, heavy, spilling down her cheeks and splashing onto her hands.

She took a shaky deep breath to pull herself together, then fished out her phone and dialed Daniel right away.

"Mr. Canter, tell Ocean Group to hit pause on the Colbert Group partnership. But keep them on the hook—don't let them slip away. Wait for my call."

"Got it, Ms. Rincon. If you need anything at all this month, just holler." Daniel answered without hesitation.

"Thanks."

Sharon hung up, scrolling mindlessly through her social feed, her fingertips icy.

The screen lit up. A pitch-black profile pic—one that hadn't been active in five years, one she'd almost forgotten—had just posted a new status.

It read, "Looking for marriage. DM if interested."

The location was Jadenity. Her hometown, the place she'd left behind so long ago.

It was him—Julian Becker, the arranged marriage partner she'd dumped cold for Gary all those years ago.

On autopilot, she tapped on the post.

Her finger moved on its own, a light swipe—and a bright, glaring "like" popped up under that status.

"Ding—"

The notification chime cut through the quiet hallway, sharp and jarring.

The pitch-black profile replied instantly, "Regretting it now?"

Three simple words, laced with his usual arrogance and a faint, mocking edge. It stung like a slap to the face.

Sharon stared at the screen, her heart lurching. Her phone slipped out of her hand with a sharp crack, the screen shattering into a spiderweb of cracks.

She took a deep breath and bent to pick it up. She swiped the tears off her face with her sleeve, her eyes clearing—sharp and determined, all at once.

She opened the chat again, typing fast, "Marriage of convenience. Strictly business, no feelings. If that works, I'll be back in Jadenity next month."

The reply came immediately, "Sure."

Sharon blinked, surprised. "You're not gonna ask why?"

Another short reply, "We'll talk after marriage."

Sharon was stunned.

He's so cold. Yet so... casual?

Are those rumors actually true? That he likes guys, and this marriage is just for the family's benefit?

Surprise flickered across her face, but it faded fast.

Isn't that perfect, though?

After leaving Gary, she'd planned to shut her heart off anyway—be a wife in a loveless marriage, all business. Once she wrapped her head around it, it didn't matter.

As long as her grandpa was happy.

Sharon put her phone away, about to get in her car when she saw Gary and Chloe walking out of the company—holding Mia's hand.

Watching the three of them, all happy and cozy, felt like a knife twisting in her chest.

He's actually gonna give the token of our love to Chloe?

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