The True Heiress Reborn And Slays (Alicia Delaney) novel Chapter 1

Chapter 1 The Marriage Was a Lie

In the fifth year of what she believed to be her marriage to Lucas Ashford, Riley Harper wrapped up her work in Nexopolis ahead of schedule and flew back to Havenbrook.
To celebrate their upcoming fifth anniversary the following month, she had booked a special commemorative photo shoot—a chance to recreate their wedding portraits. But when the studio asked for their marriage license, she realized, with a jolt, that she couldn’t find it anywhere.
She rushed to the City Clerk’s office to request a replacement. The clerk behind the counter typed something into her computer, then looked up with a puzzled expression. “Ms. Harper, our records show you’re still single. There’s no marriage license on file for you.”
“That’s impossible,” Riley blurted out, her mind reeling. “My husband and I have been married for five years.”
Her husband, Lucas, was considered quite a catch in Havenbrook social circles. Everyone said he was gracious, even-tempered, handsome, and utterly devoted to his wife. People claimed that a single smile from him could light up the whole skyline.
Five years ago, she had saved him from a dangerous situation purely by chance. They’d fallen in love and, not long after, exchanged vows in front of friends and a notary public.
They’d kept their marriage low-key, yes, but how could the licenses, the rings, the years of shared life—how could all of it be fake?
The clerk gave her a skeptical look. “Your marital status says single. Ms. Harper, are you sure you’re not mistaken?”
On the printout slid across the counter, under “Marital Status”, it read clearly: Single.
For a long moment, Riley just stared at the paper, clutching the wedding band on her finger. Her thoughts scattered.
What the hell? If Lucas and I weren’t legally married, what had the last five years even meant?
Right then, a notification lit up her phone—a celebrity gossip alert. “Sophia Myers Returns to Havenbrook, Spotted With Lucas Ashford; Hints at Secret Marriage and Child in Interview.”
Sophia?
Riley froze. Sophia Ashford, the former foster daughter of the Ashford family?
At eighteen, Sophia had been reclaimed by her biological parents, the Myers, and moved back to Nexopolis with them, changing her name to Sophia Myers.
When has she come back?
A chill crept up Riley’s spine as she tapped the photo.
The paparazzi image showed a luxury car parked near the waterfront, half-hidden in shadow. A woman stood on her toes, laughing as she tugged playfully at a man’s tie, her eyes bright with mischief.
The man’s face wasn’t visible, but Riley recognized the tie instantly. She’d had it custom-made for Lucas last month. One of a kind in all of Havenbrook.
Her chest tightened as she scrolled to the video interview below.
Sophia sat across from a host, polished in a tailored cream suit, a diamond glittering on her ring finger. She smiled coyly at the camera.
“I’ve actually been keeping a secret for years,” she said. “I’ve been married to the love of my life for a long time now. And we already have a child.”
The host gasped. “Who’s the lucky guy?”
“I can’t say. I don’t want to disrupt his life,” Sophia replied with a playful wink. “But my husband and I have known each other since we were kids. Honestly, I can’t imagine being with anyone else.”
As the host gushed with congratulations, Riley’s gaze locked onto the ring on Sophia’s finger, feeling completely numb.
It was identical to hers.
The only difference was that Sophia’s was slightly larger, slightly more brilliant.
A coincidence?
She clenched her fist, but her gut rejected the thought.
When Lucas had proposed, he’d told her the ring was specially custom-made. One of a kind. No other like it in the world.
And now, here it was, on Sophia’s finger.
Riley took a shaky breath and decided to confront him. She’d heard he was at a private club downtown.
When her taxi pulled up, the door to the VIP lounge was slightly ajar. A man’s voice drifted out.
“Lucas, now that Sophia’s back, when are you going to tell Riley the marriage license was never real?”
Riley froze in the hallway.
So it was true. The marriage she’d poured herself into for five years was a lie.
Through the crack, she saw Lucas swirl his drink. “Not yet. Back then, Grandpa wouldn’t let Sophia into the family—said it would look bad, us having grown up like siblings. He made me promise not to divorce Riley for five years, or Sophia would never be allowed back in Havenbrook. We’ve still got one month left.”
“Sophia and your kid have waited so long… What are you planning to do with Riley after that month?”
Lucas paused, his expression shifting. “Riley’s given a lot to the family. She’s devoted to me. After Sophia and I go public, I’ll keep her around. Sophia’s understanding—she’ll tolerate it.”
“True. Riley’s just some orphan from Nexopolis. As long as she’s taken care of in Havenbrook, she ought to be grateful…”
The words detonated in Riley’s mind.
She squeezed her eyes shut, biting her lip so hard it went white, forcing down the rage and grief surging in her chest.
Five years. She’d played the perfect wife, managing the Ashford household, giving up everything to stay in Havenbrook…
And now, it was all a sick joke.
Her phone buzzed. A text from her friend Lydia Grant. “Riley, your test results are in. About why you haven’t been able to get pregnant… You should come to the clinic. I’ll explain in person.”
After five years of marriage with no pregnancy, she’d asked Lydia, an OB-GYN, to run some tests.
She cabbed straight to the clinic.
Ten minutes later, Lydia slid the file across her desk, her face grim.
“I reviewed everything. There’s no physiological reason you shouldn’t have conceived in the past four years. So I looked into those supplements Lucas’ been giving you—the ones for your ‘hormonal balance’. Every single one contained contraceptive agents.”
So that was it.
Riley’s heart lurched.
The supplements. Lucas had told her she had a “hormonal imbalance”. That she needed them to regulate her cycle. For four years, she’d taken them without question.
She’d never imagined the issue wasn’t her inability to conceive—it was that Lucas never wanted her to.
The tabloid interview. Lucas’ words at the club. It all clicked into place.
Of course. He already had a child with Sophia. Why would he want one with her?
“I understand,” Riley said quietly. “Please don’t tell Lucas about this yet.”
She walked out of the clinic and kept walking, blocks and blocks, until she found herself at the edge of a small park. She pulled out her phone and dialed a number she’d memorized years ago but never called—her brother, Raymond Harper.
“Raymond,” she said, her voice steady. “I’m ready to return to the Harper family. I’ll accept the arranged marriage. But I need one month to wrap things up here in Havenbrook.”

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