The Mafia's Backup Bride - Chapter 7: Chapter 7

Blake pressed a hand to his chest, stunned. He'd never cared about my feelings before—but hearing those words come from his friend's mouth hit differently.
The room fell silent as Blake's mind drifted back to our first meeting. I'd been holding flowers, telling him how I loved the simple things—quiet mornings, home-cooked meals, the rhythm of everyday life, maybe raising a couple of cats.
But after we got together? That life never happened.
"And what about Ms. Foster?" Zachary pressed. "If Caroline agrees to come back, how do you expect her to face her? Or should I shut up too? Fire me? Tell Caroline that after years as your wife, she shouldn't feel wronged?"
Blake shot to his feet, locking eyes with Zachary. After a long beat, he gritted out three words: "Go find her."
As the room emptied, a cold dread settled in Blake's chest. He reached for a bottle, drinking until the edges blurred—but clarity hit like a slap.
Frantically, he scrolled through his phone. Messages he'd once dismissed now felt priceless. For days, he ignored every call except those about me—even hanging up on Megan.
Then, a chime.
Blake lunged for my phone, heart pounding—only to freeze at Megan's name on the screen.
[Caroline, I underestimated you. Making Blake chase ghosts? Clever.]
[But since you're gone, stay gone. Don't blame me if things get ugly when you crawl back.]
Above them, my last message to Megan: [Thank you.] Sent the minute I left.
Blake's blood ran cold. He tracked Megan down within the hour.
She fluttered toward him, all false sweetness, but he stepped back like she was poison. "What did you say to Caroline? Why did she thank you?"
Megan's mask slipped for a second before she laughed. "You can't seriously think I drove her away?"
Blake wordlessly held up my phone—her taunts glaring onscreen. His men seized her device, revealing everything: the hotel setup, forged documents, her hissed warning for me to disappear.
The truth detonated in Blake's chest.
Megan shrank back as he advanced, his gaze murderous. "No—you married her to protect me! You love me, not some stand-in!"
Blake grabbed her neck, their faces inches apart. No tenderness—just ice.
"You're right." His voice scraped raw. "From now on, I'll love you properly."
As he strode off, Megan's screams followed him. The world knew Blake had always loved her—I was just collateral damage.
By sundown, Megan's wedding was canceled. The vipers who'd once targeted Blake now turned on her.
Every hell I'd endured? Her turn.