His everything

After ten years with my boyfriend, Brenton, I overheard him call me "ordinary" on my 28th birthday. He told his friend he'd regret marrying me because my middle-class background wasn't good enough for his wealthy family. The next day, he kicked me out of our home.

His mother then paid me to cater a party, serving the very woman she' d always wanted for her son.

Ten years of my life, erased. I was disposable, a placeholder they no longer needed.

That night, heartbroken and homeless, I did something crazy. I opened a dating app, found a quiet, dependable Marine from high school, and sent him a message.

His profile said: "Looking for a serious partner for marriage and family. No games."

So I typed out the words that would change my life.

"This might sound crazy, but if you're serious about getting married... would you consider marrying me?"

Chapter 1

Carley Sanchez POV:

Turning twenty-eight felt like hitting a wall. Not a physical wall, but one made of unspoken expectations and the ticking of a clock that only I seemed to hear. My mom had called that morning, her voice laced with the usual "When will Brenton finally propose, Carley?" It wasn't a question anymore; it was a demand wrapped in concern, a constant hum in the background of my decade-long relationship.

I pushed the thought aside, grabbing the small cake I' d brought. Brenton's office was just a few blocks from our shared condo. I wanted to surprise him for lunch, maybe finally get a moment that felt like ours, away from the endless society events and his mother's critical gaze.

The office was quieter than usual. I waved to the receptionist, who was busy on a call, and headed straight for Brenton's private office. The door was slightly ajar, and I heard voices inside.

It was Brenton's voice, low and dismissive. "She's just... ordinary, Mark. You know how my mother is. She expects someone with a pedigree, someone who fits into our world." The words were like a punch to my stomach. Ordinary. After ten years, that's what I was to him.