Jilted Bride: Marrying The Dead War Hero

Chapter 3

Word Count: 830 | Released on: Today at 20:14

air smelled of old leather and woodsmoke. On the polished

re world was built on honor and public perception. Duchess

he fireplace, their faces alight with smug, theatrica

" and her acceptance of the family's decision. The tension ea

oice steady and clear, " for the sake of the Beaumont family's honor, and

raphina exchanged a look of mild amuse

in full military dress, expression serious, eyes burning with fierce intensity. Lord Gabriel Watkins

reath, gathering

Beaumont family, as promised. Bu

letting the

o marry the late Lord G

was absolute. She had su

placed by stunned disbelief.

st. "Absurd!" she shrieked. "That i

et. "You would rather marry a dead man than

eyes were on the only perso

reasoning with su

nter this house as a bride, not a mistress. There will be

ouses. The Vinsons are joined with the Beaumonts. The brideg

allen hero. It shows the entire kingdom the depth of the Beaumont famil

w at what Duke Theron valued most: hi

eighing the quiet scandal of a mistress against the grand tragic theate

his widow. I will reside quietly in Pinecrest Wing, hi

remote wing. A symbol, not a threat. This eras

nod. "I agree. The wedding will take

of fury, but she could not argue against her husband. Tri

. She had sec

ockwaves through

ride for the living

and cathedral was

ng with pearls and lace, clinging to Tr

yes were

wn, her face obscured by a black mourning veil. She moved with solemn gr

e sheer tragic romance,

arm, her smile a brittle, painted thi

side alcove, a tall figure sto

wedding, and settled on the lonely, defiant figure in black and white. He

ady in the cavernous space, a faint, unreadable

abriel W

s very mu

Chapter End

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Jilted Bride: Marrying The Dead War Hero

Qing He History

“I was supposed to marry Lord Tristan Beaumont. The wedding was perfectly planned, and my ancestral engagement ring was already on my finger. But days before the ceremony, he walked into the rose garden with my cousin, Seraphina, clinging to his arm. He looked at me with chilling indifference and announced he was marrying her instead. "You will still join the Beaumont family. Just not as my wife. You can be my mistress." Seraphina squeezed out fake tears, claiming they couldn't control their love, while the Beaumont matriarchs cornered me in the drawing room. They demanded I accept this humiliation quietly to protect their reputation, offering a dowry as the price for my dignity. Tristan even threatened me, reminding me that without their protection, I was an orphan with nothing left. They thought I was a helpless girl who would obediently step into their gilded cage, knowing I needed their family's resources to uncover the truth behind my parents' deaths. The humiliation burned, but my shock quickly turned into cold, hard fury. I looked at the man who had sworn his love and the cousin I had trusted like a sister. Why should I sacrifice my dignity to be a stepping stone for their perfect romance? I, Jolie Vinson, would never be anyone's pathetic mistress. So, in front of the entire smug family, I made a counter-proposal. "I request permission to marry the late Lord Gabriel by proxy." I chose to marry Tristan's dead older brother, becoming the untouchable senior widow to seize his vast, hidden fortune. But what I didn't know was that my "dead" husband was actually very much alive, hiding in the secret passages of my new bedroom, watching my every move.”