apter 1 

Chapter 1 

The police crashed my wedding day. I–Ellie Harrison, the celebrated artist, the prodigy everyone raved about–hauled away in handcuffs while still in my wedding dress. 

The charge? Forgery and fraud. 

Before I’d even been formally charged, my fiancé had already replaced me with his first love, Laria. 

Three years in prison. That was my sentence. 

My father, already battling late–stage cancer, died heartbroken from the shock. And my mother suffered a mental breakdown. 

When I finally walked out of prison, I was nothing but a hollow shell. 

That’s when Hektor appeared–Laria’s stepbrother, all soft eyes and gentle hands. 

“I’ve waited ten years to tell you how I feel, Yunifer,” he whispered, reaching for my scarred hands. “Let me be the one who takes care of you now.” 

But one year into our marriage, I discovered a conversation on the car’s dashcam between him and his friend Nate. 

“Do you ever regret creating those forgeries, having someone report Yunifer, destroying evidence that would’ve cleared her name?” 

“Not a second. Laria and I could never be together. This was my gift to her–removing her competition so she could build her career and marry into the Davidson family.” 

“Jesus, Hektor. But all of that was meant for Yunifer. Your actions destroyed her family…” 

Hektor’s voice turned hoarse: “Stop. For Laria, I could even kill.” 

“As for Yunifer… I married her, didn’t I? I’ll make it up to her for the rest of my lives.” 

“If you’re so dedicated to making amends,” his friend–Nate–challenged, “why not clear her name? Laria’s already married.” 

“Since her release, she’s afraid of showing up. They whisper ‘murderer,‘ call her the greedy bitch who killed her father and drove her 

mother insane for money.” 

“She lost a kidney from a beating in prison, for God’s sake. Between the physical trauma and everything else, she’s severely depressed.” 

“Clearing her name would help her heal, Hektor.” 

“Absolutely not,” Hektor snapped, his voice hardening. 

“Four years ago, Yunifer was unstoppable–the darling of every gallery, critics falling at her feet. If she clears her name now, she’ll reclaim her spotlight and Laria will be permanently relegated to her shadow.” 

His expression darkened with resolve. “I won’t let Laria be pushed aside like that. Not ever. She deserves the spotlight too.” 

Nate’s voice turned angry. 

What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stre 

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Chapter 1 

“So you’re fine watching your wife spiral deeper into depression? Watching her hurt herself? Her father–your mentor–begged you with his dying breath to help her.” 

“You destroyed the happy family she once had. If she ever discovers the truth…” 

After a moment of silence, Hektor said confidently. 

“She won’t find out. She loves me now. I’ve made sure of it. I’ll give her the perfect life–one that keeps her exactly where I need her 

to be.” 

“I keep her safely under my control, and as Laria’s sister–in–law, she serves my purpose perfectly,” 

My blood turned to ice. My hands trembled so badly I could barely save the recording, 

I stumbled back to our bedroom before Hektor returned, collapsing in the corner like a broken doll. 

I’d thought Hektor was my salvation after everyone abandoned me. Instead, he was the puppet master who’d orchestrated my destruction. 

I placed my trembling hand over my belly, feeling the tiny life I’d just discovered growing inside me, and completely fell apart. 

“Yunifer? Baby, what’s wrong?” 

I looked up through my tears to see Hektor in the doorway, concern perfectly arranged on his handsome face. 

“Thinking about the past again?” He crossed the room and gently lifted me from the floor, placing me on our bed. 

“Listen,” he murmured, voice dripping honey, “I don’t give a damn what anyone says about you. Your reputation means nothing to 

me.” 

“You’ll always be that brilliant artist everyone worshipped. You’re the love of my life, and I’ll protect you forever.” 

His voice was achingly gentle as he warmed my ice–cold hands between his, his eyes filled with what looked just like real devotion. 

If my car hadn’t needed servicing–if I hadn’t stumbled across that recording–I might have lived my entire life believing his beautiful 

lie. 

I raised my arm, revealing the angry maze of scars crisscrossing my skin. The newest cuts were still raw, weeping slightly. 

“It hurts so much, Hektor,” I whispered. “Every time I drag the blade across my skin, it hurts so goddamn much.” 

“If you cleared my name? maybe I could stop hurting myself. Maybe I could breathe again.” 

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