What I uncovered shattered whatever illusions I still clung to.
Every account told the same story—transfers, withdrawals, expenses under my name, investments that existed only on paper. Each trail led back to one place: a company managed by Livia. Sebastian’s company.
My money had been paying for his affair.
The most insulting part was how careless he’d been. He hadn’t even bothered to cover his tracks properly. He simply assumed I would never check.
Later that week, he called. His voice sounded unusually smooth.
“Hey, babe,” he said casually. “Can you help me out? I need some funds for an investor dinner. I’ll return it soon, I promise.”
I stared at the screen, my nails digging into my palm. “You said the same thing last week, Sebastian. What happened to that money?”
He paused. Then his tone shifted—lighter, playful, the voice he always used when he was lying. “This time it’s different. It’s a solid opportunity. Once everything falls into place, you’ll understand.”
“Alright,” I replied, my voice tight. “But this is the last time.”
A soft chuckle escaped him. “You’re amazing, babe. Love you.”
The line went dead before I could respond.
I already knew he wasn’t attending any investor dinner. I had a feeling Livia was the “opportunity” he kept referring to.
What I didn’t know yet was why he constantly needed my money.
Gabriel Smith—Sebastian’s father—had cut him off after his latest failed investment. No inheritance, no financial backing, nothing. Rather than rebuild on his own, Sebastian turned to me. My name. My finances. My trust.
And when I finally reached my limit and decided to file for divorce, life found yet another way to humiliate me.
I went to the registrar’s office to request a copy of our marriage certificate.
The clerk, a young woman with gentle eyes, studied her screen and frowned. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but I can’t find any record of your marriage to Mr. Sebastian Smith.”
I blinked, confused. “That doesn’t make sense. We had a church wedding. All the paperwork was submitted.”
She hesitated, typing again before speaking carefully. “Ma’am… Mr. Smith is married, but not to you.”
My throat went dry. “What are you saying?”
She turned her monitor slightly toward me, her voice soft. “Our records show that he’s legally married to someone named Livia Reyes.”