After Pretending to Be Poor for Five Years, I Walked Away from My Arrogant Fiancé — Novel

About

In a world of glamour and privilege, Gabriella Robinson thought she had it all: a high-profile engagement, a stunning wedding gown, and a life filled with luxury. But when she finds her custom dress draped on a rival actress, the façade starts to crumble. With her arrogant fiancé, Dominic Kessler, wielding power like a weapon, Gabriella grapples with the realization that she’s been living a lie, bound by his expectations and control.

As the high-stakes drama unfolds in the heart of Paris, the tension between love and self-worth reaches a boiling point. Can she stand up to the man who has reduced her life to mere accessories, or will she succumb to his demands? With every moment that passes, the storm brewing inside her grows fiercer. Will she break free from his grasp, or will she remain trapped in a gilded cage, forced to carry the weight of someone else's dreams?

In a tale of defiance and rediscovery, Gabriella must choose: continue to play a role that suffocates her spirit, or embrace the fierce independence that lurks within. The clock is ticking, and the stakes have never been higher. What will she risk to reclaim her identity?

After Pretending to Be Poor for Five Years, I Walked Away from My Arrogant FiancéChapter 1

Inside the Parisian haute couture bridal salon, the custom gown I'd waited six months for was on someone else's body.

Millicent Abbott. A-list actress. Wearing my dress.

The boutique manager stood trembling, stealing glances at Dominic Kessler where he sat on the sofa, sweat beading along her hairline.

Dominic rose and personally smoothed the train of the gown for Millicent, his tone perfectly casual. "She's got a red carpet next week and needs a showstopper. She's just borrowing it. Pick something off the rack and make do. Don't make a scene."

Under the fitting room lights, Millicent admired herself in the mirror, beaming.

I caught my own reflection beside hers — street clothes, no makeup — utterly out of place. And suddenly, this wedding I'd spent a year planning struck me as absurd.

I didn't raise my voice. I simply slid the engagement ring off my finger and set it on the coffee table.

"Mr. Kessler is right. Off-the-rack is perfectly fine." I met his eyes. "So I'll find a groom who's willing to stand beside me in it."

——

The air in the salon went dead.