The Heiress's Forgotten Husband

I had an autistic wife who was prone to sudden, violent outbursts. My family and friends never looked down on her; instead, they constantly reminded me to treat her with absolute kindness. For four years, I worked multiple jobs to support her, pampering her like my most precious treasure. Then, one night, when I reflexively tried to pull the blanket over her shoulders, she kicked me away with a cold, disgusted glare and snarled: "Get away from me, you sick creep!" Mary Sullivan was cured. No one could have guessed that when she resurfaced, she would be the billionaire heiress to one of the most powerful dynasties in New York. Throughout our four years of marriage, despite her erratic episodes, Mary had never laid a hand on me. Now, she had her bodyguard grip my neck, sneering with pure disdain: "You disgusting creep! Living four years like a filthy dog with you was absolute torture! I've had enough! "If it weren't to protect the Sullivan family's public image, I would make you disappear off the face of the earth this very second!" She tilted her chin and shot a look at her guard. Understanding immediately, the man pinned me down against the table, forcing my hand to sign and press a thumbprint onto a legal document. Mary’s lips curled into a mocking smirk. "Oh, Ethan Vance, look at you now. Back then, when I had to play crazy, I was trapped and had to take your orders without fighting back. "Now, with this clean-break agreement you just signed, leaving you with absolutely nothing, our relationship ends only when I say it does. And until then, you’ll do exactly as you're told!" I glanced sideways at Brandon Pierce, who had his arm possessively wrapped around her waist. He was the second heir of the Pierce Group, worth hundreds of millions. I couldn't fathom why Mary, having reclaimed her glorious status and secured such a wealthy match, still clung to a broke nobody like me. Was keeping me around solely to humiliate me in public? Watching them fawn over each other right in front of my eyes, my only desire was to escape this toxic mess. I was more than willing to let them be. Yet my own relatives turned around and blamed me for being narrow-minded, lecturing me for not understanding her difficult position. My aunt pulled me aside, earnestly preaching: "The Sullivans did our family a massive favor back then, Ethan. We can't be ungrateful. As long as Mary still comes home eventually, what is there for you to complain about?" I couldn't help but shoot back, "Auntie, to repay that favor, are you really willing to throw away my entire life’s happiness? "Mary doesn't care about me at all! She just forced me to sign an agreement surrendering every single asset, leaving me with nothing!" No matter how great a favor it was, I—a complete outsider with no blood ties to her—had paid it back in full over the last four years. Years ago, Mary's grandmother had declared that as soon as Mary found a partner of equal status, she would hand over the entire Sullivan empire to her. Threatened by this, the family's adopted daughter, Autumn Sullivan, orchestrated a horrific assault on Mary to seize the inheritance. Unable to endure the trauma, Mary was pushed into severe psychological withdrawal and ended up locked in a mental institution. Grandmother Sullivan, undergoing critical surgery overseas at the time, was powerless to intervene directly. She could only secretly beg my aunt to take Mary into our home and protect her. She promised she would return to take Mary back within a year. Yet after that year passed, nobody ever showed up. Instead, Mary grew increasingly clingy toward me. To keep Autumn from hunting Mary down, my aunt took advantage of Mary’s condition and manipulated me into marrying her. Back then, seeing her broken state, my heart genuinely ached for her. I worked multiple grueling shifts every single day, wanting nothing more than to give her a safe, peaceful life. I genuinely thought we would spend our quiet, modest lives together. But instead of continuing the charade, her illness miraculously "vanished" at the perfect strategic moment. Upon her return, Grandmother Sullivan uncovered the entire scheme. She furiously condemned Mary’s parents for their cruel favoritism and castigated Autumn for her venomous treachery. With absolute authority, she restored Mary, the legitimate heiress, to her rightful place in the Sullivan empire. Only in hindsight did I realize I had been played for a fool by Mary for four straight years. Brandon arrogantly tossed a green straw hat at my feet, his voice dripping with fake courtesy: "Consider this a token of appreciation for looking after Mary all these years. I trust you won't bother us ever again." I fixed an intense gaze on Mary. She merely offered an indifferent smirk. "You know, green really suits you." From that day forward, the entire social scene knew that Mary Sullivan had publicly humiliated her original husband just to elevate Brandon Pierce. Under the guise of a casual hangout, my friend Chris tricked me into going to a local club. Flushed from alcohol, he carelessly tried to shove a couple of cocktail hostesses into my arms. "Come on, Ethan! It’s just one toxic girl, what are you moping around for? There are plenty of gorgeous girls out there! Mary Sullivan drained four years of your youth. Believe me, neither she nor that scumbag Pierce is gonna get a happy ending! "So what if she's a billionaire heiress now? "Any girl here has a better heart than her! Tonight, you're going to drink and have fun. If these two aren't enough, I'll call over a few more to keep you company!"I waved my hand at the girls, gesturing for them to leave. Chris immediately jumped up, shouting in frustration: "Bro, what the hell are you doing?! That woman is already parading Brandon Pierce around town in broad daylight, and you're still staying loyal to her? Is it really worth it? "For four damn years, you worked multiple jobs, broke your back, and endured hell for her! If she actually gave a damn, she wouldn't have thrown you away like garbage the second she got her crown back! Wake up, man!" Seeing his face flushed red with indignation, I reached out and took the glass from his hand. "Alright, that's enough. You're drunk." I knew Chris was furious on my behalf because he thought it was unfair. But I had no desire to drown myself in the indignity of the past. Now, I just wanted to focus on moving forward with my own life. Turning to Chris, I said, "When I head back to the office next week, I'm going to accept my manager's offer. I'm transferring to our Chicago branch as a sales supervisor. Tonight's drinks should be on me." Chris instantly sobered up, looking at me in disbelief. "Are you serious?" I gave him a firm nod. While we were talking, a server approached our table carrying a tray of expensive drinks, saying they were compliments from Mr. Pierce and Miss Sullivan. I glanced over at the familiar pair at a nearby booth. They were practically glued together, sipping their cocktails from linked arms. I set my glass down, grabbed Chris by the arm, and prepared to close the tab and head home. Brandon’s sharp eyes caught us, and he called out loudly, "Ethan, the night is still young. Why don't you join our table for a drink?" My gaze fell on Brandon’s lips. The lower one looked bitten, with a tiny trace of crimson blood seeping out. Under the dim, hazy lounge lights, his smirk looked deliberately provocative. To be fair, Brandon had striking looks and immense wealth. If I had been Mary, perhaps I would have chosen him without hesitation as well. Already irritated, Chris snapped instantly. "Well, look who’s talking so loud! If it isn't the side piece strutting around like he owns the place. The world really is something—shameless people everywhere you look!" A flash of annoyance crossed Mary's face. She glared at me, her voice icy and sharp. "Ethan Vance, keep your dog on a leash! Who gave you two the right to slander my man? If you don't apologize properly to Brandon tonight, I will strip every single job I gave to your pathetic relatives! Don't forget that agreement you signed is still sitting in my safe!" I let out a weary sigh and reluctantly stepped forward. Brandon feigned a wronged expression, softly placating her: "Mary, don't be angry. They probably followed us to the club just hoping to see us make fools of ourselves. Ethan never liked me anyway. If he doesn't want to apologize, just let it go." Chris nearly blew a gasket. "Follow you?! You two deserve each other, don't you dare twist the truth! If Ethan weren't holding onto four years of memories, he wouldn't take a single second of your crap!" Mary furrowed her brow, her face darkening with rage as she stared through me. "Ethan Vance! Apologize. Now!!" That grim expression struck a strange chord of déjà vu in my chest. Back when Mary and I had just gotten married, Autumn had brought thugs to threaten us, telling us never to return to the family estate. When Autumn mocked Mary repeatedly, calling her a raving lunatic, I couldn't hold back and fought her men head-on. Back then, Mary had charged forward just like this, stubbornly throwing her small frame in front of me to protect me. Now, everything had flipped. Looking into her venomous eyes, I couldn't help but wonder: was that fierce protection back then just an act, too? I lowered my eyes and said calmly, "I'm sorry." Satisfied, Brandon took Mary’s hand, a triumphant smirk playing on his lips. "I knew your heart was only with me, Mary. After all, you're the Sullivan heiress. Not just any random loser can catch your eye." The club was drowning in intoxicating beats and flashing lights. A wave of fatigue and alcohol hit me, and all I wanted was to get out of there. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I said, "I've apologized. I sincerely wish the two of you the best. Moving forward, I will never show up in front of you again. May I leave now?" Hearing this, Mary's eyes flickered slightly. She stared at me in silence, as if I had just uttered something completely unforgivable. Not wanting any more confrontation, I kept my mouth shut.Brandon stepped aside to clear the path, wearing a tight, artificial smile. "We accept your blessings. I certainly hope you keep your word." As I turned away, the corner of my eye caught Mary leaning into him, their fingers tightly intertwined. I let out a quiet, self-deprecating chuckle and led Chris out of the venue. In the middle of the night, my stomach churned violently with pain. I got out of bed to grope for the light switch. My hand brushed against a soft, slender pair of hands in the dark, and I sucked in a sharp breath. Mary's voice emerged cold and eerie from the shadows: "What? Not happy to see me?" Suppressing the burning ache in my stomach, I replied softly, "No. I just assumed you wouldn't be coming back to this place." Somehow, that seemed to offend her once more. Her expression instantly clouded over, her tone sharp and accusatory: "In your eyes, you wish I'd never come home, don't you?!" I genuinely couldn't understand what was triggering her anger. All I could do was firmly reiterate my boundaries: "Miss Sullivan, I always keep my promises. I give you my word that I won't interfere with your relationship with Brandon." The moment she heard that, her face turned completely dark. She gripped my wrist tightly, her jaw clenched as she hissed, "Who was the one who swore to cherish me forever, to never leave my side through thick and thin? That couple's lock you bought for us is still hanging on the bridge back home! Are you turning your back on your own vows?!" Feeling helpless, I sighed, "You already have Brandon now. Saying these things is entirely inappropriate. Let the past stay in the past." Mary let out a harsh, bitter laugh. "Great! You really have guts, Ethan Vance! You're nothing but a liar full of pretty words! Admit it—you've been planning to leave me all along!" My gaze dimmed, my voice slightly hoarse. "Miss Sullivan, you are a high-and-mighty billionaire heiress, and I'm just a broke nobody. From the very first day you stepped into my house, you faked autism and pretended to be utterly dependent on me, hiding your true identity flawlessly. You knew none of it was real. How am I supposed to treat a lie as the truth?" Mary’s lips parted slightly, but she choked on her words. I realized immediately that I had been too blunt. After all, my relatives' livelihood and that signed agreement were still under her control. Crushing us would be as easy as stepping on ants. Averting her gaze, Mary said coldly, "It’s good that you know your place. Our marriage cannot be dissolved just yet. Just remember to honor every single condition you agreed to!" With that, she angrily shoved me out of the bedroom, leaving me standing in the hallway, completely bewildered. I couldn't tell if Mary’s rage stemmed from the embarrassment Brandon suffered earlier today. I thought I had made myself abundantly clear: I would not intrude on her romance, nor would I meddle in her life. Even Brandon could see where I stood and recognized how little weight I carried in her world. Yet Mary refused to accept my cooperation, meeting it with endless resentment. I couldn't help but ask myself: in those four years of pouring my heart and soul into caring for her, had I truly failed to earn even a shred of genuine affection? The next morning, Mary had already slipped out long before I woke. After finishing breakfast, I took my documents to the office to finalize my transfer paperwork. My manager, whom I had worked with for years, was deeply relieved by my decision. He knew full well that I had turned down multiple lucrative out-of-town promotions in the past just to stay by Mary's side. After work, Chris suggested taking the team out to a diner near the office for a farewell dinner. I invited the members of my department, filling up an entire large round table. When ordering, I instinctively selected mild, gentle dishes. Chris snatched the menu from my hand, his eyebrows knitting together. "Ethan, are you trying to pinch pennies on our dinner? Several of us can't survive without spice!" A flush of embarrassment washed over me. Only then did I realize that every single item I had ordered was one of Mary's favorites. Once Chris readjusted the order, my colleagues began to raise their glasses to toast me. Thinking about embarking on a new journey, while I felt a twinge of sadness parting with my team, my heart was filled with hope for what lay ahead. After a few rounds of drinks, the warmth of the alcohol began to cloud my head. At some point, a new table of guests arrived behind us. Just as the server brought over a plate of sautéed greens, a man abruptly slammed a stack of hundred-dollar bills onto the counter, loudly demanding to buy the kitchen's last portion of greens for his girlfriend. Hearing that familiar voice, I instinctively glanced over. It was Brandon and Mary. Reeking of alcohol, Chris charged straight toward Brandon and shoved him hard. "What the hell is your problem, punk?! Tonight is a farewell dinner we threw for Ethan! He’s moving away to another city, and you come in waving your dirty cash trying to humiliate someone?!" Mary glared intensely at me, her voice bordering on hysterical: "What farewell dinner?! Ethan Vance, where do you think you're sneaking off to behind my back?!"