She Was The Joke, Now She's The Queen

Brinley Shaw set her resignation letter on the HR manager's desk, her fingertips smoothing the edge of the paper as though ensuring not a single fold or wrinkle remained.

The manager parted his lips, a resigned sigh escaping before he spoke. "It's such a pity to see you leaving, Brinley. Are you absolutely certain about this?"

"Yeah," Brinley said with a soft smile, her eyes curving like crescents. "I'd like to spend more time with my family."

Stepping out of the company building, she was met by a flood of sunlight.

She squinted against the glare and pulled a pair of sunglasses from her bag, slipping them on.

Just then, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Ryland Francis, a real estate agent. "Mrs. Palmer, the owner of the villa you like has agreed to lower the price. Could you come view it this afternoon?"

Brinley smiled at the good news.

That small villa on the outskirts of the city-a place she had admired for a long time-stood far away from the noise and bustle of downtown.

Its peaceful surroundings might just be the opportunity she needed to strengthen her fragile marriage with Colin Palmer.

Married for two years, she and Colin had never once been intimate.

In the beginning, she had convinced herself his hectic work schedule was to blame, but gradually, doubts about her own attractiveness began to creep in.

Finally admitting that something had to change, she quit her job to spend more time with her husband and salvage their relationship.

That afternoon, she visited the villa. It turned out to be even more charming in reality than in the photographs.

The elderly couple who owned it had kept a garden brimming with roses, their sweet perfume lingering heavily in the air.

Standing in the middle of the sunlit living room, Brinley watched her shadow stretch long across the polished floor.

"This is the one! How do we proceed?" she said in a firm voice.

Ryland's face lit up. "Excellent! I'll prepare the contract immediately. By the way, will Mr. Palmer be joining you to sign?"

Brinley shook her head. "No, he's tied up with work. I'll take care of it."

"Alright then. Please bring all necessary documents with you tomorrow for the paperwork."

On her way home, Brinley sent Colin a quick message. "I resigned and found a villa I love. I'm planning to buy it."

His reply came almost instantly. "So sudden? But if it makes you happy, that's what matters. I'll come home early tonight; we'll celebrate."

Warmth spread through Brinley's chest as she gazed at the screen.

Colin had always treated her with care and tenderness. He remembered her favorite meals, always had sweet treats ready when she had her period, and never missed an anniversary without a thoughtful gift.

Apart from his refusal to be intimate with her-which upset her deeply-he was nearly the perfect husband.

The following morning, Brinley dressed with special care before leaving for the real estate agency.

She chose a pink-and-white dress, the very one Colin often praised as suiting her best.

"Mrs. Palmer, please, have a seat," Ryland greeted her warmly. "I'll bring out the contract."

Smiling, Brinley passed him a folder. "Here's a copy of my marriage certificate with Colin. I would like to register the house as a joint marital property."

Ryland accepted it and tapped away at the computer for a while, but soon he frowned. "That's odd... The system isn't pulling up your marriage registration record."

Brinley's smile faltered. "What do you mean by that?"

"Probably just a system error," Ryland said quickly, trying to reassure her. "You can confirm it directly at city hall. It happens every now and then."

Brinley's chest pounded wildly. A creeping sense of unease overwhelmed her.

Forcing herself to stay calm, she replied, "Alright. I'll head there right away."