He Locked Me Up, I Married His Nephew

Chapter 1

On her wedding day, Cecilia Foster's husband Derek Hayes had her committed to an electroshock psych ward.

All because she broke the real heiress's bracelet.

The shock jolted Cecilia awake, dragging her back to her true self.

Turns out, she'd been the wicked impostor in some steamy R-18 swapped-baby bodice-ripper.

The male lead was her husband, Derek, while the female lead was the delicate, innocent real heiress, Amelia Brooks.

And Cecilia? She was just a pawn in their sleazy brother-in-law-and-sister-in-law hookups.

Her grand finale? Burning to death in a fire.

When she came to again, Derek was in the ward to take her home.

Rivermoor Electroshock Institute, Capital City.

"Ms. Foster! Wake up. Someone's here to spring you."

Cecilia forced her trembling hands still and opened her eyes, drenched in sweat.

The phantom pain of being swallowed by flames still gnawed at her skin.

It took a long moment before she could drag her heavy legs out the door.

She looked up, and there he was, walking toward her after finishing the discharge paperwork.

Her childhood sweetheart, the man she'd just married. Derek Hayes.

The guy from that trashy novel—the one who could go seven rounds a night.

The same guy who was going at it with the real heiress while Cecilia burned alive in the final chapter.

Derek stopped in front of her, brow furrowed. "Cecilia, do you finally get it now?"

She pressed her lips tight.

On their wedding day, she couldn't stand Amelia showing off in front of her, so she'd lashed out and smashed Amelia's bracelet.

And just like that, everyone decided Cecilia was spoiled and jealous and had her locked up in this psych ward.

She'd only been there a month, but it felt like a lifetime.

Coming back to her senses, Cecilia just gave a small nod. "Sorry. It was all my fault."

Her fault for falling for Derek. Her fault for marrying him.

From now on, she just wanted to keep her distance.

Her docile answer made Derek eye her with a hint of suspicion.

In the silver Maybach, Derek buckled his seatbelt and laid down the law. "Don't upset Amelia even more. You had twenty years of Amelia's life—silk and gold, no questions asked. You owe her that much."

Cecilia kept her gaze low.

Twenty years ago, a switcheroo had made her the heiress to the Brooks family while Amelia grew up as the maid's daughter.

Now the maid was dead, and Cecilia, as her real daughter, had no right to complain.

She didn't argue. "Fine."

Back at the villa, the moment Cecilia stepped through the door, the laughter and chatter died.

Mr. and Mrs. Brooks went stiff for a second. They met her eyes but didn't say a word.

Amelia, though, came right up and took Cecilia's hand, eyes welling up. "Oh my God, Cecilia! What happened to your hands?"

Cecilia studied Amelia and thought to herself.

Growing up, Amelia had always been treated as family. Even though she was technically the maid's kid, after her mother died, the Brookses had raised her right alongside Cecilia.

And Derek had always gone out of his way for her too. He used to say, "Amelia's had a rough go. We should look out for her."

Back then Cecilia thought he was just being kind. Now she figured maybe Derek had always had a thing for Amelia.

Thinking about all the places they'd snuck around in that novel made her stomach turn.

She pulled her hand back flatly. "It's fine. They're almost healed."

They sat her down at the dinner table soon after.

Mrs. Brooks spooned food onto her plate and glanced at Derek. "Cecilia, you're not ours by blood, but you and Derek are married now. We still plan to keep you as our daughter.

"We've got years of love here. Just think of yourself as a Brooks. And you'll always be Amelia's elder sister."

Cecilia stared at the broccoli on her plate, her old favorite.

Too bad, after eating nothing but broccoli for a month in the ward, she couldn't stand it anymore.

And she didn't want to be a Brooks anymore either.

She spoke up, "Mrs. Brooks, I've decided to change my name back to Foster. Brooks was never my name to begin with. I should give it back."

Derek didn't object. "Mrs. Brooks, she's right. None of this was ever hers. She ought to return it all to Amelia."

Exactly. Everything that was never hers, she'd give it all back.

Cecilia listened, then made her announcement right there at the table.

"You know what, Derek? Since I'm returning everything, let me go all the way.

"I want to give you back to Amelia too."