My Fiancé Hates His New Freedom

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My engagement to Rhett Prescott, the crowned prince of Athertons old money, was decided when we were children.

Because of this status, I spent my childhood trying to control his every move.

Every time I pushed his limits, Rhett would lash out with the same defiant threat:

Sloan Callahan, mark my words. I am going to blow up this farce of an engagement, and youll be the one left holding the pieces.

Then, I discovered I was the fake heiress. I decided to retreat, to make myself small.

I stopped asking about Rhetts business, stopped forcing him to uphold our mandatory couple appearances.

After half a month of silence from me, his inner circle threw him a party to celebrate his freedom.

But to my surprise, Rhett completely lost it.

Mind your own damn business! hed screamed.

This is what you wanted, isnt it? Now shes got someone elses collar to hold.

Sloan, Rhetts out stirring up trouble again with Pierce and the usual pack of trust-fund delinquents.

The music in the Atherton club was deafening.

My best friend, Harper, was delivering the latest report on Rhett, but my attention was miles away.

I took the phone she handed me.

In the video, Rhett looked every inch the rebellious heir. He was leaning against a black Aston Martin, looking lazy in a crimson silk button-down, a cigarette smoldering between his fingers. He was surrounded by a crowd of hangers-on, all with too-attractive, scantily-dressed women draped over them.

I watched it all calmly, then just as calmly handed the phone back to Harper.

Its fine. Let him.

What is wrong with you? Harper pressed her palm to my forehead. You dont even have a fever.

She narrowed her eyes, the familiar mischief in them gone. Are you an alien body snatcher? The real Sloan would be on her way to burn that club down right now.

Harper, I gave her a flat look. Do I need to remind you of the time you accidentally dyed your hair green at your sixth-grade dance? Just to prove Im me?

I grabbed my clutch and walked toward the exit.

It wasn't surprising that Harper was so alarmed by my change.

Since the day Rhett and I were betrothed at age eight, I had taken my role as his handler seriously. I policed his life with an iron fist.

Before, I felt I had the right to.

Now, I wasn't so sure.

Because I might not be Rhetts fiance for much longer.

Just three days prior, Id accidentally discovered that my parentsthe Callahanswere not my biological family. I had been switched at birth.

It wouldnt be long before the Callahans true daughter was found and brought home.

My fate as the discovered fake heiress was brutally clear.

For years, Id leveraged my status as a Callahan daughter and the fiance of the Prescott heir. In the process, Id made plenty of enemies in Athertons exclusive circles.

So many people were waiting to watch me fall from grace.

Especially Rhett.

Ever since our engagement, I had relied on the authority of the Prescott Chairman, Rhetts grandfather, to keep him in line.

Even after he turned twenty-one, I laid down three unbreakable rules:

Rule One: No smoking, no binge drinking, no fighting, and absolutely no reckless benders with his low-life friends.

Rule Two: No staying out all night. He had to be home before midnight.

Rule Three: We had to maintain appearances, including our fiance obligations. At least three times a week.

Every time I cracked down on him, Rhett would shoot back with his threat:

Sloan Callahan, you wait, Im going to annul this broken engagement sooner or later.

I never took him seriously.

But now, everything was different.

In high-society marriages, pedigree and mutual benefit were all that mattered. No matter how fond the Chairman was of me, he would never allow his grandson to marry a woman who couldn't benefit the Prescott business empire.

The engagement was doomed.

If I wanted to avoid Rhetts public scorn and cruelty after my fake identity was revealed, I had to cut my losses now. I had to stop controlling him entirely.

I didnt go looking for Rhett. Instead, I went home early.

But no sooner had I walked through the door than he returned.

Hearing the commotion in the entryway, I instinctively looked up.

Our eyes met. Rhetts face flashed with guilt, but he forcibly held my gaze.

He lifted his chin, his voice deliberately loud.

Sloan Callahan, you got it. I was out with Pierce and the guys, and yeah, I was drinking and smoking.

I didn't engage in our usual sparring match.

I merely gave a quiet, neutral Mhm, and started to walk toward my bedroom.

Sloan Callahan

Rhett closed the distance in a few quick strides, grabbing my wrist.

His dark eyes were fixed on mine, his tone tight with hidden anxiety.

Did you hear me? I said I was drinking and smoking.

I know, I looked at him, my voice flat. You dont have to tell me. If youre happy, Im happy.

Alright, Sloan, his lips curled into a smirk of forced confidence. I know youre still pissed.

He stepped closer, his voice dropping slightly. I was wrong not to escort you to the gala last week. Youve barely spoken to me for three days.

No, Im not

He cut me off before I could finish.

Fine. Tonight, you can call the shots in bed, too.

With that, Rhett started unbuttoning his shirt.

He had a great bodybroad shoulders, a lean waist, and solid muscle. It was the kind of body that made me forget my rules.

He took my hand and pressed it hard against the sculpted planes of his abdomen.

Then he turned his face away, the tips of his ears slowly turning pink.

Consider yourself lucky. You can feel me up however you want tonight.

I glanced at the date on my phone. Id completely forgotten that tonight was one of our Rule Three nights.

Usually, I was the one who had to initiate. Rhett was being terrifyingly proactive.

Rhett, Im not in the mood tonight.

I dropped the sentence like a grenade and bolted back to my room.

I woke up late the next afternoon.

Unusually, Rhett hadnt left the house.

He was sprawled on the living room sofa, scrolling through his phone with a casual, bored air.

When I walked out of my room, he snapped his phone shut, cleared his throat quietly, and spoke with an indifferent tone.

Sloan Callahan, you complained that all your clothes were out of season. Ive got some free time today. Ill take you to the city to get new ones.

No, thank you. I have plans with Harper.

I rejected him without a moments thought.

Wait, Sloan Callahan, how much longer are you going to hold this grudge?

Rhett sprang up and grabbed my wrist, his brow furrowed.

He pursed his lips, a slight impatience creeping into his voice.

Im offering you the olive branch, Sloan! Are you just going to save this up to use against me with my grandfather?

So that was the reason for his strange behavior. He thought I was just laying a trap.

Id certainly done that enough times in the past.

Relax, Rhett. I wont. I waved my hand dismissively. I admit, I was too controlling. All three rules I established? Theyre null and void. From now on, you do what you want. I wont be involved in your life.

I mean it. Fearing his disbelief, I raised three fingers in a mock-oath. I swear.

Sloan Callahan, you Rhett stared at me in disbelief, his eyes clouding with a faint, watery red.

His chest rose and fell sharply.

Finally, he turned his face away, his voice stiff and hard.

Fine. Whatever you want.

The front door slammed shut with a BAM.

Wait!!? What the hell is he angry about?

I met Harper at a cafe and told her everything about the identity swap.

Harper froze for a long moment before reacting.

So you think the engagement is going to fail, and thats why youve stopped being his warden?

She leaned forward. But have you ever considered that Rhett might actually like you, and he wont give up the engagement easily?

Rhett doesn't like me. I managed a thin, self-deprecating smile. Just last week, he told me so himself.

I sighed. I only just learned how much he truly loathes our engagement.

After so many years with Rhett, it would be a lie to say I had no feelings for him.

The night I learned I was the fake heiress, I desperately wanted to find Rhett and use him to release my pent-up emotion.

Instead, I accidentally overheard him talking to his friends:

Prescott, are you really content to be policed by Sloan Callahan for the rest of your life?

Everyone says youre whipped, tied up by one woman.

You havent fallen for Sloan, have you?

Impossible! Rhett declared flatly. Id fall for anyone but her.

He let out a short, cold laugh. Sloan Callahan? Shes got pale skin and big eyes, but she is absolutely not my type. If it weren't for my grandfather forcing me into this, I would never have submitted to her rules.

Standing outside the private room, I felt a tidal wave of unnamable emotions wash over me.

The last flickering flame of hope I held for Rhett was extinguished.

I left the club quietly and walked alone for a long time on the way home.

Rhett said it himself, I told Harper, pressing my lips together. Hes itching to dump me.

Harper opened her mouth to speak, her eyes full of unspoken feeling, but in the end, she said nothing.

I explained my worries to her.

Ive always cared deeply about my reputation.

When the news breaks that Im the fake heiress and the Prescott family rejects me, Ill be the joke of the entire city.

So, before the true heiress is found, I intend to break off the engagement myself.

Without my restrictions, Rhett didnt come home for days.

Normally, if he wasn't back by midnight, Id either bombard him with texts or show up and drag him home.

Tonight, just as I was getting ready for bed, Rhetts lackey texted me a video.

[Yo, Mrs. P. The Boss is insisting on hiring a 'companion' tonight. You might want to come down and put a stop to this.]

I opened the video.

Rhett was sitting lazily on a sectional sofa, a saccharine-sweet blonde in a baby-blue dress standing in front of him.

A sharp pang hit my chest. He wasted no time taking my words literally.

[Got it. Thanks.]

I locked my phone, but another video immediately pinged through.

Rhett had his arm wrapped around the blonde, and he was stuffing his black card into her hand.

My fiance doesnt want to control me anymore. Bring out all your tricks, baby.

My eyes stung. I deleted Rhetts lackey from my contacts list.

Before I broke the engagement, I planned to move out of Rhetts house.

It was originally the luxurious Atherton home the Prescotts intended for our marriage. Since the engagement was ending, there was no need for me to stay.

After a few days of searching, I found an apartment I liked and was going today to sign the lease.

Stepping out of the elevator, I ran into Nolan Hayes, a friend from college, in the hallway.

We were laughing and chatting as we walked toward the exit.

But just as we reached the complex gate, I saw a familiar silhouette.

Rhett was staring at Nolan and me.

His eyes were filled with disbelief, anger, and a flicker of raw instability.

He shifted his gaze to my face, his eyes red for some reason, and asked through gritted teeth,

Sloan Callahan, who the hell is he? Don't forget, you have a fianc.

I wont for much longer, I murmured, barely a whisper.

Rhetts pupils contracted. He surged forward and gripped my shoulders, his fingertips white with strain.

His breathing was ragged, and his eyes were welling up with a thin, angry film of water.

Sloan Callahan, are you throwing me away for this guy?

I parted my lips to speak, but Rhett yanked me violently into his car.

His mouth came down on mine, then he bit my earlobe viciously.

Sloan Callahan, we grew up together. Were us. What the hell is he to you?

Get off me! I struggled, pushing him away, but his kisses trailed down my collarbone.

You want me to leave, Sloan Callahan?

He immediately ran his hand up my thigh and pressed his mouth to my neck, threatening me.

If you get out of this car, I will kiss you in front of him.

That night, Rhett was back in his signature provocative attire, showing off his sculpted abs.

Sloan Callahan, inspect the merchandise.

He grabbed my wrist and forced it against his stomach, then offered an explanation.

I didnt touch anyone the other night. When you blocked that text from Pierce, I drove straight back.

He leaned in, his voice thick. Sloan Callahan, you clearly still care.

His words softened something in me. Maybe Rhett did care, just a little.

I pushed his chest lightly. You still smell faintly of liquor. Go wash again.

Rhett looked like he wanted to argue, but he turned and obediently headed to the bathroom.

While Rhett was in the shower, the screen of his tablet, which was on the sofa, lit up.

I opened it and saw his friends group chat messages.

[Boss, I tracked down the guy. Hes just Mrs. P's old college friend, Nolan Hayes.]

[The Boss is really fired up about this guy. He must be falling for Mrs. P, right?]

Rhett: [Who the hell is falling for Sloan Callahan? Im just pissed shes having an emotional affair.]

Rhett: [Id never want a flighty, ungrateful woman like her.]

Rhett: [When Im done training Sloan, when shes completely obsessed with me, Im going to drop her like a hot potato!]

I gave a bitter, dry laugh. Rhetts anger and jealousy had all been an act. That was his real plan all along.

I closed the tablet, a mix of hurt and fury bubbling up inside me.

I was deep in thought when a clean, fresh-smelling Rhett slid next to me.

His breath was hot, his kisses trailing down my neck. His voice was husky.

Sloan Callahan, its been too long.

I pushed him away, my tone icy.

Rhett, dont touch me. I dont want this.

Rhett muttered a low curse and frowned.

Sloan Callahan, youre not letting me touch you? Are you saving yourself for Nolan Hayes?

Remembering the malicious messages on the group chat, I suddenly saw no reason to explain myself.

The engagement was ending anyway.

I might as well look like the winner, the one who left with dignity.

I pressed my lips together. Yes. From now on, I wont concern myself with your familys business. And you won't concern yourself with mine. We can both do whatever we want.

The hell I will! Rhetts eyes were bloodshot with anger. Sloan Callahan, either you cut him off, or we end this engagement now.

Fine, I agreed, following his lead. Ill call both families tomorrow.

Then, fighting back tears, I slammed the door on my way out.

When I returned, the living room looked like a hurricane had passed through it.

Rhett was sitting on the sofa, his arms crossed, his gaze a challenge.

Sloan Callahan, you want to break the engagement? Then pack your stuff and get out of my house immediately.

He waved his hand at my belongings. All these new-season clothes in your room just annoy me now.

He smirked, cruel and calculating. Once you leave me, do you think Nolan Hayess pathetic salary can keep you in clothes like that?

Even if he cant, Id still prefer what he buys me, I replied, my voice steady. Id only worry about him affording it.

I walked straight into the bedroom and dragged out a large suitcase.

Then I calmly began folding the scattered clothes, tucking them neatly into the luggage.

Wait, Sloan Callahan, are you serious?

Rhett suddenly rushed over and slammed his hand down on the suitcase, his knuckles white with strain.

His breath hitched, and a thin, angry moisture gathered in his eyes.

Are you really breaking up with me for that guy?

He searched my face frantically. Is he better than me? What did I do wrong?

Rhett stared at me, then suddenly sank to his knees.

His face was pale, his body trembling.

Sloan Callahan Im sorry. I swear Ill listen to you from now on.

He clutched the hem of my shirt with one hand, the other clutching his chest, his face contorted in pain.

Sloan Callahan, it hurts. Please. Dont go.

Rhetts lips were quivering, and the pain seemed genuine.

It was only then that I remembered.

He had a serious heart condition. It was the reason the Prescotts indulged him so much.

Rhett passed out. I immediately called 911.

As he was being rushed into the emergency room and I waited outside, two warring voices fought in my head.

Was he really that emotional about me leaving?

Did he actually care about me?

Rhett had to stay in the hospital for a few days, so I returned home to grab him a change of clothes.

The Boss is pretty clever, huh? Checked into the hospital just to stop his fiance from leaving.

I heard one of his friends say inside the house.

I only did it because I wanted to wait until Sloan was completely obsessed with me, and then Id drop her hard! Rhetts voice was defiant.

Gotta say, the pity play is working beautifully.

My hand, reaching for the doorknob, froze.

I was so grateful I had come back at that exact moment. Otherwise, Rhett would have fooled me again.

I should have known. Given Rhett's arrogant personality, the only one who could end the engagement was him.

If I tried to force a breakup now, I had no idea what kind of disaster he would cause.

My only option was to play along. I had to continue the performance until the real heiress returned. Then the Prescott family would naturally end the engagement for me.

During Rhett's few days in the hospital, I didnt mention the breakup again, returning to our old way of interacting.

Rhett was ecstatic.

It was during this time that Dahlia Song, the real heiress, was found and brought back.

The Callahans hosted a lavish welcome banquet for herit was practically the talk of Atherton.

Rhett was discharged from the hospital, and we attended the party together.

When he learned I was the fake heiress, Rhett seemed secretly pleased. He grabbed my hand and threatened me.

Sloan Callahan, lets see you try to break up with me now. Without the Callahans, your only support system is me.

When Dahlia saw Rhett, her eyes lit up.

Its you. Do you remember me?

Rhett glanced at me triumphantly. Of course, I do.

From their conversation, I learned Rhett had once saved Dahlia from being harassed by thugs when she was younger. He was her hero.

I watched the two of them chatting easily, a knot of deep, unfamiliar bitterness forming in my chest.

Back at home, I saw the group chat blinking on the tablet again.

[Boss, you and the real Callahan heiress looked really good together today.]

Rhett: [Truthfully, a gentle, easy-going type like Dahlia is what I actually like. Sloan is a battle-axe. I hate being bossed around.]

[So, why dont you dump Sloan now and marry Dahlia, Boss?]

Rhett: [Not yet. I need to wait until Sloan is totally obsessed with me. Then Ill drop her.]

I closed the tablet, my heart heavy with a dull ache.

The day after the banquet, my adoptive parents called me back to the Callahan manor.

They felt they owed Dahlia everything.

Dahlia had expressed her liking for Rhett and wanted to marry him. They asked me to hand the engagement over to her.

I agreed.

I had no intention of fighting Dahlia for anything. Everything was rightfully hers, and it was time to give it back.

But when the news of Rhett and Dahlias engagement broke, I knew I would be subjected to endless ridicule.

Atherton would be unbearable.

Leaving the Callahan home, I hailed a cab to the private racetrack Rhett frequented.

Even though I already knew the answer.

To extinguish the final spark of hope, I wanted to hear it from Rhett one last time before I left the city forever.

When I arrived, Rhett was leaning against his car, chatting casually with his friends.

Someone with sharp eyes spotted me and nudged Rhetts shoulder.

Yo, Boss, Mrs. P is here.

Rhett looked up, a frown creasing his forehead. Sloan Callahan, what are you doing here?

He sneered. Ive only been gone for a moment, and youre back to being my warden?

I stared at him, my voice steady. Rhett, am I just a placeholder? Could any girl from the right family fill this spot?

Why wouldnt you be? Rhett looked at me with bored amusement. Sloan Callahan, Im not exactly limited to you.

He put a hand on my hip, pulling me closer in a possessive gesture. If you stop chasing other men, I wont break the engagement. Yet.

My nails dug into my palms. I forced my voice to remain perfectly calm.

Good. I needed to know.

Rhett gave a cold snort. Smart girl. Figured it out, didnt you, Sloan Callahan?

I left the racetrack, had a quick dinner with Harper, and bought a ticket out of Atherton that afternoon.