The Bride He Wanted Was Never My Sister
Mirabella spent her entire life in her sister's shadow, serving as the family fixer who cleans up every disaster left behind by her golden sister, the perfect sister and the one who got the guy she had always crushed on. When her sister absconds on her wedding day to avoid an arranged marriage with Theodore Hartley, a calculated logistics billionaire with a soft spot to her and her family, the family’s survival depends on one final sacrifice. Mirabella is convinced by her parents to step into the veil, expecting a furious groom who will demand an annulment only to discover that Theo has been waiting for her all along.
The wedding is a trap, meticulously orchestrated by a man who didn't just buy a wife, but claimed the woman he has obsessed over from the sidelines for years. As Mirabella is swept into the opulent, suffocating world of Theo’s museum-like estate, she realizes her life is no longer her own. Every gesture of his affection is a calculated move to bind her closer, and every secret she uncovers about his business threatens the fragile peace she’s trying to maintain. Trapped between a debt she cannot pay and an undeniable, terrifying attraction to the man who stole her identity, Mirabella must decide if she will continue to be the fixer for everyone else’s mistakes or finally break the chains of the man who owns her heart and her future, take back her life and love her the right way
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Chapter: Chapter 19: Wifely BenefitsTheoI had just wheeled an elderly man into his ward and put him to bed. He had gotten enough sun and was already half asleep on his wheelchair, his head bobbing to the scrunch of gravel underneath the wheels of his chair. He preferred to be called Colonel Williams. The man had seen my wedding ring and tears filled his eyes as he talked about the sweetness of being married, how he loved his wife so dearly before cancer took her away.I wondered if I and Mira would love this deeply. I felt that way but did she?“Cancer ruined our plan to die together, sitting in our matching rocking chairs and matching nighties till we slept.” He choked out. “We were supposed to be side by side.” He had said into the air.I bent so we could be on eye level. I brushed my thumb over his wrinkled hand. “When you do fall asleep, she'll be right beside you.” I assured him. I would make that happen.Thanks to Sergi’s commitment to the city elderly people's home, I was also a volunteer just like him and it ha
Last Updated: 2026-07-01
Chapter: Chapter 18: Such a Horrible PersonSleeping in an unfamiliar environment was the shittiest way to lose sleep. Technically it wasn't my first but it is regardless, considering that I was wiped out from all the champagne I had taken at the wedding on the first night I spent here I kept twisting and turning in the middle of the massive bed. I had done everything in the books, counting things, matching colors, reading an ebook but still none of it could seduce me into sleeping.Theo wasn't surprised when I told him I moved into the room next to the master's bedroom, he had expected me to do so and even moved in some extra blankets to my new room. I felt like an empty shell in the room, my thoughts echoed in my mind, louder that they normally were when I was at my apartment and listening to the whirring of the fan and my humidifier but here, it was dead quiet, I thought about opening the door a bit so I could hear the hum of his breaths but I couldn't, if he ever found that out, he'd never let me hear the last of it. The o
Last Updated: 2026-06-29
Chapter: Chapter 17: Trauma and a wedding giftMiraNow that I wasn't in fight or flight mode and would be willfully using away my freedom I had time to relax in Theo’s house. I had given myself a tour of his house with Benny's help of course which made my tour less enjoyable. I much rather preferred non assisted tours, the kind where you just discovered. Benny was a very nice man, but I didn't need him telling me what to see and what not to see or where to go and where not to, so I used wifely powers to dismiss him early for the day with the excuse that I'll have dinner ready for my husband which translates to a peanut butter and jam sandwich. I'd gone over the two floors of his penthouse and settled in a room beside his, I particularly loved his piano room and mini library collection. Theo's house could easily pass as a small collection museum. he had a rooftop flower and herb garden which I suspected he hired. gardener to tend. Some rooms were locked which piqued my interest. I got tired from the tour after a full hour of expl
Last Updated: 2026-06-28
Chapter: Chapter 16: A wife at HomeTheo “Did your wife read through this?” Her blue eyes peered up at me under her thick lashes. “I mean all of this?”“I want to believe she did. We went through everything together.”“And she saw the last clause?” She was referring to the nullity of the divorce agreement if both parties fall in love.“Out with it Alba.” I croaked.She observed me for a second. She turned completely to face me. “Okay.” She leaned forward, her voice more serious. “She is yet to really know what you do, don't you think including the transition clause and putting that kind of dangerous responsibility on her is kind of a sabotage?”She contemplated. “From my interaction with her, this already feels like a burden she can't wait to get rid of.”I glanced towards the window. “I plan to do everything I can to stay alive but if she's ever put in harms way, I'm putting my life on the line without batting an eye.” I paused to let it sink in. “Make a clause that keeps her safe.”She breathed out. “As you wish.”“
Last Updated: 2026-06-26
Chapter: Chapter 15: Tell Me Your Safe WordMira.It was past 11pm but the usual eerie feeling that overcame me, fueled my body with urgency to be back home safely no later than 9pm was nowhere to be found and I hated to admit but it had to be with this man being here with me. We had transitioned from my work desk to the floor and I was wearing his suit jacket. I felt like a cocooned caterpillar. There he was, his controlled hair had given up being perfect and left him with that reckless abandon look that surfers in movies had or those sexy, really hot life guards that you'd pray to drown so they could give you a mouth to mouth. Not like I wanted that.We had agreed on moving in, it was all part of the conduct clause, public appearance and all plus Theo and his family made quite the impression to the press so I had to look and play the part. Come tomorrow, the moving people will officially move me in. We were able to negotiate a middle ground, separate bedrooms but compulsory one bed situation three times a week, together with
Last Updated: 2026-06-26
Chapter: Chapter 14: Terms of Contract Theo Zoya being the woman last seen with Ivan left such a bitter taste in my mouth. I hadn't told anyone yet and resolved to approach Nickolai about it. She was his sister after all.Nic and I aren't any closer than acquaintances but he was straightforward and frankly, I got more from him that from any other clients. He was also the most dangerous of all of them, like a daddy of all things bad. I hated to cross his path and whoever did this wanted just that.We met through a mutual friend at the Laurelis gala that holds twice a year. He was late as always with his wife, the only one he fawns over. Nic with his wife is an alter ego for Nic in work mode. Since then we've maintained a peaceful friendship and mutually beneficial.I sent him a message right before leaving to meet Bella.Mirabella was glorious when her focus was locked into a piece of work. She tied her hair into a pony tail and the exertion of the day has turned some strands
Last Updated: 2026-06-26
Chapter: Just Not YetEMERIC She was looking around the bar while the server poured us our drink, she ordered the strongest scotch in the house and I had a bourbon.I didn't stop her from ordering high content alcohol, I would want to feel nothing but numbness at this time if I was in her shoesI felt like I understood her on a different level.The disappointment, the feeling of not being enough and taken for granted, you could just feel your self worth depreciating.I knew it all too well.I took a sip from my drink. “Are you looking for something?”She was stunned and blinked at me.“You keep looking around and I wonder what for”“No… no” She shook her head, “it's just been a long day.”She was thinking about it, it seemed so.I inched closer to her and our knees touched, she leaned in to sip her drink from the glass, rounding her lips over the rim of the glass and throwing it all back in one gulp. She cleared her throat afterwards.I corked my head, a light bulb had come on. “Tell me about your day.”
Last Updated: 2025-03-26
Chapter: I Was Point Blank FoolishNOELLE Holyshit! I said yes.I freaking said yes and I was kissing this man.He tasted like spice and sugar, or was it wine.Who on earth was this guy?First the big rock on my finger , his expensive ocean cologne maybe Dior or some highly exalted brand and then he kisses me?For the love of me!I was beginning to think he was some sort of poser or a robber, or maybe he stole from a pawn shop but then pawn shops don't have these kinds of diamonds these days.Or a con man?Whatever! He kissed well. The best I'd ever had. Clayton didn't kiss me this way.Our kiss came to an abrupt halt when Clayton pushed this gentle waiter who had just given me something to be proud of.He grabbed my arm tightly, the waiter made an attempt to step in but I signalled him not to.“Is this what you do now? You've been cheating on me?” My pulse picked up momentum, I could hear it in my ears, rage came over me, from the depths I didn't even know I had.“Take your filthy hands off me Clayton” I said betwe
Last Updated: 2025-03-26
Chapter: She Said Yes To MeEMERIC.I didn't work at the restaurant all the time but the few times I stood in for Ben, I had seen Noelle and this man. The same man proposing to another woman.Love was the most glaring thing ever, you could just see it between two people.It didn't hide but with this man, I never for once saw it. Noelle was always the excited one.My stomach churned.I observed her demeanor when she walked in. She was beaming, giddy and as always she walked straight to the counter asking for the chef to remind me of her special order and all that she had planned. She did that all the time and that was how I got to know her name.She always reserved a table in her name. Noelle Holly Roberts. I always thought it was a distinct name.She thought I was like some head waiter or something but I was the head chef on some days and I knew she couldn't eat anything with cloves in it.The few times I watched her converse with Ben, I just knew she was a sweet, kind woman. She smiled and gushed, her little
Last Updated: 2025-03-26
Chapter: Will you marry me? From the wrong person!NOELLERumble? He thinks Rumble is our restaurant?Nothing romantic about Rumble, it's more like roommates having a greasy dinner that'd probably kill them in their sleep, their heart suffocating, sizzling on all the cholesterol.There was no fine dining at Rumble, only burgers and oil drenched fries, the only thing nice was their fish cakes and onion rings and those were things he liked.I had introduced him to La Vista and it had since then been a staple when he wasn't complaining about the cost but here he was, bringing some strange woman.My nails dug under the table until it hurt, my heart palpitated heavily. Eyes still trained on them and one hand clutching my chest, I reached for the glass of water but ended up pushing it off the table, calling unwanted attention to where I was sitting in a corner like a neglected puppy.The glass had shattered all over the floor, I felt a sting on my foot but what's a sting when your entire body was cramping.I ducked as soon as Clayton and h
Last Updated: 2025-03-26
Chapter: He was lyingNOELLEAutumn, winters, thanksgiving or Valentine if that counted weren’t my best moments but I never really had a reason for not loving it, except I was born in the holidays and named after it. Glad I wasn't named Valentine or Valerie, no disrespect there but I'd rather not.It was bad enough to be Noelle and Holly and my old man's dead jokes about decking halls with balls of Holly.None of that mattered now.It was Valentine's Day, our big day. I and the love of my life.I took a good look at my fingers, I had gotten them done earlier in the day and made sure not to smudge the pastel pink polish, the gloss glistened under the yellow candle glow.Clayton loved subtle colors.You know how I said I hated holidays or disliked? Valentine's day didn't count because I always wished to be proposed to on the day of love. Sounds cliche and could get swallowed up with the army of reds and whites in restaurants, people smooching and professing undying love.I know it could get swept under the b
Last Updated: 2025-03-26
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