Chapter 1

​I couldn’t breathe. This wedding dress is way too tight.

​And the worst part? It’s not even my dress. It belongs to my half-sister, Chloe.

She literally ran away to Paris with her secret boyfriend and just left me here to deal with all this drama. She always does this. She gets whatever she wants, plays the princess, and then runs away when things get too real.

And who has to clean up her absolute mess? Me. Elena.

The unwanted stepdaughter.

​I’m holding these stupid flowers so hard my knuckles are turning white. The thorns are literally poking into my fingers, but I can't even feel the pain because my brain is completely short-circuiting. But I have to do it.

There is no backing out now. If I don't walk down the aisle and pretend to be her, my evil stepmother Beatrice is gonna kill my dad.

She literally stood in the hospital room this morning, looked me dead in the eye, and promised to pull his hospital plug by midnight if I didn't show up here.

I have no money, I'm completely broke, and he's all I have left in this world. I would eat cement before I let her hurt him.

​Suddenly, the heavy church doors fly open. The giant pipe organ starts blasting.

The music is so loud it makes my chest vibrate.

​And there he is. Standing at the end of the aisle. Alexander Vance. The billionaire king of Wall Street.

​Oh my god. He is so hot. Like, crazy hot. He looks like a literal god standing there in his custom black tuxedo.

But his eyes are so cold and dead. He isn't smiling at all. He looks so powerful and scary that my stomach completely flips upside down.

My legs feel like absolute jelly, and for a second, I think I’m gonna throw up right on the expensive white carpet.

​I force a fake, shaky smile onto my face and start walking towards him. Every step feels like a mile.

Hundreds of rich people in the pews are staring at me, whispering about how beautiful "Chloe" looks. If they only knew.

​By the time I finally get to the altar, I feel like passing out. Alexander just stares at me with this super intense, piercing look. It feels like he’s looking straight through the heavy lace veil and into my soul.

My whole body is shaking so badly I can barely stand straight. I just want to say the words, get the ring on, save my dad, and get out of here.

​But then he takes my hand. His fingers wrap around mine, and he squeezes so hard it actually hurts. My breath catches in my throat.

​He leans his head down right next to my ear, his expensive cologne filling my nose, and whispers something that makes my blood turn to actual ice.

​"You're not Chloe," his voice is low, smooth, and totally mean. "Who the hell are you?"

​I can't even move. My eyes go wide under my veil, and I want to cry.

​He knows. He figured it out instantly. How did he know? We look exactly identical!

​"Smile for the cameras, you little liar,"

Alexander whispers against my skin, his voice dripping with venom. He smirks, acting like nothing is wrong for the crowd, and brutally shoves the giant diamond ring onto my finger anyway.

"You wanted this wedding so badly, well now you belong to me. I'm going to ruin you."

​My heart literally stops beating.

​I look up at him, my eyes wide with pure terror, but he just smiles this cold, calculated smile for the guests.

The priest is still talking, saying stuff about love and marriage and staying together forever, but my ears are just ringing.

I can't even process what's happening. I’m stuck. I’m legally marrying a monster.

​Everyone in the church is smiling and crying happy tears. They think this is some beautiful, romantic royal wedding. They have no idea I just walked straight into a predator's cage.

​"Turn around," Alexander barks under his breath, his smile never fading as he faces the crowd.

​Suddenly, his large hand grips my waist. It's an iron grip, so tight and strong it's totally gonna leave bruises on my skin tomorrow, for sure.

He forces me to turn around and face the hundreds of wealthy guests. Camera flashlights are going off everywhere, blinding me. I paste on the biggest fake smile I can manage, but inside, I'm shaking like a leaf.

​"Now, kiss the bride," the priest says cheerfully.

​Oh my god. No. Please no. Anything but that.

​Before I can even blink or pull away, Alexander pulls me hard against his chest.

His body feels like an actual brick wall. He reaches up, yanks my veil back, and his lips slam onto mine.

​It’s not a nice kiss at all. It’s angry. Hard. Totally punishing. He’s biting my lower lip, claiming me like I'm just some object he bought at an auction.

My body completely betrays me because his scent—like expensive whiskey and pure danger—makes my stomach do a weird, hot flip. He is just way too handsome, and it’s making me mad how much power he has over me already.

​When he finally pulls away, he licks his lip lazily and looks down at me like I’m his next meal.

​"Let’s go, wife," he says, his voice a low, terrifying purr.

​He grabs my wrist tightly and drags me down the altar. Everyone is cheering, clapping, and throwing pink flower petals at us, but I feel like a prisoner walking to my execution.

He leads me straight out of the church doors and shoves me into the back of a huge, luxurious black limousine. He climbs in right after me and slams the door shut behind us.

​The driver pulls away from the curb immediately. The black glass divider goes up, cutting us off from the world, and suddenly, it's just me and him in the dark.

​I immediately scramble back against the leather seat, trying to put as much distance between us as possible.

My dress is bunching up around me, and I’m panting for air.

"Please," I whisper, my voice cracking completely. "I can explain everything... Please just listen to me."

​Alexander doesn't even let me finish. He scoffs, a deep, dark sound, and starts unbuttoning his suit jacket.

He leans back against the seat like a literal king, spreading his legs apart, and just stares at me like a tiger watching a trapped rabbit.

​"Explain what?" he chuckles, and the sound sends a shiver straight down my spine.

"That you thought you could play games with the Vance family? That you thought you could slide into my bed pretending to be your sister? Did you think I wouldn't notice the difference?"

​"No! I didn't want to do this! I swear!" Tears start falling down my face now, messing up my makeup, but I don't even care. I wipe them quickly with my lace gloves, but they just keep coming.

"My stepmother... she forced me! My dad is dying in the hospital ICU right now. If I didn't show up today and pretend to be Chloe, she was going to disconnect his life support tonight! I just needed the money to save his life! I didn't have a choice!"

​Alexander just stares at me, completely blank. There is no sympathy in his dark eyes. None at all. Instead, a slow, cruel smirk appears on his lips. He looks completely amused by my tears and my begging.

​He suddenly reaches across the seat. His long, strong fingers pinch my chin, forcing me to tilt my head back to meet his scary gaze.

​"I don't give a damn about your dying father,"

he says, his voice turning lethal and quiet.

"You expect me to believe this sob story? You wanted this luxury life, didn't you? You wanted the billionaire's money, and you used your sister's disappearance to steal her place."

​"No! That's not true! Please just let me go!" I beg, my voice breaking as I try to pull away from his grip. But he doesn't budge. He’s way too strong.

"You don't even want me! You wanted Chloe! Just let me walk away, I won't say anything to anyone!"

​"Let you go?" He laughs out loud this time, a cold, mocking sound that makes my heart drop into my shoes. He slides his hand up from my chin, twisting his fingers tightly into the curls of my hair, pulling it back so my neck is completely exposed to him.

"Never, little liar. The press already announced our marriage. The entire world thinks Alexander Vance is married. If I throw you out of this limo right now, it makes me look like a fool. And I never look like a fool."

​He leans in even closer, until his lips are almost brushing against mine. I can feel the heat radiating off his body, and it's making me completely dizzy.

​"From now on, you are my little toy," he whispers, his dark eyes locking onto mine with a terrifying mix of raw lust and hatred.

"You will play the part of my perfect, obedient wife in public. You will smile for the media, and you will do exactly what I tell you to do. And behind closed doors..." He lets out a low chuckle, his fingers tightening in my hair.

"You'll be whatever I want you to be. You're going to pay for your family's sins with your body. Every single day.”