Anderson paused, and Briana unconsciously held her breath. She mentally scolded herself for speaking without thinking again.“Daniel told you?” It was more of a realization than a question. Anderson knew that he was the only one who could have told her, and that meant she was also aware of the NGO. Daniel, that idiot.Briana answers him with a small nod, afraid of blurting out something stupid again.Anderson heaved out a long sigh, his shoulders slumping as he looked over to the window. Meanwhile, Briana anxiously pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. She was beginning to regret what she said, and Anderson's silence only meant that she had overstepped.“You don't have to tell me if you don't want to.” She spoke up. Anderson faced her, but she couldn't meet his eyes.It took a moment before he replied. “I'll tell you.” Briana looked up at him expectantly, her lips parted in awe at his words. She couldn't explain why her heart skipped a beat. “But you'll have to shower first.” He ad
It was dark. Briana couldn't register anything else as she found herself in an unfamiliar place, the room was dead silent, and this only fueled her anxiety. The pungent smell of rotting wood stung her nostrils, probably from the old floorboards that creaked under her weight. She winced slightly as she tried to move, the rope that bound her wrists bit into her skin, leaving behind a burning sensation that would graduate into a bruise soon. Briana was strapped to her chair. Tight ropes ran across her body, looping around her ankles, torso, and arms to keep her in place. Thus, making any effort to escape useless. How long has it been since she was brought here? They had blindfolded her, and she couldn’t tell if night had fallen. Pathetic. Her whole situation was pathetic. Briana never thought herself to be lucky, neither had she ever relied on luck. But now she had no choice but to hope, begging for the god of luck to spare her this moment.Briana bit her bottom lip, her eyes squeezin
BRIANA'S POV As I stand at the altar, adorned in a gown that isn't mine, I can feel the weight of deception pressing down on me like a leaden veil. The soft strains of the wedding march fill the air, mingling with the whispers of the gathered guests. All eyes are fixed on me, but they do not see the real me - they see the illusion I've been forced to embody. I steal a glance at him, the man I am to marry, the heir to a wealthy dynasty. His chiseled features are a mask of composure, but I couldn’t deny the love that shone in his eyes. He looked at me like I was the most precious jewel, and the sincerity with which he smiled caused my heart to ache painfully for him. Does he know the truth, or is he too blinded by duty and love to see through the charade? My chest tightens with every step I take closer to him, knowing that this union is built on a foundation of lies. I am not the woman he was meant to marry. She fled, leaving behind a void that I, with my uncanny resemblance, have b
Finally, my shift comes to an end and I wave Mr Riley goodbye as I clock out, looking down at my watch as I hurry to my next job. But as I navigated the busy streets of Seattle I couldn’t shake off the unsettling feeling that washed over me. I felt like I was being watched, but each time I took a glance around me, I couldn’t spot anything or anyone suspicious lurking around me. It had been happening for the past few days now, and the feeling still lingered till now. “Bri! Oh my gosh! I’ve missed you!” I’m tackled into a hug the moment I step foot in the department store, rolling my eyes playfully as I let out a light chuckle. My coworker Sally was such an energetic soul, and it’s one of the reasons I don’t particularly hate this gig. “You saw me yesterday and the day before that.” I remind her, and Sally pulls back from the hug to give me a puppy-eyed look, her expressive brown eyes shining through the curtain of her dark fringe. “Well two hours a day is not enough time, and you’re n
“Pardon?” Did I hear her correctly or were my ears deceiving me? She answers me with a light chuckle, seemingly amused by my reaction. “I said I want you to marry my brother,” she repeats casually, picking up her wine glass and letting it rest between her fingers. I blinked once then twice, trying to make sense of her statement, but my brain could only come up with one response. What the hell? “I don’t quite understand what you mean Miss.” I start carefully, and she takes a small sip of her wine before setting it back on the table. My brows furrowed in confusion as she raised her hand slightly, and with a small flick of her fingers, a tall man emerged from the shadows, making my heart jump in my chest as I let out a shocked gasp. How long had he been standing there? I didn’t even sense his presence. He was adorned in a raven-black suit, his expression unreadable, and his features hard as stone. The only notable thing about him was the silver tint of his brown hair and the scar
Present day... As we emerged from the chapel, the air was filled with the sweet scent of flowers and the sound of joyous applause. My heart fluttered with nervousness as I held onto the arm of the man who believed me to be someone else. The guests lined up, eager to offer their congratulations. I smiled and thanked each of them, trying to ignore the uneasy knot that tightened in my chest with every well-wish. “Oh, my darling daughter, you look absolutely gorgeous!” A short middle-aged woman says as she pulls me into a hug, and my smile twitches, threatening to fall as the word ‘daughter’ rings in my mind. I was not her daughter but a mere replacement, and she knew that very well. We both smiled at each other, under a mask of pretense as we acted like any daughter and mother would. It was almost sickening how she appeared unaffected by the thought of a stranger taking her daughter’s place, but it was no use understanding her state of mind. Her company would be in ruins if the scanda
As the last guest offered their congratulations, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the reception ahead. My new life as a bride who was not truly a bride had begun, and I could only hope that I could keep up the charade long enough to set things right. Finally, the day had come to an end, and as we settled into the plush seats of the limousine, my husband turned to me, his eyes shining with adoration. "You were stunning today, my love," he said, reaching for my hand. I pulled my default smile, my fingers trembling slightly in his grasp. "Thank you," I replied, my voice betraying none of the turmoil inside me. All I did all day was say thank you, the term slowly becoming a mantra. He leaned closer, his voice soft. "Is everything alright? You seem... distant." I bit my lip, trying to quell the rising panic. "I'm just overwhelmed," I lied. "It's been a long day." He nodded understandingly, but I could see the concern in his eyes. I turned away, staring out the window as we dr
“Anderson!” I hurried to his side, not caring if I soiled the pristine wedding dress as I kneeled before him, my hands reaching out to his face to calm him down. “Anderson!” my voice trembles with worry as my vision blurs with unshed tears as his face twists in pure agony. In a frenzy, I moved to get my phone as it was the only logical thing my mind could think of was to call for help, but before I shot up, I felt a pair of study hands wrap around me. My body moves in accordance with gravity as I stumble into his lap, my back pressing against his chest. I could feel the subtle beat of his stable heartbeat, and a lone tear slipped from my eyes as his grip on me grew comfortingly tighter “I’m fine,” he whispers sensually in my ear, resting his head on my shoulder as he peppers my skin with light kisses. “Don’t cry.” he cooed, his voice heavy with remorse and I did the exact opposite, biting down on my lower lip as I sobbed in pure relief. My shoulders quake as I burst into tears, drop