Chapter 1"Harper's an orphan—so tomorrow YOU'RE picking her up, but don't take her to the wedding. Take her straight to the Harringtons."
The night before my wedding, I caught my fiancé Trent talking to his buddy:
"Celia's family's broke. They owe the Harringtons millions. Her parents are literally gonna sell her to some old dude to pay it off."
"I can't just sit there and watch her get screwed over. So Harper's taking her spot."
His buddy sounded stunned:
"Wait—isn't that guy like ninety? Dude, you can't be serious—"
"Chill. He's not gonna make it much longer. When he kicks it, I don't care if Harper's technically a widow. I'll still marry her."
"But like... you think Harper's just gonna roll with this??"
Trent sighed:
"The Harrington estate? You can't just waltz in and out. Once she's in there, that's it. Game over. No way out."
I stood there and listened to every word.
Didn't scream. Didn't cry.
Just went back to my room and waited for tomorrow.
But later, when Trent showed up begging to get back together, I was five months pregnant:
"Like you said—game over. No way out."
...
9 PM.
The rehearsal dinner was already running an hour late.
Trent finally rolled up with his crew, Celia tagging along behind him.
The second she saw me standing at the altar in my dress, the tears started.
"Harper, oh my god, I'm so jealous! You get to marry the guy you love. You're so freaking lucky!"
"Not like me—my parents are literally selling me off to some ninety-year-old guy just to pay their debts."
"But thank god," she dabbed at her eyes, shooting Trent this loaded look, "someone secretly got me a marriage license today. So that old creep can't have me now."
Hearing that smug tone, I went completely still.
I thought the bride swap was gonna be the worst part.
Turns out Trent had already made it legal with her.
My best friend Quinn—tomorrow's maid of honor—didn't know the full story yet, but she'd definitely heard about Celia's "legendary bullshit."
She leaned in and hissed: "What's SHE even doing here?"
"And the fake crying? Is she seriously trying to curse your wedding or what?"
"It's okay." I patted Quinn's hand.
Tomorrow's wedding wasn't happening anyway.
This whole thing was just an act—one big performance for tomorrow's bait-and-switch.
The officiant looked at me with this awkward smile:
"Miss Reid, since the groom's here now, should we go ahead and start the rehearsal?"
But Trent's brow furrowed slightly.
"It's getting late. Harper's been running around all day—she's gotta be exhausted."
"Let's just skip the run-through. You can walk us through it, yeah?"
The officiant glanced between him and me, but before he could say anything, Celia's eyes lit up.
She practically skipped over to Trent, batting her lashes:
"Oh! I know—how about I stand in for Harper?"
"That way she won't be tired. What do you think?"
Trent didn't even glance my way. "Perfect. Let's do that."
"That fucking bitch—" Quinn started rolling up her sleeves, ready to fight.
I caught her arm smoothly. Whispered:
"Not yet. I'll explain everything."
I pulled her down from the platform into the front row, then nodded at the officiant:
"Let's go with what my fiancé said."
Quinn was fuming but sat down, teeth clenched.
The music started—our song.
The one Trent and I had picked when we first got together.
"Made for Each Other"
When I was twelve, my parents died in a car crash.
The shock sent me into hiding—I disappeared into the woods behind our house for three whole days.
No food. No water.
Trent was the one who found me.
He carried my half-dead body home on his back.
Then held my bony hand and promised:
"Harper, from now on my home is your home. My parents are your parents."
"Don't be scared. I'm here. I'll always protect you."
So when we fell in love years later, I genuinely believed fate brought us together.
That destiny tangled us up.
That we were made for each other.
Then Celia showed up.
And everything started falling apart...
Celia was Trent's boss's daughter.
For the past two years, Trent kept using the same excuse: "Can't piss off the boss's daughter."
So I had to give way to her. Over and over.
My work projects—handed to her.
My cat—given to her.
Clothes and jewelry I loved—all hers.
And what'd she do with them?
Took my proposals, presented them as her own, got promoted, then stuck me with the nastiest grunt work.
Said she'd take care of my cat while I was away, then went on a ten-day vacation and left it to die of dehydration on her balcony.
The clothes and jewelry Trent bought me?
Once they were in her hands, she'd rip them to shreds, smash them to pieces—anything to make sure they'd never come back to me.
And now that same person was linking arms with Trent, walking toward the altar to our song.
Be lying if I said it didn't hurt.
My heart was already shattered into a million pieces on the floor.
I just didn't have the energy to pick them up anymore.
Chapter 2
Quinn's grip on my hand got tighter and tighter, yanking me back from memory lane.
I turned to look at her.
Her eyes were red. Mine probably were too.
"Quinn, tomorrow... he's NOT marrying me anymore..."
"I'm taking Celia's place. Marrying into the Harrington family."
Her eyes went huge.
Her mouth opened like she was about to say something, but I gently shook my head:
"The Morrisons raised me for twelve years. I'm treating this like payback. After this, we're even. Done."
Quinn glared viciously at the two people on the altar—holding hands, facing each other, about to say their vows.
Then she turned back to me, eyes full of grief:
"Harper... is this even worth it?"
"I, Trent Morrison, take you, Celia Lawson, to be my lawfully wedded wife."
"I will love you, comfort you, honor you, and protect you—"
Ha. He said Celia's name.
Guess he actually meant every word this time.
I forced a small smile at Quinn:
"Worth it? Doesn't matter anymore."
"As long as I can get away from Trent—completely, finally get away—I'll do anything."
"I do! For better or worse, in sickness and in health, from this day forward, till death do us part, I will cherish you forever—Trent Morrison!"
The officiant—probably the first time he'd ever seen something like this—just froze, totally blanked on what to do next.
Quinn scowled and snapped at him:
"Well? Tell the groom to kiss the bride! What're you waiting for?"
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. The groom may—"
Before he could finish, Trent was already kissing her.
Intense. Passionate.
Absolutely revolting.
The officiant looked over at me, mopping his forehead with a handkerchief:
"Um... Miss Reid..."
Suddenly Trent jerked back and spun around.
"Harper! Don't get the wrong idea... I just got too into it. I thought it was you..."
I smiled faintly.
"It's fine."
But the second half I only said to myself—
You're betraying me. Making me take her place.
But as long as we're done for good, I can accept anything.
Everything's fine.
The rehearsal ended in this thick cloud of awkwardness.
Even the officiant let out this huge breath of relief when he left.
Outside, Trent opened the passenger door for Celia, even leaning in to buckle her seatbelt himself.
Only then did he turn around to say goodbye to me:
"Get some good rest tonight. Ethan's picking you up tomorrow."
"Okay."
I smiled and waved, still playing the clueless bride-to-be excitedly waiting for her big day.
Later that night, I tossed and turned, couldn't sleep.
Around midnight, Quinn texted me:
[I'm home. You absolutely sure you're gonna be okay tomorrow alone? I'm seriously freaking out here.]
Quinn wasn't coming to the wedding anymore—I'd told her not to.
After the rehearsal, she wanted to come stay with me.
But knowing what was coming tomorrow, I really didn't want her getting dragged into this mess.
So I kept reassuring her I'd be fine, then watched her get in a cab.
Thinking about that, I texted back:
[Relax. If anything crazy happens, you're my first call, okay? You BETTER come save me! That's an order, boss!]
Half-joking like that finally got her to ease up a bit.
[You're such a dumbass! Fine, I'll wait for your text. Get some sleep, it's late. Night.]
[Night.]
Chapter 3
The next morning, I walked out in my wedding dress.
All by myself.
Ethan's car was already waiting outside.
When he saw me, his expression looked... off. Uncomfortable.
I knew he felt guilty.
But he was just a loyal guy following orders.
Trent's family was Ethan's family's biggest client—basically their entire livelihood.
If Ethan didn't do what Trent said, the consequences would be brutal.
"Harper, you look gorgeous."
"Thanks."
I nodded and slid into the backseat.
The car started moving.
Outside the window, scenery flew backward.
After passing two intersections, the car started heading in the opposite direction from the hotel.
Ethan kept nervously checking me in the rearview mirror. I pretended not to notice and picked up my phone.
Ding.
A message came through.
From Celia.
[Harper! Trent just gave me this amazing present! He said if I wear it to the wedding, I'll look absolutely stunning~ Don't you think it's gorgeous?]
I stared at the emerald jade bracelet in the photo, and my whole body went cold.
That bracelet was my mom's—the only thing she left me.
Passed down from my great-grandmother.
Back then I was too young, so Mrs. Morrison had kept it safe for me.
They'd promised—sworn—they'd give it back on my wedding day.
How could he just hand it over to Celia like that?
My hands shaking, I called Trent.
"Trent." I steadied myself, voice ice-cold:
"How DARE you give my mother's bracelet to Celia? That's MINE!"
"Come on, it's just a bracelet."
On the other end, Trent sounded totally casual:
"Celia liked it, so just let her have it. Whatever bracelet you want, I can buy you later—"
"She likes it, so I have to give her everything?!"
"The rehearsal. The bracelet. My husband. And now... I have to take her place marrying some old man?!"
Trent went silent.
Then: "Wait... you already know?"
After a brief silence, he tried reasoning with me:
"Harper, look, that old Harrington guy is ninety. He can't even function anymore. He's not gonna do anything to you. This whole marriage thing is just for show."
"Celia saved my life. She's so young. I can't just stand by and watch her life get destroyed."
Saved his life?
"Harper, I only got that license with Celia to keep her parents from selling her off to pay their debts."
"Once her family's mess blows over, once the old guy dies, I'll bring you home. We can make everything go back to how it was. Trust me, okay?"
"I DON'T NEED YOU TO!!"
I couldn't hold back the rage anymore. I screamed:
"Trent, I want my mother's bracelet back. Give me back what's MINE—"
Before I could finish, Trent hung up.
Listening to that dead dial tone, my heart hit rock bottom.
Right at that moment, a semi-truck ahead suddenly flipped, triggering a massive chain reaction pileup.
Ethan was so desperate to get me to the Harringtons, to get this whole thing over with, that he couldn't brake in time.
We slammed straight into the car ahead of us.
Next second—BANG!
Another car crashed into us from behind.
Our car was instantly crushed between two vehicles.
Because Ethan had instinctively jerked the steering wheel, his driver's side door wasn't completely mangled.
But I was pinned in the backseat, completely unable to move.
He jumped out of the car, desperately yanking at the twisted door, but it was useless.
BOOM!
Another massive explosion—the overturned truck suddenly burst into flames, only three cars away from us.
Ethan totally panicked, clutching his head.
Run? I was still trapped in the car—a living, breathing person.
Stay? The fire was huge, spreading fast. Soon he'd be dead too.
"I'LL GO GET HELP!!"
Like he'd made some kind of decision, he turned and sprinted toward the back of the pileup.
Watching people scatter and run through the window, hearing the ear-piercing screams and crying.
I suddenly went... calm.
It's okay.
As long as I can finally, completely get away from Trent.
Everything's okay...
