Chapter 1On my wedding day, I watched my half-sister hand me a drugged smoothie—and I drank it anyway.
Watched her slip into MY wedding dress, climb into MY fiancé Declan Cross's car, ready to steal MY life.
Last time? I fought back, tore off her innocent act, got her exiled from Boston in disgrace.
And me? I married Declan anyway, used my father's military power to make him KING.
Yet he let me die in the delivery room while holding my sister and their baby:
"Harper, I only married you for your family's power. After what you did to Briar? Should've killed you years ago. But since your dad's done—guess so are you."
Briar ground her heel into my fingers, grinning: "Everything you had? Me and the baby are gonna enjoy all of it. And being Mrs. Cross? That's mine now."
I died drowning in betrayal and agony, gasping my last breath.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back on my wedding day.
But this time? I'm done playing their game.
Want my fiancé? KEEP him.
Want my empire? I'll BURY you in it.
---
The wedding march was playing somewhere outside.
I sat up. Waited maybe fifteen minutes. Then stumbled out, rubbing my head like it was killing me.
Mom was about to go back inside, mascara smudged from crying.
She looked up and straight-up screamed when she saw me.
Dad heard and spun around. "Harper? But you just left in the car—"
He pointed at the driveway, totally confused. "Then who the hell did we just send off?"
I pressed my hand to my chest, face full of confusion. "What? Briar said she'd miss me last night. Made me this smoothie thing. After I drank it, I just... passed out. Just woke up..."
The whole cheerful vibe just died. Guests started whispering, giving each other looks.
Mom swayed, face going white. "Someone bring Ruth out here. NOW!"
The security guys dragged Ruth out from the crowd. She had a suitcase—dead giveaway she was trying to run.
"Oh, so THAT'S why you were crying like crazy. Thought you actually cared about Harper. Nope—you just made sure YOUR girl got in that car."
Ruth's eyes darted around, but she kept her voice steady. "Ma'am, what are you talking about? Harper just overslept. How's that Briar's fault?"
Our butler rushed over, voice low. "Sir, ma'am—the Sawyer family's here. For Miss Briar."
Mom's face could've frozen hell over. "Which car did Briar get into? Get her back here. Right now!"
I almost laughed.
Half an hour had passed. She was probably already at Declan's penthouse in Back Bay.
And Declan? He was probably already fucking her.
I caught Ruth trying not to smirk. Yeah, I knew exactly what was going on.
These two planned this whole thing.
Years ago, Ruth was planted by Dad's enemies. Drugged him, got pregnant with Briar. Dad had to bring them home—couldn't let that scandal blow up.
Now Briar was doing the same thing to me—drugged me and stole my spot.
Even if I'd woken up in time, wouldn't have mattered. They'd already be in bed together. Married by then.
I had two choices: eat this humiliation, or take Briar's place and marry Jaxon Sawyer instead.
The Sawyers weren't as powerful, but Jax had earned his spot as one of Dad's top officers through pure hard work.
Dad respected that he was solid, honest—that's why he'd approved this match.
But Briar just swapped our futures like it was nothing.
If I went along with this, by tonight everyone in Boston would know—Harper Brennan got dumped by the Crosses and had to settle for the Sawyers.
Then I'd be the biggest joke in Boston.
Last time, Briar pulled this off because Declan backed her. Stole my whole wedding.
Dad and Mom had my back then. We crashed Declan's ceremony at his estate in Beacon Hill.
Declan was scared of Dad's military power. Acted like he had no clue about the switch. Let Dad's guys drag Briar away without saying a word.
So I married him instead. After the wedding, Declan treated me like a queen.
I actually thought he'd been played too. Had no idea he and Briar had been hooking up all along.
He was just waiting—using my family to build his empire, then destroying us all.
Chapter 2
Right then, the butler came back fast. "Sir, Miss Briar's not in her room. The Sawyer wedding dress is still on the bed, but all her stuff and documents are gone!"
He handed over a sealed envelope. "Found this hidden in her vanity."
Dad ripped it open.
Love letters—dozens of them, all in Declan's handwriting. Expensive jewelry.
His jaw clenched so hard I could see it. He threw the envelope right in Ruth's face.
"Your daughter's been screwing her sister's fiancé! You've made us the biggest goddamn joke in Boston!"
I'd found those letters the second I woke up this time. Made sure everyone would see them.
I wanted everyone to know they'd been sneaking around.
Sure enough, everyone started talking shit:
"A mistress's bastard—the Brennans took her in, and THIS is how she pays them back? Drugs her sister, steals her wedding? She's asking to get killed."
"Declan's no better. Engaged to Harper but fucking the side piece? Guy's absolute trash."
Ruth saw the time, figured the marriage being done already. Actually stood up straighter:
"Sir, Briar's still your daughter! Just let her keep him. Makes everything easier with the Crosses..."
Mom went white with rage. Slapped her so hard Ruth's head snapped back.
"LET HER KEEP HIM? You DRUGGED my daughter! STOLE her wedding! And you think I'm just gonna say okay?"
"Someone get security. I want her arrested. Right now."
Ruth hit the floor, screaming:
"You can't—I'm Declan's MOTHER-IN-LAW now! When he hears about this, you're all DEAD! You hear me? DEAD!"
Dad's voice went dead calm:
"I only have one daughter. Harper. You two? I let you stay here because I felt sorry for you. You go after my daughter? You're done. We're done."
He nodded at security. They dragged Ruth out while she was still screaming.
The butler looked uncomfortable. "Sir, the Sawyers are still outside. They're asking when they can come in."
Dad's face was like stone. "Get everyone. We're going to the Crosses. Gonna drag that little bitch back here and make her marry into the Sawyers like she was supposed to!"
"Dad, don't."
I stepped up, grabbed his arm. "If Declan wants Briar that bad, he can have her. I don't want a guy who's that easy to play."
I looked him right in the eye. "You picked Jax Sawyer yourself. He's good at his job, loyal, earned everything on his own. If we back out now because of this mess, what does that do to him and his family? So I'll marry him."
Mom grabbed my hand, shocked. "Harper, you can't be serious—"
"I'm not just saying this, Mom." I squeezed back. "Jax got where he is through hard work. He's got a real future. I trust Dad's judgment. And I trust Jax."
The guests started nodding, murmuring approval.
"Miss Brennan has so much class!"
"Makes that scheming little bitch look even worse."
Mom pulled me into a hug, voice breaking. "This isn't fair to you..."
Dad took a deep breath. "Declan crossed my daughter. He's done. I'm cutting him off—no more protection, no more favors. Nothing."
Dad's jaw clenched. "Those shady businesses he runs? I've been keeping the heat off him for years. That's over. He's on his own now."
"But I'm going there first. He needs to learn something—you come after my family, you answer to me. That's how this works."
When we got to the Cross estate in Beacon Hill, the reception was going strong.
Guests froze when they saw us come in. Started whispering immediately.
"Isn't that Harper Brennan? The bride? Why's she here?"
"Then who was that girl who just did the vows with Declan?"
One of my uncles sneered. "That was just the bastard daughter. Used dirty tricks to steal her sister's wedding!"
The whispers turned into straight-up gossip.
The noise finally brought Declan downstairs. He saw me and immediately started in: "Harper, come on. You're really doing this? This isn't all Briar's fault!"
"You two had weddings on the same day—she just got confused, took the wrong car. And I—" he paused, zero guilt on his face.
"I'd been drinking. Things got out of hand. Thought she was you." He didn't even look sorry. "But I slept with her, so I gotta marry her now."
Then he had the nerve to look at me like he was being generous. "But don't worry—I'm not cutting you off. You can be my mistress."
Chapter 3
I almost wanted to clap for his nerve.
His mistress?
What the hell did he think he was?
Without my family protecting him, his shady businesses would've been shut down years ago. And he thought he could talk to me like this?
Did he seriously think a General's daughter would be his side piece?
Dad actually laughed, he was so pissed. "Declan, say that again. You want my daughter as your mistress? Who the hell do you think you are? You forget who's been covering for you all this time?"
Old Mr. Cross rushed out. "What's all this about—"
He saw me and froze. "Harper? What are you doing here?"
Mom threw the letters at his feet.
"Mr. Cross, look at these! Your son's been sleeping with that mistress's daughter behind our backs. They drugged my daughter and stole her wedding. Today you're gonna give us some answers!"
Old Mr. Cross's face went purple. He grabbed his cane and whacked it across Declan's back. "You piece of shit! What the hell happened?"
Before Declan could say anything, Briar came running out in some half-buttoned nightgown, threw herself in front of him, crying:
"Mr. Cross, this isn't Declan's fault! It's all mine, I couldn't help myself—if you're gonna hit someone, hit me!"
Then she turned to Dad, tears everywhere. "Dad, come on—you can't let this blow up. You're a General. Your whole career—if people find out, you're done. We're all done. Think about—"
"WHAT?"
Mom's voice cracked. "You wanna talk about reputation? You DRUGGED Harper! You STOLE her wedding! And now you're here acting like WE'RE the problem? Fuck you! You've got some fucking nerve!"
I stepped forward. "Briar, if you'd just told me, I might've stepped aside. Why'd you have to do it this way—on my wedding day? Did you want to embarrass me, or did you want to embarrass the whole Brennans?"
She went pale, caught. "Declan and I are really in love..." She looked at him desperately.
Everyone could see exactly what was going on. People started talking:
"Like mother, like daughter! Her mom used these tricks to trap a guy, now the daughter's doing the same."
"If this were my daughter, I'd disown her on the spot!"
Someone called out to Old Mr. Cross:
"Mr. Cross, your son pulled this. If you don't handle it right, this is gonna blow up bad."
Old Mr. Cross looked humiliated. He dropped his cane and slapped Declan twice, hard.
"You worthless piece of garbage. Apologize to your in-laws and Harper. Then we're doing this right—you're marrying Harper like you were supposed to."
Declan took the hits, then looked at me with pure hate. Same look he had when I died last time.
In his head, I was the bad guy here. Not him.
He laughed, bitter. "Dad, I love Briar. Harper's too uptight, too cold. Can't stand being around her. I'm not marrying her!"
"If she wants to stick around on the side, maybe I'll take her out sometimes. But wife? Never. And I'm saying this right now—I'm not giving her that. Let's see who else in Boston wants a girl I threw away."
Even the guests looked shocked.
Nobody could figure out where this guy got his attitude. He only stayed in business because MY family had his back.
Old Mr. Cross had stepped down years ago. Since then, Declan got bolder, even started stealing from rival operations. Made tons of enemies.
I'd begged Dad to save him over and over because I used to care.
Declan had even gotten on his knees in front of my dad once, swearing he'd never betray me.
But now? Now that he had a little power, a little rep? He was spitting on everything we'd done for him.
He thought my silence meant I was scared. Got even cockier:
"If you really can't let go, I'll keep you. You can be my mistress. My side piece. That's how this works."
"Be nice to Briar since she's the real wife. Keep your mouth shut, don't cause drama, and if you're really good... maybe I'll get you pregnant someday."
The whole room exploded. Even Declan's own relatives looked disgusted.
Dad went dead still. When he finally spoke, his voice was ice:
"Mr. Cross thinks pretty highly of himself. My family's not good enough for that kind of 'generosity.' My daughter sure as hell doesn't need to be anyone's mistress."
He stared at Briar.
"This girl? Dead to me. Right now—Briar is nobody. Not a Brennan. Whatever she does, whatever happens to her—that's on the Cross family now. You wanted her? She's yours. Your problem."
