Chapter 1

I had been with my childhood sweetheart Dante for eight years.

We were finally going to get married.

But the night before the wedding, I accidentally overheard him talking to his unerboss, David.

“Tomorrow, once we leave the house, don’t go to the church. Drive the wedding car straight to Sinclair Manor.”

“Sinclair Manor?”

Dante’s voice was low.“Serena’s family went bankrupt. They owe the Sinclair family tens of millions. Her father wants to marry her off to repay the debt… to that old Sinclair godfather.”

" I can't watch her life get destroyed. Bella will have to take her place.”

David froze.“Boss… so you won’t ruin Serena… but you’re fine ruining Bella?”

Dante answered calmly.“The Sinclair godfather is ninety. He’s already dying.”

“After a couple of years, once he’s gone, I don’t care Bella’s been married before. I’ll still marry her.”

David hesitated.“But do you really think Bella will go along with it?”

Dante thought for a moment.“Tomorrow, my mother will put something in the champagne Bella drinks before she leaves.”

“When she wakes up… she’ll already be in the Sinclair godfather’s bed.”

“It’ll be done. She won’t have a choice.”

I heard everything. I didn’t cry. I didn’t make a sound.

I just turned around and went back to my room and waited for the wedding that would never really be mine.

When Dante found me again, trying to win me back, I was already five months pregnant.

Just like he once said, the deal was already sealed.

Now he was the one with no choice left.

******

The next morning, makeup artists and bridesmaids arrived early at the Moretti Mansion.

Serena came too.

The moment she saw me in my wedding dress, her eyes turned red.

“Bella… I’m so jealous. You get to marry someone you love. You’re so lucky.”

“Not like me. My father is forcing me to marry a ninety-year-old man to pay off debts.”

She wiped her tears, then glanced at Dante.“But luckily… someone secretly took me to city hall yesterday. I’m already legally married. The old man can’t marry me even if he wants to now.”

I froze. I thought being forced into a substitute marriage was already bad enough.

I didn’t expect Dante had already registered marriage with her.

My best friend Clara leaned in and whispered,“Why is she even here today? This is your wedding.”

“And she’s crying on purpose. Is she trying to curse you or something?”

“It’s fine,” I said quietly, patting her hand.

Because this was never really my wedding anyway.

Dante was just acting normal… to get me into the car and carry out his plan.

Dante walked into the makeup room and glanced at me.

“Almost done. Let’s go. Don’t be late.”

He didn’t even really look at me.

But when he passed Serena, he stopped to fix her coat collar.

Then his eyes landed on my necklace.

An emerald necklace.

Only the godmother of the Moretti family could wear it.

“Bella, Serena isn’t wearing any jewelry today. She looks too plain.”

“Let her borrow your necklace for the day.”

Clara immediately snapped.“Dante, that’s Bella’s necklace!”

Dante frowned slightly.“It’s just a necklace. What’s the difference?”

“This isn’t just—”

“Clara,” I cut her off. “Let her have it.”

Serena was the daughter of the Romano godfather.

For two years, Dante always used that as an excuse.

“Don’t offend the Romano family.”

So I gave in again and again. My work. My pets. My clothes. My jewelry.

And now… even my husband.

Eight years, and in the end, it was all a carefully planned lie.