Sophia Carter stared at herself in the mirror, barely recognizing the woman reflected back at her.
The white wedding gown fit perfectly, its long train spread across the marble floor like a pool of snow. Diamonds glittered at her ears and around her neck. Her dark-brown hair was swept into an elegant style, leaving a few soft strands framing her face.
She was supposed to be the happiest woman in the world.
Instead, her heart felt strangely heavy.
“Sophia!”
Her mother's voice came from outside the dressing room.
“Are you ready? The ceremony is about to begin.”
Sophia took a slow breath and forced a smile.
“Yes, Mom. I'm ready.”
She wasn't.
Not really.
But after months of planning, hundreds of guests had gathered, and both the Carter and Bennett families were waiting for her.
Most importantly, Ethan was waiting for her.
Ethan Bennett.
Her fiancé.
The man she had loved for three years.
Sophia touched the diamond ring on her finger.
Everything was supposed to change today.
She was going to become Mrs. Bennett.
She opened the door.
Her mother immediately smiled with relief.
“Oh, sweetheart. You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
Her mother hugged her tightly.
Sophia closed her eyes.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
Then her phone vibrated.
She glanced down.
A message from Ethan.
**Don't come to the ceremony yet. We need to talk.**
Sophia frowned.
Her fingers moved quickly across the screen.
**What happened?**
No reply.
She waited.
One minute.
Then another.
Nothing.
A strange feeling settled in her chest.
“What's wrong?” her mother asked.
“Nothing.”
Sophia slipped the phone into her purse.
“Let's go.”
The wedding hall was magnificent.
Crystal chandeliers illuminated hundreds of guests. Soft music filled the air as everyone turned toward the entrance.
Sophia walked slowly down the aisle.
She searched for Ethan.
He wasn't standing at the altar.
Her smile disappeared.
Whispers immediately spread through the hall.
“Where is the groom?”
“Has anyone seen Ethan?”
Sophia's heart began pounding.
She reached the altar alone.
Five minutes passed.
Then ten.
Still nothing.
Her father looked furious.
Her mother looked terrified.
Sophia pulled out her phone and called Ethan.
Straight to voicemail.
She called again.
Nothing.
Then the giant screen behind the altar suddenly lit up.
A video began playing.
Sophia froze.
It showed Ethan.
And Victoria.
Sophia's stepsister.
They were in a hotel room.
Together.
Very together.
The hall became completely silent.
Sophia couldn't breathe.
“No…”
Her fingers trembled.
The video continued.
Ethan was kissing Victoria.
Victoria was smiling against his chest.
Sophia stared at the screen as if watching someone else's life fall apart.
Then a familiar voice came from behind her.
“Sophia.”
She turned.
Victoria was standing at the entrance.
She wasn't wearing her bridesmaid dress anymore.
She was wearing a stunning white gown.
Almost identical to Sophia's.
Beside her stood Ethan.
Sophia's eyes widened.
“What is this?”
Ethan looked uncomfortable for only a moment.
Then his expression hardened.
“Sophia, I'm sorry.”
“Sorry?”
Her voice cracked.
“You're sorry?”
Victoria stepped closer.
“Don't make this harder than it has to be.”
Sophia stared at her.
“You're my sister.”
Victoria smiled faintly.
“And Ethan was never really yours.”
The words struck harder than any slap.
Sophia looked at Ethan.
“Is that true?”
He remained silent.
That silence was her answer.
Tears filled her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.
“You could have told me before today.”
Ethan lowered his gaze.
“I didn't want to ruin the wedding.”
Sophia laughed bitterly.
“You didn't want to ruin the wedding?”
She looked around at the guests.
“At least you succeeded in ruining my life.”
Her father stepped forward angrily.
“This wedding is over.”
But before anyone could say another word, the doors of the hall opened.
Every conversation stopped.
A tall man walked inside.
Black suit.
Cold expression.
Sharp dark eyes.
The atmosphere seemed to change the moment he entered.
Sophia knew him immediately.
Damien Blackwood.
The billionaire CEO.
The Blackwood family's greatest heir.
And the man her family had hated for years.
Damien slowly walked toward her.
His eyes remained fixed on Sophia.
He stopped in front of her.
“You look like you need a husband.”
Sophia stared at him in disbelief.
“What?”
Damien's expression didn't change.
“Marry me.”
The entire hall erupted in whispers.
Sophia thought she had heard him wrong.
“You're insane.”
“Perhaps.”
His voice was calm.
“But I'm offering you something your former fiancé never could.”
“What?”
Damien leaned slightly closer.
“Power.”
Sophia's breathing stopped.
His dark eyes held hers.
“Marry me, Sophia Carter,” he said quietly. “And I will give you everything you need to destroy everyone who betrayed you.”
For the first time that day, Sophia stopped crying.
She looked at Ethan.
Then Victoria.
Then back at Damien.
Her broken heart slowly hardened.
“What's the catch?”
A faint, dangerous smile appeared on Damien's lips.
“Our marriage will be a contract.”
Sophia's eyes narrowed.
“And when the contract ends?”
Damien held her gaze.
“We walk away.”
Sophia looked toward the two people who had destroyed her wedding.
Then she looked at the man her family had spent years warning her never to trust.
Her fingers slowly curled into a fist.
“Fine.”
Damien raised an eyebrow.
Sophia lifted her chin.
“I'll marry you.”
