Ava Bennett had imagined this moment a thousand times.
She had imagined Ethan waiting for her at the altar.
She had imagined the smile on his face when he saw her walking toward him.
She had imagined their first kiss as husband and wife.
She had imagined everything.
Except this.
The church doors had been open for almost twenty minutes, and Ethan Carter was nowhere to be seen.
Ava stood beneath an enormous arrangement of white roses, her fingers wrapped tightly around her bouquet.
Her wedding dress was heavy.
The diamond necklace around her throat felt even heavier.
She glanced toward the entrance again.
Nothing.
Only the nervous whispers of hundreds of guests.
"Where is the groom?"
"Did something happen?"
"Maybe there's an emergency."
Ava tried to ignore them.
Ethan would come.
He had promised.
Three years ago, he had taken her hand beside the lake where they first met and told her, "Ava, I'll marry you one day."
Today was supposed to be that day.
She checked her phone.
No messages.
She called him.
Straight to voicemail.
Her stomach tightened.
"Ethan..."
Her voice was barely audible.
Then the church doors opened.
Ava's heart jumped.
But the person who entered wasn't Ethan.
It was Sophia.
Her stepsister.
Ava stared at her.
Sophia was wearing a wedding dress.
Not a simple dress.
Not a bridesmaid's dress.
A wedding gown.
Ava's breath caught in her throat.
Sophia walked slowly down the aisle.
And beside her was Ethan.
The bouquet fell from Ava's hands.
White roses scattered across the marble floor.
"Ethan?"
He stopped.
His face was pale.
Sophia held his arm.
Ava looked from one to the other.
"What is this?"
Nobody answered.
She laughed nervously.
"This isn't funny."
Ethan finally spoke.
"Ava, I'm sorry."
Her smile disappeared.
"Sorry?"
He lowered his eyes.
"I never wanted you to find out like this."
Ava felt the room spinning.
"Find out what?"
Sophia stepped forward.
"Ethan and I are together."
Ava stared at her.
"How long?"
Silence.
"How long, Sophia?"
"Six months."
The words hit harder than a slap.
Six months.
For six months, Ava had been planning a wedding.
For six months, Sophia had stood beside her while secretly dating her fiancé.
For six months, Ethan had kissed Ava goodnight while loving someone else.
Ava looked at Ethan.
"Is it true?"
He nodded.
"I'm sorry."
Ava's eyes burned.
"Did you ever love me?"
Ethan hesitated.
That hesitation was worse than the answer.
Ava swallowed.
"You could have told me."
"I was afraid."
"Afraid of what?"
"Hurting you."
A bitter laugh escaped her.
"You waited until our wedding day to hurt me."
The guests were silent.
Ava's father stood near the front row.
"Father?"
Richard Bennett looked away.
That was when Ava understood.
He had known.
Maybe not everything.
But enough.
Her own family had known.
She looked at Sophia.
"You planned this."
Sophia's expression didn't change.
"Ethan chose me."
Ava felt something inside her break.
She bent down and picked up one of the roses.
Its white petals were already crushed beneath someone's shoe.
"Congratulations," she whispered.
Ethan stepped toward her.
"Ava—"
"Don't."
She raised her hand.
"Don't say my name."
She turned away.
Every person in the church was watching.
She could feel their eyes.
Their pity.
Their curiosity.
Their judgment.
Ava walked down the aisle alone.
When she reached the doors, she stopped.
She looked back once.
Ethan was still standing beside Sophia.
Then Ava walked outside.
The sunlight was painfully bright.
She made it to the steps before tears finally escaped.
She wiped them away.
"No."
She whispered.
"I won't cry for him."
A black car was parked across the street.
A man stood beside it.
Tall.
Immaculately dressed.
His expression was cold enough to make the air around him feel different.
Ava recognized him immediately.
Adrian Blackwood.
Everyone in the city knew his name.
Billionaire.
CEO.
The man who had built Blackwood International into an empire before turning thirty.
He looked directly at her.
Then he walked toward her.
Ava frowned.
"Can I help you?"
Adrian stopped a few feet away.
"I believe I can help you."
Ava almost laughed.
"Unless you can turn back time, I don't think anyone can."
"I can't."
He reached inside his jacket.
"But I can give you another option."
He handed her a black envelope.
Ava didn't take it.
"What is that?"
"A marriage proposal."
She stared at him.
"Excuse me?"
Adrian's expression remained completely serious.
"If you still need a husband, I can become one."
Ava thought she had lost her mind.
"You're insane."
"Possibly."
He held out the envelope again.
"But I'm serious."
After a long silence, Ava took it.
Inside was a contract.
One year.
One million dollars.
Separate bedrooms.
No questions about business.
No interference in personal affairs.
And one final condition.
Neither party could terminate the marriage before twelve months had passed.
Ava looked up.
"Why me?"
Adrian's eyes darkened.
"Because you need a husband."
He paused.
"And I need a wife."
Ava didn't know it yet.
But Adrian Blackwood hadn't come to rescue her.
He had come for revenge.
And she had just become his replacement bride.
