Theater: NovelMaster | Language: English
Synopsis
I chased Julian Vance for three years before he finally agreed to marry me, the long-lost true daughter of the Sterling family.
Yet on our wedding day, right outside the dressing room door, I overheard Julian making a deal with my parents:
"When it's time for the wedding toast, spike Avery's glass. Send her straight to Damian Pierce's bed tonight."
"One month in his bed in exchange for a three-hundred-million-dollar investment from the Pierce family."
My mother hesitated. "Damian is an ex-con. He has a cruel streak and loves torturing people. Avery might not survive it."
Julian frowned.
"Damian specifically demanded a daughter of the Sterling family. If Avery doesn't take the fall, Chloe will have to. Do you really have the heart to send Chloe to that monster?"
"A woman ruined by an ex-con... Fine. Once it's over, I'll still marry her."
Hearing that, my parents stopped protesting and agreed to the deal.
I stood frozen outside the door, listening to every single word.
I didn't storm in. I didn't confront them. Instead, I drank that spiked glass without batting an eye, and let them ship me off to Damian Pierce.
A month later, Julian showed up at the Pierce mansion to pick me up.
His eyes flicked to the dark love bites scattered across my neck, a flash of disgust crossing his face, but he still offered:
"Come home with me. I won't hold your filth against you. I'll still marry you."
I blinked in surprise, then looked at him with an amused scoff.
"Didn't you get the invitation?"
"Damian and I are getting married next week."
I stood outside the lounge, silently listening to it all, a bitter laugh escaping my lips.
I pulled my hand back from the doorknob, turned around, and went to the adjoining suite to change out of my reception dress and into my bridal gown.
The moment I pushed the door open, I found Chloe already wearing my wedding dress.
Seeing me walk in, she twirled around smugly, showing off.
"Avery, didn't you say the custom gown Julian ordered for you was too big? Why does it fit me like a glove?"
"Do you think... this dress was actually made for me from the very start?"
My chest tightened as my eyes scanned her.
It was a flawless fit.
My heart sank like a stone into an icy abyss.
No wonder Julian insisted the gown was ready before I even had a chance to do my first fitting.
Later, even when it hung loose on me, I never mentioned having it altered, terrified of hurting his feelings.
Turns out, it was tailored for Chloe all along.
I stared at her, my voice dropping to a chill.
"Take it off. Today is my wedding."
Chloe shook her head, casually pointing at the bridesmaid dress she had just tossed onto the sofa.
"No way. Avery, I want to wear this one. Can't you just let me have it this once?"
"Why can't you just wear my bridesmaid dress instead?"
A wave of fury choked my lungs, leaving me speechless.
At what wedding does the bride wear a bridesmaid dress while the bridesmaid walks in the bridal gown?
I raised my voice.
"Chloe, take off my wedding dress right now!"
"Avery, why the hell are you yelling at Chloe?!"
The sharp reprimand cut through the room as Julian stormed in.
He glared at me, stepped forward, and shielded Chloe behind him. Frowning, he chided me:
"It's just a dress. If Chloe likes it, let her wear it."
"We're already getting married today. Why do you have to make such a big deal out of everything?"
My parents walked in right behind him, instantly chiming in.
"Exactly. If Chloe hadn't stepped aside and let you have him, who knows which one of you would be marrying Julian today?"
"Besides, you're the older sister. Can't you show some grace and compromise for once?"
One excuse after another, every single word pinning the blame on me.
As if I was the villain tormenting Chloe.
A cold smirk tugged at the corner of my lips.
Whatever. In their eyes, I was merely an object waiting to be sold off anyway.
What was the point of arguing over a dress?
"You're right. If Chloe loves it, she can keep it."
"Now, please get out. The ceremony is about to start, and I need to get dressed."
Only then did they finally leave.
Yet when I finished changing into the bridesmaid dress and walked toward the ballroom, Julian's assistant blocked the doorway.
Looking deeply uncomfortable, he stammered:
"Miss Sterling, I'm so sorry. Mr. Vance said it wouldn't look right for you to walk down the aisle in a bridesmaid dress. People would talk. So... he had Miss Chloe take your place for the processional."
"You can go inside when it's time for the vows."Listening to him, the sheer absurdity made me want to laugh.
I was too exhausted to fight back, so I simply stood there in silence.
Hotel staff and passing guests hurried past, murmuring in disbelief:
"What on earth is going on? The groom locked his bride outside and is walking down the aisle with the maid of honor?"
"Tsk, poor Miss Sterling. The biological daughter comes back, but her parents don't give a damn about her, and her groom treats her like dirt. It's so obvious Julian has something going on with Chloe. The side chick is practically rubbing it in her face."
"Julian never respected Avery anyway. Who knows why he's even marrying her? Rich men trade women and share dirty secrets all the time. He didn't want his precious Chloe to suffer, so he married Avery to take the fall."
...
Their whispers grew increasingly vile and venomous.
Yet hearing them, I couldn't even muster a spark of anger.
I was completely numb.
A burst of thunderous applause erupted from the ballroom. Only then did the assistant pull the heavy double doors open.
"You may enter now."
I walked toward the center of the stage.
Chloe hadn't stepped down. Dressed in full bridal white, she stood right beside Julian, making me look like an absolute joke.
The officiant proceeded with the ceremony, turning to Julian.
"Julian Vance, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, to love and to cherish, as long as you both shall live?"
Julian took my hand, but his burning, intense gaze remained fixed squarely on Chloe as he answered:
"I do."
The officiant then turned to me.
"Avery Sterling, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, to love and to cherish, as long as you both shall live?"
I parted my lips, but before a sound could escape my throat—
Chloe, standing right behind me, shouted at the top of her lungs:
"I do!"
The grand ballroom instantly plunged into a dead silence.
Julian, looking visibly touched, rushed to smooth things over for her.
"Avery's throat has been bothering her all morning. Her voice was too quiet, and she was afraid no one would hear."
"So Chloe answered on her behalf."
It was the flimsiest excuse imaginable, but the guests were seasoned socialites.
They cast pitiful glances in my direction, then broke into polite, deafening applause to celebrate the completion of our vows.
The ceremony wrapped up haphazardly, followed immediately by the reception toasts.
Julian glanced at his watch, his brow tightly furrowed. The Pierce family was clearly rushing him.
He didn't even give me time to change, dragging me straight onto the floor to toast the tables.
Normally, to protect the bride, her glass would be filled with low-alcohol wine or simply disguised with water.
But Julian was terrified I wouldn't be drunk enough.
The moment the server approached with the tray, the pungent, burning stench of hard liquor hit my nose.
It was straight, high-proof spirit.
Chloe eagerly stepped up behind me.
"As the maid of honor, it's my duty to cover for the bride!"
"Though with Julian here, he definitely wouldn't let me get drunk anyway!"
Julian stroked her hair affectionately, smiling softly.
"Of course. I'll always protect you."
When the toasts began, Chloe didn't take a single sip for me. Instead, she actively egged on the guests to pour more down my throat.
I tried to laugh it off and brush the glasses away.
Chloe pinched my jaw hard, forcing the rim against my lips and tilting it back.
"Drink, Avery! This is everyone's blessing for your marriage!"
"Quick, she finished it! Fill it back up!"
I couldn't fight her off.
Glass after glass burned down my throat, blurring my vision and setting my stomach ablaze with agonizing pain.
I couldn't bear it any longer.
I reached out and grabbed Julian's sleeve as he stood by coldly, begging under my breath:
"Julian, please... I can't drink anymore."
"Take a few glasses for me, please."Julian looked at my pale, sickly face. His eyes flickered with a brief flash of hesitation.
Just as his hand reached out toward my glass—
"Mr. Miller, I really can't drink another drop! I'm just the maid of honor, I could never match a man like you!"
"How about I let my sister drink it for me?"
A few feet away, Chloe's coy, high-pitched voice rang out.
She looked at Julian with wide, teary eyes, sending an unmistakable distress signal.
The tiny shred of hesitation on Julian's face vanished instantly. He yanked his arm from my desperate grip and shoved me straight toward the drunken Mr. Miller.
I instinctively waved my hands to refuse, but Chloe had already rushed over.
Repeating her trick, she clamped my jaw painfully tight and poured the scorching liquor straight down my throat.
My body rejected it.
The liquid splattered across my face, smearing my makeup and choking my lungs.
Tears and snot poured down as I violently coughed, gasping for air.
Every shred of my dignity as a bride was stripped away.
Watching my humiliation, Chloe doubled over with laughter.
She snatched another full glass from the server's tray, held it to my lips, and whispered viciously:
"Drink it, you bitch!"
"That's what you get for stealing Julian from me. I'm going to ruin you!"
My vision spun. Blindly, I reached out toward Julian.
Begging for a lifeline.
Yet through all of Chloe's blatant cruelty, Julian merely looked down at me and said coldly:
"Just drink it."
"Don't embarrass Chloe in front of everyone."
When that final glass was forced down, my legs gave out completely.
My heel caught on the hem of the dress, and I stumbled backward, crashing heavily onto the floor.
Pain surged through every bone, the entire ballroom spinning around me.
A wave of mocking laughter rippled through the onlookers.
Julian checked his watch. The timing was right.
He shot my parents a discreet signal.
My mother finally ambled over, hoisting me up by my arms, and urged:
"Alright, Avery is completely wasted."
"Let's just have the couple share their ceremonial toast so we don't hold up the wedding night!"
My father stepped forward carrying a silver tray, nodding subtly at Julian.
On it were two glasses of dark red wine.
To hide any discoloration, they had deliberately chosen a deep, opaque vintage.
It was the gentlest Julian had ever been with me.
He took me from my mother's arms, slid a glass into my trembling fingers, linked his arm through mine, and coaxed softly:
"Avery, drink the toast with me."
"Once you finish this glass, we'll be husband and wife for real."
My heart was an empty graveyard. I lifted the glass, preparing to swallow whatever fate had in store.
Just as the rim brushed my lips—
A hand shot out from the side and violently snatched the glass away.
Chloe shoved her way in, pretending to be wasted, screaming theatrically:
"I'll take it for my sister!"
"This toast belongs to me!"
She threw her head back and gulped down the spiked wine in one breath.
Then, clinging tightly to Julian's arm, she shot me a venomous, triumphant sneer:
"Julian, we are the ones who belong together!"Julian and my parents stood frozen, completely dumbfounded.
None of them anticipated that Chloe would recklessly intercept that specific glass.
The drug took effect almost immediately.
Chloe's limbs went limp, her cheeks flushing bright crimson as she collapsed heavily into Julian's chest.
Forcing an awkward smile toward the crowd, Julian stammered:
"The sisters... they both drank too much. Forgive us, everyone."
"Mom, Dad, hold Chloe. I'll carry Avery. Let's take them to the lounge to sober up."
Inside the VIP suite, I lay sprawled on the leather couch.
Though dizzy, my mind was painfully sharp, and every word they traded pierced my ears.
My father paced anxiously.
"There was only one dose, and it's gone. Damian's men are already downstairs demanding the girl!"
"Should we just send Avery over like this?"
Julian's brow locked in a tight frown as he shook his head.
"No. Avery hasn't been sedated. If we send her clear-headed, she'll fight back."
"Damian is an ex-con with a vicious temper. If she claws at him or sets him off, being ruined won't be the worst thing that happens to her."
I suddenly spoke up.
"I won't fight."
They jumped, staring at me in sheer disbelief.
Julian choked on his words, his face pale.
"Avery... you're not drunk?"
"We were just discussing... uh..."
I pushed against the armrest and pulled myself upright.
I finished his sentence for him:
"Discussing how to deliver me to Damian Pierce's bed. One month of my body in exchange for a three-hundred-million-dollar investment."
Julian's face drained of all color.
"How do you know that?"
I gave a hollow laugh, lifting my chin to meet his eyes.
"Does it matter how I know?"
"Julian, I married you because I loved you. What did you take me for? A piece of meat you can pawn off for cash?"
Julian dropped his head, his voice laced with pathetic guilt:
"Avery, the joint merger between our families has reached a critical stage. We desperately need that funding."
"You just have to endure it for one month. In thirty days, I swear I'll come to the Pierce mansion and bring you home."
A bitter laugh tore from my throat, tears spilling down my cheeks.
"Endure? Why do I have to be the one to endure it?"
"What about Chloe?"
My gaze cut toward Julian, then toward my parents.
Without exception, every single one of them guiltily looked away.
After a heavy silence, Julian stepped forward and grabbed my cold hands, trying to justify himself:
"Chloe grew up delicate. She could never survive that kind of brutal torment."
"Trust me, Avery. No matter what Damian does to you, no matter how broken you become, I will still take you back."
My parents wiped away fake tears, chiming in:
"Good girl, just think of it as repaying us for giving you life."
"Yes, your father, Chloe, and I will be grateful to you for the rest of our lives!"
*Knock, knock, knock.*
The assistant tapped gently on the door, whispering:
"Mr. Vance, their car is waiting outside."
Hearing this, Julian stopped talking. Without caring whether I consented, he scooped me up into his arms, ignored my faint struggles, and shoved me into the sleek black sedan parked in the back alley.
Right before the door slammed shut, my hand locked onto his suit sleeve with desperate strength, my voice shaking:
"Julian Vance. If you hand me over to another man..."
"I will never, ever want you again."
Julian clearly took my threat as empty words. He scoffed dismissively:
"A woman used and abused by a criminal..."
"Besides me, who else would ever want you?"
With that, he ripped my fingers off his sleeve.
He looked at me one last time, offering a condescending pat on my arm.
"Be good, Avery. Wait for me. In thirty days, I'll come get you."
"And I will marry you."
A single tear fell onto the back of Julian's hand.
The car door slammed.
I was whisked away into the dark, toward the Pierce estate.
Julian stood alone on the pavement, staring at the wet droplet on his skin.
Belatedly, a strange, sharp pang tore through his chest.
An eerie, suffocating hollowness settled inside him.
He trudged back to the suite, where my parents had already moved Chloe to a bedroom upstairs.
My father slipped a keycard into Julian's palm with a knowing smile:
"Julian, Chloe drank the spiked wine. She's burning up and restless. Why don't you go up and take care of her?"
"You know how deeply she loves you."
Julian stared at the plastic card, but the only image flashing in his mind was my tear-drenched eyes.
A wave of nausea and shortness of breath hit him. He pushed the card back.
"No. I'm exhausted."
"Once the guests are gone, take Chloe home."
My parents exchanged confused glances, but said nothing.
Over the next month, Julian didn't sleep a single peaceful night.
Ever since the night he sent me away, nightmares haunted him.
He dreamed of me covered in horrific scars, weeping, begging him to save me, screaming why he could be so cruel.
Every spy he sent to dig up information vanished like stones dropped into the ocean. The Pierce estate was locked down like a fortress; not a single whisper leaked out.
Julian had no idea what was happening to me.
The terrifying unknown pushed him to the brink of madness.
His attitude toward Chloe turned frosty and short-tempered.
Until finally, exactly one month later, word came from the Pierce family.
They delivered an official gold-foil invitation.
Julian let out a massive sigh of relief. He immediately assumed Damian was bored of me and had arranged to marry a woman of equal status.
After all, in high society, discarding a plaything was routine.
He didn't even bother reading the names on the card. He grabbed his keys and sped toward the Pierce mansion.
When the butler announced his arrival, Damian was kneeling on the Persian rug, meticulously painting my toenails with soft pink polish.
He arched a brow, looking up with a wicked smirk.
"Well, well. Your ex-fiancé is here. Baby, do you want to see him?"
I gave his rock-hard abs a playful kick.
"Quit being jealous."
"I don't know what he wants either, but since he came all this way, we might as well give him a show."
Damian chuckled darkly, pressing a lingering kiss to the arch of my foot before rising to his feet.
"Go on down first. I'll throw on a shirt and join you."
The moment I stepped down the sweeping staircase, Julian bolted toward me.
But the second his eyes landed on the dark, passionate marks trailing down my neck and collarbone, he froze dead in his tracks.
Disgust flashed behind his eyes, but he still reached out, grabbing my wrist.
"Avery, come home with me."
"I don't care how dirty you are now. I'll still marry you."
I paused, then looked at Julian with an amused scoff:
"Didn't you read the invitation?"
"Damian and I are getting married next week."
Chapters (4)
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Watch & Promotions
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