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Author: Denise
last update Last Updated: 2025-03-18 02:29:30

Sophia

Mom took care of the wedding preparations, and Dad paid for everything. Both of them were eager to see me married to Bright after the scene in the hotel bedroom. They pressured me too much to bring the wedding forward as soon as possible to avoid my reputation being hurt. My brother wanted to kill Bright every time he was around.

I found myself trapped in a dead-end path. Disappointing my parents wasn’t an option. I was born into a family with strict values and rules. 

The expensive dress was in front of me. It was an elegant design, with long sleeves and delicate lace. The bouquet of white flowers lay on the metal vase at one side of the room. Everything looked spectacular. My marriage to Bright had to be that way. Appearance. Ours was not real, and it never would be.

I got myself into this mess. I had to take responsibility. After all, I was the one who told everyone I loved Bright. When the truth threatened to destroy me, I had to invent a lie. The consequence was maintaining my farce. But the weight of my decision was suffocating me.

Bright could have avoided mentioning the marriage. Maybe my parents wouldn’t have thought of it if he hadn’t brought it up. Who am I kidding? My parents would have ordered it, anyway.

My mind drifted to Dante. I didn’t remember how many times I imagined our wedding. It should be a perfect and blessing one. Since we were children, I have loved him with all my being. But when he turned eighteen, I discovered the truth I tried to avoid: he wasn’t my destined mate. I knew it when I didn’t feel the bond with him, the inexplicable connection that should have tied us together. However, it didn’t stop my love. I couldn’t stop loving him. I tried, but I couldn’t. I blinded myself and didn’t want to accept reality. I sealed my bond with the high priest and rejected the possibility of meeting the person destined for me.

Why? All for Dante.

But the wedding was approaching. In a few hours, I would walk down the aisle and swear eternal love to Bright.

My eyes held back tears, but I wouldn’t let them fall. My terrified expression said it all. I couldn’t hide my discontent.

Bright entered the room carefree. I wasn’t worried about him seeing me before the wedding. The stupid rule of not seeing each other before the ceremony didn’t concern us.

Bright looked calm. There was no terror in his eyes. Why wasn’t it affecting him like it was affecting me? He didn’t believe in marriage.

He noticed my serious expression and smiled.

“You still have time to change your mind, Sophia,” he joked. But he knew we couldn’t back out. Not after the promise we made to my parents and he to his.

Bright’s relaxed attitude made me a little more at ease. I sighed, turning around to look at him.

“I can take another punch so you can run out of here,” he continued.

I smiled. Bright managed to steal the only smile I gave that day. He had a sense of humor.

“Are you sure you don’t want to back out?”

Backing out meant facing my family. Bright would get hurt by my brother again. I wanted to avoid the chaos. The lie led to a wedding. I had to take responsibility.

“No, I’m not backing out of the wedding, Bright.”

“Really?” he smiled. “I thought I’d come into the room and you’d tell me you’re leaving me, my love.”

“I’m saving you from certain death, that’s why I’m marrying you,” I joked.

“I’ve found myself an empathetic bride. I like it.”

“You’ll never find a better bride than me,” I continued, trying to push the discomfort away.

“Are you planning to walk down the aisle with that face? Are you going to a wedding or another wake?”

I didn’t respond. Bright kept staring at me, attentive and smiling. He studied my face. However, his smile faded. He wasn’t being serious, but he spoke to me seriously.

“Why are you doing this, Sophia? You don’t love me. Are you doing it for Dante?”

It wasn’t new between us.

“You were the one who led us to get married,” I reminded him.

“But you could’ve said no earlier.”

“My parents wouldn’t have accepted it,” I shrugged. “And you, why are you doing this, Bright? You could’ve backed out earlier.”

"Because no one dare marry you, an impulsive woman.”

"Damn it.” I should know he can’t be serious for more than one second.

"Anyway, our marriage is fake,” The lump in my throat intensified. “You don’t love me either, Bright. We can make this work. We can have a deal,” I proposed.

Bright burst out laughing.

“You want a fake marriage? Live our lives as if nothing’s happening. Let me guess. The day one of us finds our destined mate, we’ll split up. Am I wrong?”

It was the best solution for both of us. We couldn’t bind ourselves forever. I would go crazy spending my whole life with him.

“It’s the best for both of us, Bright. You can keep sleeping with the women you want. There’s no problem with that.”

“I should warn you. I broke women’s hearts by getting engaged to you,” he crossed his arms. He kept smiling.

“You can go comfort them,” I agreed.

“Fine. But don’t complain if I come home late or find romantic messages from other women on my phone,” he warned playfully.

“Deal.”

I extended my hand. He looked at it and shook my hand. We sealed the pact.

“Let’s do this, princess.”

I came out the room and let to the hall. With the detailed direction in every position and important time, I was a perfect actress again. I smiled, I nodded, I walked,… The guests were also very kind to me. They sent the sincere congratulations. The same as the day in my brother’s wedding.

Every step took me closer to marrying Bright.

Mom and my brother were watching the wedding from the left side. Both of them looked at me distrustfully. Bright’s dad smiled contentedly. But almost no one here believed in our love. Everyone knew about Bright’s history with women. However, no one had questioned it yet. They didn’t dare to do it in front of us. But people knew. The lie was palpable in the air.

But we were all good actors.

Bright was waiting for me at the altar. His hands rested behind his back while he smiled at me. Bright knew how to fake happiness. But I didn’t. It was hard for me to smile while walking. But I had to admit something: Bright looked incredibly handsome. His black suit and the white shirt hanging off him. His hunter’s gaze and perfect hair were his best accessories. He’s an attractive man. 

“Sophia Blake, do you take Bright Hale as your husband?”

I stared Bright eyes that sparkled brightly, their beauty accentuated by a smile yet held an air of decisiveness, which were very different from Dante’s. Dante was gentler. However, Dante wasn't meant to be mine in any case. So, did it truly matter whether I married Bright or another?

“I do,” I whispered. 

“Bright Hale, do you take Sophia Blake as your wife?”

“I do,” he replied, “And I, Bright Hale, renounce my bond with my destined mate for my love for Sophia Blake."

A wave of gasps went out. Why did he do that? 

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Latest chapter

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    BrightThe anger hit me like a slap I didn’t see coming. Of all the places they could have gone, did they really have to choose the same restaurant I came to with my date?It felt intentional.It wasn’t when I saw her with Dante at the restaurant. It wasn’t when she laughed softly with him, that laugh that used to be mine. No. It was when she leaned toward him and took his hand across the table like she had moved on without a second thought. As if I had never existed. For her, the divorce was practically a done deal, and it was obvious I didn’t matter to her in the slightest. Her love for Dante remained intact, and she preferred him over me.And there I was, sitting across from a woman who said sweet things, who had the perfect smile, the right dress, the proper attitude. Everything about her was flawless. But she wasn’t Sophia. Not even close. It didn’t feel the same, and I knew she would never make me feel the way Sophia did.I told myself —like I had so many times before— that I ne

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    SophiaDante and I agreed to go on a date soon. I gave him my new phone number and confessed that he was right about my marriage to Bright and its falseness. Dante didn’t seem impressed, but he did look happy to have his suspicions confirmed.I couldn’t get the kiss Dante gave me on the lips before I left out of my head. I had forgotten what his kisses felt like. I must say, it was strange to feel the difference between Bright’s lips and Dante’s. I had gotten used to Bright’s and had forgotten Dante’s.I arranged to meet my mother at her office.Walking into my parents’ company had always been a strange experience for me. Maybe because I had never really felt like I fit into that world of business, cold decisions, and calculated strategies. I had my place in the company, but I always chose to work from home. However, today, I had no choice. I had to come. I needed to talk to Bright about the divorce, and since I would already be there to see my mother, I decided to take the opportunit

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    SophiaThe morning sun filtered through the curtains when I opened my eyes, and problems quickly flooded my mind. I didn’t feel like getting out of bed. Not today. Despite having slept through the night, I felt exhausted. The conversation with Bright had drained all my energy, leaving an emptiness in my chest that I didn’t know how to fill.Waking up meant facing my problems, and my energy had already been depleted by last night's conversation. The wave of emotions drowning me from the inside refused to leave my body. I needed a break from all the drama, but life gave me no respite.I knew I had to go downstairs for breakfast. The decision to divorce was mine, and I had to face single life again. And with that, I had to deal with my parents’ future reaction when they found out what had happened between Bright and me. I had to prepare myself for a long conversation about how I had ruined generations of clean and lasting marriages. I didn’t even understand why it hurt so much to know I

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