I stare at my reflection in the mirror, gripping the edge of the vanity until my knuckles turn white. Today is supposed to be the happiest day of my life. But all I feel is a dull ache settling in my chest. I’m marrying a man I’ve never met, a complete stranger who may never even wake up. What kind of future is that?Vivian’s voice crashes through my thoughts, sharp as glass.“Lana!” she yells from the other side of the door. “What are you still doing? You should be dressed by now!”Vivian—my stepmother—has always treated me like a burden. She married my father when I was sixteen and made it clear from day one that I was in her way. Her daughter, Naomi, could do no wrong, while I was always the problem. And now, she’s the one forcing me into this marriage.I clench my jaw, anger bubbling just beneath the surface. Of course, she’d be impatient. She’s been waiting for this moment—to see me helpless, backed into a corner with no way out.“I don’t want this,” I mutter under my breath. “I’
The Knights sent a sleek black limo to pick me up, and it waited silently outside like a predator. I hesitated for a moment before stepping inside, the interior plush and luxurious. The driver shot me a quick glance in the rearview mirror before pulling away, navigating the streets with alarming speed. My head hammered with nerves, but I kept repeating to myself: You can do this, Lana. You can get through today.When the limo arrived at the Knights’ villa, I was struck by its sheer size. The mansion loomed before me, opulent and intimidating. A party was already in full swing inside, laughter and music spilling into the air like a vibrant tide.As I stepped through the grand entrance, I scanned the room. My heart sank when I only recognized three faces: my stepmother, Vivian; my stepsister, Naomi; and my boyfriend, Jordan. The sight of them made my stomach churn. They were supposed to be my support, yet they felt more like the eyes of judgment.A doorman approached to escort me inside
I wasn’t sure what I heard. My heart pounded in my chest as doubt and dread swirled in my mind. I knew I shouldn’t, but I had to know. I traced the sounds to the room next door, my hands trembling as I pushed the door open slightly.And there they were—Jordan and Naomi. My boyfriend, tangled in bed with my stepsister.My heart shattered into a million jagged pieces. I clutched the doorframe to steady myself, silent tears burning my eyes as I tried to breathe through the crushing weight in my chest. How could they do this to me? How could he do this to me?They lay there, tired and content, their naked bodies tangled together. I bit down on my lip, hard enough to draw blood, fighting the urge to scream. I wanted to burst in and demand answers, but my feet stayed frozen to the ground.“This is so fun,” Naomi said with a giggle, her voice dripping with satisfaction.Jordan chuckled, brushing her hair off her shoulder. My fists clenched at the way he touched her so intimately, like she wa
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. Jordan stood there, clearly startled, mouth opening to argue, but I stopped him cold.“I already know everything, Jordan,” I said, my voice sharp.He clenched his jaw, hesitating, but before he could speak, the soft, repetitive beeping from the machine suddenly sped up. My attention snapped back to Adrian, lying pale and still on the hospital bed. And then—his eyelids flickered.“Oh my god,” I gasped, taking a step closer. “Adrian! You’re awake!”Jordan took a single glance, his expression shifting from anger to unease. “I... I need to go,” he muttered before practically sprinting out of the room.Ignoring him, I moved to Adrian’s side, watching his eyes blink open with the faintest hint of awareness.“Adrian is awake!” I repeated, louder this time, heart pounding.In moments, Adrian’s mother, Evelyn, swept into the room with her usual poise, followed by a maid. She observed the scene, a quiet sigh escaping her lips as she regarded me.“There’s
After changing into soft, matching pajamas, I took a steadying breath. The quiet of the room felt heavy, as though the mansion itself was holding its breath. I glanced at Adrian, lying still, his face relaxed and calm. For a moment, I let myself think about how strange this situation was—married to a man I’d only just met, a man I barely knew.Shaking off the thought, I picked up a small bottle of oil from the table and poured a few drops onto my hands, rubbing them together to warm it. I began the massage gently, starting with his hands, moving up his arms, and talking softly as I did. “So… I guess this is a little one-sided, but here goes,” I said, smiling at the absurdity. “I love cats. Not sure if you do, but you should. I also love chilling with a good show… Netflix and all that.” I chuckled, glancing at him. No reaction, of course.I shifted down to his feet, pressing gently. “You’re really handsome, you know that? I guess you've heard that a thousand times” I murmured. “Have yo
Evelyn’s gaze met mine, her eyes sharp. “A few, yes. But he wasn't really serious about any of them.” I took Evelyn’s words in stride, though I couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement at the news that Adrian had never been serious with anyone. But before I could overthink it, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen—it was Sophia, my best friend. “Hi guurrl!” she greeted enthusiastically when I answered. “Hey! What’s up?” Sophia chuckled. “You’re not going to believe this, but your boss, Ms. Harper, is furious about your absence these past few days. I mean, didn’t you tell her you’d be away?” I sighed. “Of course I did, but you know Ms. Harper. She’s intense.” “Understatement of the year!” Sophia laughed. “Oh, by the way, she left a file on your desk and asked me to bring it over to you. I figured I could come by and check out the Knights’ estate while I’m at it.” “Sure, come on over. I could use some company.” After ending the call, I had about twenty minutes to kill, so
The villa bustled with activity, maids hurrying to adjust linens and arrange the room. By the time I returned to Adrian’s bedside, Evelyn and the doctor were already there, speaking in hushed tones.Evelyn's face lit up the moment she saw me. Without warning, she swept me into a hug. "Thank you!" she exclaimed, almost breathless with excitement. “I just know you’re Adrian’s luck. You brought him back to us!”I blinked, stunned. “It’s… just a coincidence,” I stammered, unsure what to say. “I didn’t really do anything.”She shook her head, smiling. “No, dear, it’s because of you.”Suddenly, Adrian’s voice, still faint but sharp, cut through the room. “Mom…” His gaze shifted, confused but filled with a quiet intensity. “Who is she?”Evelyn immediately moved closer to him, reaching for his hand. “Sweetie, I’m here. This is your wife.”Adrian’s eyes widened in shock. His gaze hardened, shifting from his mother to me. “Wife? When? How?”Evelyn's face twisted with frustration. “I made the de
I stammered, trying to find the words. "I thought… maybe if I kissed you…"He cut me off, his tone mocking. “Maybe I’d wake up?” He shook his head, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth, and I felt my face flush with embarrassment.The doctors came and went, each one checking his vitals, while Adrian grew more impatient with each visit. Finally, as another doctor adjusted his IV, Adrian snapped, “Is this the last of it? Or are there more pointless treatments?”Trying to calm him, I stepped forward. “They’re only making sure you’re okay.”He fixed me with a cold stare. “Do you honestly believe that?”I hesitated. "Are… are you feeling any discomfort in your legs?" I asked, shifting the conversation.His expression stayed flat. “You don’t need to pretend to be nice to me.”“Why not?”“Because,” he replied sharply, “nice people get steamrolled.”I stared at him, shocked by his bitterness. “That’s not true.”“Oh, really?” He arched a brow. “When has being nice ever benefited you?”I
When Sophia opened the door, her face was a mixture of shock and confusion. I could barely hold myself upright as I stepped inside, dragging my suitcase behind me. The warm, familiar scent of her home—lavender and fresh laundry—washed over me, but it brought no comfort. My chest felt like it had been hollowed out, leaving only the sharp edges of pain and despair.“Lana!” Sophia exclaimed, quickly closing the door behind me. “What’s going on? You look—oh my God, you’re crying. What happened? I’ve been trying to call you all day after you left the office. Are you okay?”I tried to speak, but no words came. My throat was tight, and my heart felt too heavy to carry. Instead, I shook my head and sank onto her couch, burying my face in my hands. The tears that I’d been holding back burst free, and I sobbed uncontrollably, my shoulders shaking with the force of it.“Lana…” Sophia sat beside me, placing a comforting hand on my back. Her voice was soft, filled with concern. “You’re scaring me.
I stared at the divorce papers on the table, the words blurring as tears pooled in my eyes. My hand trembled as I held the pen, my mind screaming for me to stop, to question Adrian one last time. But I knew it wouldn’t matter. His cold, detached expression was all the answer I’d ever get.“Sign it,” Adrian said, his voice sharp, cutting through the silence like a blade.I searched his face for something—anything—that would tell me this was a cruel joke. But he avoided my gaze, his eyes fixed on the floor. That small, cowardly act only broke me further. I clutched the pen tighter, my nails digging into my palm as I forced myself to write my name. Each stroke felt like a dagger slicing through my soul.Clara laughed, the sound grating on my already raw nerves. “Finally,” she sneered. “Now you can stop pretending you’re something you’re not, Lana. The pity act was getting old.”I wanted to scream at her, to claw at that smug smile on her face, but the words wouldn’t come. My throat burne
Lana's POVI woke up feeling like the weight of the world was pressing down on my chest. My eyes opened slowly, but everything around me felt too heavy to process. The exhaustion from the past few days had soaked into my bones, leaving me drained, both physically and emotionally. I tried to sit up, but the tightness in my chest made it impossible to focus. Every thought was a reminder of how wrong everything had gone.I forced myself to get out of bed, my legs shaky beneath me. The house was quieter than usual, almost as if it was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. When I stepped into the living room, I saw Evelyn sitting on the couch. Her face was pale and drawn, looking sickly, as usual. She was sitting there, hands clasped tightly together, looking as if she might collapse at any moment. It was the same act she had been pulling for days now, and honestly, it was starting to make me sick.Clara was standing next to her, arms crossed, that smug expression still plas
Adrian stormed out of the guest room where Clara had been lurking, his chest heaving as his thoughts spiraled. The moment Lana’s tear-streaked face flashed in his mind, his fist slammed into the nearest wall with enough force to send a jarring pain up his arm. He barely noticed it. The physical pain was nothing compared to the ache gnawing at his heart.“What have I done?” he muttered under his breath, his voice thick with regret. Every word he had hurled at Lana replayed in his head like a cruel echo. Her hurt, her tears—it was all his doing.Clara approached him cautiously, her expression soft and calculated. She placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to soothe him. “Adrian, don’t do this to yourself,” she said sweetly.Her touch ignited a fire in him, but not the kind she wanted. Adrian shrugged her hand off with a venomous glare. “Don’t you dare,” he snapped. “Don’t you even think for a second that I’m doing this for you. I’ll never be with you, Clara.”Clara blinked, startled by h
Adrian’s words hit me like a truck. I stared at him, disbelief written all over my face. “Divorce?” I managed to choke out. “Why?”He crossed his arms, his expression cold and unreadable. “Because this marriage was a mistake,” he said flatly. “We should never have been together.”I felt like the ground had been pulled out from under me. “What are you talking about? We’ve been through so much. Why are you saying this now?”“I don’t love you, Lana,” he said, his tone sharp and emotionless. “I never did. I only went along with this because my mother arranged it while I was in a coma. And let’s not forget, we needed an heir.”I staggered back, my heart pounding. “You’re saying you used me?”Adrian’s gaze didn’t falter. “It’s not about that. Now that I’m awake and healthy, there’s no need for this charade. I can have a child with someone I actually care about.”“Is it because of Clara?” I whispered, tears streaming down my face.He didn’t answer.“Adrian,” I pleaded, my voice trembling. “I
I sat across from Sophia in the small break room, my hands gripping a cup of lukewarm coffee. My thoughts were all over the place, the events of the morning replaying in my mind on an endless loop. Evelyn’s words, Clara’s smug smile, Adrian’s silence—everything felt like a knife twisting in my chest.“So, what happened?” Sophia asked, leaning forward, her face full of concern.I hesitated, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Evelyn wants Adrian to divorce me,” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. “She even said Clara should stay in the house with us.”Sophia’s jaw dropped. “What?” Her voice rose, and I flinched. “That woman has some nerve! And Clara? Don’t even get me started on her.” She crossed her arms, fuming. “If I were there, I’d have dragged her out of that house by her hair.”Despite everything, I managed a small smile. “Thanks, Sophia. But it’s not that simple.”“Why not?” she demanded. “Lana, you’re his wife. You have every right to fight for your place in that ho
I couldn’t believe what was happening. My fists were clenched as I faced my mother. “Why are you doing this, Mother? Why are you trying to destroy my marriage?” My voice was steady, but the anger bubbling beneath was hard to contain.Evelyn sat calmly, her gaze icy. “Destroy your marriage?” she repeated mockingly. “Adrian, this isn’t a marriage. It’s a business arrangement. You’re the one forgetting that.”I felt my jaw tighten. “I haven’t forgotten anything. You were the one who insisted I marry Lana. And now you want me to throw her away like she’s nothing?”“Yes!” Evelyn snapped, standing. “Because I never intended for her to stay! She served her purpose, and now you can move on. Clara is who you belong with.”Clara was sitting off to the side, her arms crossed, watching with a satisfied smirk. That only made my blood boil more. “Clara? Clara has no place here. I want her out of this house!” I pointed toward the door. “And for the last time, I’m not divorcing Lana!”Evelyn’s face h
I couldn’t breathe. Evelyn’s words echoed in my mind, over and over, like a cruel melody I couldn’t escape. “You will divorce Lana.” The way she said it, so cold and final, as if I were nothing more than an obstacle. I felt the ground beneath me give way. My heart shattered into a thousand pieces, and I couldn’t stop the tears from spilling down my cheeks.Adrian took a step toward me. “Lana, please—”“Don’t!” I snapped, backing away from him. The anguish in his eyes mirrored my own, but I couldn’t trust it. Not now. Not after hearing what I just heard.“Lana, it’s not what you think,” he tried again, his voice desperate.I shook my head furiously, the lump in my throat making it hard to speak. “Not what I think? I just heard your mother tell you to divorce me, Adrian! And you just stood there. You didn’t fight for me. You let her say it like I’m nothing!”“That’s not true—”“Stop lying!” I screamed, my voice breaking. The pain was too much to bear. I couldn’t stand to be in that hous
Adrian's POVThe moment Lana stormed off, I turned to my mother, my blood boiling. "What the hell is this, Mother?" I demanded, my voice sharp. "You know I’m married! You were the one who insisted I marry Lana, so why are you doing this now? Why are you making things worse?"my mother leaned back in her chair, completely unfazed by my outburst. She picked up her teacup and took a leisurely sip before finally meeting my gaze. “Exactly, Adrian. I arranged this marriage, and I can decide who stays in this house. Don’t forget, it’s a contract marriage.”Her words hit me like a slap. “Contract marriage?” I repeated, stunned. “Are you serious right now? Lana is my wife, not some pawn in your games!”Evelyn sighed, setting her teacup down delicately as if we weren’t in the middle of a life-altering conversation. “Adrian, let’s not be dramatic. Lana doesn’t even have a ring. The marriage was never meant to be permanent. I only arranged it because I thought you were going to die in that coma,