2

The man's grip wasn't harsh, but it was unyielding. Juniper's blood ran cold. She twisted in his grip, her mind racing with ways to escape, but the man didn't loosen his hold.

“What do you want from me?” Her voice trembled despite her attempt to sound strong.

He didn’t flinch, didn’t even blink. "Relax, Miss Lockhart," he said smoothly, his voice almost too calm, too composed. "My name’s Sebastian."

"Sebastian...?" she trailed off, her brow furrowing. "I don’t know any Sebastian."

A small, almost imperceptible smile played at the edges of his lips. “Sebastian Carter!”

Juniper’s breath caught in her throat. The name hit her like a freight train. 

His eyes never wavered. "Actually. You see, Miss Lockhart, I need someone to pretend to be my sister for a little while."

Her heart skipped a beat. "What? Pretend to be Sophia?" The words were barely out of her mouth before she realized how insane they sounded.

Sophia Carter. The heiress. The socialite. The woman whose life was as glamorous as it was ruthless. She stumbled taking a step back instinctively, as if distance could protect her.

“Yes,” he said, his tone firm, almost as if he were stating a simple fact. “You look remarkably like her, and I have certain... business that requires her presence. Your presence.”

Juniper’s mind raced, panic bubbling up again. “I don’t even know how to be her... I'm just an ordinary girl, trying to fend for myself.”

Sebastian’s eyes hardened, and he took a step forward. His voice lowered to a dangerous level. “I’m not asking for much, Miss Lockhart. Just long enough for me to sort out some business matters.”

She shook her head, stepping back again, the feeling of being cornered sinking deeper. “That's not right...I don't even know her world.”

Sebastian’s lips curled into a sly, knowing smile. “You don’t have to. You just need to pretend.”

“I told you, I’m not—”

But he interrupted, pulling a photograph from his coat pocket. Juniper’s stomach dropped as he handed it to her. She recoiled, her hands shaking as she stared at the picture.

Her brother. Ethan.

The photo was blurry, but the image was clear enough—his face was pale, his eyes closed. His body was frail, wrapped in hospital sheets. That was her brother, her little brother, her only family, the reason for her to live...but he wasn't in the nearby city hospital, it seemed like he was in a shady place, somewhere unknown.

She felt the air leave her lungs. “What did you do to him?” Her voice cracked.

Sebastian’s face remained impassive. “Nothing yet. But if you don’t help me, Miss Lockhart, I won’t hesitate to let his condition get worse.”

The words cut through her like a knife. “Ethan’s ill,” she whispered. Her brother’s illness had been a battle, and though she had fought to keep her brother alive by giving him the best medical facility, she knew it was only a matter of time before things got worse.

Sebastian’s smile was cold, devoid of any sympathy. “Exactly. I’ve made sure your brother’s treatment is at my discretion now. Your discretion, really, because if you help me, he gets the care he needs. If you don’t... well, I’ll let you imagine the rest.”

Juniper’s knees felt weak, her vision blurry. She staggered back, her chest tight with dread. “You’re blackmailing me?”

His voice was calm. “Think of it as a simple arrangement. Help me, save my family and I save yours. Refuse, and I make sure he doesn’t see another day.”

Her hands clenched at her sides, fighting the tears that threatened to spill. She’d always been protective of Ethan, but she’d never felt so helpless. She couldn’t let him suffer because of her.

She took a shuddering breath, trying to steady her voice. “What do you want me to do?”

Sebastian leaned in slightly, his voice dropping even lower. “Pretend to be Sophia. Go to the events, the meetings, take her place for a while. You don’t need to know much, just keep up the charade long enough for me to handle my affairs.”

Juniper looked at the photo again, her mind spinning. Ethan’s pale face haunted her. She couldn’t lose him.

Her resolve broke, just a little. “Fine,” she said in a near whisper. “I’ll do it. Just—just make sure Ethan is alright.”

Sebastian’s smile returned, triumphant. "Good. You’ll find the role easier to play than you think."

She took another step back, feeling suffocated by the weight of what she’d just agreed to. "I hope so," she muttered under her breath. 

Sebastian’s gaze was almost too calm, too sure of himself. "You’ll learn quickly enough, Miss Lockhart. Trust me."

He extended a cold, crisp envelope toward he. His gaze remained fixed on her, his expression calculating. “Here’s the contract,” he said smoothly, “You’ll sign it, and everything will be in place.”

Juniper’s hands trembled as she took the envelope, the weight of the situation sinking in. She knew what was at stake now. She’d seen the photo of her brother—Ethan—and she could feel the pull in her chest, the desperate need to keep him alive.

But at what cost?

“What is this?” she asked, voice shaking, as she opened the envelope. The contract was typed out clearly, terms outlined in legal language. She skimmed it, feeling like her world was crumbling with every word.

“I’m supposed to pretend to be someone I’m not…for how long?”

Sebastian’s lips curled into a faint smile. “As long as I need you to. This is a simple game, Miss Lockhart. You pretend to be my sister and I help your brother recover”

She clenched her jaw, fighting the sense of helplessness flooding her veins. “And...If I get caught?”

"Your brother's life gets caught in my hand." He flashed a smile.

He pointed to the signature line, his eyes boring into hers. “You sign. And then you do as I ask. You follow the instructions, play the role, and you won’t have any more problems.”

Juniper’s heart pounded, the weight of her decision pressing down on her shoulders. She looked at the paper for a long moment, the fear of what signing this contract meant gnawing at her. But she had no choice. Her brother’s life was on the line.

With a trembling hand, she signed the contract, her signature almost illegible under the pressure. The second the ink met the paper, she felt a chill in her bones, as if she’d just sealed her fate.

Sebastian took the contract from her with a smirk, folding it neatly and slipping it into his jacket. “Good girl,” he said, his tone colder than ever.

She looked up at him, her voice trembling. “What happens now?”

Sebastian turned on his heel, his shadow looming over her. For a moment, he paused, almost as if considering whether to say something. Then, with a sinister edge to his voice, he turned back around.

“Oh, and by the way,” he said, his eyes glinting with something dark, “You’ll have to pretend to be The Blackwell’s bride.”

Juniper’s blood ran cold. Her heart skipped a beat as the words sank in. “What?” she whispered, stepping back as if she’d been struck. “The Blackwell’s bride?”