Almost deceived

My heart nearly stopped when I saw the three people standing. Relief flooded through me as I recognized Logan and Lucas, both wearing their signature mischievous grins. They called out "Just kidding!" in unison, their laughter echoing through the cathedral.

That's when I noticed the third person – a woman so breathtakingly beautiful she looked like she'd stepped off a magazine cover. Long dark hair framed perfect features, and her designer dress hugged every curve. I felt Liam tense beside me as his eyes met hers, his entire body going rigid.

The beautiful woman joined in their laughter, gracefully taking her seat again. But I didn't miss the way her eyes lingered on Liam, or the way his jaw clenched before he forced his attention back to the ceremony.

The priest cleared his throat, clearly trying to restore order to the proceedings. "You may now kiss the bride," he announced.

My stomach filled with butterflies. This was it – my first kiss, and it would be in front of hundreds of people and cameras. I had no idea what to do. Should I close my eyes? Tilt my head? What if I messed it up completely?

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. Liam turned toward me, his expression softening just slightly. He leaned in slowly, giving me time to prepare myself. His hand gently cupped my cheek, and then his lips met mine.

The kiss was soft and sweet, nothing like the cold businessman I'd come to expect. For just a moment, I forgot about the cameras, the crowd, and the contract. It felt... real.

When we pulled apart, the cathedral erupted in applause and cheers. I felt my cheeks flush as Liam took my hand, leading me back down the aisle.

As we walked past the pews, I caught Logan and Lucas giving me apologetic smiles. Their prank had definitely added some unexpected drama to the ceremony.

The cameras flashed as Liam and I walked to the waiting car, his arm secure around my waist. He smiled for the photos, playing the part of the happy groom perfectly. I tried my best to look natural, though my heart was still racing from everything that had happened.

Once we were safely inside the car, I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding. The privacy glass separated us from the driver, giving us a moment of peace after the chaos of the ceremony.

"You handled that well," Liam said, loosening his tie slightly. "The press seemed convinced."

I nodded, watching the city lights blur past the window. The drive home was quiet but not entirely uncomfortable. When we arrived at the mansion, more photographers waited outside the gates. Liam helped me out of the car, maintaining our newlywed façade until we were safely inside.

Finally alone in our room – well, my room really, since this was just for show – I sank onto the edge of the bed, my legs tired from standing in heels all day. The elaborate wedding dress pooled around me like a cloud.

"It was your first kiss, wasn't it?" Liam's question caught me off guard.

I felt my face flush hot with embarrassment. "How... how did you know? Was it that obvious? That bad?"

To my surprise, Liam's serious expression cracked into a genuine smile – the first real one I'd seen from him. "Not bad at all," he said, his voice gentler than usual. "Just... hesitant.. Most people don't tremble quite so much before a kiss."

"Oh god," I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "I was hoping no one noticed."

"Hey," he said, and I heard him move closer. "You did fine. Really. For a starter."

I peeked through my fingers to find him looking at me with an expression I couldn't quite read.

"Well," I managed a small laugh, "at least I didn't step on your feet during the first dance. That would have been truly mortifying."

"True," he agreed. "Though Logan and Lucas's little stunt nearly gave me a heart attack."

The mention of the ceremony brought back the image of that beautiful woman who'd stood up with them. I wanted to ask about her – the way Liam had tensed when he saw her made me curious. But I wasn’t close enough to ask him such question.

"I should..." I gestured vaguely at my dress. "This thing weighs about a ton."

"Of course," Liam nodded, already moving toward the door. "I'll have Maria sent up to help you. Get some rest – tomorrow the real work begins."

"Real work?"

He paused at the doorway. "Being a Grayson isn't just about wearing expensive clothes and attending parties. We have a reputation to maintain, a business to run. And now you're part of that."

With that, he was gone, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I woke up the next morning disoriented, sunlight streaming through the massive windows. For a moment, I forgot where I was ,Then yesterday's events came rushing back. The wedding.

A gentle knock interrupted my thoughts. Maria entered with a covered tray.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Grayson," she said, setting down what appeared to be lunch. "I trust you slept well?"

"Afternoon?" I sat up quickly. "What time is it?"

"Just past one. Don't worry , everyone understood you needed rest after yesterday. Mr. Grayson is at the office, while the triplet had errands to attend to. but Liam is in his room, He asked to meet with you once you're ready."

I quickly ate and got dressed, following Maria's directions to what appeared to be a study. The door was slightly opened, and I recognized it as the room I'd seen Liam enter before. My heart beat a little faster as I knocked.

"Come in."

Inside, Liam sat at a large desk, he was dressed casually and looked a bit different.

"I hope you rested well," he said, sliding a thick file across the desk. "These are your responsibilities as my wife. Social events, charity functions, board meetings you'll need to attend. Everything's detailed here."

I flipped through the pages, overwhelmed by the schedules and requirements. Liam stood and moved around the desk, sitting on the edge of his bed.

"Come sit here," he patted the spot next to him on the bed. "We should review this together."

I looked at him strangely. Something felt off about his behavior.

He moved closer, his hand reaching for mine. "You know, you look beautiful when you make such face."

I gave him an odd look. Something felt... different. His voice wasn't quite right, and his attitude was out of character.”

"Your voice..." I started, studying his face more carefully. "You’re not Li..."

“Lucas?” My heart raced as he leaned in.

Suddenly, the door burst open.

“What is going on here?" Liam demanded.