//Elena//
“You’re getting married, Elena.”
It was the first thing I heard from Julia when I came home late from work that night. A big confused look printed on my face for a moment.
I mean I was Elena, but I had no idea who was getting married. Yes, I did have a lovely boyfriend Jake but I was sure he hadn't proposed to me yet.
If anyone was to be getting married soon, between us, it was Julia, my obnoxious bratty stepsister. She was older and already engaged in the Walton family, to the first son and heir to the Walton Group.
It was only two days before when a message from the Walton's, seeking her hand in marriage got to my parents, and my stepmother seemed exceptionally excited about it.
The Walton family was one of the most affluent members in the country, they were powerful and wealthy too. Their Group was one of the largest in the world and being married into a family like that meant being married directly into wealth.
Julia officially getting entangled with them was something I was certain my stepmother would adore.
So what the hell was Julia blabbing about me getting married?
“I’m talking to you, Elena,” Julia responded with a smirk, pointing her finger at me.
I shook my head, my stress level increasing.
Father's company went bankrupt a while back, and now the burden of supporting the family rested on my shoulders. I was tired and sore from working overtime for days.
“I’m not ready for your talks tonight, Julia. Go away,” I waved her off. I was too tired. I really need a good rest to get my strength renewed for tomorrow’s work.
I moved to the staircase but was unfortunately caught by my stepmother Janet who seemed to be having her usual quarrel with my father just now.
“You’re just going to crawl away like the ungrateful brat that you are, aren’t you?”
I shut my eyes, cursing under my breath.
I was so close. So fuckin close.
Jake's birthday was coming soon and I planned to buy his dream watch as a gift. In order to afford it and the other bills of the family, I had to do several jobs at the same time.
Though I lived under the same roof as Julia, I was not allowed to be a pampered daughter like her.
I was only an orphan adopted by this family. I had to earn everything with my own hands to afford and pay back their nurturing.
Inhaling sharply, turned to her to find her eyes splitting daggers at me.
“Listen, Elena. You’ve been living off us for most of your life, and things are hard now that your father’s company is in crisis. Why don’t you repay all of his sacrifices to show how grateful you are?”
“Janet-“ my father warned, trying to stop her and I didn't know why I couldn't control my emotion at that moment. I was bad at controlling it.
“What more do you want me to do?” I yanked, “As long as you’re involved, everything I do is never enough…I work day and night to assist, I do literally everything around here without complaint. How else can I prove to you that I’m grateful?”
“You little bitch, how dare you raise your voice at me?”
“Can you just stop this already, Janet?!” My father thundered, “What has she got to do with our predicament?”
“This little bitch-
Janet’s words were interrupted by a slap from my father. The action tore a gasp from my throat and Julia looked equally shocked.
Although Janet had the rudest tongue, it was the first time my father was putting his hands on her.
“Call her a bitch one more time and I will make sure you never get to use that mouth of yours again!” He threatened.
“Harold..” Janet called, stunned.
“I told you not to get her involved in this, I will find a way myself. Leave her out of it!”
Tears gathered in my eyes when I glanced at my father. I could see him trying to protect me even though he was passing through a lot himself.
It was hard enough for him losing almost everything that he worked for his entire life in only a week and I didn’t want him to worry further.
For his sake, I chose not to argue with Janet. But, Janet obviously didn't want it over.
“Then what about Julia? Why does she have to be the one to get married to that monster when Elena is here?" She yelled in tears. Somehow I could feel the pain in her voice.
But what was she talking about? Monster?
Wasn't it said that the first son of the Walton family was the hottest Billionaire?
Julia had been looking forward to this day for a long time. Even after we went bankrupt, she still maintained her extravagant lifestyle, saying she only needed to be a happy and beautiful bride-to-be. Her fiance spoiled her silly.
I tried to look for the answer from their faces as Julia walked to her mother, crying in her arms. Janet accused my father again.
"You’re all over Elena, protecting her like she’s your daughter! Julia is your biological child! Your only child! Will you not do anything about her getting married to that hideous man, Asher?!”
Asher? The youngest son of the Waltons?
True, there were rumors that he was disfigured after a big fire accident that scarred his face, and took the life of his mother, making him look like a monster. But when did Julia have a relationship with him?
What was going on?
My Father was quiet after Janet’s accusation, I could see the amount of guilt weighing in his chest.
“Do you know what will become our fate if she goes into that family? It’ll be the end of us!” my stepmother further lamented.
I was about to chip in my confusion when Julia stepped forward and held my father's arm.
“All our problems will be solved if Elena got married to Asher in my place. With their influence, Dad, you can get your company back and we don’t have to worry about getting blacklisted or being harmed. It’ll be a win for us all, and everyone will be happy.”
“Wait what? What the hell are you talking about?” I looked simultaneously at their faces, confused.
“Julia is right.” Janet nodded as she wiped off her tears, turning to me.
“Elena, you have to be the substitute bride and get married in your sister’s place to Asher Walton.”
//Elena//“There’s no way that I’ll be a substitute bride and marry someone I don’t even know!”I refused their ridiculous offer.I never expected to come home from work only to hear that I was getting married to someone I never met in my life.Just because I was an orphan and had no idea who my biological parents were, doesn’t mean I was going to allow myself to be used in that manner.“We can set up a meeting for you both to see and get to know each other better," Julia gloatingly suggested.“That’s not the point. I already have someone that I want to get married to and I love him a lot.” I couldn't help but shout at her.“This is the only way you can help your father, the only way you can show appreciation to both of us as your parents,” Ignoring my protests, Janet started her evil chanting again. “Elena—I moved away before she could touch me, “I am not doing it.”I glanced at my father, realizing he hasn’t uttered a word since Julia offered the ridiculous suggestion, and his help
~Asher~My palms fisted underneath the coat the moment Ian walked in. I watched from behind the mask with rage burning in me as he made each step toward me with a smirk on his face."Congratulations brother, I heard you're getting married. I wish you nothing but the very best," he stared down at me with a stupid grin.Oh how bad I wanted to punch it off his face! This bastard didn't deserve to smile.Fighting off the fury like always, I pulled on a tight smile."Thank you, brother," I moved my wheelchair to cover more of the space between us, "although I owe you an apology for stealing your future bride. It was not my intention, Grandpa believes getting married might help improve my health. And truthfully staying all alone in that big house can be boring, I could use the company too, don't you agree?"His expression twitched to a frown but I kept my smile intact, proving my vulnerability to him."With that ugly face of yours, I'm sure you'll do nothing but scare her every day. Don't g
~Elena~Restlessness was imprinted on my face as my gaze roamed my reflection.The wedding dress was an embodiment of wealth, it flowed down my legs in steps and felt a bit weighty.I would never have thought that today would be the day I get married and worse still, to a person I barely knew.I didn't even get to finish college. This was totally not how I planned my life.I sighed deeply as I covered my forehead. How did I get into this situation? Was it really not an impulse to make such a deal with Janet? What if the Waltons find that I am fake?A myriad of thoughts flashed through my mind, intensifying my uneasiness. The mirror no longer reflected a stunning wedding dress but an omen of a nightmare.Damn, Elena! Cheer up! It was the only way to save Father. And you could also be completely free from Janet and Julia's troubles. You would be no longer indebted to them.I heard the door click open and my father appeared beside me, flashing a fake smile."They're here," he announced.
~Asher~It was said that the wedding day would be one of the happiest moments in one's life, but for me, it was nonsense.All my happiness had been buried with the day my mom was buried.Revenge was the only thing that keeps me alive."Asher, are you sure not to hold a wedding? As the son of the Walton, you deserve any grand wedding as you like."I still remembered how much worry filled the old man's eyes when I told Grandapa that I and Julia Rogers were not going to have a wedding.I pretended to cough as I explained to him that my body was not fit for the hustle occasion and that what I wanted was to spend a cozy night with my beloved new wife.Sure enough, Grandpa did not force me but silently added some more properties under my name. Ian was exasperated to grit his teeth after knowing that.As for Julia Rogers, I'd already heard that she loved extravagance and always dreamed of an elaborate wedding, one that would be the talk of the country. I was determined to shatter her sweet d
~Elena~I clasped my thigh, dragging the duvet closer to my naked body.I never expected that agreeing to be a substitute bride would drag my life into another nightmare.My new husband was disfigured as well as disabled, but it didn't affect his aura and power.I had no idea what I did wrong to piss him off. Didn't he marry Julia for love? Or had he recognized that I was just a fake?I followed the butler down the hall, the cold floor masking my feet. We arrived at a different section of the house on the ground floor. We passed a corridor connected with doors and stopped in front of one. He pushed open the door and ushered me in first before following.My jaw dropped when I saw what a maid's room looked like. It was twice the size of my old room in the Rogers house, with everything else twice as big."This is where you will be staying henceforth until the master says otherwise." Flynn interrupted my moment, there was a quick flash of emotion in his eyes but I couldn't pinpoint what i
~Elena~The moment he touched me, the memories of yesterday flooded my head and I felt my nipples tighten. I exhaled, hating myself for reacting this way to his presence.A shriek left my throat when I sensed the hot liquid running down my back, but I remained still and let my face twitch to express how painful it was.When it wouldn't stop, I started to move but his hand held me in place."Stay still. I'm checking the temperature."I obeyed. Shutting my eyes and balling my palms, I pushed back the tears, reminding myself that I couldn't react if I wanted to save my family.This monster was my husband and I was stuck in his web.After what seemed like an eternity, he stopped. Or ran out of coffee and I confirmed that when he dropped the empty cup on the saucer. Until then, I didn't realize how tightly I gripped the table.My back started to burn but I made no move to touch it. When he moved to my front, I met his gaze with a glare."I guess it was hot, but unfortunately I wasted every
~Elena~My mind instantly alerted at his words.I tried my best to ignore his teasing and not to lose control to blush. I must not give this monster any excuse to torment me.I had enough of today.Carefully, I pushed Asher toward the bathroom. Everything went well but as I reached for a towel to clean off the sauce, I accidentally flipped the faucet. Fuck! The water poured out from the shower head and drenched Asher.I hurriedly turned it off, withdrawing by a step in shock."I'm sorry," I quickly apologized trying to explain. "It was a mistake, I was trying to.."My voice froze as I glanced at Asher's face which already turned dark. Damn, he was seethed. Even though he said nothing, I could sense that.He sneered and wiped his face with his palm. The way he stared at me made me feel death approaching.I lowered my head but unintentionally caught his biceps peeking out and the pants hugged his thigh. The water had slapped the outfit even closer to his body. I couldn't deny that he ha