Chapter 1

Elena Carter used to think betrayal was something people could see coming like a suspicious glance, a strange phone call, maybe a change in someone's behavior.

She had never imagined it could arrive quietly, in the middle of a celebration, and tear her entire world apart in a matter of minutes.

The Carter mansion was alive with music and laughter, golden lights reflected from the enormous crystal chandeliers, bathing the ballroom in a warm glow. Waiters moved gracefully through the crowd, offering champagne and carefully arranged appetizers to guests dressed in their finest clothes.

Everyone looked happy,except Elena.

She stood near the staircase, smiling whenever someone looked her way.

Tomorrow was supposed to be her wedding day, she would become Mrs. Daniel Hayes.

At least, that was what she had believed as her fingers unconsciously touched the diamond ring resting on her finger.

She had been with Daniel for two years, believing his promises, imagining a home with children, Sunday mornings, and growing old beside him, she had trusted him completely.

Her phone vibrated inside her purse. Elena pulled it out, there was a message from an unknown number.

You deserve to know what your fiancé has been hiding. Go upstairs. Second door on the left.

Her eyebrows drew together as she stared at the message for several seconds.It had to be someone's idea of a joke.

Weddings attracted gossip; maybe one of the guests wanted to create an unnecessary drama.

She was about to delete it when another message appeared.

Don't tell anyone. Go alone.

Her stomach tightened as she glanced around the ballroom, Daniel wasn't there and that was unusual.

He had disappeared almost twenty minutes ago, Elena searched the crowd again, nothing, "where could he be?"she thought.

"Looking for Daniel?", Elena turned there

Victoria stood behind her, holding a champagne glass.

Her stepsister looked flawless in a fitted silver dress, her dark hair falling perfectly over her shoulders.

Elena forced a smile, "have you seen him?" , Victoria took a sip of champagne and replied "why are you asking me?" "He hasn't answered my calls”, Elena said.

"Maybe he's talking to someone”, said

Victoria, as her expression didn't change,then she smiled.

"Relax, Elena. You're getting married tomorrow. Don't ruin tonight by worrying about nothing”, she walked away.

Elena watched her disappear into the crowd, something felt wrong.

She looked at the message again, then at the staircase. Against her better judgment, she went upstairs.

The music faded behind her with every step,the second floor was quiet. Her heartbeat became louder as she approached the room described in the message.

Second door on the left, she stopped, the door was slightly open. Elena raised her hand and before she could touch it, she heard laughter from inside.

A woman's laughter, her blood ran cold. She knew that voice, it's Victoria's.

Elena stood completely still; maybe there was an innocent explanation or Victoria was discussing something about the wedding with Daniel.

She moved closer, then she heard Daniel's voice saying "Victoria, this isn't right."

Elena's breath caught, why was Daniel alone with Victoria?. Victoria answered softly "you said that last time." There was something intimate about her tone.

Elena's hand slowly closed around the door handle. Daniel spoke again. "What about Elena?"

The world seemed to hold its breath.

Victoria responded, "Do you actually love her?" Silence filled the room as Elena waited for the answers.

Her heart hammered against her ribs.

Finally, Daniel answered "No."

The single word destroyed two years of memories, Elena's eyes filled with tears, she couldn't move.

Inside the room, Victoria laughed quietly, "Then why are you still pretending?" she asked Daniel.

Elena pushed the door open, her worst fear became reality; Daniel was standing beside the bed with his shirt partly undone,Victoria was sitting nearby, dressed in a silk robe.

They stared at Elena, nobody spoke.

Daniel's face went pale "Elena..." He exclaimed,she looked at him, then at Victoria.

Her voice came out barely above a whisper "what am I looking at?"she said.

Daniel immediately moved toward her "wait, please” trying to reach out to Elena but she stepped backward "don't come near me” she said.

"It's not what you think” Daniel replied.

Elena let out a bitter laugh, "then tell me what it is." Daniel opened his mouth to speak, nothing came out.

Her eyes dropped to his shirt,then to Victoria.

"How long has this been happening, answer me!"

"Almost a year” Victoria finally spoke, as Elena turned toward her.

Daniel looked furious "Victoria, shut up” he said,but Elena barely heard him.

For twelve months, she had been planning a future with a man who had already chosen someone else.

For twelve months, Victoria had smiled at her and even helped Elena select wedding decorations, discussed dresses with her, listened to Elena talk excitedly about Daniel, while secretly sleeping with him.

Elena's hands began to shake, "you knew what you were doing."

Victoria stood up and said "You weren't exactly his perfect wife." Elena stared at her. "What did you just say?" Victoria shrugged. "Daniel was unhappy."

Daniel didn't defend Elena,that hurt more than anything, Elena turned to him. "Did you ever love me?" His eyes dropped. "I cared about you.

She swallowed painfully. "That's not an answer." He said nothing.

Her engagement ring suddenly felt unbearably heavy, Elena pulled it from her finger.

Daniel's eyes widened. "Elena, please."

She placed the ring in his hand. "Keep it."

"Don't do this." She looked at him one final time.

"I planned a marriage with a man who couldn't even remain faithful before the wedding." Her voice cracked.

"But at least now I know the truth." She turned toward the door, Daniel reached for her. "Elena, I'm sorry." She stopped.

For a moment, she looked back,then she shook her head; "You're not sorry because you betrayed me." Her eyes filled again. "You're sorry because I caught you." She walked away.

This time, neither of them followed.

Elena barely remembered making it to the bathroom, the moment the door locked behind her, her knees gave way,she sank onto the floor.

The tears she had been fighting finally escaped,she covered her mouth to silence the sob that came from her chest.

How could Daniel and Victoria do this?

She remembered their first date, his nervous smile, the way he had held her hand, his proposal, his promise that she was the only woman he wanted, all lies!!

Her wedding dress was waiting downstairs, the guests were celebrating, her family was probably discussing tomorrow's ceremony, yet her marriage had already ended before it had even begun.

Her phone rang,she looked at the screen.

Dad, she ignored, It rang again,she still didn't answer.

The third time, she finally picked up "Where are you?" Richard Carter demanded, Elena closed her eyes."I need to leave." "Come downstairs." "Dad—" "Now."

His tone was unusually serious,Elena wiped her cheeks and slowly stood. "Why?" "We need to discuss tomorrow." she almost laughed. "Tomorrow?" "Yes."

"My wedding isn't happening anymore." "I know. "Elena froze. "What?" "I know what happened."

Her fingers tightened around the phone. "You knew Daniel was cheating?" "That isn't important." Her heart sank.

"How can you say that?" "Because the wedding will still happen." Elena stared at the mirror. "Are you listening to yourself?"

"You're no longer marrying Daniel."

A terrible feeling settled in her stomach. "Then who?"bRichard paused, when he spoke again, his voice was firm. "Ethan Black."

Elena's face went blank,the name was familiar, everyone knew it.

Ethan Black, the mysterious heir behind the Blackwell business empire, a man so wealthy that newspapers rarely discussed his personal life because almost nobody knew anything about him.

Elena shook her head. "That's impossible." "You will marry him tomorrow." "I've never even met him!" "You don't need to know him."

Her chest tightened. "Why would a stranger agree to marry me?" Richard didn't answer immediately.

Then he said quietly, "Because this marriage is necessary." "For what?"

Silence, Elena's uneasiness turned into fear. "Dad, what aren't you telling me?" His voice dropped. "You don't understand the situation you're in.

"Then explain it." "I can't." "You can't?" "Not over the phone."

Elena gripped the edge of the sink. "Then I'm not marrying anyone." Richard's response was immediate. "If you refuse, you may put yourself in danger."

Elena stopped breathing. "What does that mean?" But the call had already ended.

She stared at the screen, her broken engagement suddenly seemed like the smallest problem in her life.

Her father had arranged another marriage, with a man she had never met, somehow… Ethan Black had already agreed to become her husband.

Tomorrow, Elena Carter would walk down the aisle again, but this time, she wouldn't be walking toward the man she loved, she would be walking toward a complete stranger whose secrets might be far more dangerous than the betrayal she had just survived.

She had no idea that the man waiting for her was hiding an identity that could change her entire life……..