The Substitute Husband.

Alana's POV.

After everyone left my room, I faced the full-length mirror, taking in my reflection. The princess dress I wore was a masterpiece, adorned with small, sparkling diamonds, custom-made by my father. It clung to my figure flawlessly, bound to capture headlines. A matching diamond necklace, earrings, and bracelet graced my neck, ears, and wrist, their value beyond imagination. A professional's touch had perfected my makeup, and my hair, typically flowing freely, was now elegantly placed in a neat bun.

With a smile on my red lips, I marvelled at the sight. I couldn't believe it-I was on the verge of marrying Daniel Ray, the man I cherished above all else. He had always been the one I imagined a future with. To the world, I was Alana Preston, a regular woman who had enjoyed the privileges of a well-off upbringing, eventually establishing her own agency in the entertainment industry. Yet concealed from the public eye was the truth-I was Alana Jordan, the hidden and sole heiress to the mighty Jordan group, an empire that held sway over a significant portion of the entertainment world, both directly and indirectly.

My phone rang, and I answered eagerly when I saw Daniel's name on the screen. He must be as thrilled as I was, considering we'd been planning this wedding for six months already!

"Hello, babe?" I answered, feeling a growing sense of nervousness and excitement in my stomach. Today was our wedding, oh god, I couldn't believe it.

"Alana... There won't be a wedding," Daniel said, his tone serious. I rolled my eyes, thinking he was just playing around.

"Very funny, this is a cruel joke." I shook my head, assuming he was trying to calm my wedding jitters.

"I'm not joking, Alana. I won't come... We will not get married," Daniel revealed, his words cutting through my nerves and replacing them with worry and fear.

"Not today? Did something happen?" I panicked, stumbling over my words. There was no way this was real, our wedding would take place.

"Not ever, Alana. I'm sure you'll find out any moment now," Daniel replied coldly. "I expect my ring back."

As soon as the call ended, I felt dizzy and collapsed on the bed, trying to comprehend what had just happened. Right on cue, my mother barged into the room, her face etched with concern. At that moment, I realized that whatever Daniel had done, was something that could not be undone.

"Alana... I'm so, so sorry," Mom said as she sat down next to me.

"What did he do?" I asked, fighting back tears and trying to remain composed.

"You don't know?" Mom's lips quivered, and she glanced at my father, who had entered the room.

"Show her, Nina," Dad said.

"Show me what?"

"Here." Mom handed me her phone.

I scanned the headlines that had gone viral only minutes ago.

'Daniel Ray spotted getting cozy with Suzanne Cook' read the first one. Cozy was a nice way of saying Suzanne laid half naked on top of Daniel at a resort's balcony.

'Wedding of the century called off as Daniel Ray leaves Alana Preston at the altar' said another.

'How will Alana Preston recover from being left at the altar by rising star Daniel Ray?' That one was particularly cruel.

Recover? As if I were some fragile soul? They had no idea who I truly was, but how would they?

My father had built a vast empire, one he had intended to share with me once I was married and proved myself capable of running my own business. After three years of dating, Daniel, our marriage was finally planned. My father's plan for me was to get married and only afterwards would the world find out I am Alana Jordan. It would take two years of marriage and running a successful agency for me to inherit his business but I was more excited about finally being myself. A world that would know me as a Jordan without being exploited. At least, that was the plan before Daniel destroyed everything.

This marriage was about more than just love for me. Daniel was indeed a rising star in Hollywood, and our union would bring significant publicity to my company. If I cast him in my projects, it would open doors for others in the industry. We could have had a life filled with love and luxury if he had gone through with it. I'll admit, from a business perspective, this marriage made sense, but I genuinely loved Daniel and had given my all to him.

Daniel could have spared me. He could've told me yesterday that this wasn't going to happen. Instead, he chose to humiliate me, leaving me at the altar. Worse still, I still couldn't prove to my father that I was ready to take over his empire.

"The media is going crazy with this news, did you know this would happen?" Dad scoffed, arms crossed as he stared out the window.

"Did I know that my ex-fiancé would cheat on me and leave me at the altar? No, Dad. I only got his call recently," I replied, earning a stern look from him. But Mom shot him a glare in return. This mess was mildly his fault, after all. He had been pushing for the wedding, wanting to test me before considering me for his company.

"Alana, I'm so sorry. I know you loved him a lot," Mom comforted me, gently rubbing my back, her lips pressed together.

"I did, Mom, I did," I admitted, feeling a lump forming in my throat. It was a win-win situation for Daniel. There was love, passion and growth for us both in our careers. I couldn't think of a single thing I'd want more.

"Alana, you've become the laughingstock-or you will if we don't fix this," Dad said, insensitively but realistically.

"How can we even fix this?" I scoffed. The media already knew I had been left at the altar.

"We'll have to create a story that you weren't left at the altar, that this was all planned," Dad began scheming out loud, his concern for his own reputation shining through. I should've expected it. "You'll have to find someone else to marry you, or I will."

Someone else? I had been so focused on Daniel and work that I barely had any friends left. I scrolled through my contacts on my phone, desperately searching for a suitable male to marry. But the few men on my list were either out of town or already married. I couldn't believe that Daniel was going to be my downfall.

The wedding was already delayed by thirty minutes, and I was sure the guests had started gossiping by now. All I could think about was how I had lost the person I thought was the love of my life and jeopardized my career.

A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. I stared up at the ceiling, fanning my eyes to prevent my tears from ruining my makeup. Another knock followed, and finally, I replied, "Come in."

My father opened the door halfway and flashed me a faint smile. "I've found someone for you. We've crafted a story that fits perfectly, one we can tell the media because he's from your past."

"You have?" I exclaimed, a glimmer of hope spreading across my face. Maybe I could salvage this situation and make my comeback.

"I have," Dad confirmed, pushing the door open wider to reveal his choice. "Alana, meet your old friend, Alec Fisher."

My eyes widened as I saw him standing there.

But Alec Fisher wasn't an old friend; he was my long-time rival. I could vividly recall how I had always been at the top of my class from kindergarten onwards, excelling in studies, music, sports, and the arts. However, everything changed in high school when Alec Fisher arrived on a scholarship at my prestigious private school. Without much effort, he consistently claimed the first-place spot, relegating me to second, always in his shadow. And this pattern persisted even in college. When we parted ways, I was more than relieved to never see him again. Yet here he was, in a perfectly tailored tuxedo, his hair impeccably gelled, and a smirk playing on his lips.

"What do you say, Alana? Will I see you at the altar?" he asked with a hint of challenge.

Would I let my sworn enemy become my savior?