Substitute bride

NA'S

ld. You've made me proud. At last, you've accomplished somethin

I'm doing this for Dad, not f

ed and mutter

e with my bags. We walked together to a large

etheart," my mother said, p

y were better than spending half a year with a man I barely k

u so much," Laura said after sh

I asked her before a man in a dark suit courteously opened th

ved goodbye to my mother and Lau

t dawned on me-where was Aiden

" I asked the driver, who did

lready left," he

ied, feeling o

I was. Maybe he would tire of me quickly and then he'd

ed about the life that await

myself as the van pulled up i

and opened the door for me. "Welcome, ma'am,

leading me into a grand room with

rtable," he said bef

the wooden coffee table decorated with books and a vase fill

gently, and I turned to find

me," I a

Felicia Rodriguez; I'm your chaperone," she

," I said, though my l

room tonight. The master is occupied with w

f-I hadn't planned on shar

to relax, and I'll show you to your room soon. Is th

er of me; I couldn't just sit there w

miring the exquisite paintings and artwork.

ldn't help but be captivated by it

ld be plenty of room for me t

the exquisite paintings and artwork-it f

e," I mused qu

rooms, a noise caught

y inner voice scolded 'Selena, n

s from behind one particular do

turning it slowly-nothing could h

liev

on what was supposed to be our first night a

someone to wake me from this dream

aw clenched, I struggled to cont

ked against a table, drawing

anted was for him

hiding spot, I col

"Why are you here? Haven't you heard of priva

ender woman in provocative at

ached him. She shot me a disdainful glance

. 'Cheap tramp,' I thought bitterly as she

Aiden demanded, his hand slamming a

s just exploring the mansion and got

ou were spying, weren't

you? You seemed quite content with your c

victim, Selena,"

rely a day, and you're already unfaithful.

ore his laughter faded into seriousness. "L

sted, but he paced impatient

ust afford me the same libe

ather's debts. In six months, this charade ends. You're free the

t, I exited and h

my eyes. No, I couldn't cry.

away tears, I sat on

er. "Madam, your room is rea

right?" Fel

ust a headache,"

medicine," she

at; thank you," I

ercame me. "Is this typic

ith sorrow in her eyes. "I'm sor

en. What else could be expec

elities," Felicia shared sof

self: only si

s... but brace yourself for his w

discomforted by her words despite knowin

she offered, but I interjected, "No, thank you. J

complied, her footsteps gu

ou need anything," she indicated,

ight, Ms.," she whispere

g I'd felt before. I wished it could seep i

sperate to escape. Why his past liaisons b

to me now? I pond

Felicia had laid out and slid between the c

n was a relief. He would not affect me; I r

an to make Aiden's life miserable eno

tion haunted me un

********

the room in a soft radiance. My eyes drifted ope

d away, unveiling a day s

arching for my luggage, only

thing to me. They were

Moving to the nightstand, I picked up t

filled with impatience,

oor, my mind still

icipated the usual click and

my forehead as I twisted the handl

ed in my chest with each

e door. Clarity returned as panic began to encro

rously, breathing quickeni

ttled over me-the door wa

ne please! I

could have done this? How will Selen