Their Betrayal Made Me His Bride

Chapter 1

To save my critically ill little sister, I joined a rich family's wife-selection game.

The winner would get engaged to Sterling Holt, the billionaire heir, plus a huge payout to save a life.

The final round was Truth or Dare.

Sterling sat casually in the main seat, twirling a wine glass between his long fingers, his eyes fixed right on me. "The question is — who do you love the most?"

I answered without a second thought. "Sterling Holt."

The whole room burst out laughing. Everyone thought I was a total hypocrite.

But Sterling smiled. He walked over, tilted my chin up, and said, "Nicely done. Game over. You win."

The next day, the payment for my sister's surgery hit the account.

I let out a breath of relief and sent him a message. "Mr. Holt, thank you so much. But there's already someone I love... about the engagement..."

He replied instantly with a video.

In the clip, my frail little sister and my childhood sweetheart boyfriend were locked in a deep kiss.

My boyfriend's voice was sickly sweet. "Baby, your sister's so stupid. She's willing to risk her life for you. Once we get the money, we'll travel the world together."

Right after, Sterling called me. His voice had a teasing edge to it. "Still wanna back out now... my darling fiancée?"

My phone slipped right out of my hand. The video kept looping.

On the screen, Wren straddled Shayne's lap, both arms wrapped around his neck, laughing hysterically. "If my sister finds out the money she sold herself for is bankrolling our honeymoon... think she'll lose it?"

Shayne Chase kissed the corner of her mouth, looking completely smitten. "Don't overthink it. As your big sister, it's her job to spend money on you."

My hands started shaking uncontrollably.

Just ten minutes ago, I'd been so grateful that Wren was finally saved.

To scrape together the three hundred thousand for her surgery, I sold the old house our parents left us.

I worked three jobs a day and lived off clearance-shelf, day-old bread from the supermarket.

I even skimped on decent tampons during my period just to afford imported meds for Wren.

And Shayne — my boyfriend — was always telling me how much he felt for me, how he'd treat me right for the rest of my life.

He told me, "Winnie, go ahead. Join the Holts' selection. Whatever happens, I'll wait for you."

Turns out, he was just waiting for me to bring the cash home so they could build their little dream life on it.

Sterling was still on the line, his tone totally indifferent. "Done watching?"

I picked up my phone, my throat dry and tight. "You knew all along, Mr. Holt?"

"Just found out last night." Sterling let out a low chuckle, "Originally wanted to see how sincere you were. Ended up watching one hell of a show instead."

Shame crept up my spine and crawled all the way to my scalp.

I'd faked all that devotion right in front of him. And I ended up being the biggest joke of all.

"The money's already been wired to the hospital. That said... if you don't want to marry me, I won't force it. Think of it as a loan. Triple the market interest rate. The engagement ends the day you pay back every last cent."

'Three hundred thousand dollars. Triple the interest. I couldn't pay it back even if I sold every drop of blood in my body.'

"I'm not backing out. I accept the engagement."

I gripped my phone so tightly the edge of the case dug painfully into my palm. "Mr. Holt, I just have one request."

A two-second pause on the other end.

"Go on."

"I want those two lowlifes to pay."

Sterling laughed, that deep, low sound vibrating right against my eardrum. "Your wish is my command. My driver will pick you up in thirty minutes. There's a dinner tonight. Time to show you how this world works. And teach you — if you're staying tied to this engagement — exactly what it takes to be Mrs. Holt."