MORE THAN A WIFE, I CAN BE ANYONE

Everyone thought I married Adrian Vale because I loved him. They were wrong. I married him because I needed access to his family. And Adrian married me because he needed a wife. Neither of us expected to fall in love. Neither of us expected to become enemies. And neither of us knew that our marriage had been planned long before we ever met. Three years ago, I stood beneath the crystal chandeliers of Saint Aurelia Cathedral, wearing a wedding gown that cost more than the house I had grown up in. Everything was perfect. White roses filled the cathedral. Gold decorations covered the walls. Hundreds of wealthy guests watched from their seats while cameras flashed from every direction. It was the kind of wedding people dreamed about. Elegant. Beautiful. Unforgettable. Except for one small detail. I didn't love the man waiting for me at the altar. Adrian Vale. Thirty-one years old. Billionaire. CEO. Heir to the Vale Empire. The youngest man to take control of his family's conglomerate. Women wanted him. Men respected him. Competitors feared him. And his family worshipped him. At least, that was what the world believed. I knew better. Adrian was cold, suspicious, calculating, and nearly impossible to read. Most importantly, he trusted no one. Especially not me. When I reached the altar, he extended his hand. I placed mine in his. His fingers were cold. “Smile,” he whispered. I kept my smile in place. “I am smiling.” “You look like you're attending a funeral.” I glanced at him. “Maybe I am.” For half a second, the corner of his mouth lifted. Almost a smile. Then it disappeared. The priest continued speaking, but my attention drifted toward the first row. Victoria Vale. Adrian's mother. She sat proudly in an elegant black gown, watching the ceremony with satisfaction. Beside her was Damien Vale, Adrian's cousin and one of the most ambitious executives in the Vale Empire. They were surrounded by the family I had spent six months studying. The family I had sworn never to trust. The family connected to my father's death. My fingers tightened around Adrian's hand. He noticed. “You're nervous,” he whispered. “No.” “Then why are your hands shaking?” “Maybe because I'm marrying a stranger.” His eyes met mine. “You've known me for six months.” “That isn't long enough to know someone.” Something unreadable crossed his face. “Perhaps.” The priest finally reached the vows. “Adrian Vale, do you take this woman to be your lawful wife?” Adrian stared at me. For several seconds, he said nothing. Then— “I do.” Applause erupted throughout the cathedral. The priest turned toward me. “And do you take Adrian Vale to be your lawful husband?” I looked into his eyes. There was no love there. Only a silent warning. Don't betray me. I smiled. “I do.” The cathedral erupted again. Nobody knew the truth. I wasn't marrying Adrian Vale because I loved him. I was marrying him because his family had something I desperately needed. The truth. --- Three hours later, the wedding reception was in full swing. Music filled the enormous ballroom. Waiters carried champagne between tables while guests laughed and danced. The newlyweds were supposed to be the center of attention. But Adrian had disappeared. I couldn't blame him. He hated parties. He hated cameras even more. And apparently, he hated pretending to be a loving husband for more than ten minutes. His disappearance gave me exactly what I needed. Freedom. I slipped away from the ballroom and stepped onto the balcony. The night air brushed against my skin. Below, the gardens stretched across the Vale estate, illuminated by dozens of small lights. I reached into my purse and checked my phone. One new message. UNKNOWN: He's alone. Second floor. West corridor. Five minutes. My eyes narrowed. I deleted the message immediately. Then I looked toward the mansion. The Vale residence was enormous. Three floors. Twenty-eight bedrooms. A private office wing. A security room. And somewhere inside it was an archive containing decades of Vale family records. That was where I needed to go. Tonight, I wasn't Mrs. Vale. Tonight, I was a woman searching for the truth. I stepped inside. A waiter approached. “Mrs. Vale?” I turned. “Yes?” “Mr. Vale asked me to tell you to meet him upstairs.” My heart skipped. “Where?” “The west corridor.” I froze. The same corridor from the message. Coincidence? Or had someone sent me there deliberately? “Thank you.” I walked upstairs. With every step, the music became quieter. The laughter faded behind me. By the time I reached the second floor, the hallway was completely silent. Then I saw him. Adrian stood beside a tall window, his wedding suit still perfectly fitted despite his loosened tie. “You're late,” he said. “I didn't know we had an appointment.” “You're my wife now.” I crossed my arms. “So?” His eyes moved toward me. “So you should know where your husband is.” A small smile touched my lips. “Is this jealousy?” “No.” “Possessiveness?” “No.” “Then what?” He stepped closer. “Suspicion.” My smile faded. “What are you suspicious of?” “You.” My heart remained steady. At least on the outside. “Why?” “Because you don't behave like a woman who just married me.” “And how should I behave?” “Happy.” I laughed softly. “Should I jump into your arms?” “You could try.” “You'd probably push me away.” “Probably.” “Then we're both better off.” Silence settled between us. Adrian studied me as if he were trying to uncover something hidden beneath my smile. Perhaps he was. Because I was hiding everything. My real reason for marrying him. My questions about his family. And the secret I had carried since my father's death. I turned away. “I think we've had enough conversation for tonight.” “Have we?” I looked back. His expression had changed. There was something dangerous in his eyes. “Remember one thing, Mrs. Vale.” “What?” “Everyone in this house has secrets.” My stomach tightened. “Including you?” “Especially me.” Before I could respond, his phone rang. He answered it. “Yes?” He listened. His expression slowly hardened. “What?” He ended the call. I watched him carefully. “What happened?” Adrian looked toward the dark hallway. Then back at me. “Nothing you need to worry about.” I frowned. “That's not very convincing.” He walked past me. “Go back downstairs.” “Adrian.” He stopped. For the first time, his voice carried something I couldn't identify. Fear. “Stay away from the west wing tonight.” My eyes narrowed. “Why?” He didn't answer. He simply walked away. I remained in the hallway, watching him disappear around the corner. The moment he was gone, I looked toward the west wing. He had just made one mistake. He told me not to go there. And now I wanted to know why. I took one step forward. Then another. My wedding night had barely begun. And already, I knew one thing for certain. Marrying Adrian Vale was going to be far more dangerous than I had imagined. Because I had entered the Vale family searching for the truth. But I had a feeling the truth had already been searching for me. And somewhere inside this mansion… Someone knew exactly who I really was.