unexpected Bride
1969 Words
Sienna’s POV
I was halfway through reviewing the documents Mia had sent me when my aunt walked into my office.
After that day, I had gone through Mia’s application again.
She was a perfect match for what I needed.
She had the experience, the qualifications, and, more importantly, she didn't seem like someone who would spend her time trying to impress me.
I hired her.
She started work the very next day.
I was still reading through one of the documents she had sent me when I looked up and saw my aunt standing by the door.
Her eyes moved around my office before settling on the files in front of me.
“I see you found yourself a new assistant.”
I nodded.
“Why are you here?” I asked.
She was smiling.
That alone made me suspicious.
“Sienna,” she said brightly. “Have you received the invitation?”
“What invitation?”
She pulled an envelope from her handbag and placed it on my desk.
I opened it and scanned the details.
A major private gathering.
Pharmaceutical executives. Hospital directors. Investors. Several prominent families.
And, apparently, reporters.
Lots of them.
I looked up.
“What’s this?”
“A very important gathering.”
“I can see that.”
“You should attend.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re the head of Blake Medical Group now. You can’t spend all your time hiding in your office.”
“I’m working.”
“Exactly. And now you have an opportunity to meet people who matter.”
I looked back at the invitation.
The guest list was impressive.
Even if I disliked my aunt, I couldn't deny that attending could be useful.
“I’ll go.”
Her smile widened.
“Good.”
“You’re going too?”
“Of course.”
“And your Chloe?”
“She’ll be coming with me.”
I nodded.
“When is it?”
“Tonight.”
I looked at her.
“Tonight?”
“There’s still enough time to get ready.”
She picked up her handbag.
Then she paused at the door.
“Oh, Sienna?”
“Yes?”
“Try not to embarrass yourself.”
I stared at her.
She smiled sweetly.
“I only mean that these people are very different from the people you were used to in the countryside.”
I leaned back in my chair.
“I’ll try my best.”
She walked away.
The moment the door closed, my smile disappeared.
I knew exactly what she was doing.
She wanted me there because she knew there would be cameras.
She wanted to watch me stumble in front of people who mattered.
Fine.
If she wanted a show, I would give her one.
Just not the one she was expecting.
---
By the time we arrived, I understood why my aunt had been so excited.
Luxury cars lined the entrance.
Reporters stood behind barriers, cameras hanging from their shoulders.
Important-looking guests moved through the doors while photographers called their names.
I stepped out of the car.
My aunt immediately adjusted her dress.
Her daughter checked her reflection on her phone.
I glanced at both of them.
“Ready?”
My aunt smiled.
“Of course.”
We walked inside.
The hall was enormous.
Crystal lights hung from the ceiling, illuminating hundreds of guests.
I slowed down.
Something felt strange.
There were flowers everywhere.
Too many flowers.
And the center of the hall had been arranged like an aisle.
I frowned.
“This is a pharmaceutical gathering?”
My aunt looked around.
“I suppose so.”
“You suppose?”
She frowned.
“I’ve never attended one this large.”
That was when I realized she really didn't know.
Interesting.
Before I could say anything else, the lights dimmed.
Everyone turned toward the stage.
A man walked onto it.
The whispers started immediately.
“Adrian Hart.”
“He actually came.”
“I heard he rarely attends public events.”
My eyes moved toward the stage.
The man standing there was tall, broad-shouldered and dressed in a perfectly fitted black suit.
He didn't smile.
He didn't wave.
He simply stood there as if hundreds of people weren't watching him.
“Who is he?” I whispered.
My aunt leaned toward me.
“Adrian Hart.”
“And?”
She gave me a look.
“Everyone knows Adrian Hart.”
Apparently, I didn't.
The host stepped forward.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us tonight.”
The room quieted.
“Tonight marks a very important occasion for the Hart family.”
I frowned.
My aunt looked confused too.
Then the host smiled.
“And now, we welcome the bride.”
A murmur spread through the room.
I looked around.
Bride?
Then the host turned toward the entrance.
“Miss Sienna Blake.”
I froze.
My heart skipped.
No.
Surely I had heard wrong.
“Miss Sienna Blake, please come forward.”
Every head turned toward me.
The cameras followed.
My aunt stared at me.
Her daughter stared at me.
I pointed at myself.
“Me?”
A man in a black suit approached.
“Miss, please follow me.”
“Why?”
“Please.”
I didn't move.
“What is this?”
He didn't answer.
My aunt finally stepped forward.
“Sienna—”
A bodyguard stopped her.
“Ma'am, please remain here.”
“What is going on?” she demanded.
I looked at her.
For once, she looked just as confused as I was.
I had no choice.
I walked forward.
The whispers grew louder.
“Isn't that the Blake heiress?”
“I thought she was raised in the countryside.”
“Why is she marrying Adrian Hart?”
“Wasn't he supposed to marry someone else?”
I ignored them.
At least, I tried to.
Then a woman suddenly screamed.
“You!”
I stopped.
She pushed through the crowd, tears of rage filling her eyes.
“You're the woman!”
Security immediately moved toward her.
She pointed at me.
“You're the woman who took my place!”
“What?”
“I was supposed to marry him!”
She struggled against the guards.
“My name is Elena Hayes! I'm the woman who was supposed to become Mrs. Hart!”
The hall exploded with whispers.
She pointed at me again.
“You countryside b***h! How dare you take my place?”
My jaw tightened.
“I don't even know you.”
“You—”
The guards dragged her away as she continued screaming.
I turned toward the stage.
Adrian Hart was watching me.
His expression hadn't changed.
I walked toward him.
“What is going on?”
He didn't answer.
Instead, he reached for a small velvet box.
My eyes dropped to it.
He opened it.
A diamond ring sat inside.
My stomach turned.
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“Give me your hand.”
I stared at him.
“Are you insane?”
The crowd went silent.
His hand reached for mine.
I pulled it away.
“Don't touch me.”
He looked at me calmly.
“You're making a scene.”
I laughed in disbelief.
“I'm making a scene?”
I pointed toward the hundreds of people surrounding us.
“You dragged me onto a stage, called me a bride, and now you're trying to put a ring on my finger!”
He said nothing.
That calm expression was beginning to infuriate me.
“Who the hell do you think you are?”
“Adrian Hart.”
“I know your name!”
He reached for my hand again.
That was it.
SMACK!
The sound echoed through the hall.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
I had slapped him.
Hard.
His head had turned slightly from the impact.
Nobody moved.
Someone in the crowd whispered,
“Did she just slap Adrian Hart?”
His secretary looked like he'd forgotten how to breathe.
I stared at Adrian.
My palm was burning.
Good.
He slowly turned his face back toward me.
Our eyes met.
I expected anger.
Instead, there was something else in his eyes.
Amusement.
That somehow made me even angrier.
I grabbed his wrist.
“Come with me.”
His eyebrow lifted.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
I pulled him away from the stage.
The secretary followed immediately.
We entered a quiet corridor.
I released his wrist and turned toward him.
“What in God's name is happening?”
He said nothing.
“I know I'm from the countryside. I know I don't know everyone here. I know I'm new to this city.”
I pointed toward the hall.
“But don't mistake that for stupidity.”
He watched me silently.
“I don't know you. I've never met you. I have no idea who that woman is, and I certainly don't know why hundreds of people are standing there waiting for me to marry you.”
I took a breath.
“So start talking.”
He stared at me for several seconds.
Then he turned and walked away.
I blinked.
“Hey!”
He kept walking.
I followed.
“I'm talking to you!”
He stopped at the end of the corridor.
Without turning around, he said,
“If you want to know the answer, follow me.”
I stared at his back.
I hated that calm voice.
I hated that he acted like he knew something I didn't.
But I needed answers.
So I followed him.
His secretary came behind us.
We entered a private room.
Adrian walked toward the sofa and sat down.
I remained standing.
He reached for a folder on the table and pushed it toward me.
“Open it.”
I stared at him.
“What is this?”
“You want answers.”
I picked it up.
The moment I opened it, my heart stopped.
I knew this document.
I flipped through the pages.
My eyes moved faster.
Then I saw it.
Sienna Blake.
My name.
I looked at the date.
My breathing stopped.
That was the day I had gone to the State Bureau.
The day my aunt told me to collect the document.
The day I signed something without properly reading it.
“No…”
I pulled out my phone with trembling fingers.
I had taken a picture of the document that day.
I opened it.
Compared the two.
Same wording.
Same names.
Same date.
Same signatures.
My legs weakened.
I slowly sat down.
I stared at the final page.
Marriage Agreement.
My name was written beside his.
I swallowed.
“How…”
My voice cracked.
“How did I not see this?”
I rubbed my forehead.
I'd spent days trying to prove that I was capable of running a company.
I'd questioned managers.
I'd challenged executives.
I'd fought everyone who treated me like an inexperienced girl.
And I couldn't even properly read one document before signing it.
A bitter laugh escaped me.
“Is this how I'm supposed to run a company?”
Adrian remained silent.
I looked up at him.
“So I'm married to you?”
“Yes.”
I stared.
“I don't know you.”
“I know.”
“I never agreed to this.”
“You signed it.”
“I want an annulment.”
“No.”
My eyes widened.
“What?”
“No.”
“You can't just decide that.”
“I already did.”
I stood.
“You're unbelievable.”
He walked toward the door.
I followed.
“Where are you going?”
He stopped.
Then turned toward me.
For the first time, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
“Congratulations, Miss Hart.”
My heart stopped.
He stepped closer.
“We're officially married.”
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