The Substitute Bride

The Announcement

"Grace, your phone won't stop ringing."

I opened my eyes to find Bella standing in my bedroom doorway, holding my phone out like it was a bomb. The screen showed fifteen missed calls and counting.

"What time is it?" I sat up, my head foggy.

"Almost noon. Who's Margaret Hunt, and why has she called you eight times?"

Right. The announcement. It was going out at noon.

I grabbed the phone. "She's Nathan's mother. I need to call her back."

"Grace—"

"I'll explain later. I promise."

Bella left, but I could feel her worry through the closed door. I called Margaret back.

"Finally," she answered. "The press release went out ten minutes ago. Your phone is about to explode."

"What did it say exactly?"

"That Ryan and Grace Miller have ended their engagement by mutual agreement. That you and Nathan met during the wedding preparations and fell deeply in love. That the wedding will proceed as planned this Saturday with Nathan Hunt as the groom. It's already trending online."

My stomach dropped. "Trending?"

"Nathan is a billionaire CEO, Grace. People care about his life. Now get dressed. We have appointments."

"What appointments?"

"Dress fitting. Hair. Makeup trial. You're marrying into the Hunt family. You need to look the part." She paused. "Be ready in an hour. I'm sending a car."

She hung up before I could argue.

I checked my phone. Twenty-three missed calls now. Texts from numbers I didn't recognize. My social media was flooded with friend requests and messages. I opened one news article.

HUNT BROTHERS LOVE TRIANGLE: Billionaire CEO Nathan Hunt to Marry Brother's Ex-Fiancee

There was a photo of Nathan from some business event. And next to it, a photo of me from my social media. I looked so ordinary next to him. So out of place.

The comments were brutal.

“Gold digger”.

“She traded up”.

“Poor Ryan”.

“What does he see in her”?

I closed the app before I could read more.

"Grace?" Bella knocked softly. "Can I come in?"

"Yeah."

She sat on my bed, her face serious. "It's all over the internet. You and Nathan Hunt."

"I know."

"People are saying terrible things."

"I know that too."

Bella took my hand. "Is this real? Are you really in love with him? Because if someone is forcing you to do this—"

"No one's forcing me." I squeezed her hand. "I know it's fast. I know it looks crazy. But I need you to trust me."

"I'm trying. But Grace, I've never even met this man. And now he's going to be my brother-in-law?"

"You'll meet him. Soon. He's just been busy with work."

Another lie. Nathan hadn't mentioned wanting to meet Bella. We'd barely spoken since last night.

My phone rang. Unknown number. I answered.

"Is this Grace Miller?"

"Yes?"

"This is Jessica Chen from City Magazine. I'm calling about your engagement to Nathan Hunt. Can I ask you a few questions?"

"No. Sorry. I have to go."

I hung up. Immediately, another call came in. Different number. I turned off my phone.

"This is insane," I whispered.

"Welcome to marrying a billionaire, I guess." Bella tried to smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "What time is the car coming?"

"An hour."

"Then let's get you ready."

Bella helped me pick an outfit. We settled on a simple dress and flats. She did my makeup while I sat still, trying not to think about the hundreds of people online dissecting my life.

"You know what's weird?" Bella said, applying mascara. "I always thought when you got married, I'd be happy. Excited. But right now, I'm just scared."

"Scared of what?"

"That I'm losing you. That you're going into this world I don't understand, and I won't fit anymore."

I grabbed her hand. "You'll always fit. You're my sister. Nothing changes that."

"Everything's changing, Grace."

She was right. Everything was changing. And I didn't know if it was for better or worse.

The car arrived exactly one hour later. A sleek black sedan with a driver in a suit. Bella watched from the window as I got in.

"Text me when you're done," she called out.

"I will."

The driver took me to a boutique in the most expensive part of the city. Margaret was waiting inside with two assistants and a stern-looking woman with measuring tape around her neck.

"Grace. Good. You're here." Margaret looked me up and down. "This is Madame Laurent. She'll be handling your dress."

"I thought I was wearing the dress I already bought," I said.

"That dress is fine for a simple wedding. This is a Hunt wedding. You need something better." Margaret gestured to Madame Laurent. "Show her the options."

For the next two hours, I was poked and prodded and dressed in gowns that cost more than my yearly salary. Margaret rejected most of them. Too simple. Too flashy. Wrong color. Wrong style.

Finally, we found one Margaret approved. It was beautiful, I had to admit. White silk that flowed like water. Elegant but not overdone. It made me look like I belonged in Nathan's world.

"Perfect," Margaret said. "We'll take it."

"It needs alterations," Madame Laurent said. "I'll have it ready by Friday."

Next was the hair salon. Then makeup. Then a meeting with a wedding planner who talked so fast I could barely keep up. Flowers. Music. Seating arrangements. Everything was already decided. I just had to show up and play my part.

By the time we finished, it was almost six PM. I was exhausted.

"One more stop," Margaret said as we got back in the car.

"Where?"

"Nathan's house. You're moving in tomorrow. You should see where you'll be living."

My heart started racing. I wasn't ready to see Nathan again. Not yet.

But fifteen minutes later, we pulled up to a modern mansion that made Margaret's house look small. All glass and steel and sharp edges. Like Nathan himself.

Margaret led me inside. The foyer was massive, with high ceilings and abstract art on the walls. Everything was expensive and cold and impersonal.

"Nathan's room is upstairs, east wing," Margaret said. "Your room is west wing. Separate bathrooms. Separate closets. You'll have privacy."

"You mean we're not sharing a room?"

"Of course not. This is an arrangement, Grace. Not a real marriage."

Right. I kept forgetting that.

Margaret showed me my room. It was huge, bigger than my entire apartment. A king-size bed. A sitting area. A balcony overlooking the garden. My own bathroom with a tub that could fit three people.

"The movers will bring your things tomorrow," Margaret said. "Is there anything else you need?"

"No. This is fine."

"Good. Nathan should be home soon. I'll leave you two to talk."

She left. I stood alone in my new room and felt like crying. This was my life now. This beautiful, empty cage.

I heard footsteps in the hallway. Then a knock on the door.

"Come in."

Nathan opened the door. He wore a suit with the tie loosened. He looked tired.

"You saw the house," he said.

"Yes."

"Any problems?"

"No. It's very nice."

We stood there awkwardly. Two strangers about to become husband and wife.

"The press has been brutal today," Nathan said. "I'm sorry about that."

"It's not your fault."

"Still. If they harass you directly, let me know. I'll handle it."

"Okay."

More silence.

"I have to work late tonight," Nathan said. "But tomorrow evening, we're having dinner with my mother and some family friends. You'll need to be here by six."

"I'll be here."

Nathan nodded and turned to leave. Then he stopped. "Grace?"

"Yes?"

"Are you having second thoughts?"

I thought about the money that appeared in my bank account this morning. One million dollars. I'd paid Bella's tuition. Paid off the hospital debt. Put money aside for rent. For the first time in three years, I could breathe.

"No," I said. "No second thoughts."

"Good. Neither am I."

He left. I sat on the edge of my giant new bed and pulled out my phone. I'd turned it back on in the car. Fifty-seven missed calls now. Hundreds of messages.

One text stood out. From Ryan.

“I'm sorry, Grace. I never meant for it to happen like this. Are you okay”?

I stared at the message. Was I okay? I didn't even know anymore.

I typed back: “I'm fine. Be happy with Olivia”.

Then I blocked his number.

My phone rang again. Another unknown number. I almost didn't answer. But something made me pick up.

"Hello?"

"Grace Miller?" A woman's voice, cold and sharp.

"Yes?"

"This is Sophia Laurent. I'm a friend of Nathan's. An old friend."

The name sounded familiar, but I couldn't place it.

"I wanted to call and congratulate you on your engagement," Sophia continued. "It's so sudden. So surprising. Nathan never mentioned he was seeing anyone."

"It happened quickly."

"Clearly." There was something mean in her laugh. "I'm actually in town next week. I'd love to take you to lunch. Get to know the woman who caught Nathan's heart. He's usually so careful about who he lets in."

Warning bells went off in my head. "I'm not sure my schedule—"

"Oh, I insist. Nathan and I have a very special history. I'm sure he's told you all about me."

He hadn't. He'd told me nothing about his life.

"I really have to go," I said.

"Of course. But Grace? A word of advice. Be careful with Nathan. He's not as cold as he seems. And when he breaks, he breaks hard. I should know. I'm the one who broke him."

She hung up.

I sat frozen, phone in my hand. Who was Sophia Laurent? And why did she sound like a threat?

I heard Nathan's door close down the hall. I thought about going to ask him. But we weren't that kind of married couple. We didn't share secrets.

I was on my own.