The Substitute Bride

The Decision

"I need to go out tonight."

Bella looked up from her sketchbook, pencil still in hand. "Again? Grace, what's going on?"

I was folding laundry on the couch, trying to keep my hands busy so Bella wouldn't see them shaking. It was six PM. Two hours until I had to be at the Hunt mansion. Two hours to decide if I was really going to do this.

"Just meeting someone about a job opportunity," I said.

"What kind of job?" Bella put down her pencil. "Grace, you're being weird. Ever since you went to see Mrs. Hunt this morning, you've been acting strange."

"I'm not acting strange."

"You've refolded that same shirt three times."

I looked down. She was right. I dropped the shirt and sat down. "I'm fine. Just tired."

Bella moved to sit next to me. She took my hand. "Talk to me. Please. We don't keep secrets."

I wanted to tell her everything. About the contract. About Nathan. About the two million dollars that could change our lives. But I couldn't. Not yet. Not until I decided.

"There's nothing to talk about," I said. "I promise. After tonight, everything will be clearer."

Bella didn't look convinced, but she squeezed my hand. "Okay. But I'm here when you're ready."

I hugged her tight. "I know. I love you."

"Love you too."

At seven thirty, I got dressed. I changed clothes four times before settling on jeans and a simple black sweater. If I was going to do this, I wasn't going to pretend to be someone I wasn't. Nathan Hunt would get me as I was, or not at all.

The bus was late. I checked my phone every thirty seconds. Traffic was bad. By the time I got to the Hunt mansion, it was eight fifteen.

I ran up the driveway and rang the bell. The same maid from this morning answered.

"I'm late. I'm sorry. Is Mrs. Hunt—"

"She's waiting in the study. Follow me."

My heart pounded as we walked through the mansion. What if they'd changed their minds? What if being late meant I'd lost my chance?

But when the maid opened the study door, Margaret was there. So was Nathan. They both looked at me.

"You're late," Margaret said.

"The bus was delayed. I'm sorry."

Nathan stood by the window, his hands in his pockets. "But you came. That's your answer?"

I took a deep breath. "I have conditions."

Margaret raised an eyebrow. "Conditions?"

"If I do this, I need some things to be different."

"Such as?" Nathan turned to face me fully.

"I need half the money up front, but I need it tomorrow. My sister's tuition is due in two weeks, and I have other debts that can't wait a year."

"That can be arranged," Margaret said.

"And I need to tell Bella something. Not the truth, but something close to it. I can't lie to her for a whole year."

"What will you tell her?" Nathan asked.

"That you and I met through Ryan. That we fell for each other. That the wedding is still happening, just with a different groom."

"She'll believe that?" Nathan's voice was skeptical.

"She'll think it's crazy, but she'll believe me because I've never lied to her before." The guilt twisted in my stomach. "She trusts me."

Nathan and Margaret exchanged looks. Some silent conversation passed between them.

"Fine," Margaret said. "Anything else?"

"Yes. I keep my job at the restaurant."

"Absolutely not," Margaret said immediately. "You'll be Nathan Hunt's wife. You can't work as a waitress."

"Then I keep one of my jobs. The convenience store." I looked at Nathan. "You said we'd stay out of each other's way. I need something that's mine. Something normal."

"Why?" Nathan asked.

"Because in a year, this all ends. And I'll need to go back to my real life. I can't forget who I am."

Nathan studied me for a long moment. Then he nodded. "Fine. Keep the convenience store job. But if it interferes with your duties as my wife, it ends."

"Deal."

"Is that everything?" Margaret asked.

"One more thing. I want it in writing that after the year ends, you leave Bella alone. No contact. No interference in her life. She doesn't need to know any of this was fake."

"Agreed," Nathan said before his mother could answer.

Margaret pulled out the contract. "Then we have a deal. Sign here."

She pushed the papers across the desk. I picked up the pen. My hand shook.

This was it. Once I signed, there was no going back. I'd be Nathan Hunt's wife. For better or worse.

I thought about Bella's face when she talked about the art program. I thought about the debt collectors who called every week. I thought about my parents and how hard they'd worked to give us a good life, how unfair it was that I was still paying for their deaths.

I signed my name.

Margaret smiled. "Welcome to the family, Grace."

It didn't feel like a welcome. It felt like a prison door closing.

"The wedding is in five days," Margaret continued. "We'll announce the change tomorrow. You'll need to move into Nathan's house by Wednesday to make it convincing. I'll have my assistant coordinate with you on the details."

"I need to talk to Bella first."

"Do it tomorrow. The announcement goes out at noon." Margaret stood up. "Nathan will drive you home."

"I can take the bus—"

"You're about to become a Hunt. You don't take the bus anymore." Margaret left the room.

Nathan grabbed his keys from the desk. "Let's go."

We walked to the garage in silence. Nathan's car was black and sleek and probably cost more than I'd make in ten years. He opened the passenger door for me. I got in.

The leather seats were soft. Everything smelled expensive. Nathan got in the driver's side and started the car. It purred to life.

"Where do you live?" he asked.

I gave him my address. He pulled out of the garage.

We drove in silence for several minutes. The city lights blurred past. I couldn't believe this was happening. Yesterday I was engaged to Ryan. Tonight I was engaged to his brother.

"Why did you say yes?" Nathan asked suddenly.

"You know why. The money."

"That's not what I'm asking." He glanced at me. "You could have said no. Found another way. Why did you really say yes?"

I looked out the window. "Because I'm tired. Tired of working two jobs and still not having enough. Tired of watching my sister sacrifice her dreams. Tired of being one emergency away from losing everything." I turned to him. "Why did you agree to this? You could find a real wife. Someone from your world."

"I don't want a real wife."

"Why not?"

Nathan's jaw tightened. "Because people leave. They lie. They use you. A contract is honest. I know exactly what I'm getting. No surprises. No disappointments."

"That's a lonely way to live."

"I prefer lonely to heartbroken."

Something in his voice made me think there was a story there. But I didn't ask. We weren't going to be that kind of married couple.

Nathan pulled up in front of my apartment building. He looked at it, and I saw his expression. This place was a dump compared to his mansion. But it was home.

"I'll pick you up on Wednesday," he said. "Pack everything you need for a year."

"Okay."

I got out of the car. Then I leaned back in. "Nathan?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you. For agreeing to the convenience store job. It matters to me."

He nodded but didn't say anything. I closed the door and watched him drive away.

When I walked into the apartment, Bella was waiting up.

"Where were you? It's almost ten."

"Sit down. I need to tell you something."

Bella's face went pale. "Oh God. Are you sick? Is it cancer?"

"No, nothing like that." I sat next to her on the couch. "Do you remember when I told you Ryan and I broke up?"

"That was yesterday, Grace. Of course I remember."

"Well, something else happened. Something I didn't tell you."

"What?"

I took a deep breath. "I met his brother. Nathan. And we connected. Really connected. And I know this sounds insane, but we're getting married."

Bella stared at me. "What?"

"The wedding is still happening. This Saturday. Just with Nathan instead of Ryan."

"Grace, have you lost your mind? You met this man yesterday?"

"I know how it sounds—"

"It sounds like you've had a mental breakdown!" Bella stood up, pacing. "You can't marry someone you just met! That's crazy! That's—" She stopped. "Wait. Does this have something to do with money?"

My silence was answer enough.

"Grace, no. Tell me you didn't agree to some kind of arrangement."

"It's not like that. Nathan and I, we just clicked. And yes, he's wealthy, and yes, that helps. But I wouldn't marry someone I didn't want to marry."

The lies tasted like ash in my mouth.

Bella looked at me with tears in her eyes. "You're lying to me. You've never lied to me before, but you're lying right now."

"Bella—"

"I don't know what's really going on, but I know it's not love. Grace, please don't do this. Whatever it is, we'll find another way."

I stood up and took her hands. "Trust me. Please. I know what I'm doing."

"Do you?"

Honestly? I had no idea. But I'd already signed the contract. There was no turning back now.

"Yes," I said. "I do."

Bella pulled her hands away. "Fine. But when this blows up in your face, don't say I didn't warn you."

She went to her room and closed the door. I stood alone in the living room and wondered if I'd just made the biggest mistake of my life.

My phone buzzed. A text from Nathan.

The money will be in your account by morning. Welcome to the family.

I looked at the message and felt nothing. No excitement. No relief. Just emptiness.

In five days, I'd be Mrs. Nathan Hunt.

God help me.