THE ACCIDENTAL BRIDE

Chapter Two: Paper chains

"This way." Grayson's voice could have frozen water as he dragged Luna through the exit door.

Marcus followed, phone already pressed to his ear. "Keep the guests entertained. Yes, champagne for everyone. No, the couple needs a moment. Just tell them they are off to their honeymoon."

He dragged her into his car

" Where are we going?"

"Home"

"Huh?"

"Not a word now. Just sit quietly until we get home"

"I can't just—" he placed his free hand over her mouth shuting her up, his face still fixed on the road.

"I'm trying to think and at the same time, trying to get away from those bugs called reporters" he said looking at the revise mirror " I truth Marcus to handle the rest"

Soon, they got to a mansion and he parked his car, Marcus car was right behind them as he parked his too.

Luna stumbled after Grayson as he dragged her, the wedding dress tangling around her legs. He led them into what looked like an office—all dark wood and leather and screamed money.

The door slammed shut.

"Explain," Grayson demanded, looming over her. "Now."

Luna drew herself up, meeting his glare. "I needed food, okay? I saw a party. I came in looking for leftovers or something."

"In a wedding dress?" His eyebrows shot up.

"It's from a thrift store!" She tugged at the cheap fabric. "It was all I could afford."

Marcus pinched the bridge of his nose. "So let me get this straight. You're not Helena Chen."

"That's what I've been trying to tell you!"

"Then who are you? Really?" Grayson asked, studying her like she was a bomb about to detonate.

"Luna Reyes. I'm from Raven Hollow. I came to the city yesterday, and I..." Her voice trailed off. No way was she telling them about Damien. "I needed a fresh start."

Grayson stared at the marriage license on the desk. "And instead you got married."

"I thought it was fake!" Luna threw up her hands. "Who marries someone they don't even recognize?"

"Apparently I do," he muttered, then turned to Marcus. "This is on you. You were supposed to vet her."

Marcus winced. "In my defense, the photo Helena's family sent was... not great. And this wedding was rushed."

"Can't we just—I don't know—tear it up?" Luna gestured to the license.

"Too late," Marcus said, scrolling through his phone. "The press release is already out. 'Vaughn Enterprises CEO Weds in Private Ceremony.' Stock's already up 3%."

"Stock?" Luna frowned.

"The whole point of this wedding," Grayson said, dropping into a leather chair, "was to secure the Miyamoto merger. They wanted stability. A family man. Not a—" he waved his hand vaguely, "—reputation."

"So this was never about love," Luna said flatly. "Just business."

Grayson snorted. "Love? Please. I've never even met Helena. Marcus arranged everything."

"And you have the nerve to be mad at me for marrying a stranger?" Luna rolled her eyes.

"At least I knew her name," he shot back.

Luna sank into a chair opposite him. "Well, just annul it. Tell the truth."

"Great idea," Marcus drawled. "I can see the headlines now: 'Control Freak CEO Marries Wrong Woman.' The merger would collapse overnight."

Grayson's jaw tightened. He stood again, pacing to the window and back.

"Three months," he finally said.

Luna blinked. "What?"

"We stay married for three months. Public appearances. Photo ops. Whatever it takes to get this merger through. Then we divorce quietly."

"You can't be serious."

"Do I look like I'm joking?" He didn't.

"And I'm supposed to just... what? Put my life on hold?"

Grayson's eyes swept over her worn shoes and the cheap dress. "From what I can see, your life could use a pause button."

Luna's cheeks burned. "You don't know anything about me."

"I know you crashed a wedding for food."

She opened her mouth, then closed it again. He had her there.

"Marcus," Grayson snapped. "Draw up a contract. Confidentiality agreement. Monthly allowance. Separate bedrooms, obviously."

"Wait." Luna stood up. "If I'm doing this, I want more than an 'allowance.' I want a lump sum at the end."

Grayson raised an eyebrow. "How much?"

She hadn't expected him to agree so quickly. She blurted, "Two hundred thousand."

Marcus whistled. Grayson didn't even blink.

"Done. But no mistakes. No drama. Clean record."

"My record is clean," she said. The bruises under her makeup told a different story, but those weren't her crimes.

"Let's hope it stays that way," Grayson replied. "Truth has a way of surfacing when you least expect it."

Luna thought of the money. Two hundred thousand dollars. Enough to start over for real. Somewhere Damien would never find her.

"I want it in writing," she said.

"Marcus will handle it." Grayson pressed a button on his desk. A thin woman with silver hair appeared at the door. "Mrs. Patel, please show Mrs. Vaughn to her quarters."

Mrs. Vaughn. The name hit Luna like a truck.

"Actually..." Her stomach growled loudly, betraying her. "Food first, please?"

Something flickered across Grayson's face—amusement? Pity? He nodded to Mrs. Patel. "See to it."

Luna headed for the door, desperate to escape his piercing gaze. But his voice stopped her.

"One more thing, Mrs. Vaughn."

She turned, hating how the name made her skin crawl.

"For the next three months, you're representing my name, my company, my legacy. Don't screw it up."

Luna met his eyes steadily. "Understood, Mr. Vaughn."

As she followed Mrs. Patel into the hallway, Luna's mind raced. Three months of fake marriage to a man who looked at her like she was something stuck to his shoe.

What could possibly go wrong?

"The east wing is yours," Mrs. Patel said, leading her through a maze of hallways. "Mr. Vaughn occupies the west."

Luna nodded absently, too overwhelmed to speak. The enormous mansion—because that's what it was, a literal mansion—gleamed with marble and gold and things she was afraid to touch.

"Your wardrobe has been prepared," Mrs. Patel continued. "We'll need to make adjustments, of course. Miss Chen was... different."

"Different how?"

"Taller. Thinner." Mrs. Patel's eyes swept over Luna's curves without judgment. "More reserved, according to her profile."

Luna almost laughed. "I'm guessing you guys know everything about her except what she actually looks like."

Mrs. Patel's lips twitched. "I find it's best not to question Mr. Vaughn's methods."

They reached a set of double doors. Mrs. Patel pushed them open to reveal a suite bigger than Luna's entire apartment back in Raven Hollow.

"This is all... mine?" Luna whispered.

"For the next three months," Mrs. Patel replied.

On a table by the window sat a covered silver tray. The smell made Luna's mouth water. She lifted the lid to find steak, potatoes, bread—more food than she'd seen in days.

"Eat," Mrs. Patel said, softer now. "Then rest. Tomorrow will be... challenging."

"What happens tomorrow?"

"Your first public appearance as Mrs. Vaughn. The press will want to meet the woman who tamed Grayson Vaughn."

Luna nearly choked on her first bite of bread. "Tamed? Him?"

Mrs. Patel smiled—actually smiled. "It seems you've both met your match."

When she left, Luna sat alone in the massive room, her fake wedding ring catching the light. Three months of pretending to be someone she wasn't. Three months of living with a man who clearly despised her. she thought again.

But at the end? Freedom. Real freedom.

She just had to survive Grayson Vaughn first.