The Swap
I was never going to be the bride.
That was my sister Sofeeyah’s dress hanging in the glass cage. Her name printed in golden calligraphy on every wedding invite. Her face plastered across every gossip blogs next to her is Zayden, the mysterious billionaire, tech mogul and Nigeria’s most eligible bachelor.
But 48 hours before the wedding, sofeeyah disappeared. No text, no calls, no goodbye.
My family was in a frenzy. My mother cried so hard that she could barely breathe. My father raged and begged me to protect the family’s reputation. And Zayden? well he just stood there. Cold, Calculated, Powerful.
“I need a bride by Saturday”, he said, his deep voice steady. “If your sister won’t show, someone else will”.
“If the wedding is cancelled,” he continued, both families will be humiliated. Your father’s company is already in debt. The media will destroy your name. And my shareholders? They’ll pull out within hours”.
He turned and met his eyes with mine cold and calculating and he said “You should stand for your sister”
Everyone turned to me.
Me. Amira. The quiet, unnoticed younger sister, the overlooked one?
The afterthought
Now, here I am, standing at the altar, in her dress with her man and I have no idea what I’ve just agreed to.