The Heiress’s Gambit

Bianca’s wedding day began as a joyful occasion, radiant with laughter, roses, silk, and the warmth of family. But it ended in silence, sadness, and the slow unfurling of a nightmare she never imagined she'd be starring in. She stood beside her new husband, Lucas Deranto, who smiled sheepishly at her. They barely knew each other. Thrown into the whirlwind of a marriage arranged before she was even born, a promise made between two powerful men who only cared about legacy and debts. Lucas, one of the most eligible bachelors in the state, had it all: the looks, the wealth, the charisma. Any girl would have considered herself lucky to marry him. He had always been kind to Bianca, at least during the few brief encounters they’d had. Her father, Tyroid, was a businessman whose empire was crumbling. Desperate to save what was left, he went to collect on an old promise from his longtime friend, now Bianca’s father-in-law, Don Christiano Deranto. FLANTEE wasn’t just any company, it was a legacy. A family business passed down through generations, built on sweat, sacrifice, and vision. But in the hands of her father, Tyroid, it teetered dangerously on the edge. He had no real sense of business acumen, driven more by ambition rooted in gambling and quick fixes than strategy or long-term growth. Bianca had tried God knows she tried — to present her proposal to save the company, to modernize it, but her father’s pride and shortsightedness turned a deaf ear. And here she was, paying the price. Unlike his son, her new husband, he might have had the charm and the looks, but business? He didn’t know the first thing about his father’s empire. Nor did he care to. It was enough for him to know he’d inherit everything — the company, the wealth, the status. Responsibility didn’t interest him. Entitlement did, but Christiano was a man of discipline and business acumen. He built his company from the ground up, investing time and sweat into his empire. Bianca had heard countless stories about him from her father sometimes with admiration, other times with thinly veiled jealousy. Don Christiano’s wife, Sophia, had passed away ten years ago from breast cancer. All the money in the world couldn’t save her. And then there was Bianca’s mother, Monalisa sweet, timid, and spineless against Tyroid’s dominance. And here they were… at Bianca’s wedding. Forced. Rushed. Inevitable. At least Lucas seems like a kind and decent man, Bianca told herself. Or so I thought. Her mother appeared by her side, concerned about softening her features. “Are you happy, honey?” she asked gently. Bianca nearly snorted. Happy? If only her father had listened and read her FLANTEE proposal properly, seen how with the right execution, she could turn things around in three years. But all her plans fell on deaf ears. Instead, she forced a smile and turned to her mother. “I'm okay,” she said quietly. She remembered the ceremony at the church, clear as glass. “Do you, Bianca,” the reverend asked, “take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, to love and to obey, till death, do you part?” She knew she was supposed to say I do. She opened her mouth — but no sound came. Her eyes found her father, grinning with pride. Her mother, smiling nervously. Lucas, squeezing her hand almost painfully. It should’ve been a warning. But the shine of the moment, the pressure, the chaos, it all blurred. “Do you, Bianca” “I do,” she whispered. Lucas relaxed his grip, and Bianca let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. That should have been her first alarm bell. Back in the present, just as she was about to tell her mother what she'd noticed during that moment, Lucas’s voice boomed from across the room. “Where’s my wife? I’d like to make a toast.” Everyone gathered as Bianca was led to the center of the room by her mother. Lucas stretched out his hand. She took it. He turned to the guests and smiled. “I’ve known Bianca since high school. Met her with a couple of friends at the mall while shopping for graduation,” he began, his tone affectionate. “And ever since then, I’ve been infatuated with her.” There was a collective aww from the crowd. Bianca blinked, that was news to her. “I came home and told my parents I’d found the love of my life, the woman I wanted to marry. When I told my father who she was, he said, ‘If that’s what you wish, then so be it.’” Laughter echoed across the room. “Never in a million years did I think it would come to this. But six weeks later, Bianca walked into the Deranto mansion and the rest is history.” He turned to her, eyes gleaming. “Thank you for agreeing to be my wife. You won’t regret this. We’ll be together forever. You’re mine.” His last words carried a strange glint, one that unsettled her for just a moment, but the moment passed as the crowd cheered and lifted glasses in her honor. The ceremony went on. They danced, cut the cake, and smiled for photos. When the night drew to a close, there was no honeymoon. The Deranto family had a major business event that week, LISTBUI and Lucas needed to be available. Bianca understood, or at least pretended to. Not like she was eager for a honeymoon with a man she still barely knew. They were given a townhouse for two nights time alone, at least. As they said their goodbyes, Bianca’s mother hugged her tightly, tears rolling down her cheeks. “Please take care of yourself,” she whispered. “I love you.” “I love you too,” Bianca replied softly. Her father clapped Lucas on the back. “Take care, son,” he said. To Bianca, there was no word. Not even a glance. Lucas opened the car door for her like a gentleman. She stepped inside, unaware that she was stepping into the first night of a nightmare. If only she had known... Would it have changed anything? If only her parents had told her she could come home… If only her father had looked Lucas in the eye and said, “If you ever hurt my daughter, I’ll come for you.” But life isn’t built on if onlys. And fairy tales… aren’t real.