HIS FAKE BRIDE

CHAPTER THREE

Sunlight pierced through unfamiliar curtains, making Erin's head throb. She squinted, trying to piece together where she was. Her stomach dropped when she spotted Lucian sleeping in a chair across the room, still in his suit from last night.

Memories flooded back in fragments: the contract, the dancing, his fist connecting with someone's jaw. Had she really thrown herself at him? Her face turned red as she slipped out of bed, still wearing yesterday's clothes. She grabbed her purse and tiptoed toward the door, desperate to escape before he woke up.

Back in her apartment, she emptied her purse onto the bed. Among the scattered contents, a business card caught her eye: "Lucian Ashford, CEO, Ashford Industries." Her hands trembled as she recognized the name from countless magazine covers and business news headlines. The mysterious stranger from the bar wasn't just rich – he was one of the most powerful men in the country.

"What the hell did I get myself into?" she muttered, reaching for her phone. Three missed calls from Kevin, one from Ashley. She deleted them immediately, she was done with both of them.

An unknown number calls her, snapping her back to reality. She picked “Hello?”

There was silence on the other end for what felt like hours, just as she’s about to end the call, the familiar voice stopped her— “Sneaking off isn’t polite young lady, not after you threw yourself at me last night.” Lucian said, a grin plastered on his face.

Her face instantly turned from red to pale. "About last night—" she started.

"You mean before or after you begged me to f**k you?" She could hear the smirk in his voice.

"I’m sorry Mr.—" She had not taken note of his name through the alcohol last night.

“Blue eyes.” Hey says quietly, she remembered how she had called him blue eyes last night, God! What else did she say to this man?!

“Mr. Lucian, I’m sorry about last night, it was a bad night for me.” She said suddenly remembering his name from the business card.

When he didn’t say anything, she continued “I’ll take it that we’re both grown adults that can forget about last night like it didn’t—”

“Hold on beautiful.” He cuts in. “No one’s forgetting about last night, you signed a contract, remember? You are now my wife.” He says reminding her.

“What? Excuse me, but if you think you can just—“ the memory came flooding back. Oh no! She had signed something he gave to her last night, a marriage contract. No no no no. She would never— but the thought of her taking the pen and signing on the paper was still there fresh in her memory. Wait. She was drunk last night so that would be a crime, wouldn’t it?

“You can’t be serious Mr Lucian.” She says finally.

"Oh, but I am." His tone shifted from playful to steel. "The terms are clear: one year of marriage in exchange for saving your father's company and helping you get revenge. Unless you'd prefer to pay the million-dollar breach fee?"

Erin's mouth went dry. "What?!!!”

“I can’t even afford that.” She manages to say.

"Then I suggest we move forward with our arrangement." He paused. "After all, what do you have to lose?"

With that the line went dead. Her mind spiraled. Who marries a stranger out of convenience and not love. This had to be a crime, she was just a drunk woman in a bar, signing a contract under the dim lights of a bar had to be illegal, she would ask her family lawyer, Lisa.

An hour later, Erin pulled up to her father's estate, her mind still spinning from the conversation with Lucian. The familiar sight of her stepmother's red Mercedes in the driveway made her jaw clench.

Inside, she found her father in his study, looking older than she'd ever seen him. Her stepmother Victoria hovered nearby, pretending to arrange flowers while obviously eavesdropping.

"Daddy," Erin's voice cracked. "I need to tell you something about Kevin."

She told him everything about the betrayal – finding Kevin with Ashley,but she left out the wedding dress part, she knew that would break his heart as much as it broke hers.

“Oh my precious baby” he said, his eyes almost teary. “ I should make that young boy pay now shouldn’t I?” She knew it hurt him to know that he couldn’t do anything to help her not with the state of his company.

They sat and talked for a while, seeing him smile again lightened her heart.

As she walked back to her car ready to leave, she realized she'd left her purse in the study. Walking back toward the house, she heard voices as she stood before the door.

"The company wasn't enough?" Victoria's voice dripped with venom. "Now your daughter had to go and destroy herself with this wedding scandal?"

Erin froze, her hand on the door handle. Her stepmother's voice grew louder as she continued.

"She's calling off the wedding? I knew nothing good would ever come from her. She's always been nothing but trouble. Watch, she'll be back here asking for money, just like always."

Something snapped inside Erin. She pushed open the door, startling both Victoria and her father. "Is that what you really think of me?"

Victoria's perfectly painted lips curled into a sneer. "Oh, were we supposed to pretend otherwise?"

"Dad?" Erin turned to her father, who sat silent behind his desk. "Are you going to let her talk about me like this?"

His silence was deafening.

The crack of Victoria's palm against Erin's cheek echoed through the study. "Ungrateful child," she hissed. "After everything we've done for you."

Erin's cheek burned, but the pain in her heart was worse. She backed away, tears blurring her vision. "I hope you're happy together," she whispered, then turned and ran.

Lost in her thoughts, she barely registered the car horn blaring until the last second. She swerved, narrowly missing a collision. Her hands shaking, she pulled over to the side of the road.

"How did I end up here?" she whispered, resting her forehead against the steering wheel. She wanted to make Kevin and Ashley pay, but how would she?

A text lit up her phone screen: "Don't forget our deal. "

Yes! This was it. What could she lose from marrying a billionaire who could restore all her father had lost and also destroy those two with the snap of a finger.