LOGINSienna's POV
I had Sixteen messages, four missed calls, and a link from my younger sister, Jessica, with about five question marks after it.
I tapped the link and a video opened. A clean, high-quality clip of me and Eric standing under the neon-lit wedding arch in the casino’s exhibit area.
We looked normal as we exchanged vows. I looked serene, gazing up at him like I knew exactly what I was doing. And Eric looked steady and sure. We didn’t look like two drunk idiots playing pretend.
I looked up at Eric and said, “We’re screwed. “Completely, and utterly fucked.”
My heart was pounding and then, I read the caption below the video:
“British Billionaire Heir Marries Mystery Woman in Miami.” That one sentence was bold enough to punch my soul straight out of my body.
I blinked at first, then blinked again.
British… what?
Billionaire… Who?
“What—?” I choked out, staring at the screen like it might suddenly correct itself.
Jessica’s texts started popping up one after the other:
Jess: SIS WHAT IS THIS???
Jess: You MARRIED a billionaire??
Jess: Who is he?? What’s going on?? Answer meeeee!!
Jess: Mom is gonna hyperventilate.
Jess: ARE YOU OKAY??
Jess: HELLO???
I suddenly felt dizzy. I didn't even know which message to respond to first. There were a lot of tags on my I*******m too.
The wedding I thought was fake is actually real, and now the whole freaking world knows about it. My face was almost on every blog — mystery woman, unknown bride, Miami wife. And my legally married husband, Eric Macmillan is apparently heir to a Billionaire fortune.
I turned to Eric slowly
“You’re a billionaire,” I blurted, as I practically shoved my phone in his face. “You’re a billionaire heir. Why didn’t you tell me?!”
He froze, eyes widening slightly as he saw the video.
“Sienna, I—”
“No, don’t ‘Sienna’ me! Why is the internet calling you a billionaire heir?!”
He raised his palms gently, like he was approaching a startled animal.
“Let’s breathe for a moment. We were about to go get breakfast. Why don't we eat first and I promise I’ll explain anything you want to know.”
“I don’t need breakfast,” I shot back, but my stomach growled traitorously. “I need answers.”
His lips twitched. “You need both. Preferably in reverse order.”
I glared at him.
“Fine,” I muttered stiffly. “Breakfast then answers.”
He nodded. “Good. Come on.”
I followed beside him, gripping my phone tightly.
*****
I ordered pancakes and a black coffee, Eric ordered the same thing.
“So,” I finally said once the waitress walked off, “explain.”
He exhaled softly and leaned back. “My grandfather started a multinational company in London then handed it over to my father who expanded it. I’m his only child, that means I get to inherit it.”
“And you never thought to mention any of that?” I asked, folding my arms.
He winced. “It didn’t exactly come up between tequila shots and fake vows.”
He had a point, but I wasn’t about to say that out loud.
“That’s why someone filmed us, they probably recognized you.” I said.
“Yeah, probably,” he said, shrugging. “The family name gets attention, especially in Europe.”
“Well, no wonder Jess is freaking out.” I paused. “But how come I've never heard about your family?”
Before he could respond, another waitress came with our orders. Her eyes widened the moment she saw Eric. Her entire face lit up like a Christmas tree.
“Oh my God,” she breathed. “You’re—are you—? You’re Eric Macmillan, right?”
Eric offered a polite, practiced smile. “I am.”
She gasped, actually gasped, and put a hand over her chest. “I’ve read about you! My roommate studies international trade and your family is literally—” She squealed. “Wow. Sorry. Sorry! I’m just… wow.”
“It’s alright,” he said kindly. “Thank you.”
She practically drifted away on a cloud of fangirl energy.
I blinked at him. “Seems like you're comfortable being recognized by strangers.”
“Sometimes,” he said. “Depends on the country.”
“Oh, great,” I muttered. “So I didn’t just marry a billionaire. I married a celebrity billionaire.”
He chuckled under his breath.
I observed that in this whole internet explosion, not once did he take out his phone. Not even to check his social media.
“So,” I said, narrowing my eyes, “you haven't looked at your phone at all. Are you just going to pretend this isn’t happening?”
He shook his head. “I wanted to take a break. From everything, including social media. That’s why I came to Miami.”
“And instead you got a wife,” I said dryly.
“Not the break I planned,” he admitted, “but… memorable.”
I groaned and pushed my plate away. “We need an attorney fast. We have to annul this before it gets messier.”
He nodded calmly. “I agree. Once we’re done eating, we'll go find one.”
I opened my mouth to continue planning our damage control, but my phone ringing interrupted me. The caller ID showed "MOM."
I stared at the screen like it was about to explode. My mom calling me now is already a sign that things are about to get even crazier.
“I should probably take this,” I said weakly.
Eric gave me a nod.
I swiped to answer. “Hello.”
“Sienna Marie Jones!”
There goes the full name.
“Mom—”
“What is this I am seeing on the internet?” she demanded. “Why is there a video of you getting married in a casino?! Without telling anyone?! And who is that man? Why are blogs calling him a billionaire?!”
I winced and held the phone slightly away from my ear. I could practically feel her frustration vibrating through the speaker.
“Mom, I can explain, I just—”
“Good. You better start explaining now because your father is pacing the living room, ranting about flying to Miami today to drag both of you back to New York by the ears!”
I squeezed my eyes shut.
Fantastic.
Exactly what I needed. Dad going on full dramatic–dad mode.
Then I heard Jess yelling in the background.
“I told you she probably didn’t mean to get married! Mom, let me talk to her! Sienna, are you alive?! Can he hear us? Put it on speaker!”
Oh God.
“Mom, please calm down,” I begged. “I promise, I’m fine. Eric is—”
“I don’t care if he is the Queen of England’s nephew,” she snapped. “You are coming back to New York with him today. Do you understand me?”
“Mom, it’s… complicated.”
“Oh, it’s about to get a lot more complicated,” she said. “Get on the next flight or your father will be on his way to Miami in an hour.”
She hung up.
I let my hand drop to the table, phone still in my grip.
Eric raised an eyebrow. “So… bad news?”
I inhaled shakily. “My mother just full-named me. My father wants to fly to Miami and drag us back. They want us in New York today.”
Eric blinked.
“Well,” he said after a moment, “that’s… a very strong reaction.”
“Strong?” I whispered. “Eric, things have officially gone from bad to worse.”
I dropped my head into my hands.
“Why did I ever think being drunk and getting married was a good idea?” I mumbled into my palms.
Sienna's POV I stared at Eric across the dinner table.“Come with you?” I asked softly.He reached across the table and took my hand again.“I’m serious, Sienna.”“I want them to see you,” he continued, his thumb brushing slow circles against my knuckles. “I want my parents, my family, everyone back home to see the woman who has my heart.”My heart fluttered.There was just something about the way he spoke with such pride and certainty.“You know they’ve already seen the wedding video,” he added quietly. “And according to Connor, my father is furious. He’s threatening to disown me for disgracing the family name.”I swallowed hard. “Eric…”“It doesn’t matter,” he cut in gently but firmly. “None of it does.”He squeezed my hand tighter.“All my life, I’ve lived according to his expectations.” His jaw tightened, but his voice remained steady. “Loving you wasn't something I expected but I intend to do it wholeheartedly from now on.”My heart swelled until it almost hurt. I looked up at h
Eric's POV Sienna's soft, warm lips were against mine, and for half a second, my brain short–circuited. But soon, instinct took over.My hands found her waist, pulling her closer as I kissed her back. Everything else disappeared, there was just the feeling of her warm mouth against mine, and the faint taste of wine lingering on her lips.I deepened the kiss, our tongues brushing together as she let out a soft moan. Her fingers curled tighter around my jacket.When we pulled apart, we were both breathing hard.I rested my forehead against hers, my thumb brushed her cheek. “Wow,” I said softly. “I assume that went well”She laughed softly, then her eyes turned serious. She reached for my face and cupped it with both hands. “I love you.” She said quietly, looking into my eyes.Those three words hit me like a wave.I felt them everywhere—in my chest, my throat, and my arms that were still wrapped around her waist.“You…love me?” I asked, still wondering if I heard correctly.She nodded,
Sienna's POV I sat on the edge of my bed while Jessica flit around my room like a very opinionated fairy godmother.“Hold still,” she says, tugging at my sleeve. “You want to look perfect, right? You’re meeting Alessandra Moretti.”I laughed softly. “I think ‘perfect’ might be a bit much.”“Nope,” she said firmly. “Tonight requires perfection. Or at least close enough.”Jason has been arraigned in court. Standing in that witness box and testifying against the man who once claimed he loved me wasn't easy. Yes, he cheated on me but I never imagined that he would go through such lengths to prove a point.It’s been a week since the incident and my family has been of great support. I went back to work two days later and that was when I found out Brenda had resigned and moved out of town.These questions still raced through my mind.What made her help Eric?Was it guilt or fear?I thought about it over and over. Something must have happened between her and Jason that pushed her to choose m
Sienna's POV THE PRESENT…The lights in the hospital room were dimmed, the walls and ceilings were white. Everything smelled like drugs and antiseptic.I laid propped up against stiff pillows, a thin blanket tucked around me. My body ached in places I didn’t want to think about.Eric has been sitting beside my bed, close enough that his knee brushed the metal frame. He hasn’t for once left my side since we arrived. Even when the nurse asked him to step out briefly, he stood just outside the door like a sentry, his shadow visible through the glass.If this were any other day, I would’ve teased him. Told him to relax and made a joke about him hovering like an overprotective husband straight out of a melodrama. But tonight, I didn’t say a word because I like that he's here.He was standing just outside the room now, speaking quietly with the doctor. His jaw was tight, and his brows drawn together in a way that showed he was really paying attention. He nodded as the doctor explained some
Eric's POV“What did you say?” I asked the woman in front of me just to be sure I heard her clearly.“I know where Sienna is.” She repeated.“Who are you?” My voice came out rough.She swallowed. “That doesn’t matter right now.”“It matters to me,” I said, taking a step closer. “You don’t get to walk up to me and say something like that without explaining yourself.”She looked behind her, then back at me. “We don’t have time for this.”Every muscle in my body went rigid. “If this is some kind of joke—”“It’s not,” she cut in sharply. “And if you don’t act fast, you might not see her again.”That got my full attention.“What do you mean, not see her again?”“Her ex, Jason, has her.” She blurted.The name alone was enough to make my blood run cold.“He took her against her will,” the woman continued. “And he’s planning to take her out of town tonight.”My head was spinning. “Slow down,” I said, gripping her arm lightly. “Where is she now?”She reached into her pocket and pulled out a sm
Eric's POV 6 HOURS AGO…I arrived at the attorney’s office. The building was in Midtown street with the inscription ‘Banks & Associates' at the top. I checked my watch.12:50 PM.Adjusting the file in my hand—the marriage certificate tucked neatly inside—I approached the receptionist and told her my name and time of appointment. She checked her computer and asked me to sit. I thanked her and took a seat.I leaned back in the chair and let my thoughts drift to the surprise I had planned for Sienna. A birthday dinner with her family in one of the most elegant restaurants in New York. Jessica helped pick it, Sarah approved it, and her father would be flying in from New Jersey in an hour. Sienna has no idea about this—that’s another surprise.I called him two nights ago to let him in on my plan and he was impressed. He also warmly thanked me for “looking out for his girls” while he was away.I bought her a dress too. An elegant green dress—which I somehow heard from Jessica that green is







