Chapter 1

Cecilia was dressed in white, holding Orlando's arm as if she belonged there. At first glance, anyone would have thought they were the happy couple.

The guests didn't know any better, and they crowded in to congratulate them.

Orlando kept sneaking glances at me, as if he were afraid I'd be angry. He never once explained.

At that moment, the last bit of light in me went out. It was my wedding, yet my fiancé was standing up there with another woman, accepting everyone's congratulations.

For my protection, I couldn't step onto that stage. For my protection, he refused to tell anyone I was the bride. For my protection, my wedding had become his wedding to the maid.

I gave a bitter smile, pulled off the engagement ring Orlando had given me, and dropped it into the courtyard fountain without a second thought.

Orlando saw it. His expression darkened, and the air around him grew tense.

He walked toward me, with Cecilia one step behind him.

Before Orlando could say a word, Cecilia started in on me. "Ms. Marchetti, you're being too emotional. Do you have any idea what Mr. Riccardi has put himself through to arrange all this? It's all for you."

Orlando backed her up. "Nadia, stop making a scene! You know how many enemies I have. Cecilia is only your decoy."

Just then, a few guests came over, carrying drinks.

"Orlando, you lucky man! Look at the beauty you married. How have you not kissed your bride yet?"

The crowd egged him on. Orlando waved them off.

No one expected Cecilia to rise on her tiptoes and kiss him in front of everyone.

Orlando went still. He glanced at me, then quickly looked away, his guilt obvious.

Cecilia tilted her head and lowered her voice so only we could hear. "Ms. Marchetti, please try to understand. What if one of these guests is here to hurt you? That would be terrible. This is just a smokescreen."

Cecilia's words clearly swayed Orlando. He looked at me, torn.

Watching them stand there without an inch between them sent a sharp pain through my chest. My fiancé would toss me aside whenever someone whispered a few words in his ear. A man like that wasn't worth loving. I was done playing their ridiculous little stand-in game.

Orlando came after me and reached for my hand on instinct, then thought better of it. His hand hung there in the air.

In the end, all he did was lower his voice. "Nadia, don't be angry with me. You know you're the only one I love."

That love of his was a joke!

I shook my head and swallowed my anger and disgust. "Go back. If you're going to put on a show, see it through, or people will start to wonder. As far as everyone here is concerned, Cecilia is your new wife."

Orlando usually understood exactly what I meant. This time, the sarcasm went right over his head.

He let out a breath and smiled gently. "Nadia, I knew you'd understand. Don't worry. I'll make it up to you. I'll give you a grand wedding that's just for us."

Thinking he'd calmed me down, Orlando turned back to the crowd. With everyone cheering him on, he gave Cecilia a long, deep kiss.

Every laugh in that courtyard cut into me like a blade. But this time, I wasn't going to swallow the pain in silence.