His Heartless Vows

Aria~

"Aria, hurry up the guests are waiting in the garden!" Mother's voice sliced through the bedroom door, sharp with panic.

It squeezed my chest tight as I stood frozen in front of the mirror, my fingers shaking while tangled in the heavy white dress.

The lace scratched my skin, the silk felt too smooth against my body, and the veil draped softly over my shoulders.

The dark makeup and red lipstick transformed me into the perfect bride or so it seemed.

But inside, my stomach churned with pain, my heart weighed down like lead.

This was supposed to be Elara's wedding, my beautiful sister's day.

Yet she'd run away, leaving me to wear her dress and walk her path.

How did one note destroy everything?

I'd found her room first destroyed, clothes thrown everywhere, suitcase vanished.

On the floor lay one crumpled note: I'm sorry. I can't marry him. I love someone else. Don't look for me. Be happy for me someday.

Father's business was dying, debts piling up like vultures.

Damien Blackwood's money was our only hope.

But Elara had fled with her artist boyfriend, knowing it would shatter our family and leave us ruined.

Mother discovered the note and collapsed crying on Father's shoulder.

The lawyer warned that no wedding meant no money the house gone, everything lost.

In that heavy, sorrow-filled room, with their faces crushed by despair, I said quietly, "I'll marry him instead."

My heart shattered as the words left my lips.

I'd just traded my freedom for their survival—stupid, selfless me.

"Aria, come out now. The ceremony's starting—please don't make him wait," Mother begged, her voice cracking with desperation.

It twisted my stomach as I thought of Damien Blackwood, the cold CEO who ruined people without a second thought.

I'd seen him once tall in his suit, flashing a fake smile as he slipped a ring onto Elara's finger, his eyes skipping over me like I was nothing but air.

My hands shook as I smoothed the veil, holding back tears.

"Mother... what if he just sends me back? What happens to us then?" I whispered, my voice trembling.

She gripped my arms tightly, eyes pleading. "He won't, Aria. You're saving us all. Just get through the ceremony say the words and smile. Please."

Backing out now would break Father, destroy Mother, end everything. No choice. None.

I walked into the living room where the family stared, their whispers cutting like knives.

"That's not Elara?" "She ran off with that painter—what a huge scandal." "Well, at least the wedding's still happening."

Mother rushed over, her eyes red and puffy, frantically fixing my dress before pulling me into a tight hug.

"Thank you for saving us, my beautiful girl. I don't know what we'd do without you," she whispered fiercely, then pushed me gently toward the garden.

My legs felt like lead, my heart pounding so hard I could barely breathe.

What will he do when he sees the wrong face under this veil? Hate me on sight?

The aisle stretched endlessly, flowers crushing under my feet, music faint in the air.

Guests watched every step, and there was Damien waiting at the end, tall in his black suit, his strong frame unyielding.

His hard eyes traveled slowly up and down my body no smile, just a cold, judging stare that made my skin crawl.

The priest asked, "Damien, do you take Aria to be your wife, to love and honor, in sickness and in health, forever?"

"I do," he replied flatly, his voice devoid of emotion.

Then it was my turn. "I do," I whispered, barely audible, my voice shaking.

The ring felt cold and heavy on my finger as the guests clapped, relieved.

But his piercing gaze pinned me in place.

He knows. Everyone knows. I'm the pathetic stand-in.

"You may now kiss the bride," the priest announced with forced cheer.

Damien lifted my chin roughly with two fingers, his lips brushing my cheek in a quick, insulting peck for the crowd's benefit.

Cheers erupted, Mother shedding happy tears from the front row.

But he leaned in close, his breath hot against my ear, whispering so only I could hear,

"You're a pathetic substitute. You'll never measure up to her not even close. Get used to feeling worthless every single day."

My heart dropped like a stone.

It wasn't a kiss it was venom, stripping me bare in front of everyone.

He pulled back, his eyes dead and empty.

Humiliated already. And this is just the beginning.

The car ride was suffocatingly quiet, city lights blurring past as I sat with my hands clenched tight in my lap, fear gripping every inch of me.

Then Damien's voice cut through the silence like ice:

"You're not the girl I wanted, you know that? I paid a fortune for the pretty one the strong one. Not this."

I nodded quietly, staring at my lap. "I know. I know I'm not her."

Tears burned my eyes as he leaned closer, anger practically radiating off him.

"Your sister humiliated me today running off like that on our wedding day. And now your family's shoving you at me like some discount replacement. It's disgusting, really."

My voice broke as I finally spoke. "I didn't want this either, Damien. I only did it to save my father's business, our house our family from complete ruin. That's the only reason."

He laughed a short, vicious bark that made me flinch. "Oh, spare me the martyr act. It's too late for excuses you're stuck now."

I swallowed hard, forcing the words out. "I'm a person too, you know. I feel things. I had dreams before this."

His eyes sliced into mine like shards of glass. "Dreams? You sold those dreams for your family's dirty money. Don't pretend you're innocent own your choice."

The big glass house loomed ahead, its heavy gates slamming shut behind us like prison bars.

He turned to me, his voice dropping to a low, lethal tone.

"My rules now. You play the perfect wife in public, or I destroy them all the house, the business, every last penny they have."

My fingers toyed nervously with the heavy necklace around my throat, feeling it like a noose.

"One wrong move from you, and they pay for her betrayal. Do you understand me?"

Fear iced through my veins.

This isn't marriage. It's a cage. I'm the sacrifice he despises.

He shoved open a door to a cold, sterile bedroom white bed empty and uninviting, windows dark like my future.

"This is your cage. You stay here unless I summon you. Clear?"

My voice trembled as I dared to ask, "So... we're not even sharing a bed? Not even pretending for appearances?"

He whirled around, glaring at me like I was something disgusting stuck to his shoe.

"Don't flatter yourself with romantic delusions. There's no love here fake or otherwise."

My heart sank even lower as I pressed, barely above a whisper, "Then what exactly am I to you?"

He stepped too close, towering over me menacingly.

"You're property, little replacement. You smile prettily for the world and keep your mouth shut otherwise. Disobey me, and you'll watch your family bleed for it."

"You're not seriously going to hurt them are you?" I whispered, clinging to the last shred of hope.

His smile twisted into something purely evil. "Keep pushing me, and you'll find out. Beg for mercy when it's too late."

The door locked behind him with a final, ominous click.

The wedding dress choked me, the necklace burned against my skin, and the tears finally crashed down.

One act of love for my family, and I've chained myself to endless hate the wrong bride, rotting in his shadow, day after suffocating day.