Chapter 1

B I A N C A

"Natalia is back. And I’m making her my wife."

My spoon froze halfway between the bowl and my mouth. I stared at Lucas, the seriousness in his eyes as he spoke those words like it was the simplest thing in the world. Realization suddenly hit me like a bucket of ice water, I had made a grave mistake. 

Lucas and I have been together for three years. I met him at the lowest point of my life, and he had given me the stability I had craved so much. I thought I had found my forever in him. 

Stupid me even thought he was going to propose when I found a beautiful ring in his jacket pocket this morning. I made every preparation to say yes, made his favorite for dinner, wore a beautiful red dress. But instead of being proposed to, he wants to get back with his first love who had gone abroad three years ago for treatment after being diagnosed with cancer, and he wants to marry her. 

"H-how can you?" I stammered, my heart clenching so painfully in my chest. "You are going to leave me, after everything we have been through. Why?"

"I’m not going to leave you. We have been together for three years now, I can’t just let you go. But Natalia has been a big part of my life, she was my first love. I can still see a future with her. That’s why I’m giving you a choice. You can stay with me. Be my mistress. I will provide you with anything you want. Natalia’s health is fragile, she won’t have a problem with this."

I scoffed, willing myself not to cry. "And I’m supposed to thank her for that? For giving me the chance to be your whore, since she’s too weak to satisfy your needs?"

Lucas had the decency to look ashamed. 

"You’re being unreasonable," he said, "You barely have anything to your name, not even your meager salary can cover your rent in New York City. If you are left alone, you will be homeless by the end of the month. If you stay with me, I’ll take care of all your financial needs and you won't have to worry about a thing. Only a dumb person would say no to my offer. This is a golden opportunity for you. Women like you don’t have a choice.”

A lump formed in my throat, the food tasting like ash on my tongue. I forced myself to swallow it down. I couldn’t speak, couldn't do anything but sit there and listen as Lucas calmly explained to me why I should let him cheat on me and become his side bitch.

He sat closer to me, placing his arm around my shoulders, and stroked my cheek tenderly with his other hand.

"Don't feel bad, darling," he whispered in my ear, "Many women would kill to have your place. And I will take good care of you. All you have to do is to follow a few rules, and everything will be perfect. But for now, I have to leave. I have to go pick Natalia up from the airport. Don’t miss me too much, baby girl."

I heard him put his jacket on and opened the door. "Oh and before I forget, here is your paycheck for the month," he said, placing an envelope on the dining table, "You deserve it, darling."

With a soft click, he was gone.

I sat in silence, staring blankly at the envelope containing my paycheck, not quite knowing how to react. Anger clouded my mind, angry at myself for letting this happen, angry at him for making me feel like I had no choice.

I looked down at the table of food made with so much love. I packed the food and threw it into the trash can, taking off my dress in my bedroom like it burned my skin. I felt so disgusted. 

The hot water of the shower pelted down on my skin, washing away my body. But it did nothing to wash away the disgust I felt towards myself.

The steam cleared, and my reflection stared back at me in the mirror. I walked back into the room and my phone buzzed on the bed.

I picked it up, and the headline was the first thing I noticed: Notorious Bachelor Lucas Hart, 29, proposes to his first love and childhood sweetheart, Natalia Rossi!

My heart broke as I saw the picture of Lucas proposing to Natalia on one knee, the same ring I found in his jacket pocket, in the photo being slid onto her finger. The camera zoomed in on Natalia’s face and a gasp escaped my lips. It was like staring at myself, but a thinner, sicklier version of me.

Tears blurred my vision as the reality of what had just happened washed over me, the truth of his betrayal slapping me in the face. I was never going to be his wife, I was the closest thing to the love of his life. He had only been with me because of how similar I looked to her. A mere substitute. 

A bitter laugh bubbled out of my throat. How stupid I had been. To think he had genuinely loved me. He had wanted me to be her. That’s why he made dye my hair blonde from its dark brown like hers, why he had persuaded me to grow my hair long like hers. 

I picked up a pair of scissors and walked back into the bathroom. My hand was shaking, but I brought the scissors to the ends of my hair. I didn't stop until the long blonde strands lay scattered on the floor.

I picked up my phone and dialed a number I hadn’t called in three years. 

"Bianca," My father’s voice answered, "To what do I owe this sudden call?"

I mustered all the courage in my body and spoke.

"Dad," I said, "I accept. I will come back home for the arranged marriage and take back what’s mine."

"I should have never left. I was stupid and naive and I should have never disobeyed you. Now, it's time to return home and take back my inheritance."