"Ready to Meet Your Wife?"

Orion’s POV

I couldn't believe I was back here, trapped in this absurd arrangement. The mansion loomed ahead, its darkened windows like eyes, watching me return to a place I never wanted to step foot in again. My father's will had been a death sentence to my freedom. And for what?

To marry a girl like her.

Ava. The so-called heiress who seemed to have latched onto my father's fortune the moment he passed. I was right by forging my own death to escape marrying her.

A shiver of disgust ran through me. She was nothing more than a good digger, probably counting her days to my father's fortune. I clenched the steering wheel tighter, the leather creaking under my grip. How has my life come to this?

“Don't let her get to you, babe,” Chloe said softly from the passenger seat. Her perfectly manicured hand reached over to stroke my arm soothingly. “We'll deal with her together.”

Chloe. My girlfriend, my actual choice. The woman who had been there for me since I met her. We've just flown in from New York to see the ridiculous woman my father set up for me.

Chloe leaned back, crossing her long legs, a smirk playing on her lips. We both knew Ava didn't belong here. She was an outsider, a leech who somehow managed to weasel her way into my life even after I tried to escape.

“I still can't believe your father left everything to her,” Chloe scoffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “She's pathetic. Marrying into money like that despite the groom being an old man? She's so desperate.”

I nodded, my jaw tight. “I didn't even know my father was planning this. I thought faking my own death would give him enough clues that I wanted him to leave me the fuck alone.”

Chloe laughed coldly. “Well, she probably worked her charm on him. You know how these types are. She must've played the innocent, sweet girl card. I bet she had this all planned.”

My stomach twisted with revulsion. The thought of Ava scheming behind my father's back to trap me in the very net I thought I escaped from, made my blood boil. She was no better than any other opportunist out there. And now, thanks to my father's twisted conditions, I was stuck in this arranged marriage.

As we pulled up to the mansion, Chloe turned to me with a wicked smile. “Ready to meet your wife?” she sneered, the word laced with venom.

I clenched my jaw, parking the car. “Let's get this over with.”

There was no trace of her inside so I told Chloe to settle in while I go dig her up from whatever scheming corner she's hiding. The gardener pointed me to a direction where she was and I stepped inside.

She had on some simple dress, trying to look like she didn't care about appearances but I knew better. She was probably just playing the part, pretending to be humble when in reality, she was already counting the millions she'd inherit once she officially became my wife.

When she turned around to face me, my breath got caught in my throat briefly but I tried to mask it up with an air of arrogance.

I expected to find a stuck-up plain looking woman and not her. How does she look so young, gorgeous, innocent and hot at the same time? Everything about her screamed drop-dead gorgeousness at its peak. Was this how she trapped my father? A renewed wave of fury boiled up inside me. She's nothing but a gold digger.

And a whore as I watched her readily welcome my kiss. She doesn't know what's coming for her yet. I'll make her beg me to let her leave. And even then, I wouldn't. Until I've made her suffer enough.

I walked back into the main house and she followed suit.

“Ah, the gold digger herself,” Chloe said, her voice dropping with fake sweetness as I walked in with my supposed wife behind me.

Ava's eyes flicked to Chloe, then to me, her expression blank. But I could see the subtle tension in her body. Good. She should feel out of place. She doesn't belong here. Chloe does.

I could see the hint of nervousness in her eyes, but she was trying to hide it. Probably didn't want to show weakness in front of Chloe. Smart move.

“You must be Ava,” Chloe chimed in, stepping forward with a saccharine smile. “It's so nice to finally meet my boyfriend’s wife.” Her words were a slap, and I could see them land hard on Ava.

Ava's lips pressed into a thin line. “Wow,” she muttered under her breath.

Chloe raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying this. I mean, it's hard not to enjoy this ridiculous drama. “Wow? I mean, marrying a man you've never met just to inherit a fortune? That's the real wow!”

Ava's face flushed, but she didn't respond. I could feel Chloe’s satisfaction radiating off her, like she was enjoying watching Ava squirm under her sharp tongue. I let it happen. Why should I defend someone who had no business being in my life?

“Don't you dare judge me when you don't know anything about me,” Ava finally said, her voice steady despite the tension. I had to give her credit for not breaking down under Chloe’s scorn. But it wouldn't change anything.

Chloe stepped closer, towering over Ava in her heels. “Oh sweetheart, I don't need to know you. It's all pretty clear. You're just another girl who saw an opportunity and took it. But don't get too comfortable. This life? It's not for people like you.”

Ava's gaze flickered between us, her jaw tightening. She didn't say anything, and for a second, I thought we'd put her in her place.

“And what makes you so sure that you're not the other girl who saw an opportunity and took it?” She said, her eyes blazing with an intensity I hadn't noticed. “You think this life is for people like you?” she paused and looked straight at Chloe, “think again, Chica.”

Brave but stupid, I thought.

“Why did you even agree to this?” I asked, ignoring Chloe’s shocked expression. “Did you really think you could just slip into my life and play house?”

Ava stared at me, her eyes narrowing. “You think I have a choice? But you on the other hand, sweetheart, you have a choice. Just walk away and you won't ever get to see my ugly face ever again.”

She was right. The condition stated that I could leave if I didn't want to marry her but that means I will not have the right to any property at all. On the other hand if I leave, she gets everything all to herself. I cannot let that happen.

I stepped closer to her, my voice low and venomous. “You're not getting away that easily, Ava. I'm staying. And I'm going to make sure this is a marriage you'll regret for the rest of your life.”

“Are you sure about that?” she whispered in a voice that made my smile fall. Her eyes held the kind of trouble every man prays to avoid.

Will I be the one regretting this for the rest of my life?