CHAPTER 1

Lily stared at the wedding dress hanging in front of her, unable to believe that her life had changed in a single day.

She was twenty years old.

She had plans for her life.

Marriage had never been one of them.

Yet tomorrow, she would become the wife of a man she had never met.

A knock sounded on her bedroom door.

Before Lily could answer, the door opened.

Her stepmother walked in with Vivian behind her.

Vivian looked unusually happy.

Lily immediately knew something was wrong.

“Are you ready?” her stepmother asked.

Lily turned around slowly.

“Ready for what?”

Her stepmother sighed impatiently.

“Don't start, Lily. Your father has already made the decision.”

Lily's heart sank.

She knew what she meant.

The Ethan family.

Everyone knew the Ethan family. They were the richest and most powerful family in the country. Their influence stretched far beyond business, and marrying into that family was considered an opportunity most people could only dream about.

But Lily had never dreamed about it.

Not like this.

Her father had been invited to discuss a marriage between their family and the Ethans.

At first, Lily assumed Vivian would be the one chosen.

After all, Vivian was the daughter her stepmother had always favored.

She was the one praised at every family gathering.

The one whose mistakes were easily forgiven.

The one her father always compared Lily to.

But somehow, Lily had become part of the arrangement too.

Her stepmother folded her arms.

“Your father believes marriage will help you become more responsible.”

Lily stared at her.

“Marriage?”

“Yes.”

“To whom?”

Her stepmother hesitated for only a moment.

“Mich Ethan.”

Lily's heart stopped.

She knew that name.

Everyone did.

Mich Ethan was the eldest son of the Ethan family.

He had once been considered one of the most promising members of the family.

Then the accident happened.

He had suffered severe injuries that left both of his legs permanently disabled.

Since then, he had disappeared from the public eye.

People rarely spoke about him anymore.

Lily swallowed.

“You want me to marry him?”

“You should be grateful.”

Lily looked at Vivian.

Her stepsister was smiling.

That smile told Lily everything.

“Who is Vivian marrying?”

Her stepmother answered without hesitation.

“Patel.”

Lily's eyes widened.

Patel Ethan.

The younger son.

The son everyone believed would eventually become the head of the Ethan family.

She looked from Vivian to her stepmother.

“So Vivian gets Patel?”

“Yes.”

“And I get Mich?”

Her stepmother's expression remained unchanged.

“Don't say it like that.”

“How else am I supposed to say it?”

“Mich needs someone who can take care of him.”

Lily stared at her.

The words hurt more than she wanted to admit.

She wasn't being given a choice.

She was being assigned a responsibility.

Her father entered the room before she could say anything else.

“Lily.”

She turned toward him.

“Dad, please tell me this isn't happening.”

Her father looked tired.

“You're twenty years old. You're no longer a child.”

“But you didn't even ask me.”

“Some decisions aren't about what you want.”

Lily's eyes filled with tears.

“Then what are they about?”

“Your future. The family's future.”

She laughed bitterly.

“My future?”

Her father remained silent.

Lily looked at Vivian.

“So she gets the future heir while I get the man who can't walk?”

“Lily!”

Her father's voice was sharp.

She immediately fell silent.

Her stepmother stepped closer.

“Don't embarrass yourself. Mich is still a member of the Ethan family. You will have everything you need.”

Lily looked at the wedding dress.

Everything she needed.

Except a choice.

Her father walked toward the door.

“The wedding is tomorrow.”

Lily's eyes widened.

“Tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

He left before she could say anything else.

Vivian followed him, but before leaving, she stopped beside Lily.

For the first time, there was no attempt to hide the satisfaction on her face.

“I suppose we both got lucky.”

Lily looked at her.

“You got Patel.”

Vivian smiled.

“And you got Mich.”

She leaned closer.

“At least try to make him happy. You might spend the rest of your life taking care of him.”

Then she walked away.

Lily remained standing in the middle of the room.

Her eyes returned to the wedding dress.

Tomorrow, she would leave the home where she had never truly felt wanted.

Tomorrow, she would become Mrs. Ethan.

But instead of feeling excited about becoming part of the richest family in the country, Lily felt as though she were walking toward a life she had never chosen.

Across the city, inside the Ethan family mansion, Mich sat quietly in his wheelchair.

His grandfather stood beside him while his grandmother watched from the sofa.

Neither of them looked happy.

“The wedding is tomorrow,” his grandfather said.

Mich said nothing.

His grandmother sighed.

“You don't have to do this if you're uncomfortable.”

Mich's fingers tightened slightly around the armrest.

“I've already made my decision.”

His grandmother looked at him with concern.

“You've suffered enough.”

Mich lowered his eyes.

“I'll be fine.”

His grandfather placed a hand on his shoulder.

“You're still our grandson. Nothing will change that.”

Mich gave a faint smile.

“I know.”

His grandmother looked toward the window.

“I only hope this marriage doesn't bring you more pain.”

Mich remained silent.

Outside the mansion, preparations for the wedding had already begun.

And somewhere across the city, Lily was preparing to marry a man she had never met.

Neither of them knew what the next day would bring.