TIED BY CONTRACT

KATE'S POV:

I could barely feel my legs as I walked down the aisle with my father by my side, holding my left arm and my right arm clutching my wedding bouquet. Or rather my sister's wedding bouquet.

Each step felt like betrayal sinking deeper into my bones. The weight of the satin gown clung to my body like a chain. Her gown. The one Nikolai had picked out for Rhea.

Every stitch, every bead on this dress was meant for her.

Everything today was meant for her, but it was me instead.

And here I was, Kate Valdez, the half sister nobody wanted, cloaked in her half sister's identity, her secrets, her scent, about to marry the most dangerous man I have ever laid eyes on.

The church was bathed in golden light, sunlight streaming through stained glass windows, painting patches of crimson and sapphire onto the red carpet ahead of me.

And again, this wasn't my wedding.

This wasn't my dress.

This wasn't my life.

But I was walking into it anyways.

My father's arm tightened around mine, and I knew he could feel how I trembled.

"Smile," My father whispered into my ears tightly beside me, his arm firm where it threaded through mine.

"Don't let them see you fear."

I forced my lips into something that resembled a smile. The veil over my face hid my trembling jaw and scared face completely. I couldn't breathe. Not really.

Not in the dress that Nikolai had picked out for Rhea months ago. Not in her pencil heels, her veil, her scent. I was a stand in. A ghost in someone else's fairytale.

Only this wasn't a fairytale for me. It was a trap, a way to end my life, and I had willingly walked into it.

I was joining hands with my family to scam, betray and play with the intelligence of the man standing at the end of the altar beside the priest.

My heart slammed against my ribs as the orchestra shifted into the bridal match. The damn corset was making things even worse for me. It's so fucking tight.

He was waiting for me at the end of the aisle.

Nikolai Voss.

Black suit, black tie. A statue carved in ice and arrogance. The man every woman feared and wanted, and every rivals envied and despised. And right now, in about few minutes he'll be mine.

Only, he didn't know it was going to be me.

Not yet.

No one knew about me standing in place of Rhea, aside father, Rhea, stepmother and Rhea's boyfriend, Liam. The one she's leaving Nikolai for.

Each step I took towards him felt like walking towards the edge of a cliff. I kept my head down, my eyes on the polished floor, trying not to crumble.

People were smiling, snapping pictures, whispering how beautiful "Rhea" looked.

But I wasn't her. And once he lifted the veil covering my face, he would know.

I should have said no to Rhea. I shouldn't have agreed to this ridiculous idea of hers.

I should have let the scandal explode, let the press devour my family, let Rhea face the consequences of fleeing from the man she promised to marry.

But I couldn't do that to her.

She is family. And you don't do something that vile to family, even if it means giving up your life for them.

"Please, Kate," she had whispered last night, eyes wild with desperation and love as she packed a duffle bag.

"Liam and i- we're in kove. I can't marry him, Kate. He'll destroy me. I would do same for you in a heartbeat." And that's where she lied, she wouldn't even switch snacks with me, she would rather watch me eat lemon and puke than help me.

But I'm nothing like Rhea, I'm the good sibling that does everything to help. Maybe that's why she came to me, she knew I would say yes to her every wim.

Maybe she was right. Maybe Nikolai would have destroyed her.

But now she's handed him "me".

He was my problem now, not her's anymore.

We reached the altar. My father stopped, cleared his throat, and looked Nikolai squarely in the eye.

"She's all yours now," he said. Not a trace of guilt in his voice. Not a crack in his smile. My family knew hot to play the game so we'll, while I'm here holding a gallon of pee in me.

I look so nervous as hell, if not for the veil protecting my face,everyone would have been able to tell.

I saw Nikolai give him a sharp nod. His eyes didn't linger on me, not yet. He was unreadable. Like marble.

The priest said a few words I couldn't focus on, his voice faded beneath the roar of blood rushing in my ears.

Everything around me blurred, except him.

When he took my gloves hands into his, his grip was cool and firm. Like he was doing business. Nothing more. That should have comforted me, but it didn't.

Because I knew what kind of man he was. Ruthless. Strategic. And Dangerous.

And I had deceived him.

The vows came next. I repeated them with a voice that sounded steady, exactly like Rhea sounds, even though my stomach was coiled tight.

Nikolai's vow were short and cold, delivered like he was reading terms and conditions of a contract.

His voice was smooth, low, and terrifying in its restraint.

Then came the moment I've been dreading the most.

"You may now kiss the bride," the priest declared.

Nikolai reached for my veil.

My body goes rigid.

And then, slowly, too slowly, he lifted it.

His expression didn't change at first. For a heartbeat, he just stared. His brows lowered a fraction. His jaw tightened. But he didn't blink.

Then I saw it, recognition. His eyes darkened, sharp as a blade.

He knew.

His voice was a low, venom laced whisper.

"Where. Is. Rhea?"

I swallowed hard. We were supposed to be kissing right now, the whole crowd were watching. My lips parted, but no words came forth.

"I asked you a question, Katie." he said, barely moving his mouth, there's a way his voice sounded with my name on it- hatred. His fingers tightening slightly around mine.

"She's gone," I whispered. "I- I took her place."

A silence fell between us. It was sharp enough to make a person bleed.

And then, without warning, he leaned in. His lips brushed my ear.

"From this day henceforth," he whispered, every syllable carved from ice, "You will pay for agreeing to play with my intelligence. This I promise you."

He pulled back, his gaze locked on mine. And then he kissed me.

Not gently.

Not kindly.

It was possession. Punishment. His lips crashed into mine, bruising, commanding, drawing a startled gasp from me. I could taste steel metal on my tongue, he made me bleed.

My eyes fluttered shut as the crowd erupted in cheers and claps behind us, none the wiser to the hatred simmering between us.

I just got myself into a mess I couldn't walk away from.

When he pulled away, his smile was sharp enough to draw blood. Well, he already made me bleed few seconds ago. I'm very sure he did that on purpose.

The rest of the ceremony was a blur. People clapped us on the back, took pictures, showered us with confetti and blessings. The media has already carried different possible stories round the Internet.

I nodded, smiled, hugged strangers, all while my heart trembled inside my chest.

I was his wife now. On paper. And in name.

Nikolai Voss is one cunning and sharp man, he later switched Rhea's name in all the marriage documents into mine. And told everyone it was a way to twist the media in his Favour.

But I could feel it in the way he watched me, the promise of retribution humming just beneath the surface of his composed exterior.

We left church surrounded by flashing cameras and cheering guests. I waved, tried not to trip in Rhea's pencil heels, and pretended like everything was fine.

Everything was not fine.

Rhea had a choice and a decision and I don't? It's all my fault, how I wish I said no to Rhea. How I wish I never did say yes.

Once inside the back of the Rolls Royce waiting for us, the driver shut the door and we were alone.

The silence was suffocating.

I was sweating over the heap of makeup covered on my face.

I dared to glance at him. He was staring straight ahead, hid profile hard and unreadable.

"Nikolai, i-"

"Don't speak." his voice was calm. Controlled. But beneath it was something lethal. "Not unless you want me to pull this car over and make a scene. I suggest you swallow your thoughts."

I pressed my lips shut.

I didn't want him making a scene.

He didn't look at me for the entire ride to the mansion. The city passed us in a blur of lights and motion. I sat still, hands folded in my lap, every nerve of my body vibrating with tension.

The damn corset. I could hardly breathe. It was poking my spine and I'm very sure once I take it off, it will leave red marks behind.

I kept thinking about the way he kissed me in front of that crowd. How convincingly he played the part of a wonderful groom.

But this, this, was the real man beneath the mask.

And now I was married to him.

Well, I don't blame him. My family just pulled him into a trap, just to make Rhea happy and he played along so well.

But I know this, all hell will break loose and I'll be the one to take it all in the end.

By the time we pulled through the tall, black wrought iron gates of his estate, the sun was beginning to set.

The mansion looked before us like a castle of shadows, grand and cold and impossible to escape.

The driver opened my door. I stepped out, my heels crunching softly against the gravel.

Nikolai didn't wait for me. He walked straight up the marble steps and into the house.

I followed, my heart in my throat like some kind of stray, lost puppy looking for shelter.

Inside, everything was pristine, silent. Too silent. The staff stood in a neat line by the foyer, heads bowed in respect as we entered.

"Dismissed." Nikolai said without even glancing at them.

And they vanished within seconds.

And then it was just us.

I stood near the staircase, feeling like a statue in someone else's life. My fingers clutched the bouquet until it crumpled.

I had forgotten to toss it into the air to the bridesmaids. Rhea's bridesmaids.

He turned to face me slowly.

"Let's get one thing clear," he said, his voice like a blade wrapped in velvet. "You think you did something noble. You didn't. You think you protected your half sister. You didn't. You think you can survive me." His eyes narrowed. "You won't."

"I didn't want this, but I had to do it." I said, my voice soft but steady.

"And yet, here you are. Wearing her dress. Living her life." He stepped closer. "You married me, Katie. That means you belong to me. And I always, always collect my due. Never forget that."

He didn't touch me. He didn't raise his voice. But I'd never felt more afraid of someone before like I feared him in my entire life.

"Goodnight, Mrs Voss," he said finally. "Your room is at the end of the hall. We won't be sharing one."

He turned and disappeared up the stairs, leaving me alone in the echoing silence.

I stood there for a long moment, trying to catch my breath. My wedding day had just ended. Not with a honeymoon. Not with a kiss goodnight.

But with a declaration of war.

And I had no idea how I was going to survive it.

And then I start to regret it all, regret opening the door for Rhea the night before. I could have just pretended to be asleep and she would have left me alone.

How did she manage to make me do all this? I just threw all my life away for her, for all this. And I still haven't gotten a thank you call from her, after she eloped with Liam early this morning.

Did I really do the right thing?

I sure did, I was protecting my half sister from the man she wants nothing to do with, by offering myself to him in return.

A very stupid trade.

A very stupid move to make. And Dad and stepmother had agreed to this stupid idea, this all seem like a dream.

But sadly, it wasn't.

I'm married now.