THE BILLIONAIRE’S EXCHANGED BRIDE

Ariana ~

The weeks melted into one another, blurring together in a dizzying cycle of sprawling sunrises over the Vaughn estate, quiet breakfasts at the marble kitchen island, and the heavy, intoxicating weight of Ethan’s arms holding me every single night.

Two months slipped past almost unnoticed, bringing my clandestine countdown to a screeching, terrifying milestone.

One full year.

Twelve months of slipping into a life that didn't belong to me. Twelve months of learning the exact way Ethan took his coffee, the subtle micro-expressions that signaled a brutal corporate war was brewing behind his obsidian eyes, and the terrifying depth of my own heart falling irrevocably in love with him.

According to Aria’s chilling ultimatum, I still had one entire year left before she would finally decide to return, shatter our world, and reclaim her throne. A full twenty-four months total—twelve down, twelve to go. Halfway through a sentence I never asked to serve.

On a crisp Tuesday morning, I sat at the glass-topped vanity in the master suite, staring blankly at my reflection. The heavy designer jewelry felt cold against my skin.

A sharp, measured knock rapped softly against the bedroom door before it swung open.

Ethan stepped inside, dressed impeccably in a charcoal bespoke suit, his tie neatly knotted and his dark hair brushed back with effortless authority. He stopped a few feet away, his sharp gaze locking onto me through the mirror. A soft, subtle change warmed the rugged planes of his face—a softening that only ever happened when he looked at me.

"You're staring at yourself again," Ethan noted quietly, his deep voice carrying a rich morning gravel as he crossed the room and came to a halt behind my chair.

I forced a light, dismissive smile, meeting his dark eyes in the glass. "I'm just making sure I look presentable for your mother's luncheon today. You know how Eleanor gets if a button is out of place."

Ethan chuckled, a low, rich sound, as his large, warm hands rested gently on my shoulders. His fingers kneaded the tight muscles at the base of my neck, melting away the tension that constantly lived beneath my skin.

"Mother adores you, and you know it," Ethan murmured, leaning down to press a warm, lingering kiss against the crown of my head. "Ever since that family dinner a couple of months ago, she hasn't stopped singing your praises. It’s entirely unnatural for her."

A cold drop of sweat broke out along my spine, though I kept my expression carefully blank. *If only you knew why your mother is so nice to me,* a voice screamed inside my head. *If only you knew she is keeping the biggest secret of your life.*

"Maybe she's just finally realizing I'm growing up," I murmured softly, turning slightly in the chair to look up at him.

Ethan’s expression shifted, the playful warmth in his obsidian eyes deepening into something fiercely intense. He cupped my cheek, his thumb tracing my jawline with a reverence that made my chest ache.

"You are perfect exactly as you are," he whispered fiercely, leaning down to press his lips against mine in a slow, possessive kiss that stole the breath right out of my lungs.

When he finally pulled back, resting his forehead against mine, I closed my eyes, drinking in the scent of his cologne and the solid warmth of his chest.

*Twelve more months,* the frantic voice in the back of my mind whispered. *One more year before Aria comes back to burn it all down.*

"We have to leave," I whispered against his lips, my heart breaking just a little bit more with every second I pretended to be someone else.

"Let them wait," Ethan muttered darkly against my mouth, though he reluctantly stepped back, offering me his hand. "My wife comes first."

As I placed my hand in his strong, unyielding grip, letting him lead me out toward the waiting car, I made a silent vow. I didn't know what would happen when the final year was up, or how I would survive the day Ethan discovered the truth. But until that day arrived, I was going to live every single stolen second like it was eternity.