The Billionaire's Substitute Bride.

If you don’t walk down that aisle in five minutes, your mother’s surgery will be canceled!"

Ava Hart stared at her father through the mirror.

For a second, she thought she had heard him wrong.

Then he stepped closer and lowered his voice.

“You heard me now put on the veil."

Ava gripped the edge of the dressing table. Her fingers were cold, but the rest of her body felt like it was burning inside the wedding dress.

The dress was too tight around her ribs because it  belonged to Clara. The white roses, the silver jewelry, the expensive perfume, even the framed photograph of her smiling beside Liam Blackwood.

Ava had never been meant to stand here.

She had come to the Blackwood Hotel to stop her sister from making the biggest mistake of her life. She had expected to find Clara crying or arguing with their father.

She had not expected Clara to be gone.

She had not expected to be shoved into her wedding dress.

And she had definitely not expected her father to threaten their mother’s life.

“Dad,” Ava said, turning away from the mirror. " Do you have to say those words every minute. Why would the hospital cancel Mom’s surgery?”

Her father’s face stayed hard. He had always looked at Ava that way, as if she were a problem he had never wanted to solve.

“ You have to be quick because the hospital has received a payment guarantee from the Blackwood family. If this wedding is canceled, the guarantee disappears.”

“You paid for mom's treatment...why do we need a guarantee?" The expression on his told her the bitter truth.

“You lied to me about funding my mother's treatment right? How could you dad, your own wife." This wasn't the time for argument because time was ticking.

Her father looked toward the closed door.

Outside, music floated through the hallway. Guests were waiting. Cameras were flashing. Somewhere beyond the room, hundreds of people believed Clara Hart was about to marry the most powerful man in the city.

Ava shook her head.

“I’m not marrying a stranger because you failed to pay for Mom’s operation."

Her father’s jaw tightened.

“You seriously think I want this?”

“You forced me into her dress. Happy now?"

“I’m trying to keep your mother alive.”

“Then call the hospital and explain the truth. Tell them Clara disappeared. Tell them I’m not the bride!"

“I already told them enough.”

Ava’s chest tightened.

“What did you tell them?”

“That the wedding will go ahead.”

She stared at him without saying more words.

He walked to the dressing table and picked up Ava’s phone. She had left it there while the makeup artist fixed her hair.

He unlocked the screen and turned it toward her.

There was a message from the hospital.

Mrs. Nora Hart’s condition has worsened. The surgical team requires immediate confirmation before proceeding.

Ava felt the room tilt.

Her mother had been waiting for a heart transplant for eight months. The doctors had finally found a donor. The surgery was scheduled for the next morning, and if it did not happen, Nora might not survive another week.

Ava reached for the phone.

Her father pulled it away.

“Walk down the aisle,” he said. “Marry Liam Blackwood. Once the ceremony is over, the payment will be transferred.”

“And what happens when he finds out I’m not Clara?” "He won't find out."

Ava gave a bitter laugh.

“He has known Clara for two years. He will notice.” "you look enough alike."

“That’s your plan? That I look enough like my own sister?”

“You’re the same height. The veil will cover your face. The ceremony will be over before anyone notices.”

“Liam will notice.”

Her father moved closer.

“You have spent your whole life complaining that I treated Clara better than you. Today, you can finally do something useful for this family.”

The words struck harder than they should have.

Ava looked at the man who had never attended her school plays, never remembered her birthday, and never once asked how she was coping with their mother's illness.

"You really think I’m useless?” He said nothing.That answer hurt more than an insult. Ava looked at the dress again. She wanted to tear it off. She wanted to run to the hospital. She wanted to find Clara and force her to explain why she had vanished. But she could still see her mother’s face from that morning. Nora had smiled weakly from the hospital bed and squeezed Ava’s hand. “Don’t worry about me,” she had whispered. Ava had pretended to believe her. Now she had five minutes to choose between her mother’s life and her own. Her father placed the phone on the table.

“Clara left this behind.”

Ava picked it up. The screen was unlocked. There were several missed calls from Liam, the wedding planner, and an unknown number. She opened the messages. Most of them were ordinary.

"Where are you?The guests are seated. Clara, pick up the phone." Then Ava saw the last message. It had been sent thirty minutes earlier. Ava stopped breathing. She read it again but before she could open the message details, the screen went black. “What did Clara say?” her father asked. Seeing the look on her face. She lifted her head.“You knew she was going to run.” His eyes shifted for half a second.That was enough.

“You knew,” Ava repeated.

“I knew she was nervous.” “Don’t lie to me.”

“She’s been under pressure.”

“Where is she?” “I don’t know.”

“You’re her father.”

“And you’re her sister. Maybe you should have noticed she was planning to leave.”Ava felt anger rise through the fear. “Did you hurt her?” His face changed. Only for a moment, but she saw it. “No.” “Did you threaten her too?" “Watch your mouth. Why all these?“

" Then where is Clara?”

A knock sounded at the door. “Miss Hart?” the wedding coordinator called. “We need the bride at the altar.” Ava looked at the clock. Four minutes had passed. Her father picked up the veil. “If you want your mother alive, put this on.” Ava stared at him, then snatched the veil from his hand.“I’ll do this,” she said, “but the moment my mother’s surgery is confirmed, I’m telling Liam everything he needs to know.” Her father’s expression did not change. “You’ll tell him nothing.”

“I’m not going to spend the rest of my life pretending to be Clara. Not even with the man I don't love because you can't continue to ruin me” “No one is asking you to.”

“Then what are you asking now? Haven't you done enough.” He leaned toward her.“ Just get through tonight.” That answer made the fear in Ava’s stomach worse. She put on the veil. Her father opened the door, and the noise from the hallway rushed inside. People were talking, laughing, and calling Clara’s name. Ava stepped out.

The wedding coordinator smiled with relief. “There you are. Everyone is waiting.”Ava wanted to tell her the truth. Instead, she lowered her head and walked. The doors to the ballroom opened. Hundreds of faces turned toward her. She saw cameras, Flowers, Crystal lights. Men in black suits and women in expensive dresses.At the end of the aisle, stood Liam Blackwood. Ava had seen him in magazines and on television, but the real man was different. He looked taller, colder, and more dangerous than his photographs. He wore a black tuxedo without a smile on his face. He did not look like a groom waiting for his bride.

He looked like a man waiting for an enemy. Ava’s heartbeat slammed against her ribs. Keep walking. Her shoes hurt. The dress dragged behind her. Every step made the secret heavier. Liam watched her come closer. When she reached him, he didn't take her hand. The priest cleared his throat.

“Mr. Blackwood?”

Liam’s eyes remained on Ava.Then he reached for her hand. His fingers closed around hers.They were warm. His grip was firm. Ava felt him press his thumb against the inside of her wrist. Not affection but a warning. “Relax,” he murmured. Ava looked at him through the veil. "Where is Clara?” His face stayed calm. But his grip tightened. The priest began speaking. Ava heard none of it. She could only hear the blood rushing in her ears. Liam leaned closer to her.

"You’re not Clara.”

The words nearly knocked the air out of her. Ava’s head snapped toward him. His expression remained perfect for the cameras.

“You knew?”

she whispered. " I knew the second you entered the room.” “Then stop this. My sister is missing.” “I know.” “Where is she? "Answer my questions. Ava tried to pull her hand free. Liam held on.

The priest paused.

“Is there a problem?”

Liam looked at the priest and smiled for the first time.

“No problem she’s nervous.”

The guests laughed softly.

Ava wanted to scream. Liam turned back to her.

“If you expose this wedding, your mother’s surgery will be canceled before midnight.”

Her stomach dropped.

“You’re threatening my mother too?”

“I’m telling you what will happen.”

“You’re just like my father.”

Something hard flashed in his eyes.

“Don’t compare me to him.”

“Then let me leave.” "where is Clara?"

“I don’t know.” 

“Liar.”

“You think I would stand here in her dress if I knew where she was?”

“Yes.”

The priest continued with the vows.

Ava looked toward the ballroom doors. Her father stood near the back, watching her like a prison guard.

She thought of her mother.

Then she thought of Clara’s message.

He knows what happened to Mom.

What had Liam meant?

What had their mother done?

The priest turned toward Liam.

“Do you, Liam Blackwood, take Clara Hart to be your lawful wife?”

The ballroom went quiet. Liam looked at Ava.

For one strange second, the coldness left his face. She saw exhaustion there. Anger. Something that looked almost like fear.

Then he answered. "I do."

The priest turned to her.

“And do you, Clara Hart, take Liam Blackwood to be your lawful husband?”

Ava’s mouth went dry. She could still refuse.

She could walk away and tell everyone the truth. Her mother might die.

Her father might have lied about the hospital, but there was no way to find out before morning.

Ava looked at Liam.

“I do,” she said.

The lie left her mouth.

The priest smiled. "You may exchange rings."

Liam took the ring from the best man.

As he slid it onto Ava’s finger, her phone vibrated beneath the folds of her dress.

She froze.

Liam noticed.

The priest was still talking, but Ava reached into the side pocket sewn into the dress and pulled out the phone.

One new message from Clara's number.

Ava opened it. This time, the message did not disappear.

Ava’s eyes moved to the next line.

Before she could read anything else, the message vanished.

The phone slipped from her hand.

Liam caught it before it hit the floor.

His eyes dropped to the screen.

Ava grabbed his wrist. " Give it back."

He did not move.

“What did Clara send you?”

“Nothing.”

His stare became sharper.

“You’re a terrible liar.”

“Then announce to everyone that I’m not Clara.”

His face came close to hers. The cameras flashed around them.

He smiled as if he were whispering something romantic.

Instead, his voice was low and hard.

“You’re going to finish this ceremony, come with me, and tell me where my fiancée is.”

“I told you. I don’t know.”

“Then I’ll make sure your mother never leaves that hospital alive.”

Ava’s breath stopped.

The priest raised his hand.

“You may kiss the bride.”

The guests began clapping.

Liam turned toward her.

Ava stood frozen beneath the veil, trapped between the man who had just threatened her mother and the sister who had warned her not to trust him.

Then Liam lifted the veil from her face.

His eyes locked with hers.

And for the first time, his perfect control broke.

He looked at her as if he had just discovered something that frightened him.

Not because she was pretending to be Clara.

Because he had seen her before. 

Somewhere.

Ava’s lips parted.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Liam’s face went pale.

His hand remained against her veil.

“You,” he whispered.

“What about me?”

His eyes dropped to the small scar near her eyebrow.

Then he looked back at her.

“You were there the night my father died."