Chapter 1

Chapter 1: The Devil’s Bargain

The silk veil clung to Lila’s face like a second skin, suffocating her.

“Sign it,” Serena hissed, shoving the contract across the dimly lit hotel suite table. Her older sister’s perfume—expensive, sharp, like crushed roses and lies—filled the air. “One night, Lila. One fucking night pretending to be me, and Mom gets the best doctors money can buy. You owe me this.”

Lila’s hand trembled around the pen. The numbers on the page blurred—two million dollars wired the moment the marriage was consummated. Enough to pay every hospital bill, every debt, enough to breathe again. But the price was her body on another woman’s wedding night.

“To Damien Voss,” Serena added, lips curling. “He’s cold, but he’s hung like a god and pays for what he wants. Just spread your legs, let him fuck you in the dark, and disappear before sunrise. Easy.”

Lila looked up, meeting her sister’s calculating gaze. Serena had always been the beautiful one. The ambitious one. The one their family pinned their hopes on. Now she was selling her little sister to a billionaire she didn’t even want.

“Why me?” Lila whispered.

Serena laughed softly, cruel. “Because you look just enough like me in the right lighting. Same dark hair, same mouth. He’ll never know until it’s too late. And by then…” She tapped the contract. “You’ll be gone, and I’ll be free.”

The clock on the wall ticked like a heartbeat counting down. In less than two hours, Lila would walk down the aisle in Serena’s place, say vows that weren’t hers, and seal them with her body.

She signed.

———————————————————————

The cathedral candles flickered low as Damien Voss watched his bride glide toward him.

She was late. He didn’t care. The moment she stepped into the light, something primal stirred in his chest. This wasn’t the brittle, polished Serena he’d agreed to marry for business. This woman moved like she was afraid the floor might burn her feet—hesitant, alive, her fingers clutching the bouquet so tightly the stems might snap.

When she reached him, he lifted her veil.

Emerald eyes met his. Not Serena’s icy blue.

Damien’s grip tightened on her hand. A spark of fury and something far darker flashed through him. But the priest was already speaking, and the weight of two powerful families watched from the pews. He smiled instead—slow, dangerous—and slid the ring onto her finger.

“I do,” she breathed, voice shaking.

He said the words like a claim.

Later, in the honeymoon suite overlooking the city, he poured champagne and watched her.

She stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, back to him, the white gown shimmering like it was made of moonlight and sins. The zipper down her spine was half-undone, revealing the elegant line of her neck, the delicate straps of lace beneath.

“You’re not her,” he said quietly.

She froze.

Damien crossed the room in three strides, pressing his chest to her back. One large hand splayed across her stomach, pulling her against the hard heat of him. “Who the fuck are you?”

Her breath hitched. “Lila,” she whispered. “Serena’s sister.”

He laughed once, low and rough, lips brushing her ear. “They bribed you.”

She didn’t deny it. Couldn’t. Not when his other hand was already tracing the curve of her waist, possessive, testing.

“And you said yes.” His fingers found the zipper and dragged it down slowly, the sound obscene in the quiet room. Cool air kissed her skin as the gown pooled at her feet. “Tell me, little liar… did they tell you I’d be gentle?”

Lila shivered. She should run. She should confess everything and bolt. But his body was solid behind her, arousal pressing insistently against her ass, and heat was already pooling low in her belly—traitorous, terrifying.

“I needed the money,” she managed.

Damien turned her to face him. His eyes—storm-gray and merciless—dragged down her body, taking in the sheer white lingerie that left nothing to the imagination. Her nipples tightened under his stare.

He cupped her jaw, thumb stroking her lower lip. “The deal’s off.”

Her heart slammed against her ribs. “What?”

“You’re not disappearing, Lila.” He leaned in, mouth hovering over hers. “You walked down that aisle. You said the vows. And tonight…” His hand slid between her thighs, finding her already wet. A dark smile curved his lips. “Tonight you’re going to moan my name like a good little wife.”

He kissed her then—hard, claiming, nothing like the polite arrangement this marriage was supposed to be. His tongue demanded entry, and she gave it, whimpering into his mouth as two thick fingers pushed her panties aside and sank deep.

Lila’s knees buckled. He caught her, lifting her effortlessly onto the edge of the grand piano, spreading her legs wide.

“Serena could never take me like this,” he growled against her throat, thrusting his fingers faster. “But you… fuck, you’re already dripping for it.”

She clutched his shoulders, the expensive tux rough under her fingers, pleasure building too fast, too sharp. This was supposed to be one cold transaction. Instead, Damien Voss was unraveling her with every stroke, every filthy word.

And somewhere out there, her sister was waiting to take it all back.

Damien pulled his fingers free, brought them to his mouth, and licked them clean while holding her gaze.

“On your knees, wife. Let’s see how badly you wanted that bribe.”