The Replacement Bride : Contracted to the Cruel CEO

IVY'S POV"You look like me, so you can marry him for me." My stepsister, Elaina, had said to me."I always knew you were crazy, Elaina," I stated, "but this is madness."She twirled her hair around her finger, a wide smile plastered across her face."Oh, you poor thing. I have a bright future ahead of me, you know. Unlike you, I actually want to become a model."Her eyes traveled down my worn-out gown and dirty flats."It's such a shame that you can't want the same thing. I mean, take a look at you. You look hideous."I could have punched Elaina's face a thousand times and I still wouldn't have been satisfied."You're not the only one with dreams," I said under my breath.Elaina scoffed and walked up to me. She placed her hand on my chin."What did you say?" Elaina asked."Dreams?" she repeated. "You don't deserve to dream, Ivy, not after everything you've done to us. You are a worthless piece of trash with no father and a deadbeat mother, so you better know your place."Elaina stare

IVY'S POVSix Months LaterSix months of following his rules.Six months of pretending to be his wife in public while being nothing more than a stranger behind closed doors.I had gotten used to the cold silences, the separate bedrooms, and Adrian disappearing whenever Lisa was around.Or at least, I thought I had."Wow, babe. You're so strong."Lisa's breathless voice drifted from the living room.I stopped in the hallway.My fingers tightened around the glass in my hand as I listened to her laugh.Adrian had invited Lisa over for dinner tonight.Apparently, I was the only person in this house who hadn't been invited.For the past six months, ever since our marriage became official, I had felt like a stranger in Adrian's home.He barely spoke to me.Barely looked at me.And tonight, as I stood outside the living room listening to him with his girlfriend, I wondered how much longer I was expected to pretend I was his wife.Our conversations barely passed the thirty-second mark before

I turned around, and he stopped. "Hey, pretty lady," he said. My face twisted in disgust. "Get away from me, you creep!" I shouted as he reached for my hands. "Come on, I only want to talk to you," he said. "Ain't no harm in that, right?" I looked around. The passageway was empty. If I screamed, no one was going to hear me. I turned around and quickened my pace. If I could just make it to the bathroom, I was sure I would be able to lock myself inside, and he wouldn't be able to get in. Terrible mistake. His footsteps quickened behind me. This time, I was basically running. I finally got to the bathroom door, and just as I was about to shut it closed, he held the door with his foot. "Get away from me, you creep," I screamed. I pressed the door harder against his foot. He winced in pain, and he reached for my neck, grabbing it tightly. "You stupid bitch!" he screamed. Just as I was about to release his grip from my neck, the man got thrown across the wall. I fell to my k