The Billionaire's Replacement Bride Novels & Stories

The whispers followed us everywhere. Even after Adrian and I had stepped fully into the ballroom, I could still feel hundreds of curious eyes lingering on us. "They actually came together?" "I heard they don't even live like husband and wife." "Who is she?" "That's Celia Rowan." "The substitute bride?" "I expected someone... different." I lowered my eyes. No matter how expensive the gown was, No matter how carefully my hair had been styled, I was still the woman who had stolen another bride's place in their eyes.

Laura, grateful for my words, smiled weakly while Susie let out a sound of displeasure and stormed off a few steps ahead of us. Sorry babe, I almost called out but held my tongue. I would make it up to her later. "It's just... When we moved to Vegas, all everyone could talk about was the new Mrs Lowell. How she rose from shame to fame. And had nothing before she scored the richest man in Vegas." Laura explained and I smiled. Of course, people thought that about me. No one knew it was a bloody contract that I had been conned into by my very own fiancee. The man whom I was going to marry! He sold me to the Lowells and went on his merry way like some fucking philistine.

They were going to leave, but the Mayor had something else he wanted to talk about. "Congratulations on your marriage. I see you have found a diamond in another place as well." The Mayor looked at Spencer, who was dressed in a dark green velvet gown, decorated with golden flower embroidery. Her shiny raven-colored hair flowed down to her waist . The Mayor watched her with much admiration. He found her more beautiful than his own wife and that made him jealous of Kristof. Even more, than he already was. He was the Mayor! However, Kristof was wealthier, more powerful, and had a better-looking lover.

It felt like a stage. "So," I whispered to the empty, sunlit air. "My husband isn't a mechanic." I tossed the heavy envelope onto the glass coffee table. It landed with a satisfying thud. "He's the missing CEO of Cross Industries. He's dodging a multi-billion dollar tech acquisition. And he's in deep trouble with his terrifying grandmother." A slow, wicked smile spread across my face. I had married a ghost. A phantom billionaire who was running from his own empire, just like I was running from mine.

The words slipped out quietly without me even thinking and Julian’s fingers paused against his phone and there was this unrecognisable emotion in his face. “He built everything I have,” he answered after a moment. “Cross Industries started with him.” “And your mother?” His jaw tightened slightly. “My mother loves power and herself more than people.” Well. That explained literally everything. My eyes drifted toward my reflection in the glass and I barely recognized myself anymore. Designer clothes. Luxury penthouse. Fake marriage. Media scandals. Hours ago I was arguing with hospital billing departments and eating noodles in my apartment while grading exhibition proposals. Now I was standing

Silence. Heavy. Sharp. Daniel stared at me as if he no longer knew the woman standing in front of him. And honestly? Maybe he didn’t. Because the girl who once begged for his attention no longer existed. “You’ve changed,” he said finally, his voice colder now. His jaw tightened. Around us, whispers continued quietly, people pretending not to watch while clearly listening to every word. Daniel stepped closer. “Do you really think this marriage is real?” he asked quietly. “You’re just a replacement.”

“I like her already.” Uriel didn’t smile. He studied Z, taking in the dead look in his eyes, the way the white dove on his shoulder hadn’t moved since he walked in. “Who’s the girl?” “X new bride,” Z said. “The first one ran. This one’s still bleeding.” Ashtin sucked on his lollipop, tongue turning violet. “X never keeps them long. He breaks them too fast.” “Not this time,” Z said. His voice was flat, but something under it sharpened. “This one’s different. She didn’t scream.”

I didn't. “…rumors are already spreading that Ethan Kale may have married this woman in secret. Social media is exploding with questions, accusations, and debates—” I stood there frozen, wondering how on earth they imagined all those lies. “—why did the billionaire replace his bride? Who is this woman? Is she the reason the original bride disappeared from the ceremony? Or… is she a paid mistress?” My body grew weak, I was close to collapsing. And I knew if nature wasn't with me, I'd probably have my head smacked against the tiled floor.

People would think because I married a billionaire and appeared on TV, then I was suddenly a billionaire too. "That's not true. I plan on giving you part of the payment tonight and then I'll try and pay the rest by next week." I said in a pleading tone. "Why don't you ask your billionaire husband for help? I'm sure he wouldn't want his wife to be thrown out on the streets." He said with a cunning smile. "I can't- do that." I shuttered, not knowing how to explain to him that I wasn't Allen's real bride, I was just a substitute.

I stood by his side staring and transfixed, the clicking of the camera from the reporters was on repeat. Tristain Herdezn exchanged pleasantries with her, and I kept on shaking my head in defeated silence. I could read the next headline in the papers by morning. “The substitute bride was humiliated at her own reception” “Ruthless billionaire ignores his wife for a more sexy lady” “Tristain Herdezn, and who do we have here?”. The woman who made a mockery of me right before the whole crowd, turning to face me not letting go of her grip on Tristain's arm.