Refusing To Be His Perfect Replica I Choose The Arranged Marriage

Chapter

1

For seven years, I've been in a secret relationship with Castro Harrison, my brother's best friend.

Just as I was hoping he'd propose, I tracked his location to a private lounge at an upscale restaurant, where I found they were joking about me.

"Castro, now that Oriana's back from London, what are you going to do about that replacement?"

Castro remained silent, his lack of response speaking volumes.

The tension in the air was broken by another friend's sardonic laugh.

"You've got to hand it to Castro-having the nerve to pursue William Blackwood's sister while Oriana was away. Now that you've had your fun, and Oriana's back..."

"Well, Oriana deserved it after how coldly she left. A replacement was just what she needed to teach her a lesson!"

The next day, Castro took me to Oriana's welcome-home party at the Blackwood Estate, lavishing attention on me with an almost theatrical display of affection.

But when Oriana ran out in tears, her Chanel dress stained with wine, Castro pushed me aside without a second thought and rush out.

I returned home alone, my cream silk blouse ruined by scalding soup and my skin was still burning.

With trembling hands, I finally opened the door to his study---the one room he'd always declared off-limits.

was a photograph of him and Oriana in Paris, the Eiffel Tower gleaming behind their embracing

heart turned to ice as I

arranged marriage—I'll

softened with

tone. "What's wrong? This

throat, but I forced a

inevitable, isn't it? Does it really matter

I continued, trying to keep my

Even for a business merger marriage, I know you would have vetted the

was audible

you're being sensible about this. When are you coming back? Would you like to meet him first

company's crisis. Go ahead and start planning

he coninued, "His first love is finally back in town.

too. No wonder Castro never let me

lowered my eyes, concealing the pain that

bother him, Will. We're... not that

door unlock, I quickly said goodbye and

up to find Castro leaning against the doorframe, his signature smirk playing

"Not close to whom?"

"You."

widen as

just how 'not close' we

my ear, and for the first time, his intimate gesture made