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.

on his mahogany desk, was a photograph of him and Oriana in

turned to ice as I dialed my brother's number

arranged

My brother's voice softened with concern, catching the unfamiliar

wrong? This doesn't sound like

throat, but I forced a

just realized - marriage is inevitable, isn't it? Does

I continued, trying to keep my voice

trust your and father's judgment. Even for a business merger marriage, I know you would have vetted the candidate

audible through

are you coming back? Would you like to

sooner we can resolve the company's crisis. Go ahead and start planning the wedding. Let's set it for... a month

finally back in

about Oriana too. No wonder Castro never

concealing the pain that threatened to

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

quickly said goodbye

the doorframe, his signature smirk playing across his

"Not close to whom?"

"You."

smirk widen as he pulled me

dropped to a husky whisper. "Should we discuss just how 'not

my ear, and for the first time,