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

to ice as I dialed my

arranged marriage—I'll

brother's voice softened with

"What's wrong? This doesn't sound like you at

formed in my throat, but I

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

continued, trying to keep my voice

Even for a business merger marriage, I know

relief was audible through the

you coming back? Would

resolve the company's crisis. Go ahead and start planning the

the way, have you heard from Castro?" he coninued, "His first love is finally back in town. You should invite him to the wedding - let him share in your

Oriana too. No wonder Castro

eyes, concealing the pain that

him, Will. We're...

door unlock, I quickly said goodbye

up to find Castro leaning against the doorframe, his signature

"Not close to whom?"

"You."

only made his smirk widen as

voice dropped to a husky whisper. "Should we discuss just how

the first time, his intimate gesture made my skin crawl instead