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.

of him and Oriana in Paris,

heart turned to ice as I dialed my brother's number in

that arranged marriage—I'll do

with concern, catching

my tone. "What's wrong? This

lump formed in my throat, but I forced a

I just realized - marriage is inevitable, isn't it? Does it really matter who it

continued, trying to keep my voice

merger marriage, I know you would have vetted the

audible through

being sensible about this. When are you coming back? Would

the company's crisis. Go ahead and start planning the wedding. Let's

coninued, "His first love is finally back in town. You should invite him to the wedding - let him

Castro never let

my eyes, concealing the pain that threatened to

him, Will. We're...

I quickly

Castro leaning against the doorframe,

"Not close to whom?"

"You."

honest answer only made his smirk widen as he pulled me into

whisper. "Should we discuss just how 'not close' we

the first time, his intimate gesture made my