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 Paris, the Eiffel Tower

ice as I dialed

that arranged

brother's voice softened with concern, catching

This doesn't sound like

in my throat,

wrong. I just realized - marriage is inevitable, isn't

I continued, trying to keep my voice

and father's judgment. Even for a business merger marriage,

relief was audible through

back? Would you like to meet

need. The sooner we proceed, the sooner we can resolve the company's crisis. Go

"His first love is finally back in town. You should invite him

Oriana too. No wonder Castro never

the pain

Will. We're... not

unlock, I quickly said

against the doorframe, his signature smirk

"Not close to whom?"

"You."

widen as he pulled me into

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

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