Chapter 4 The Real Bride

Alexander Drake stood at the altar, his expression as cold and unreadable as ever. To the guests, he appeared calm and composed, every inch the powerful billionaire they knew him to be. But beneath that icy exterior, a storm was brewing.

He had agreed to marry Vanessa Reynolds, despite his reluctance, as a means of placating his grandmother. It was a business transaction, nothing more. He would marry her, keep her at a distance, and then, when the time was right, he would divorce her and be free of the obligation.

But as the ceremony had unfolded, something had felt... off. And when the veil was finally lifted, revealing not Vanessa but her quiet, unremarkable stepsister Sophie, Alexander's suspicions were confirmed.

He had been tricked.

The wedding continued as if nothing was amiss, but Alexander's mind raced with questions. Why had they done this? Why had Vanessa backed out at the last minute, and why had Sophie agreed to take her place? He knew the Reynolds family was ambitious, always looking for ways to elevate their status, but this? This was beyond anything he could have anticipated.

As he and Sophie walked down the aisle together, now husband and wife, Alexander could barely contain his anger. He had never been one to let emotions cloud his judgment, but this betrayal stung in a way he hadn't expected.

He didn't know Sophie, not really. She had always been the quiet, overlooked daughter of the Reynolds family, and he had paid her little mind. But now she was his wife-forced upon him through deceit-and he couldn't help but wonder what her true motives were.

Was she just another gold-digger? Is she a woman willing to do whatever it takes to secure a life of luxury and power? Or was there something more to this switch than met the eye? Alexander was determined to find out.

The reception passed in a blur. Alexander remained silent, keeping Sophie at arm's length, his mind working furiously to make sense of the situation. She, for her part, seemed nervous, unsure of her place in all of this. She didn't cling to him or make a show of their marriage, which only added to Alexander's confusion.

If she had schemed to marry him, why wasn't she trying to ingratiate herself with him now that she had succeeded? As they arrived at his penthouse later that evening, the tension between them was palpable. The luxurious space, with its floor-to-ceiling windows offering stunning views of the city skyline, felt suffocating with the weight of unspoken words.

Alexander watched as Sophie hesitantly moved through the apartment, taking in her new surroundings with a mix of awe and trepidation.

"I suppose this isn't quite what you expected," Alexander said finally, his voice cold and cutting.

Sophie turned to him, her expression unreadable. "No, it's not," she admitted quietly.

"You've managed to trick me into marrying you," Alexander continued, his eyes narrowing. "But let me make one thing clear: I don't trust you. I don't know what your game is, but I won't be playing. If you think you can manipulate me, you're gravely mistaken."

Sophie flinched at his harsh words but held her ground. "I didn't want this, Alexander. I was forced into it." Alexander's anger flared. "Forced? You expect me to believe that? You're just like your sister, scheming and manipulative."

Sophie's eyes flashed with defiance, surprising him. "You don't know me, Alexander. You don't know anything about me. But you're right-I'm not like Vanessa. I didn't want to marry you, but I had no choice. My stepmother and Vanessa made sure of that."

Alexander studied her, searching for any sign of deception. But what he saw in Sophie's eyes was not greed or ambition; it was pain. She wasn't cowering before him like others did; she was standing her ground, meeting his gaze without flinching.

It was unexpected, and it gave him pause. But Alexander wasn't a man who let down his guard easily. He wasn't about to let himself be swayed by a few words. He had been burned too many times before, and trust was something he didn't give lightly.

"We'll see about that," he said finally. "In the meantime, stay out of my way. This marriage is nothing more than a contract, and once I've figured out what's going on, it will be over."

Sophie's face fell, but she nodded. "I understand." With that, Alexander turned on his heel and left the room, retreating to his private study where he could think in peace.

His emotions churned inside him-anger, frustration, and something else he couldn't quite identify. This situation was far more complicated than he had anticipated. As he sat at his desk, Alexander pressed a button on his intercom, connecting him to his assistant, Ethan.

"Ethan, I need you to investigate Sophie Reynolds," he said, his voice low and controlled. "I want to know everything about her. What she's done, where she's been, who she associates with. And I want to know why her family chose her over Vanessa."

Understood, Mr. Drake," Ethan replied without hesitation. "I'll get on it immediately."

Alexander leaned back in his chair, staring out at the city lights that twinkled far below. He had always prided himself on being in control, on knowing every detail and every angle. But now, with this unexpected marriage, that control felt like it was slipping through his fingers.He didn't trust Sophie, but there was something about her that intrigued him-something that didn't quite fit with the image he had of the Reynolds family.

She wasn't like Vanessa, that much was clear. She didn't seem to crave attention or power, and she certainly didn't seem pleased with the situation she found herself in.

As the days passed, Alexander kept Sophie at a distance, observing her from afar. She moved quietly through his home, never demanding his time or attention, never trying to worm her way into his life. She seemed to go out of her way to avoid him, retreating to the guest room she had chosen for herself.

Alexander found himself watching her more than he cared to admit. She was different from what he had expected-different from what he had known. She wasn't loud or vain; she didn't try to impress him with shallow charm or force herself into his world. She was quiet, yes, but there was a strength in her that intrigued him.

And despite his best efforts, he couldn't help but be drawn to that strength. But Alexander wasn't a fool. He wouldn't let his guard down just because of a few moments of intrigue. He would wait for Ethan's report, and only then would he decide how to handle this unexpected twist in his life.

For now, he would keep Sophie at arm's length, watching, waiting, and trying to unravel the mystery that was his new wife.