Chapter 1 SUBSTITUTE WIFE

Autumn Dawson stood stiffly at the edge of the dance floor, her hands clenched tightly around her champagne glass. she watched with teary eyes, her husband twirl his new bride, Iris Dawson-her much younger half-sister-across the polished wood.

The twinkling lights above cast a soft glow on their joyous faces, a sharp contrast to the storm brewing in Autumn's chest. For twelve years, she had played the role of his substitute wife, enduring the empty nights and the whispered rumors, only to be cast aside the moment his father passed away. On the very day that marked their twelve-year anniversary, he had married Iris, leaving Autumn to bear witness to a happiness that had never been hers.

Autumn Dawson watched the couple with a heavy heart, her bloodshot eyes tracking every movement as Ivan smiled ear to ear at Iris. That radiant smile was something she had never been granted; Ivan had only ever shown her one expression on that handsome face of his-a cold but an unyielding glare. It was an expression she had grown accustomed to over the years, one that made her feel pathetic no matter how many times she encountered it. She loved Ivan with her whole heart, yet he had never reciprocated her feelings. Throughout their marriage, his scornful hatred had been a constant presence, a stark contrast to the tenderness he now lavished on Iris.

The couple finished dancing, everyone present at the wedding were welcoming the newlyweds. Autumn clapped too as both Ivan and Iris walk over to her.

"Autumn, we're going to be sister wives. Isn't this exciting?" Autumn held her tongue from lashing at her sister, she didn't have a place in scolding Iris and it's always been like this and she blames her parents for enabling Iris behavior. Unlike Autumn, Iris was the golden child. Autumn's own biological mother never wanted her to begin with and always resented her for trapping her in a loveless marriage but when Iris was discovered from her father's affair, they welcomed her with opened arms.

"Autumn are you mad at me?" Autumn return to her senses to see Iris tearing up.

"Are you mad that I stole Ivan from you?" Iris added still sobbing.

"And why would Autumn think that?" Ivan asked in annoyance.

"Because she confronted me before the wedding that I'm stealing you from her." Iris freezes, she didn't even see Iris until the wedding began.

"You really are shameless, not only will you not agree to divorce me but now you want to blame Iris for what is entirely your fault?" Ivan screamed at Autumn as she tries to hold back her tears. There's a reason she didn't accept his divorce proposal but she didn't know how she would reveal to Ivan that she was pregnant.

"But I didn't..."

"Quiet." Ivan scolded her and signalling security to get a hold of Autumn.

"Get her out of my sight." He ordered as two men in black drags her out. Autumn struggled with them as they tried to forcefully take her out and then she saw a familiar expression that she always saw on Iris face, that cunning smirk of victory. Autumn screamed even more until security finally dragged her out of the premise completely.

"Autumn.." She hears her name and turns to see her mother and her father.

"Haven't you done enough to shame the Dawson's name? How much damage will you cause till you're satisfied?" Her mother spat bitterly at her daughter.

"Mom please..." A slap went across her face and she tasted a metallic liquid that spread across her entire mouth, the taste of her own blood. She looked back at her father who gave her the hard slap.

"I'm ashamed of calling you my daughter. How dare you say such things to your sister on her wedding day?" His voice was a harsh whip, each word lashing out at her. "If you weren't my blood, I would have killed you." His yelling intensified, the atmosphere reverberating with his fury.

Autumn's chest tightened, her breaths coming in short, frantic gasps. Her vision blurred, and her world started to spin. Panic clawed at her, making it harder to breathe. The dizziness overwhelmed her, and she felt her legs give way. Her knees buckled, and she crumpled to the floor, the world around her fading to black.