Chapter 7 The engagement that wasn't

Arielle barely slept that night.

Julian's cryptic words played on a loop in her head, stirring up questions she didn't have answers to. What had he meant about her father? About someone in the Lancaster family wanting to see her fail? And why had he said her marriage to Damien was tied to a bigger web?

The more she thought about it, the clearer one thing became-she needed to find out the truth about her past. Not just the version her stepmother fed her to justify her cruelty, but the real truth. If her parents' downfall was tied to the Lancasters, she needed to know who was responsible. And why.

But there was no time to dwell. The next morning brought chaos to the Lancaster mansion. It started with a flurry of staff members preparing the drawing room, a rare occurrence unless something-or someone-important was expected.

Arielle stood at the top of the grand staircase, watching as fresh flowers were arranged in every vase and trays of delicate pastries were delivered. She turned to one of the maids and asked, "What's happening?"

The maid lowered her voice. "Miss Natalia is coming."

Arielle's blood chilled.

Natalia Rousseau.

Damien's fiancée.

The woman who was supposed to marry him. The woman he still loved.

Arielle had only seen pictures of Natalia-flawless in every way, with raven-black hair, porcelain skin, and a pair of emerald eyes that seemed to slice through the soul. She was the daughter of a foreign ambassador, born into wealth, prestige, and political alliances. Her engagement to Damien had been a strategic one, meant to elevate the Lancaster family's global standing.

So when Arielle had been shoved into Natalia's place at the altar, she had assumed the engagement had been called off.

But now, Natalia was here.

Arielle barely had time to gather her thoughts before a sleek black car pulled into the driveway. The door opened, and out stepped Natalia, more stunning in person than any picture could capture. She was dressed in a tailored white coat, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders, lips painted a bold red.

She moved with the confidence of someone who knew exactly where she belonged.

The doors were thrown open, and Natalia swept inside, followed by a small entourage. Her eyes scanned the grand hall until they landed on Damien, who had just descended the stairs.

"Darling," she said with a smile, as if nothing in the world had changed.

Damien didn't smile back.

His expression was unreadable, but his posture stiffened as she approached. "Natalia," he greeted coolly.

Arielle remained rooted to her spot on the landing, unsure whether to stay or disappear.

Natalia tilted her head. "You don't look happy to see me."

"You shouldn't be here," Damien replied.

"I think we both know that's not true." Natalia's voice dripped with elegance and certainty. "We have unfinished business."

Arielle's stomach twisted. She turned to leave, but Natalia's voice stopped her.

"And you must be the substitute."

Arielle froze.

Slowly, she turned back around and descended the stairs, every step feeling like a test. When she reached the last one, she looked Natalia square in the eyes.

"I'm Arielle Lancaster," she said calmly. "Damien's wife."

Natalia's smile was sharp. "How charming. You certainly look the part. Though, I imagine the real bride was... unavailable?"

Arielle said nothing, but Damien stepped forward, placing himself between them. "This isn't the time or the place for this conversation, Natalia."

"But it is the perfect time," she replied. "You never even gave me a proper explanation for what happened. One moment, we were planning a wedding-and the next, you're married to someone else."

Her gaze cut to Arielle again. "No offense."

Arielle offered her a tight-lipped smile. "None taken."

"I didn't owe you an explanation," Damien said, his tone colder than ever. "Our engagement was arranged. Nothing more."

Natalia's eyes narrowed. "That may be true, but you and I both know there was something more between us."

He said nothing.

The silence was deafening.

Arielle felt as though she'd just been slapped, even though Natalia's words weren't directed at her. She wanted to leave, to escape the suffocating air between the three of them, but something inside her-perhaps pride, perhaps stubbornness-kept her rooted.

Finally, Natalia turned to her again. "Let me give you some advice, Arielle. This family doesn't forgive weakness. You're not just married to Damien-you're married to every deal, every secret, every enemy that comes with the Lancaster name."

She stepped closer, so close Arielle could smell her expensive perfume. "You may have the ring, but you'll never have his heart."

Before Arielle could respond, Damien snapped, "Enough."

Natalia straightened, giving him one final glance before she walked past them both, heels clicking like gunshots on marble. "I'll be staying for a few days. Surely you wouldn't turn away an old friend."

She didn't wait for a reply before disappearing down the hall.

As soon as she was gone, Arielle turned to Damien. "Is this going to be a regular thing?"

Damien sighed and rubbed a hand over his jaw. "She's here because of her father. The ambassador is meeting with my family's board. This has nothing to do with me."

"She clearly doesn't think so," Arielle said. "Or did you forget to tell her you were married?"

"I didn't owe her an explanation."

Arielle shook her head. "Right. Just like you didn't owe me an explanation when you married me."

Damien met her gaze, his dark eyes unreadable. "You were a contract, Arielle. You still are."

The words stung more than she expected.

He didn't wait for her to respond. He turned and walked away, leaving her alone in the grand hall with the echo of his indifference.

But this time, Arielle didn't feel weak.

She felt ready.

If she was going to be stuck in this marriage, she wasn't going to let Natalia, or Damien, or anyone else walk all over her. She would find out the truth about her past, she would figure out what Julian meant, and she would become more than just the substitute wife.

She would become the real one.

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