Chapter 1 I'll Marry Adrian Knight

Today was Sophie Barnes' cousin, Alice Barnes' wedding.

Sophie had been running around all morning, helping set up the venue, making sure everything was perfect.

Carrying the bouquet, she headed toward the bridal suite, ready to place it in the designated spot. But just outside the door, she froze. Her heart skipped a beat at the sound of moans coming through the crack.

"Oh, baby, who's better? Me or Sophie?" A woman's voice purred, playful and honeyed.

The man's voice followed, low and ragged with desire. "No one comes close to you. I can't believe you seduced me while marrying that ugly freak."

Sophie's stomach dropped. She knew those voices. With trembling hands, she pushed the door open.

On the dressing table lay Alice, completely exposed and wrapped up with a man. Her wedding dress was tossed on the floor.

And that man was David Lloyd. Sophie's boyfriend of three years.

Her mind raced back to his words from just days ago. "I want to check out your cousin's wedding. It'll help us plan ours."

Alice clung to David, moaning louder. "David, I love you! Let's run away together!"

Rage boiled over in Sophie. She threw the bouquet straight at them with every ounce of her strength.

The sudden attack made them both yelp in shock.

David scrambled to pull up his pants, his face blanching as he met Sophie's furious gaze. "Sophie, wait! You've got it all wrong! She made a move on me!" he stammered.

Sophie let out a bitter laugh. Then she slapped him hard across the cheek. "Oh really? Did she force you?"

David froze, completely paralyzed.

Alice threw on clothes and rushed to defend him. "Sophie, what do you think you're doing?"

Sophie's icy stare cut her down instantly. Another sharp slap landed squarely across Alice's cheek.

"You... how dare you hit me?" Alice hissed, her shock morphing into pure fury.

It was the first time Sophie had ever laid a hand on her cousin.

Sophie's childhood hadn't been easy. Her father had been absent, and her mother vanished without explanation when she was only five.

Kolton Barnes, her mother's brother, and his wife, Michelle Barnes, had taken her in, giving her a home.

Alice, their own daughter, had grown spoiled and entitled, convinced that everything, and everyone, was hers for the taking.

She had always viewed Sophie as an intruder, someone beneath her.

For years, Sophie had tolerated Alice's insults, her petty thefts, and constant provocation, all out of gratitude and respect for Kolton.

But seeing this betrayal, right in front of her eyes, Sophie refused to hold back.

Alice, clutching her face in outrage, tried to hit back, but Sophie caught her hand and delivered another firm slap.

"Isn't it my responsibility to teach a shameless, younger cousin a lesson?" Sophie snapped.

At that moment, hurried footsteps pounded outside the door.

"What's going on in here?"

Kolton and Michelle burst in.

One glance at Alice's half-tied robe and David's lipstick-stained neck was all it took. They understood instantly.

Kolton's face darkened with a furious flush. "This is unbelievable! On your wedding day, Alice? How do I explain this to the Knights?"

Seething, he swung his arm wide to slap Alice, but Michelle quickly pulled her close, shielding her from the upcoming slap.

Between sobs, Alice cried, "I don't want to marry Adrian Knight! He's scarred, he hides behind a mask, and everyone says he's a womanizer! You're forcing me into a nightmare!"

When Michelle heard this, tears rushed out from her eyes.

Kolton's jaw tightened. "When we arranged the engagement, he wasn't scarred. The Knights are the wealthiest family in the city. Crossing them isn't an option."

"Isn't Sophie a Barnes too?" Alice blurted, pointing directly at her cousin. "Let her marry him instead!"

Sophie, who had been watching Alice's meltdown with cold calm, was caught off guard by her words.

She smirked. "Why would I?"

Michelle, who had remained silent, let go of her daughter and grabbed Sophie's hand. Her eyes shimmered with tears as she pleaded, "Sophie, after everything we've done for you, after raising you... just do this. Marry him in Alice's stead."

Sophie felt the familiar weight of a guilt trip pressing down on her chest.

"After everything we've done for you..." Those words had haunted her all her life, used to keep her in line, to make her surrender her own desires again and again.

Everything she had sacrificed-her toys, her first crush, her hard-earned money-had always been expected.

And now they wanted her to trade her happiness too.

But not this time. Sophie straightened, her voice firm. "No. I won't marry him. I'll work hard to pay you back, sure, but I won't give up my life for Alice, and I won't marry someone I don't love."

Michelle's expression stiffened. She hadn't expected Sophie to defy her so openly.

But she still had one weapon left.

Leaning in close, she whispered, "I know where your mother is."

Sophie froze, mouth dry. She stared at Michelle, disbelief and a tiny flicker of hope battling inside her.

Michelle stepped back, letting the words hang in the air, and gave her a knowing look.

Sophie understood immediately. It was either marry Adrian or never see her mother. There was no middle ground.

Her gaze fell on David, looking awkward with Alice's lipstick smeared on his neck.

A bitter laugh escaped her. She had once dreamed of marrying for love, but due to David's betrayal, she could see what love really was-a joke, a lie.

Thoughts of her mother's gentle hands came to her, and she decided that if marriage was just a bargain, she would at least make it count for something real.

Bending down, she picked up the bouquet, now dusted with dirt and with crushed petals, and lifted her chin. "Alright," she said finally. "I'll marry Adrian Knight."