lifeistoolong

On the day of a wedding meant to unite two powerful families, Elena Voss stands in as a substitute bride, bound by desperation and a contract she can’t refuse. But when the real bride crashes the ceremony, chaos erupts, leaving Elena humiliated and running from the life she never wanted.

Liam Astor, the cold and calculating heir to a billion-dollar empire, finds himself torn between duty, loyalty, and an inexplicable pull toward the woman who was never meant to be his bride.

As secrets unravel and hidden motives come to light, their worlds collide in an emotional storm of betrayal, passion, and redemption.

In a tale of love and power, where every choice comes at a cost, can two hearts find solace in a world built on lies?

Vows of Deception

The weight of the contract bore down on Elise like an iron chain, suffocating in its finality. She had read the terms over and over, yet they remained the same—a cage, a lifetime sentence signed away with a stroke of ink.

Across the grand mahogany desk, Damien Lancaster sat in predatory stillness. The dim lighting cast shadows over his sharp features, emphasizing the cold amusement in his gaze. He was enjoying this—watching her struggle, knowing full well that she had no escape.

Elise's fingers curled into fists beneath the table.

"You're hesitating," Damien observed, his voice as smooth as silk yet laced with challenge.

She lifted her chin, masking the storm inside her. "You expect me to just sign my life away?"

"Your life was never really yours to begin with," he mused, tapping a single finger on the document. "But I'm offering you something better than ruin. You should be thanking me."

Thanking him? The sheer arrogance of it made her blood boil.

Her father—once a respected businessman—had made one mistake. A desperate investment gone wrong, a financial trap set by those more powerful than him. Now, he was drowning in debt, and the sharks were closing in.

One shark, in particular, had chosen her as the price for her father's salvation.

A man who built his empire on ruthless deals and unwavering control. He had no need for love, no interest in romance. This marriage wasn't about companionship—it was about power, control, and whatever twisted game he was playing.

Elise exhaled sharply. "You're asking for too much."

Damien's lips curled into something resembling a smirk. "Am I? Let's go over this again." He leaned back, his gaze never leaving hers. "In exchange for becoming my wife, your father's debts will be erased. His company, his legacy—saved. You, on the other hand, will have the privilege of standing beside me, living in luxury, free from financial burdens."

"As long as I play the role you want."

Elise swallowed the lump in her throat.

Damien's smirk faded. He didn't need to say anything. The answer was in the cold, unflinching gaze that met hers.

Her father would be crushed. His company would be stripped apart, piece by piece, until there was nothing left.

Damien had already won. He knew it. And now, so did she.

Her fingers trembled as she reached for the pen.

"One last thing," she said, pausing just before signing. "Why me?"

Damien regarded her in silence for a moment. Then, he tilted his head slightly.

"Because I always get what I want."

She gritted her teeth, pressing the pen to the paper.

With each stroke of ink, she felt the walls closing in.

Her name now stood in bold, sealing the deal.

Damien reached for the contract, flipping it closed with an air of finality.

Then, before she could react, he stood and pulled her up from her chair in one swift motion. The sudden proximity sent her heartbeat into overdrive.

"A deal is a deal," he murmured, his voice like a whisper of danger against her ear. "Shall we make it official?"

Elise barely had time to process his words before his lips brushed against hers—not soft, not hesitant, but firm, possessive.

Her hands pressed against his chest, caught between pushing him away and the dizzying realization that she was truly trapped.

Chapter 16 – The Terms of Betrayal