SOPHIA

As the day of the wedding approached, I found myself feeling more and more anxious. It wasn't just the fact that I was marrying a stranger, but also the fact that I was committing to a year of my life.

Liam seemed to sense my unease, and he made an effort to reassure me. He showed me around his estate, introducing me to the staff and explaining how things worked.

He also took me shopping, buying me a beautiful wedding dress and all the accessories to go with it.

As we stood in front of the mirror, admiring my reflection, Liam smiled and took my hand. "You look beautiful, Cherry," he said. "I'm a lucky man."

I felt a flutter in my chest at his words, but I pushed it aside. This was just a business arrangement, after all.

The day of the wedding arrived, and I stood at the altar, my heart pounding in my chest. Liam took my hand, his eyes locked on mine, and we exchanged our vows.

As we were pronounced husband and wife, I felt a sense of surrealness wash over me. Was this really happening?

Liam smiled and kissed me, his lips warm and gentle. And for a moment, I forgot that this was just a business arrangement.

But as we turned to face our guests, I was reminded of the reality of our situation. We were married, but it wasn't for love. It was for convenience.

And I couldn't help but wonder what the next year would bring.

As we made our way through the reception, I couldn't help but feel like a fake. Everyone was congratulating us, telling us how happy they were for us, and I just couldn't shake the feeling that we were all just playing a role.

Liam, on the other hand, seemed completely at ease. He was smiling and laughing, chatting with our guests like he'd known them his whole life.

I watched him, feeling a pang of admiration. He was good at this, really good. And I realized that I was going to have to step up my game if I wanted to keep up with him.

As the night wore on, I started to relax a little. I even managed to laugh and joke with our guests, feeling like I was finally starting to get the hang of this whole "being a wife" thing.

But then, just as things were starting to wind down, Liam took my hand and pulled me close. "Shall we dance?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

I nodded, feeling a flutter in my chest. And as we stepped out onto the dance floor, I couldn't help but wonder what other surprises this marriage had in store for me.

LIAM'S POV

I couldn't help but admire this naturally beautiful woman in front of me

As we danced, I couldn't help but whisper sweet nothings into Cherry's ear. She giggled and blushed, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

But our romantic moment was interrupted by a commotion at the entrance. A woman stormed into the room, her eyes blazing with anger.

It was Sophia, my ex-girlfriend who had cheated on me with my best friend. I hadn't seen her in years, and I had thought I was over her.

But the look on her face told me that she was still bitter about the past. Her eyes scanned the room, locking onto Cherry and me.

She stormed over to us, her heels clicking on the floor. "Well, well, well," she spat, her voice dripping with venom. "Look what we have here."

Cherry stood tall, her eyes flashing with defiance. "Can I help you?" she asked, her voice firm.

Sophia sneered at her. "You think you can replace me?" she asked, her voice rising. "You think you can just waltz in here and steal Liam away from me?"

Cherry didn't back down. "I didn't steal anyone," she said, her voice calm. "Liam chose me, and I chose him. We're happy together."

Sophia's face turned red with rage. "You'll never be happy," she spat. "Liam will always love me, and you'll always be just a substitute."

But Cherry wasn't having it. "I'm not a substitute," she said, her voice firm. "I'm Liam's wife, and I'm not going anywhere."

I felt a surge of pride at Cherry's bravery. She was standing up for herself, and for us.

Sophia's face twisted in anger, but she knew she was beaten. She turned and stormed out of the room, leaving us in an awkward silence.

But Cherry just smiled at me, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Well, that was fun," she said.

I laughed, feeling a sense of relief. "Yeah, it was definitely interesting."

And as we danced again, I knew that I had made the right choice in marrying Cherry. She was strong, brave, and beautiful, and I was lucky to have her by my side.