Chapter 1 – The Vows of Lies
The ivory silk of Elena Brooks's wedding gown whispered across the marble floor as she walked toward the man waiting at the altar. Every step sounded like the echo of a promise she had no intention of keeping.
Flashbulbs burst from every corner of the grand cathedral. Reporters leaned over velvet ropes, eager to capture the image that would dominate society headlines: The once-fallen heiress marrying the city's most ruthless billionaire.
Adrian Kane stood at the far end, tall and still, his black tuxedo cut as sharply as the rumors that followed him. The sunlight through the stained glass painted him in fractured colors—crimson and gold across a face that betrayed nothing.
To the world, he was the man every businessman feared and every woman secretly wanted. To Elena, he was the man who had destroyed her family.
She kept her chin high as she approached him, feeling the weight of the diamond tiara pressing into her skull like a crown of thorns. Her pulse thudded with the rhythm of the plan she'd repeated in her mind for months. Smile. Sign. Survive. Then make him pay.
When she reached him, his gaze swept over her like a blade. His voice was low enough for only her to hear.
"Still sure about this, Mrs. Kane?"
The deliberate use of that name scraped against her pride.
"I've never been more certain," she whispered.
The officiant began to speak, words about love and devotion drifting uselessly between them. Elena barely heard them. Her eyes fixed on Adrian's hand as he slid the ring onto her finger—a circle of cold platinum that felt like a shackle.
When it was her turn, she lifted her hand without trembling. "With this ring, I wed you," she said smoothly, though her heart muttered, With this ring, I'll ruin you.
Applause filled the cathedral when they sealed the vows with a kiss. His lips brushed hers lightly, but the contact burned through her mask of calm. He lingered just long enough to remind her who held control here.
"Smile for the cameras," he murmured against her mouth. "You're my wife now."
Her smile came easily; revenge made an excellent performance coach.
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The reception glittered beneath chandeliers in the Kane family mansion. Waiters glided between tables, music swelled, and congratulations circled like perfume. Elena answered them all with practiced warmth, pretending she didn't see the calculating stares of business magnates who wondered why Adrian had chosen her of all women.
Across the hall, Adrian conversed with a senator, but his eyes found her every few minutes. The scrutiny sent a chill down her spine. He looked as if he could peel away every lie she'd layered over her heart.
"Mrs. Kane," someone said beside her. It was his mother, elegant and icy. "I hope you understand what being part of this family entails."
Elena's smile never faltered. "Responsibility and loyalty, I presume."
"Obedience," the older woman corrected softly.
For a moment, Elena's chest tightened. She reminded herself that this was temporary. The marriage contract had one hidden clause—one year. One year to make him trust her, one year to find the evidence that would destroy him.
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Hours later, when the guests had gone and the mansion fell quiet, Adrian led her upstairs. Each step echoed in the vast corridor, lined with portraits of generations who looked just as stern as the man beside her.
Their bedroom door closed with a solid click.
"You played the role well tonight," he said, loosening his tie. "Almost convincing."
"Almost?" she repeated, turning to face him. "I thought I deserved an award."
A hint of amusement flickered in his gray eyes, gone as quickly as it came. "Tell me, Elena, what did you expect from this marriage?"
She met his gaze steadily. "Exactly what you offered—security, publicity, and a convenient alliance."
He stepped closer until his breath brushed her cheek. "And nothing more?"
Her throat tightened, but she forced a laugh. "Certainly not love, Mr. Kane."
His expression didn't change, but the air between them shifted, heavy and electric. "Good," he said softly. "Because love is the most expensive illusion in this house."
He turned away then, walking toward the balcony. The city lights glimmered beyond the glass like a thousand secrets.
Elena watched his silhouette, hatred and something unnamable twisting inside her. She should have felt triumph—she was inside his world now, exactly where she needed to be. Yet, for the first time, she wondered what it had cost her soul to step into it.
Her phone buzzed in the pocket of her gown.
A single message lit the screen:
> Phase One complete. Next step: find the file he keeps hidden in his study. Midnight. Don't fail.
Her pulse quickened. She looked toward the balcony; Adrian was still there, unmoving. She slipped off her heels, every movement silent against the carpet, and crossed the room.
The corridor beyond was dark, the mansion asleep. She moved like a ghost through the shadows, counting doors until she reached the heavy one at the end—the study.
Her hand trembled slightly as she turned the knob.
It opened without a sound.
Moonlight spilled across rows of books and polished mahogany. She stepped inside, closing the door softly behind her. The air smelled faintly of cedar and danger.
A faint click sounded behind her.
"Elena."
His voice was calm, too calm.
She froze.
Adrian stood in the doorway, a glass of whiskey in one hand, the faintest smile playing at the corner of his mouth.
"Looking for something, Mrs. Kane?"
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To be continued…
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End of Chapter 1