Chapter 1

I was the true heiress, yet I fell head over heels for a fake golden boy. I was so blinded by love that I actually agreed to marry Julian.

I never imagined that on our wedding day, Julian would pull a bridal bait-and-switch.

While I was in the bridal suite having my makeup touched up, he walked down the aisle and exchanged vows with Chloe, the adopted daughter of my family.

I only found out when it was time to exchange the rings.

Julian grabbed my hand, whispering coaxingly, "Chloe is pregnant. I can't let my own flesh and blood grow up as a bastard child. Don't worry. As soon as the baby is born, I'll divorce her and marry you. Just wait for me for one year."

"In one year, I promise I'll welcome you into the Sterling family with the grandest wedding imaginable!"

Julian was dead certain that I was hopelessly obsessed with him—that I couldn't live without him, and that just like countless times before, I would nod through my tears.

Except this time, I yanked my hand back.

I turned around, walked straight toward Julian’s father standing on the stage, and looped my arm through his in front of the entire ballroom.

"A year is way too long. Besides, your father is still drop-dead gorgeous."

"If I marry your dad, I become a Sterling today!"

Dead silence fell over the hall.

It took Julian three whole seconds to process what I had just said.

"Sienna, are you insane?! That's my dad!"

Chloe gasped, her eyes wide with mock disbelief. "Sienna, have you lost your mind? Do you even know who Mr. Sterling is? He’s the head of Sterling Enterprises, worth trillions, famously single, and impossibly picky. You think a man like him would settle for an empty-headed trophy like you?"

I completely ignored their jeers, tilting my chin up to look at Vincent Sterling.

"I am the biological heiress to the Vance family, the sole heir to the Vance empire. Marrying me won't hurt your portfolio."

"Let's go sign the marriage papers right now. Deal?"

Vincent said nothing.

Panic flickered in Julian’s eyes, and he hissed, "Dad! Sienna is my girlfriend!"

Only then did Vincent react. He lowered his gaze to my hand resting on his arm, gently patted the back of my hand, and delicately pulled away.

"I’m going to call your parents and ask them to come over."

With that, he turned and walked out.

Everyone in the room assumed that was his polite way of turning me down.

The moment Vincent left, Julian lost all restraint.

He stood opposite me and burst out laughing. "That's priceless! Sienna, did you seriously think every man falls for your pretty face?"

"My dad can barely stand the sight of me. Why on earth would he look at you?"

Chloe covered her mouth with a delicate giggle and chimed in, "Sienna, you should just leave. Didn't you hear Mr. Sterling? He's calling Mom and Dad."

"They were already so furious about your relationship with Julian that they refused to even show up today. Now that you've humiliated yourself with this pathetic stunt, when they get here, they'll break your legs!"

Seeing me still standing motionless on the stage, Julian waved a hand and summoned security to drag me off.

"I apologize, everyone. There's been a little scene today, so I guess we'll skip the formal toasts."

"The ceremony ends here. Please, enjoy the food and drinks—just consider it free entertainment."

With a mocking sneer at me, Julian offered his arm to Chloe and escorted her off the stage.

I was half-dragged, half-shoved into a secluded corner of the reception hall. Low murmurs erupted around me like a buzzing hive:

"Sienna Vance got dumped, so she tried to jump to the top of the food chain? Trying to seduce Vincent Sterling? What an absolute joke!"

"Right? The way Mr. Sterling called her parents made it obvious—he was disgusted by the spectacle and wanted her family to put her on a leash. Now look at her: no wedding, and her parents are going to tear her apart."

"Now I get why Julian swapped brides. I’d do the exact same thing. Who wants to marry a psycho like that?"

...

Cruel barbs flew from every direction, threatening to crush me.

I stood there until the reception finally wound down and most of the guests had filtered out.

BAM!

The heavy double doors of the banquet hall flew open. My parents strode in, marching straight toward me.

I froze in place.

Seeing my mother raise her hand, I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the hard slap across my face.

Yet in the next second, my mother gently cupped my cheeks with trembling, ecstatic hands.

"Sienna! Why didn't you tell us you were marrying Vincent Sterling today?! Did you really think your father and I wouldn't show up?"

"Vincent called us himself! He said he's taking you to City Hall this afternoon to get your marriage license. Is it really true?!"