Chapter 3

When I was little, Dominic used to carry me like this too.

When I was twelve, my parents died in a car accident. The trauma sent me into shock, and I hid myself away for three days without food or water.

Dominic was the one who found me. He carried my half-dead body back home.

Back then, he held my frail hand and said firmly, "Nora, from now on, my home is your home. My parents are your parents."

"Don't be afraid. I'm here. I'll always protect you."

His shoulders were just as warm and solid as they used to be.

Except now, they didn't belong to me anymore.

When we reached the lobby, Dominic set me down.

"Nora." He adjusted my veil, his eyes soft and smiling. "I'll walk you to the car."

But the moment we stepped outside, he stopped at the entrance and gestured toward the limousine waiting at the curb.

"Actually, you should go ahead. I need to handle something with the groomsmen first."

Gemma was furious. "What? The groom isn't even escorting his bride to the car? What kind of wedding is this?"

"It's just a short walk, Gemma. Don't make a scene."

"Dominic, what's wrong with you today?" Gemma was shaking with anger. "You've been acting strange from the moment you walked in. Did someone brainwash you?"

"Gemma." I grabbed her hand and patted it reassuringly. "It's fine. I can walk by myself."

Dominic was never my groom to begin with.

What right did he have to escort me anywhere?

The wedding car was parked just steps away.

Once I got in that car, my past with him would be completely over.

After I climbed into the back seat, Dominic stood at the door without moving.

"Nora."

He stared at me, his eyes filled with an emotion I couldn't read.

Finally, he just said, "Take care of yourself."

Gemma's tone was sharp. "What are you still standing there for? Get in!"

Dominic smiled and pointed to the car behind us. "I'll ride in the other one. I'll follow behind and make sure you get there safely."

With that, he slammed the door shut.

Gemma frowned, her confusion deepening. "What's gotten into Dominic today? Why is he acting so weird?"

"Nothing's wrong." My voice was quiet. "He just wants me to be a substitute bride for Clair."

"Substitute bride?"

Before I could answer, Gemma suddenly realized something was off.

"Wait—driver, stop!"

"You're going the wrong way! Why are you heading in that direction? Turn around!"

"Gemma." I cut her off. "The driver isn't going the wrong way. I'm being sent to marry into the Astor family."

"The Astor family?"

I told Gemma everything—the whole story from beginning to end.

When she finished listening, she was trembling with rage. "That bastard! How could Dominic do this to you? Did a dog eat his conscience?"

But I felt calm. "The Thorne family raised me for over a decade. Consider this as repaying that debt."

"They raised you, sure, but you saved Dominic's life! You've already paid them back!"

"And these past two years, whenever Dominic's back pain flared up and he was lying in bed useless like a cripple, you were the one taking care of him every single day!"

"You've given him so much. What gives him the right to treat you like this?"

Gemma was right.

If we're talking about debts, I'd already repaid mine a long time ago.

But it didn't matter anymore.

Just then, my phone buzzed with a message.

It was from Clair.

[Nora, today is such a wonderful day. Dominic just gave me a wedding gift. Isn't it beautiful?]

I stared at the antique emerald necklace in the photo, and my blood ran cold.

This necklace was the only thing my mother left me before she died. It had been passed down from my great-grandmother's generation.

Back then, I was too young, so Dominic's mother kept it safe for me.

They'd promised to return it when I got married.

How could he give it to Clair without my permission?

"Stop the car!"