Chapter 3

At dawn, the bridal car arrived downstairs.

As the discarded bride, I had already been forgotten.

Sterling carried Blair out of her room in his arms. Several groomsmen followed behind them, muttering as they walked.

They weren't far. Every word reached my ears.

"I thought I was drunk last night and heard wrong. Can't believe they actually swapped the bride."

"You guys didn't know? They had the invitations printed in duplicate from the start. One set with Harper's name, one with Blair's. They planned for this all along."

"Man, I thought Harper would throw a fit. A girl from her background, finally landing a guy like this, and she just hands him over to her sister? She'll never get another shot at this family now."

"She's really generous. No wonder she's stuck with Sterling all these years."

"She probably knows throwing a tantrum won't change anything."

They all laughed.

Sterling carried Blair to the car. When he heard that last comment, he stopped walking.

He gently set Blair in the backseat, then turned to face the groomsmen.

"What are you all running your mouths about?"

The groomsmen shut up, looking sheepish.

"Harper is strong. Blair's been spoiled her whole life. She can't handle hardship."

"If I don't protect her, how is she supposed to survive?"

One of Sterling's closer friends spoke up with a grin. "Alright, alright. She's your real wife."

"We all know this ceremony is just for show. You and Harper are going to make it legal the day after tomorrow, right?"

He winked. "That's the real commitment. Once you sign those papers, she's not going anywhere."

Only then did Sterling nod with satisfaction and duck into the car.

I stood in the shadows, watching him close the door.

The bridal car started up.

All I could hear in my head was that phrase: "She can't handle hardship."

Blair grew up in the Astor household, pampered and spoiled. Of course she couldn't handle hardship.

But why should I?

Growing up, my parents grabbed me by the hair and called me a worthless bitch.

If it weren't for mandatory public education, I wouldn't have even had the chance to go to school.

Later, I worked my ass off to get into the best high school in the city, but they refused to give me living expenses.

I survived on bread for every meal.

Sterling knew all of this.

When I got into college out of state, I never planned on coming back.

Aside from sending money home every month, I cut off all contact. Never visited. Never called.

Those years were the most peaceful of my life.

Nobody hit me. Nobody screamed at me. Nobody barged into my room in the middle of the night demanding cash.

I thought I had escaped.

Until two years ago, when Sterling took me home to meet his parents for the first time.

His mother made herself clear right away.

"The Astors are a respected family. Our daughter-in-law's family needs to present well. We can't have people gossiping."

Sterling pulled me aside and begged, "Harper, just move back in with your parents for now. Do it for us. Just bear with it until my mother agrees to the marriage."

To avoid making things difficult for him, I moved back in with my parents and played the part of a harmonious family.

For the past two years, to keep the peace, whenever my mother demanded money, I gave it. When my father lost at the tables, I covered his debts.

When the neighbors praised me, saying "your daughter's done so well for herself," my mother beamed and said, "Of course. My girl's marrying into the Astor family."

She forgot all the times she called me a worthless bitch.

But I didn't. I thought all of this had an endpoint.

Once we were married, Sterling and I would build our own family, far away from them.

If they caused trouble then, they'd be dealing with the Astors' in-laws. Sterling would shield me.

But now the wedding cars drove off, and I was left behind in this house.