Substitute Marriage: The Billionaire's Hidden Queen

The heavy layers of tulle and silk pressed down on Cassie's legs, the stiff fabric digging into her skin. She sat frozen on the edge of the king-sized bed in the Frederick Manor master bedroom, her eyes locked on the heavy oak door. Her fingers dug into the leather mattress, knuckles bone-white. The brass doorknob turned. A sharp jolt shot through her chest. Her spine snapped straight. The air trapped in her lungs refused to leave. The door pushed open. Dane Frederick stepped into the room. Tall, broad-shouldered, his presence swallowed the space instantly. The sheer physical weight of him made Cassie's leg muscles twitch, a primal urge to bolt, but she forced herself to stay planted on the bed. He reached behind him and pushed the door shut. The lock clicked. The sharp metallic sound echoed in the dead silence. Cassie's heart slammed against her ribs, erratic and painful. Dane moved toward her. His footsteps were slow, deliberate, silent against the thick Persian rug. With every inch he closed, the air grew heavier. Cassie bit the inside of her cheek until she tasted copper. He stopped right in front of her. He stood tall, looking down with dark eyes that held no warmth, cutting straight through her. Cassie tilted her chin up, forcing herself to meet his gaze. Her stomach twisted into tight, painful knots. Dane raised his hand. His fingers caught the edge of her veil and flipped it back over her head. The cold, air-conditioned air hit her face. Her special-effects makeup—the angry red burn scars covering the left side of her face—was fully exposed in the dim light. Cassie squeezed her eyes shut. Her shoulders braced for the explosion of disgust, the shouting, the violence. Seconds ticked by. Silence. No sharp intake of breath. No curse words. Confusion pulled her eyes open. Her gaze crashed straight into Dane's. No fear. No revulsion. His face was a mask of cold stone. His eyes dragged slowly over the textured fake scars on her cheek. The intensity of his stare burned against her skin. Cassie swallowed hard, her throat clicking in the quiet room. She turned her head, unable to bear the weight of his scrutiny. Dane leaned down. His face stopped inches from hers. Warm breath, laced with mint, brushed against her collarbone. Cassie's eyes widened. Her chest heaved against the tight corset. His hand clamped onto the back of her neck. The heat of his palm seared through her skin. The fine hairs on her arms stood straight up. A violent shiver ripped down her spine. His rough thumb moved. It pressed exactly over the small, crescent-shaped birthmark hidden just below her hairline. He rubbed the spot, slow and deliberate. Cassie's lungs seized. She thought he was positioning his hand to snap her neck. Something dark flickered in Dane's eyes. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. The danger radiating from him was suffocating. Cassie's survival instinct took over. She shoved both hands hard against his chest. Solid iron beneath his dress shirt. Dane didn't resist the push. He let his hand drop from her neck and took a half-step back. Cassie immediately reached up, her shaking fingers grabbing the collar of her dress and pulling it high to cover her neck. Her whole body coiled tight, radiating defense. The corner of Dane's mouth twitched upward. He turned his back to her and walked toward the crystal bar cart in the corner. The moment his broad back blocked her view, the tight band around Cassie's chest loosened a fraction. She dragged in a shallow breath, her eyes darting toward the locked door, calculating the distance. Ice cubes clinked into a heavy glass. Dane poured a generous amount of amber liquid. He lifted the glass and downed the whiskey in one smooth swallow. The movement exposed the strong line of his throat. Cassie's own throat felt like sandpaper. Dane set the empty glass down with a thud. He turned his head, looking at her over his shoulder. "Go take a shower." His voice was a low, gravelly rumble. Cassie froze. Her hands tightened their death grip on her collar. She opened her mouth, vocal cords tight and dry. "I need to explain. I'm not—" Dane raised a single finger, silencing her. "I don't care who they thought they sent," he stated, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You are the only wife I recognize." The absolute authority in his voice hit her like a physical blow. Cassie's jaw dropped. She pointed a trembling finger at her ruined cheek. "Are you blind? Does this not disgust you?" Her voice cracked, pitching higher. Dane's eyes darkened. A vein pulsed at his temple, his unnervingly calm expression making the air feel heavier. He closed the distance between them in two long strides. His shadow swallowed her completely. Cassie stopped breathing. Her back pressed hard against the headboard. He reached out. The rough pad of his index finger traced the jagged edge of the fake scar on her cheek. The touch was gentle, but terrifyingly possessive. Cassie's heart skipped a beat. Cold sweat broke out across her forehead. "Skin means nothing," Dane murmured. His deep voice slipped into her ears, hypnotic and dangerous. Cassie opened her mouth to argue, but the words died on her tongue. She caught a fleeting glimpse of something in his eyes. A deep, aching nostalgia. Her eyebrows pulled together. Before she could process it, Dane straightened. The vulnerability vanished, replaced by ice. He pointed a long finger toward the frosted glass bathroom door. "Shower. Now." The sheer force of his command left her no room to breathe, let alone fight. Cassie slowly stood. Her legs felt like lead. She grabbed handfuls of her heavy skirt and walked toward the bathroom. She could feel his eyes burning into her back with every step. She stepped into the bathroom and slammed the door shut. Her hands shook violently as she twisted the lock. The deadbolt slid into place with a solid click. Cassie pressed her back against the cold wooden door. She slid down until she hit the tile floor, pulling her knees to her chest. She gasped for air, her chest heaving as the adrenaline slowly drained from her system.