The Billionaire's Stand-in Bride.

As I stand at the door to the hall, I wonder about the look on his face when he finally lifts up my sister's veil from my face and figures out that his bride has been changed.

Two questions echo in my mind repeatedly: Why did he switch us at the last minute? And why is Kate suddenly understanding about this whole plan?

It feels like both of them had planned this. Planned to show me how much my presence in their life is hurting. Or am I overthinking? Katherine has been trying to get close to me lately to put all the hurt behind us, but she loves Roman; she wouldn't stop speaking about him even before our father announced their union. Even after that dinner, she had with him.

Every time I tell myself that I need to get it together, I can't help it. The tears just come pouring down.

My hands shake as the two big doors open slightly. I can't stop thinking about how embarrassed I will feel when he finally sees that it is me and not her.

My father stands in front, his arms akimbo, waiting for me. I can't help but shiver as our bodies make contact-it's the first time for as long as I can remember. The way he holds his breath makes it feel like he has just made contact with a disgusting being.

"It's about time you wipe those ugly tears." I flinch as his words land. "Your muffles are irritating to my ears. Also, smile and stop shivering." He says, his voice sounding more like a warning.

The veil over my eyes blurs my vision, but I can still see that the hall is filled with guests, everyone grinning ear to ear. The sound of the orchestra sounds to me more like a funeral song than a real wedding.

"We are gathered here for the union of these two. Roman Kade, do you take Daisy Wilson to be your lawfully wedded wife?" The priest asks.

I expect silence. I expect disagreement. I expect, "I should be married to Katherine, not Daisy."

Instead I get a yes. A fucking yes.

I yank my veil off my face to look at him properly.

"Did you choose me to be your bride?" The words fall from my mouth, not caring where we were and who was looking.

"Keep your voice down. You ruin this. You and your family pay," He doesn't look at me; he keeps his gaze forward

Of course, the great Roman Kade. CEO multi-billionaire wouldn't want the media to drop this.

"You value reputation but not humans? I am a human, not a commodity that you can just want and have."

"Daisy!" My father interjects, his voice bold and commanding. My next words get lost in my mouth.

He and Roman exchange looks. "If you don't cooperate and act accordingly, there will be a penalty." My father looks at me as he delivers the words. He smiles, and I feel the blood drain from my body.

"She is yours now." He turns back to Roman.

The priest continues. "Do you, Daisy Wilson, take Roman Kade to be your lawful wedded husband?"

I pause.

Minutes pass and I can't bring myself to say those three words.

"I don't want him," I whisper, my throat coarse as I gulp down the lump in my throat just clear enough for him to hear.

"Finish it!" He growls through a forced smile.

"Ye...yes." The words burn my throat as the tears finally pour down my face again.

Just one normal day is all I have ever asked for.

Maybe Father was right. If I had died instead of her, I wouldn't have been in so much pain.

As soon as the vows were done, I feel his arms grab mine. "Let's go."

"Go where?" I yank my hands off his.

"To your new home." He says flatly.

"That home belongs to Katherine, not me. I won't be going anywhere. You wanted a wedding with me; I obeyed." He look him dead in the eyes, wondering where this courage is coming from. "Forcing me into your house? That I will not do."

"Daisy! You are married to him now. He owns you as much as I do. You will obey him just like you obey me, is that clear?"

Another controlling man in my life? Never.

"The only person I owe is you, not him. He is the one married to me; I am not married to him."

My father walks close to me, and before I can process everything, his hand connects with my face.

"If you lay your hands on her again, this-" Roman makes a sharp gesture with his hand."-all of it is over.

Instead, my father backs off. "You have her to yourself now." And he leaves, no words, no fight.

What has this man got on my father? My father would never back off so easily.

I look up and watch my father walk out of the hall; all the paparazzi that were here at the beginning are nowhere to be found anymore.

He carries me up in bridal style against my will and heads to the door. He squints his face in pain, and soon a man, maybe his PA, carries me from him.

He drops me off in the car, and I watch Roman from the mirror. He clutches his hands to his chest and closes his eyes tightly as he tries to steady himself..

Great. My husband isn't even healthy.

He enters the car, and we drive home quietly. The only sounds in the car are his heavy sighs. His hands still on the left side of his chest, and me crying about how ridiculous my life is.

The car stops, and the man who carried me earlier comes out. Soon, he returns and hands Roman something to take. A few minutes later, his sighs stop.

What did he take? Was this man some kind of drug addict? I push the thoughts away, not wanting to care.

As soon as we get to his house, a large mansion welcomes me. This house looks like 3 of our houses together, and a signboard that says Kade's estate.

I look around, marvelling at the sight. I didn't get much time to admire this whole building because we are inside, and it's even more breathtaking here than it looks outside.

"Follow me." I drag my eyes from taking in the view to his, but his back is already facing me.

I try to walk faster, but the dress restricts me. He opens the door, and I am welcomed into the room.

"The closet is to the left. Take off that dress." I look at him, confused.

The memory of how my father instructed Kate to take off the dress is now similar to how he says it too.

"Is someone else wearing this dress again?" I ask, and he furrows his brows in confusion.

"If you don't take it off, I will tear it apart and take you in it instead."

My eyes go wide as the realisation of what he just said hits me, "What? Are you...you want to..." I look at myself and then at him. The words refusing to fall from my mouth.

"I'm going into the bathroom now, before I get back, I want you out of that dress and on the bed, waiting for me." He doesn't even look back as he walks away.

He turns and walks in a direction which I assume is the bathroom.

Have I said I'm fucked today?

Because I am about to be fucked.