The words froze the blood in Valerie’s veins. Her mind went completely blank as the sound of her own name echoed in her ears. Her heart slammed violently against her ribs, so loud she was certain Adrian could hear it. *He knows.* The thought screamed through her brain like a siren. He knew she was an imposter before the wedding vows had even finished drying on the contract.
"You may now kiss the bride," the priest announced, his voice booming happily through the speakers of the grand church.
The crowd erupted into polite applause, completely oblivious to the deadly psychological trap happening at the altar. Flashbulbs exploded in a blinding sequence of white light, forcing Valerie to blink.
Adrian did not pull away. His dark, piercing eyes held hers hostage, waiting for her to break, waiting for her to panic and run. He was testing her under the watchful eyes of hundreds of people. If she broke character now, the press would riot, Orion Thorne would freeze the medical funds, and Chloe would die in that clinic.
Valerie squeezed her hands into tight fists behind the layers of her heavy silk gown. She had spent her entire life surviving in the shadows. She was not going to let this billionaire ruin everything in the first five minutes.
Forcing a gentle, breathless smile onto her lips, Valerie tilted her head up. She looked directly into Adrian’s icy eyes and leaned in closer, closing the distance between them.
"I wanted a change for our wedding day, darling," she whispered back, her voice perfectly mimicking Chloe’s soft, fragile tone. "Do you not like it?"
Before Adrian could reply, Valerie pressed her lips gently against his. It was a brief, soft kiss meant entirely for the cameras, but the physical contact sent a jolt of pure electricity straight down her spine. His lips were firm and warm, a stark contrast to his freezing demeanor. Adrian stiffened in surprise, clearly not expecting his supposedly timid bride to boldy counter his threat.
When she pulled back, Adrian’s expression was an unreadable mask, but his eyes burned with a dark, dangerous curiosity. He extended his arm to her, his muscles tight beneath his tuxedo. Valerie placed her trembling hand on his sleeve, and together they turned to walk down the aisle as husband and wife.
The walk out of the church was a blur of smiling faces, flying rose petals, and the suffocating weight of a massive lie. Every single step felt like walking a tightrope over a pit of wolves.
As soon as they exited the grand wooden doors, a sleek, black luxury limousine pulled up to the curb. Daniel Morgan stood by the open door, his face completely expressionless as always. He gave Valerie a long, lingering look before gesturing for them to enter.
Adrian slid into the spacious leather interior first, and Valerie followed, her heavy dress filling the seat next to him. The door clicked shut, instantly cutting off the roar of the media and the crowd outside. The tinted windows plunged the car into a tense, heavy silence.
The limousine pulled away from the curb, merging into the afternoon traffic. Adrian sat perfectly still, staring straight ahead. He did not look at her, but his commanding presence dominated the entire vehicle.
"You have a lot of courage," Adrian said smoothly, breaking the silence without turning his head. His voice was calm, but it carried a razor-sharp edge. "Most people run when they are caught. Who sent you? Was it Levi Black?"
Valerie gripped the fabric of her dress, her knuckles turning white. She had to stay calm. She couldn't admit to anything yet. "I do not know what you are talking about, Adrian. The stress of the wedding is making you imagine things."
Adrian finally turned his head, a cold, mocking smile playing on his lips. "Do not insult my intelligence. Chloe Prescott is terrified of me. She cannot look me in the eye for more than three seconds without trembling. You, on the other hand, just kissed me in front of the entire world to shut me up."
He leaned forward, his shadow falling over her completely. "Daniel investigated the car accident. The police report says Chloe was the only one in the vehicle, but the medical files from the scene are missing. Where is she?"
Valerie felt a cold sweat break out across her neck. Adrian was too smart, and he had too many resources. If he discovered that Chloe was in a coma at Dr. Evans' clinic, he could pull the plug on the funding with a single phone call.
"I am Chloe," Valerie lied through her teeth, her voice cracking slightly, which actually helped her play the fragile role. "Please, Adrian. You are scaring me."
Adrian stared at her for a long, agonizing moment, analyzing every micro-expression on her face. Finally, he leaned back into his seat, his eyes darkening.
"We will play this game for now, since the contract benefits us both," Adrian said quietly. "But remember this. You are in my world now. One wrong move, and I will destroy you."
An hour later, the limousine pulled into the massive iron gates of the Thorne estate. The mansion was a terrifying fortress of stone and glass, surrounded by dense woods.
Daniel opened the door, and Adrian stepped out without waiting for her. Valerie gathered her heavy dress and stepped onto the gravel driveway, looking up at her new prison.
As she walked up the grand marble stairs, a sharp vibration echoed from the hidden pocket of her gown. Her heart stopped. It was her private burner phone.
While Adrian walked inside, Valerie lingered near a large stone pillar and quickly pulled out the small device. There was a single new text message from an unknown number.
She opened it, expecting a message from Dr. Evans. Instead, her blood turned to ice.
The text read: *Congratulations on the wedding, Valerie. Your sister's life support is currently plugged into my grid. If you want her to survive the night, you have exactly ten minutes
to steal the black flash drive from Adrian’s study.*