When Arianna marries billionaire Zach Price to save her family, she doesn't expect to fall in love with a man who'd always consider her a second choice. An unexpected turn of events brings the couple closer together, but can a marriage based on lies and deceit ever survive? ***** When Arianna's older sister, Olivia, decides to run away on the day of her wedding, Arianna is forced to take her place to save her family from ruin. But her new husband is angry, heartbroken, and seems to hate her guts. The cold, elusive billionaire Zach Price has never quite struck Arianna as the kind of man she'd want to spend her entire life with. She was more than content with her sweet, thoughtful boyfriend Noah, but when circumstances force them together, Zach and Arianna's hearts get entangled in a way she never saw coming. As the couple grows closer, they must battle the demons of their past and of the lives they left behind - especially when Olivia returns and decides she wants Zach all for herself. Content/Trigger Warning: This story contains scenes of violence and sexual abuse, and mentions abortion and miscarriage. [[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]] Cover designed by Ren Tachibana

Hey guys, I originally wrote this story in 2012, and now-13 years later-I'm returning to it with fresh eyes, a bit more life experience, and a full heart. This version is a reimagined take on the original, and while it's still a first draft (with its fair share of rough edges), I'm beyond excited to finally share it with you. To those who have read, are reading, or will someday read this-thank you. Truly. Your support, your votes, your time-it all means a lot. If you have thoughts, feedback, or just want to say hi, I'd love to hear from you. To everyone who's been part of this journey, even silently-thank you for being here. ❤️ - All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means-including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods-without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations used in reviews or critical articles. Copyright © Originally written in 2012, reimagined in 2025.