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

COMPLETE Let me make this crystal clear, because you don't seem to understand," he said, his voice deceptively calm, but laced with venom. "I paid for you to be my wife. That means you do what I say. You're mine now." He flicked a check toward me, and it fluttered to the ground between us. I couldn't look away from him, though my chest tightened in panic. My hands shook as I fought back tears, refusing to let him see me break. But he wasn't finished. "What did you expect?" he scoffed, eyes narrowing. "This is what gold diggers like you get. Money has a price, and now you're paying yours. Enjoy it, wife." Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing in the massive, empty living room-speechless, breathless, and drowning in disbelief. I never expected this. © MaryRose 2018. All rights reserved. Content Disclaimer: This story contains scenes of physical and verbal abuse. Reader discretion is advised. My intention is not to romanticize or condone abusive behavior but to present a fictional story for entertainment purposes only. If themes of violence, toxic relationships, or power imbalances are triggering, please proceed with caution or choose a different story. This is a work of fiction and should not be taken as a guide to real-life relationships. Offensive or disruptive comments will be removed to maintain a positive reading experience for all.