PROLOGUE

“I’m pregnant!” Edie Laurent squealed into the phone, her voice bubbling with joy.

“Oh, baby,” Lyle Laurent broke into a wide grin, his hand tightening on the steering wheel. “We did it.”

“After all these years… after everything. We’re finally going to have a family.” Edie’s voice trembled with emotion. “It’s really happening, Lyle.”

“I’m so proud of you,” he said softly. “You’re making me a father. Thank you, baby… thank you.”

“You’re going to be the best dad.” She wiped away happy tears.

“I’ll get you flowers. A gift. Something as beautiful you. We’re going to celebrate, okay?” His voice warmed with excitement.

“That sounds perfect.” Edie giggled.

“I’d say champagne, but…” he chuckled.

“You better not!” she laughed.

“Juice it is,” he teased. “Something non-alcoholic. I think we…” and then paused…

“Lyle?”

His voice returned, lower, distracted. “Hold on… something’s wrong. The brakes aren’t responding…”

Edie’s breath hitched. “What do you mean?”

“I.. I can’t slow down. Jesus.” His voice sharpened as the car swerved. “I’m losing control…”

“Lyle?” Edie’s voice filled with alarm.

“Edie, listen to me. Whatever happens… I love you. With everything I have.” He said in a rush.

“Lyle, what’s going on?” Panic gripped her.

In the background, tires screeched. “Shit, shit…” his voice cut off in a loud scream.

Crash!.

Glass shattering.

The line crackled.

Then silence…

“Lyle?”

No answer.

“Lyle? Baby…please say something! This can’t be happening!”

Nothing.

“Lyle!!”

***********

“Till death do us part,” Lyle croaked, voice raw with desperation. “You promised, Edie. You said you’d stay.”

Edie stood by the window, arms crossed tightly over her chest, putting distance between them, emotionally and physically.

“That was before everything changed, Lyle. Before the accident. Before you became…” she trailed off, her expression tight.

“Before I stopped being useful,” he finished bitterly.

She flinched at his words. “Don’t do that. You know I loved you. Don’t paint me the villain when I’ve spent the last two months cleaning up after your messes. I can’t keep doing this”

Lyle groaned and struggled to sit up, pain etched across his face. “I need you, Edie. Don’t leave me like this. I can’t walk. I can’t even, damn it!” his voice cracked, fury lacing it, “I can’t even take a damn piss without help!”

Edie sighed, her eyes softening, but only for a second. “I can’t spend the rest of my life as your nurse. You’ve become… pitiful.”

She paused. Then quieter, “I married a king, Lyle. Now you’re just a ghost of him.”

“But I love you,” he whispered, a single tear slipping down his cheek. He wiped it away angrily.

“You said you loved me. We were happy, I loved you, I still do”

“That life is gone.” Her voice cracked, eyes red-rimmed but dry.

Lyle slumped back onto the bed, hopelessness swallowing him whole.

“You can’t make me happy anymore,” she said after a beat. “And I think something better is waiting for me. I’ve… met someone.”

Silence.

The kind that choked Lyle, making him wish he died in the accident.

She stepped closer, softening her tone. “But I’m not heartless.”

“I made arrangements before I came here today. You won’t be alone.”

Lyle didn’t speak. Just stared blankly at the ceiling.

“She’s young, obedient and beautiful”

He scoffed. “A replacement.”

“A companion,” she corrected with a roll of her eyes. “She’ll stay, as long as you behave.”

More silence. Heavy and final, sealing the breakup.

“She’s a McQueen. You’ll like her. That’s all you need to know.”

She leaned in and kissed his cheek, not lovingly, but like a quiet farewell.

“Goodbye, Lyle.”

She turned for the door.

“And the baby?” he rasped. “What about our baby?”

Her hand froze on the knob. She didn’t turn around.

“I had an abortion,” Edie said softly.

Then she walked out and closed the door behind her.

She was gone from his life, forever.

CHAPTER 1

“He’s impotent.”

“Liana.”

“He can’t even get it up.”

“Liana…”

“He’s a fucking cripple!”

“Can you—”

“He’s practically a vegetable hanging on by a thread!”

“LIANA!”

The sharp bark of her name finally silenced the furious girl. She stopped mid-step, glaring at her mother, defiant.

“I’m not marrying a crippled eunuch just because we’re broke,” Liana spat, fists clenched at her sides angrily.

“Shut your mouth, child!” Lillian stormed forward, one manicured finger stabbing the air in her daughter’s direction. “Your Aunt Edie was married to him for ten years and trust me, she enjoyed every bit of it. So will you. He’s powerful, rich, generous and handsome.”

“Then why’d she leave him?” Liana snapped.

Lillian’s lips twitched. “He’s… well… something close to a vegetable now.”

“Then I really can’t marry him.” Liana’s voice was resolute, her mother’s words only reinforcing her decision.

Lillian sighed. Of all her children, Liana had always been the most stubborn. She knew this wasn’t going to be easy.

“He’s the only one who can save our family from this ruin. We’re drowning in debt and penury, Liana. This marriage is a lifeline. A year is all I ask, just one year of sacrifice. I’ve already contacted the wedding planner.”

Liana let out a harsh laugh, mocking. “You’re insane if you think I’m going through with this.”

Ignoring her, Lillian picked up her phone, put on her glasses and began dialing.

“Let Lenora do it.” Liana said suddenly, her voice smooth with the suggestion. “No one can tell us apart, not even you sometimes.” A sly smile curved on her lips.

Lillian froze, her hand hovered over the phone. But after a long pause, she sighed and shook her head. “She can’t.”

“Why not? All she does is bury herself in those ridiculous romance novels, sculpt useless clay pots, and play tea-time with the maids. She acts like she was born in a barn. Always mingling with peasants and never acting rich.” Liana folded her arms, disgust written all over her face.

Lillian glared at her. “She’s also in fashion school. And what are you doing with your life?”

“I work in our company,” Liana replied, lifting her chin.

“A company buried in debt,” Lillian shot back. “You just need to marry him. Stay for a year. Then divorce him citing irreconcilable differences. Edie said he asked for this, Liana, he needs the company. This isn’t one of my crazy plans.”

Liana rolled her eyes. “When are your plans not crazy?”

“Liana, honey, you’re not seeing the bigger picture. The man is worth over thirty billion. Thirty. Billion. Do you even understand what that could do for us?”

“I’m seeing someone and I love him.” Liana’s tone dropped to deadpan seriousness.

Lillian gasped but quickly covered it with a sharp, mocking laugh.

“We all know your beloved man is broke. He’ll benefit from this too. So put your little fairytale on hold for a year.”

Liana sneered. “I’m not whoring myself out to some crippled billionaire with a limp dick just to play savior.”

“You’re being selfish and foolish!” Lillian snapped, storming to the window. Disappointment radiated from her posture.

“Why not let Lenora do this?”

“Because she’s weak! Stupid! And still acts like a child!” Lillian’s voice boomed. Liana flinched, “you’re manipulative and smart like me, and that’s to our advantage” but Liana remained nonchalant and unfazed.

“She’s single and dying of celibacy, she doesn’t have to worry about sex, she won’t even care that he’s impotent. She’s the perfect person for Thai shotgun wedding” Liana waved a dismissive hand.

Lillian pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. “Your father was murdered in cold blood, and I’ve had to hold this family together ever since. This… this is how I protect his legacy.”

Liana raised a mocking brow. “By selling off your daughter to a crippled and dying old man?”

“No. By building a connection with a powerful and wealthy man. You don’t even have to sleep with him…”

“It’s not like he can anyway.”

“Jesus, Liana!”

A knock interrupted the chaos, and both women turned toward the door.

“Hello, Mother.”

Lenora, the second daughter and identical twin of Liana stepped inside the room, fresh from the garden, dirt-smudged and glowing with an innocence only she still possessed.

“Lenora, darling!” Lillian greeted her with a forced smile.

“Is Liana bothering you again?” Lenora grinned playfully and walked in to sit on the edge of the bed.

“Mother’s on my neck. She wants me to…”

“Shut it!” Lillian cut Liana off sharply. Liana scowled but held her tongue.

Lenora looked between them, sensing tension but choosing to ignore it. She was used to being the outsider in their secret affairs.

So she changed the subject “Jermaine’s downstairs. That’s why I came. He’s been waiting.”

Liana’s face lit up instantly. “How long?” she asked, grabbing her purse and practically bouncing on her heels.

“A while. He thought I was you,” Lenora chuckled. “So I played along for fun. You should’ve seen his face when I came clean and told him the truth.”

The room stilled and silence dropped like a curtain.

Liana and Lillian exchanged a knowing, slow and meaningful glance.

“Well… I guess that solves everything.” Liana clapped once, smiling wickedly.

She walked past Lenora, lightly kicking her shin on the way.

“Lenora darling, keep Mother and her delusions entertained, will you?” she said, smirking. “I’ve got a strong, walking, and capable man waiting for me. One who loves me, we’re getting married soon, and you’ll be my bridesmaid.”

She winked at her sister as she left the room, then called over her shoulder:

“Oh, and he can fuck.”

“Liana!” Lillian snapped, but her daughter was already gone, laughing all the way to the door.

Lenora chuckled softly. “Have fun, Liana. Save some for me.”

Lillian turned to her second daughter, observing her carefully, thoughtfully before she walked over and sat beside her.

“Lenora, sweetheart… do you still love weddings?”

Lenora’s eyes lit up. “Of course. They still make me cry and emotional. Oh, and the love in the air the moment the vows are exchanged”

Lillian smiled faintly. “How would you like to plan yours?”

Lenora blinked. “Uh… what?”

“Soon.”

“Mum? What are you…”

“How soon is next week?”

“Mother… I don’t understand. I’d love to get married someday, but I… I don’t even have a boyfriend yet” she laughed nervously.

“Oh, but you do,” Lillian said with a tight smile, standing.

“What?”

“I’ll tell Mr. Laurent you said yes.”

“Mum, what are you…wait…who is Mr Laurent?”

But Lillian ignored her daughter, her plan was finally falling into place “Nothing too grand, private and elegant. The old cathedral will do. I’ll call the priest.”

She walked to the door, her voice trailing behind her.

Lenora sat frozen in shock as the door slammed shut

>>>>>>>>>

Dear Diary,

Tomorrow I marry a man old enough to be my father.

The things I’ve heard about him aren’t kind.

I’m scared.