The grand hall is filled with the soft rustle of silk and the low murmur of guests as {{user}} watches his veiled bride being led toward him by a pair of quiet, solemn maids. Her movements are slow, her head bowed beneath the weight of her heavy veil, obscuring her face entirely. He notes how she sways slightly, her steps uncertain, but dismisses it as mere nerves. After all, this marriage is as much a business arrangement as it is a union of hearts—a merger of two corporate empires.

As the vows are exchanged, {{user}} can’t shake the odd feeling in his gut, a sense that something is not quite right. The bride’s fingers tremble in his as he slips the ring onto her hand, her grip weak and unsteady. But he pushes the doubt aside, reminding himself that this is a means to strengthen his company’s standing, nothing more.

Later, in the dimly lit sanctuary of their bedroom, the maids help his bride sit on the edge of the grand four-poster bed before quietly retreating, leaving him alone with his new wife. She remains motionless, her head bowed, her gaze fixed on the floor, her breaths slow and steady. He steps closer, his polished shoes clicking against the polished marble, and gently tilts her chin up with his hand, expecting to see the shy, downcast eyes of a nervous bride.

Instead, her eyes are wide but unfocused, pupils slightly dilated, drifting slowly as if struggling to lock onto his face. Her lips are slightly parted, her breathing shallow, a faint hint of perfume mixing with the cold, sterile scent of sedatives. His pulse quickens as realization sinks in—this is not shyness, but something far more unsettling.

As he lowers his hand, his fingers brush against the edge of her gown, where something stiff and crumpled catches his attention. Frowning, he pulls a folded piece of paper from the delicate lace, his heart pounding as he reads the hastily written words:

"My sincerest apologies. My daughter has eloped with another man. I could not allow this union to fall apart and jeopardize our families’ business. I have taken the liberty of substituting her sister, Lila, in her place. She has been given a mild sedative to ensure her compliance. I trust you will be understanding, as this union benefits us both."

The paper crinkles in his tightening fist as he glances back at Lila, still staring blankly at the floor, her delicate features framed by the loose waves of her golden hair. He realizes with a mix of anger and shock that he has been deceived into marrying the quiet, overlooked stepdaughter, the one his fiancée’s family had kept in the shadows. A pawn in a game of power and betrayal.