The bride i never wanted

"I now pronounce you husband and wife."

The words hit me like a slap. My hands shook inside the white lace gloves as Alexander Voss slid the heavy gold band onto my finger. Not Sophia's. Mine.

I forced a smile for the hundreds of eyes watching us. The cathedral smelled of expensive flowers and even more expensive perfume. Cameras flashed nonstop.

"You may kiss the bride," the officiant said with a proud smile.

Alexander leaned in. His grey eyes locked on mine for the first time up close. For one second I thought he might actually do it. Then something shifted in his face. His jaw tightened. He pressed a quick, cold kiss to my cheek instead.

The crowd clapped anyway.

"Smile, Emma," I whispered to myself. "Just keep smiling."

We walked back down the aisle together. His grip on my arm felt like steel. I could barely keep up in the heels Sophia had picked out.

At the reception in the grand ballroom, the music swelled. People kept coming up to congratulate us. Alexander's grandmother, Victoria, hugged me tight.

"You look radiant, dear," she said, her sharp eyes studying me. "Sophia would have been lucky to have my grandson."

I swallowed hard. "Thank you, Mrs. Voss."

Alexander didn't let go of my arm the whole time. He introduced me to business partners, his voice flat and polite. Every time someone called me Sophia, he corrected them quietly. "Emma." Just that one word. Cold.

Marcus, his best friend, clapped him on the back. "Finally locked down, huh? She's even prettier than the photos."

Alexander gave a short laugh that didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah. Lucky me."

I excused myself to the bathroom as soon as I could. My heart hammered against my ribs. Inside the marble stall I pulled out my phone and texted Sophia for the hundredth time.

Where are you? This is insane. Call me.

No reply. Of course.

When I came out, Alexander was waiting right outside the door. His tall frame blocked the hallway light.

"We need to talk," he said. His voice was low, dangerous.

"Not here," I whispered. "People are watching."

He grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward a side door. We stepped into a quiet corridor lined with mirrors. The noise of the party faded behind us.

Alexander spun me to face him. "Take off the veil."

My fingers trembled as I lifted the delicate fabric. His eyes scanned my face like he was seeing me for the first time. Really seeing me.

"You're not Sophia," he said. The words dropped between us like stones.

I lifted my chin. "No. I'm not."

He stepped closer. The scent of his cologne wrapped around me. "Where the hell is she?"

"Gone," I said. My voice cracked. "She left this morning. Said she couldn't do it. Dad begged me to... to fix it. The merger. The family name. Everything falls apart if this wedding doesn't happen."

Alexander laughed once, sharp and bitter. "So you just