Chapter 1
“Miss Edwards, | need your signature on this consent form for artificial insemination surgery,” said the lawyer as he presented the document to Ariana Edwards.
Ariana gripped the pen tightly, her knuckles turning white as she stared at the consent form. The surgery was scheduled for tomorrow, and today was her wedding.
The donor of the sperm was none other than Theodore Anderson, the eldest son of the wealthy Anderson family, and also her groom.
But fate had dealt a cruel hand. Theodore had been in a horrific car accident three months prior and was now comatose, unlikely to ever recover. His life hung by a thread, and it was uncertain how long he would last.
The Anderson family, known for their fixation on succession and legacy, was desperate to ensure Theodore’s bloodline would continue. So his father, Darian Anderson, took it upon himself to get his son a wife. The sperm that Theodore froze years ago was going to be inseminated into the bride’s womb before he died.
As Ariana looked down at the consent form in front of her, her complexion was ashen, and her eyes betrayed a subtle sense of panic.
“Please, can you give me some space to collect my thoughts? | need to read through it carefully,” she said to the lawyer, her voice trembling with emotion.
After a few seconds of silence, the lawyer nodded and left the room.
The lawyer’s departure left the room in an eerie silence. Ariana immediately placed the consent form on the table. She had to call Jasper Anderson, her secret boyfriend, for help.
As fate would have it, Jasper, Theodore’s half- brother, was the mastermind behind this wedding.
Ariana’s life had been turned upside down by the recent passing of her father, and the ruthlessness of her stepmother, Glenda Edwards. Ariana was left with nothing, not even her deceased mother’s belongings which were also taken away.
Just when Ariana felt cornered, Jasper came to her with a proposition: she would pretend to marry Theodore, and they would find a way to sabotage the surgery. After Theodore’s death, Jasper would become the sole heir of the Anderson family, and in return, he promised to marry Ariana and help her reclaim her mother’s belongings.
Ariana, under Jasper’s spell, initially agreed to the plan. However, as the wedding drew closer, she realized that she couldn't go through with it.
Desperately seeking Jasper’s comfort and counsel, Ariana tried calling him, but to no avail.
In a state of anxiety, she sneaked out to look for him. She took off her high heels, held them in her hands, and walked down the corridor, her heart racing with fear and anticipation.
Ariana’s footsteps came to a sudden halt as she approached the last lounge at the end of the corridor.
A faint noise could be heard coming from the slightly open door. It was the sound of a familiar giggle.
Through the crack, she heard a familiar voice. “Stay with me for a little longer, Jasper. Ariana doesn’t have time to look for you
now.
Her heart sank, and she inched closer to the door, peering inside through the small opening. She saw Brielle Edwards, her half- sister, straddling Jasper on the sofa. Both of them were half-naked
Jasper spoke impatiently as he pushed Brielle away to get up. “I need to keep an eye on her. I’m afraid she will have cold feet about the wedding.”
But Brielle, carelessly dismissing the concern, gave him a kiss and said, “Oh, stop worrying so much. She always listens to you. Besides, we have her mother’s belongings with us. She wouldn't dare to run away.”
Without wasting a moment, Jasper flipped Brielle over and leaned in to kiss her. “You're right. Thank you, baby. | will dump that married bitch when | finish the plan. | only want you...”
Ariana watched in horror as they started to have sex, their moans and gasps filling the room.