Chapter 1
The day Iselle Branor was officially welcomed back into her birth family, the girl who had stolen her life for twenty years–Delphine–proposed a cruel little game.
A wager.
“If I can take away nine things that matter most to you,” Delphine said with a sweet smile that didn’t reach her eyes,
“you leave this family. On
MAA
your own. No complaints.”
Iselle’s lips barely moved. “Deal.”
She didn’t expect to win.
She just wanted to know how far her so–called family would let it go.
One by one, Delphine claimed them–her room, her birthday gifts, her place at the dinner table, even the family heirloom meant for Iselle at birth.
Eight losses.
Then came the ninth.
“I’ll take your man next,” Delphine announced, tossing a platinum bank card onto the table. “$300,000. I want him to marry into our family. Let’s see how loyal your poor little boyfriend really is.”
Caelen Morven.
The soft–spoken scholarship student who made her laugh when the world crumbled around her.
0.00%
14:1033
Chapter 1
“Marry in? Seriously?” Iselle whispered, her heart dropping.
Caelen’s fingers tapped the card with deceptive calm. Then his eyes lifted to meet hers–warm, gentle, devoted.
“I’ll marry in, but only if it’s to Iselle,” he said softly. “I may be poor, but I still have pride. I’ll kneel to no one but the woman I love.”
For a second, Iselle believed him.
Delphine stormed off in tears, humiliated. That night, she announced she’d marry into the Durrell family instead–as a “lucky bride” to save their heir from a rumored curse.
Later that evening, she showed up at Caelen’s, carrying the custom engagement ring she’d designed for him.
Before she knocked, she heard voices inside.
“Don Morven, are you really going to stand by and watch Ms. Delphine marry into the Durrells?”
Iselle froze.
Don Morven? That name belonged to the most feared man in the underworld.
Inside, Caelen’s tone was no longer soft. It was cold. Calculating.
“I underestimated her,” he said. “I thought marrying Iselle would be enough to break her, but the little witch still refuses to bend. Fine. Let the Durrell wedding happen–but make sure Iselle is the one who shows up at the altar. Tie her up if you have to.”
A pause. Then:
“My identity must remain hidden. Delphine wants to play games? I’ll
30.35%
14.108
Chapter 1
teach her what it means to lose.”
The ring slipped from Iselle’s fingers, clattering to the floor. Her entire world tilted.
She walked out in silence and sent a message to her brother:
289 Vouchers
“I’ll take Delphine’s place. I’ll marry into the Durrell family. Tell them the bad luck ends with me.”
***
“You’re really going through with it?”
Nolan Verren blinked up at her from behind his gaming console. When Iselle didn’t respond, he put the controller down, suddenly alert.
“The Durrells called again,” he said. “The heir’s condition is worsening. They want the bride within two weeks. I’ll have the wedding car prepped. What kind of gift do you want? A car? A villa? Anything.”
“I want two things,” Iselle said, her voice cool. “If you still remember I’m your real sister.”
Nolan tensed. “Name them.”
“One, I want the two courtyard houses that were promised to me. And two -no one can know I’m marrying into the Durrell family for luck. Not Delphine. Not Caelen. No one.”
6953%
