I was the backup bride

(Livia) I waited for Camille to explain what she meant. My name had no reason to appear in an agreement concerning her wedding. I hadn't even been involved in planning the ceremony. Yet everyone seemed determined to keep me from discovering what they had arranged. "Why was my name included?" "Because father wanted to make sure the agreement would still go through." "What agreement, Camille?" "The one between our family and the Prescotts." I sat on the bed and tried to understand what she was telling me. My father had always cared more about his business than anything else. He had spent years trying to build relationships with wealthy families. Apparently, marrying one of his daughters to Julian had been part of his plans. "Explain what you mean." "Father's company was having financial problems." "How bad?" "Bad enough that he needed Charles Prescott to help him." I frowned because I had never heard anything about financial problems. My parents continued buying expensive clothes and attending parties. Camille had been given everything she wanted while I was expected to be grateful for whatever remained. Nothing about our lives suggested that my father's company was struggling. "How does that involve me?" "Charles agreed to invest in father's company if our families became connected through marriage." "Your marriage." "Yes, but there was another condition." I waited for her to continue. She had already admitted knowing more than she originally claimed. I wasn't going to let her avoid answering now. If my name appeared in that agreement, I deserved to know why. "What condition?" "If anything prevented me from marrying Julian, father had to provide another daughter." I stared at the wall. My parents had known there was a possibility I would have to replace Camille. They had agreed to it without telling me anything. I wondered whether they had ever intended to give me a choice. "So I was the replacement." "Livia, it wasn't supposed to happen." "But you knew it could." "I didn't think father would actually make you do it." I stood and walked toward the window. Camille had disappeared knowing our father had promised another daughter if she couldn't marry Julian. She hadn't warned me about the agreement before leaving. Instead, she had allowed me to discover everything after the wedding. "When did you find out?" "A few days before the wedding." "And you didn't tell me?" "I was trying to figure out what to do." "So you ran away." "I couldn't marry Julian knowing what father had done." I looked down at the garden. Her explanation didn't make sense to me. Camille had been happy with Julian for months, at least from what I had seen. Now she was claiming the agreement was enough to make her abandon him. "Did you stop loving him?" "That's not what happened." "Then why didn't you marry him?" "Because I didn't want father controlling my life through that agreement." I closed my eyes for a moment. Camille had escaped the arrangement because she didn't want our father controlling her. Yet she hadn't considered what would happen to me. I was the one living with Julian because she had decided to leave. "And you thought it was acceptable for him to control mine?" "Livia, please." "You knew my name was in that agreement." "I didn't know they would force you." "You knew enough to warn me." Camille didn't answer. I waited, but she had nothing to say. I was beginning to understand why she had avoided explaining her disappearance. She knew I would be angry if I discovered what she had kept from me. "How much money did Charles give father?" "I don't know." "Did he give him the money before the wedding?" "Some of it." "What happens if the marriage ends?" Camille hesitated. "Father would have to repay the investment under the agreement." I looked at my wedding ring sitting on the table. My parents weren't simply worried about their reputation. They were afraid of losing money they had already received. That explained why my father kept insisting I remain Julian's wife. "Does Julian know about this?" "I told you, I don't think so." "What about his father?" "Charles signed everything." I considered telling Julian immediately. He had accused me of wanting his inheritance and interfering with his family. I wondered what he would say if he discovered our fathers had arranged everything. But I wasn't sure he would believe me. "Do you have a copy?" "No." "Then how did you find out?" "I saw some papers in father's office." I sat down again. Camille had seen enough to understand the arrangement, but apparently she hadn't kept anything. I wondered whether she was leaving something out. She had always been good at telling people only what she wanted them to know. "Was there anything else?" "Not that I remember." "Camille." "What?" "If you're hiding something, tell me now." "I'm not hiding anything else." I didn't believe her completely. Still, I had learned more from this conversation than from either of my parents. I needed time to think about what to do next. Camille seemed relieved when I stopped questioning her. "Are you going to tell Julian?" "I haven't decided." "Please don't mention my name." I looked at my phone. "You're still worried about yourself?" "I don't want father coming after me." "And you think I do?" She didn't answer. I ended the call before she could ask me to keep another secret. My parents had promised me to the Prescotts without my knowledge. Camille had discovered their arrangement and left me to deal with it. I was still sitting on the bed when someone knocked. I expected Nina, but Julian entered after I told him to come in. He looked around my room before noticing the ring on the table. His expression changed immediately. "Why aren't you wearing your wedding ring?" "I took it off." "Put it back on." I looked at him. "Did you come here to check whether I'm wearing it?" "My father wants us downstairs for dinner." "I'll be there." Julian didn't leave. He picked up the ring and placed it beside my phone. I watched him, wondering whether he knew anything about the agreement. He had made it clear he didn't want to know anything about my life. "There's something I need to ask you." He looked annoyed. "What now?" "Did your father give mine money before our wedding?" Julian stared at me. "What are you talking about?" "An agreement between our families." "What agreement?" I studied his face. He appeared genuinely confused, but I couldn't be certain. Before I could explain, his phone rang. He checked the screen and answered. "Father?" I watched his expression change as he listened. He looked at me before walking toward the door. Whatever Charles was saying had caught his attention. Julian ended the call without explaining anything. "Get dressed." "Why?" "We're going to your parents' house." I stood. "What happened?" Julian looked directly at me. "Apparently, your sister has been found."