Chapter 1
The wedding was about to start. The zipper on my wedding dress was barely up when Michael Landon, my fiancé, locked the dressing room door from the inside.
"Actually, I'm already married," he said to me. "And my wife is your blind little sister."
In case I didn't get it, he pulled up a video on his phone. Security footage from a camera.
He held it right in my face, with this sick kind of pride. "She can't see, but her body's crazy sensitive. One touch and she's wet.
"Sometimes I've barely finished, and she's already climbing on me again. I gotta admit, the feeling's unreal.
"You're a dead fish compared to her, Emily."
I froze. Under my veil, my face went instantly pale.
Outside the door, I heard Sophie Somers, my adopted younger sister, fumbling around, knocking gently. She called out in a sweet voice, "Happy wedding day, Emily!"
Michael continued. "Just while you were doing your makeup, I was in the next room cleaning her up.
"She made a mess everywhere. It took me two whole packs of wipes."
He wiped his hands casually, then tossed a cheap ring into my lap.
"I still love you, Emily. That's why I'm telling you the truth and giving you a choice," Michael said. "Marry me or don't. Up to you."
*****
Michael Landon looked pretty satisfied with how I reacted. He slid his finger under my chin, forcing me to look up at him.
"What, cat got your tongue?" Michael smirked.
I slapped his hand away.
"Why?" I asked.
My throat was dry.
"No reason."
He fixed his tie nice and slow. "I've been with her for five years. Started before you even met me."
Five years? I'd known him for three.
He said it was love at first sight and chased me for an entire year.
"Those twins... they're yours?" I asked.
When he was swiping through his photos earlier, I'd seen pictures of two newborns.
Six months ago, Sophie said she was going abroad for eye treatment.
Michael said he had friends overseas who could look after her.
So she was actually there to give birth.
"Yeah," Michael replied. "Sophie's got a fertile body."
He laughed. "Emily, I need a normal wife. Someone to inherit the family business, play the part in public.
"Sophie's blind. She can't do it.
"But you? The Summers' oldest daughter. Ivy League degree. Gorgeous. You look good on my arm.
"You're perfect."
So I was just a decoration.
"What if I say no?" I asked.
"You won't." Michael sounded totally sure.
"The Summers family needs Landon money, don't they?" he pressed. "Your dad's company is about to run out of cash.
"You walk down that aisle today, and tomorrow two hundred million lands in Summers Corporation's account."
"You're disgusting," I spat.
He shrugged. "Whatever you say."
"Now. Your choice," he said. "Either pretend nothing happened, marry me in style, and save your family's company.
"Or run out there right now and let the whole city laugh at the Summers family."
Michael grabbed my wrist tightly.
"Don't push it, Emily," he warned.
The door burst open from the outside.
My parents stood there. Their faces were purple with rage.
My dad stormed in and slammed his fist into Michael's face.
"Animal!" my dad yelled.
Michael staggered back two steps. Blood showed at the corner of his mouth.
He wiped it and went cold.
"Mr. Summers, guess you heard everything," Michael said, his voice cool and detached. "Good. Saves me explaining twice."
My mom ran over and hugged me. Her tears fell on my shoulder.
"Sweetie, my baby..." she sobbed.
"We're out. The wedding's off." My dad pointed right in Michael's face. "Get out, Michael. Now.
"I'd rather go bankrupt than give my daughter to a piece of trash like you."
Michael laughed coldly. "Fine. Hope you don't regret this."
He looked me up and down in my wedding dress.
"Last chance, Emily. Walk out there with me now, and the two hundred million's still yours," Michael said to me.
"Get lost," I spat.
Just looking at him made me sick.
Michael's face went completely hard.
"Okay," he said. "Real nice."
Then he turned and walked out.
The wedding became the biggest joke in the city.
We ran away in chaos, humiliated.
Back home, my mom lost it. She charged at Sophie, ready to hit her.
My dad grabbed her arm. "What are you doing? Sophie's blind. This is all Michael's fault."
He still felt sorry for his youngest daughter. The whole family had felt guilty about her blindness for over ten years.
Sophie flinched. "Mom? What's wrong? Did I do something?"
I steadied her. "Sophie."
Sophie lifted her face. Those empty eyes pointed at me.
"Emily?" she called, sounding uncertain.
"You and Michael. You have twins now?" I asked.
Sophie's body went stiff.
My parents stared at her in shock.
A long time passed. Then Sophie finally spoke, her voice shaking. "Emily, what are you talking about? I don't understand."
"You don't understand?" I said, my voice icy.
I pulled out my phone and hit play on the recording.
It was the conversation from the dressing room. Me and Michael.
"She can't see, but her body's crazy sensitive..."
"I've been with her for five years..."
Michael's voice echoed through the living room.
Sophie's face went pale.
Her legs gave out. She crumpled onto the carpet.
"No, that's not true," Sophie stammered.
She shook her head frantically.
"Michael forced me. Emily, you have to believe me," she pleaded. "He said if I didn't listen, he wouldn't pay for my eye surgery. I was scared..."
She started crying. She looked really pitiful.
If I hadn't heard it myself, I might've bought it.
My dad was already starting to waver.
"Emily, maybe Sophie really was forced?" he asked, sounding unsure.
I turned off the recording and squatted down to look at Sophie.
"Oh yeah?" I pressed, my voice cold. "Then who was with you when you gave birth overseas? Michael?"
Sophie nodded, crying. "Yes. It was him. He said it was a surrogate. Said the babies would be given away. That it had nothing to do with me."
She was still lying.
I laughed coldly and slapped a stack of photos down in front of her.
In the pictures, she and Michael were in a villa overseas, each holding a newborn baby.
Both of them were smiling sweetly. Sophie was throwing up a peace sign at the camera.
I pointed at the photos and asked my dad. "Dad. Have you ever seen a blind person find the camera lens that perfectly?"