Chapter 1

James Carter and I were sworn enemies.

From high school to college, and all the way into our careers, for eight straight years, we bickered nonstop every single day.

On the day of his wedding, I bought party poppers, ready to celebrate that he was finally going to be someone else's problem.

But at the ballroom, his bride ran off right in front of three hundred guests.

With his eyes red, he rushed over and shoved that ten-carat diamond ring into my hand. "You'll be the bride."

I glanced at the crowd, all watching the drama unfold. In a moment of impulse, I said, "Fine, but double the wedding gifts. And I want all three of those dishes your mom was bragging about as takeout."

The second the words left my mouth, James scooped me up in his arms and turned toward the stage. "Ten times the gifts. From today on, you're Mrs. Carter."

*****

My name was Kylie Bennett. I was twenty-six years old. My life's motto was simple: I was sworn enemies with that bastard, James.

James and I had been arch-enemies since high school.

If he scored at the top of the class, I'd stay up all night studying like crazy to take the spot back.

If he won the city debate championship, I'd lead my team to wipe the floor with his in the provincial tournament.

Later, we ended up at the same university. He joined the student council, so I ran for president of the club union, and our groups were at each other's throats every single day.

After graduation, things got crazier. We somehow entered the same company. He was in strategy, I was in marketing, and every meeting turned into a shouting match that made the boss bang his fist on the table.

For eight years straight, not a single day went by without us going at each other.

So when I got James's wedding invitation, I was laughing so hard that tears were streaming down my face.

Finally, someone was brave enough to take on this disaster.

I hit up the supermarket for all the party poppers I could find, planning to set them off outside his house after the party to celebrate that my lifelong nemesis was finally going to be someone else's headache.

On the day of the wedding, I threw on a red dress, went all out with bold makeup, and showed up at the hotel rocking high heels.

I was planning to chill in the corner, watch the show, and snag a free meal while I was at it.

But the second I stepped into the banquet hall, my jaw practically hit the floor.

James was at the altar in a black suit, standing under a flower arch, looking like death warmed over.

The spot next to him was empty.

There was no bride in sight.

Before I could process what was happening, I heard people whispering nearby.

"Where's the bride?"

"She bailed! She got a call in the makeup room and walked out!"

"Oh my god, the Carter family is so embarrassed."

"I heard James' mother picked that girl, and their families do business together. What are they supposed to do now?"

I held my champagne glass, struggling not to laugh out loud.

James deserved this.

It served him right.

James's usually handsome face was now a mix of embarrassment and fury.

His mother stood off to the side, her face stormy with anger, and the elders nearby looked as grim.

All three hundred guests were dead silent, waiting to see how this whole mess would end.

I was about to find a seat and enjoy the show.

Suddenly, James's gaze swept across the crowd and zeroed in on me.

With his jaw clenched and eyes red, he marched right toward me.

My heart skipped a beat.

Uh-oh, this wasn't good.

Was this jerk seriously about to pull me into his mess?

Before I knew what was happening, James was right in front of me, grabbing my wrist.

"You're up," he said.

His voice was hoarse, and there was a look in his eyes I'd never seen before.

Was that humiliation? Anger? Or... desperation?

I was stunned.

He pulled out that legendary ten-carat rock worth three million dollars and shoved it into my hand without a second thought.

"Be my bride," he said.

The whole place went dead silent.

I stared at that blindingly flashy diamond ring in my hand, then at his handsome face on the verge of tears. My mind was buzzing.

Was this guy out of his mind?

He had always hated my guts, and now, he wanted me to be his backup bride?

I was about to say no when my eyes flicked over the crowd.

Some people were smirking, some were waiting for the drama to explode, and a few colleagues who usually had beef with me were practically vibrating with excitement, eager for the chaos to get messier.

James' mother was standing right in the front row, her face pale as a ghost.

If I turned him down, the Carter family would be utterly disgraced today.

I took in the scene. Flowers were everywhere like a fairytale, crystal chandeliers were sparkling overhead, and in the corner, tables were stacked with mountains of fancy food.

I remembered James' mother showing off to the other ladies, saying three of the dishes tonight were made with ingredients flown in straight from abroad, all whipped up on the spot by a Michelin-star chef.

I gulped, eyeing those dishes.

We were already mortal enemies. It was not like things could get any worse between us.

Maybe I should go for it.

I looked up at James, his eyes red like he was about to lose it, and suddenly, a laugh slipped out of me.

"Fine," I said.

James froze.

I pulled my hand back, rolling the ring in my palm.

"But I want double the wedding gifts," I said.

I paused, eyeing those tables piled high with food.

I continued, "And I want all three of those dishes your mom was showing off about, packed to-go."

As soon as I finished, the whole place went wild.

"Is she nuts?"

"She's really bargaining at a time like this?"

"Even the stand-in bride's got the nerve to be this cocky?"

I ignored all the chatter and locked eyes with James, refusing to look away.

I'd already gone all in. If I didn't snag some perks out of this, I'd be losing out big time.

James held my gaze for three seconds.

Suddenly, he smiled.

There was something in that smile I couldn't quite figure out. It was like relief, but also like he'd finally gotten what he'd been chasing all along.

He scooped me up in his arms.

I let out a gasp, wrapping my arms around his neck without thinking.

"Ten times the wedding gifts." His deep voice rumbled right next to my ear." From today on, you're Mrs. Carter."

With that, he turned around and swept me up in his arms, heading straight for the stage.

I was stiff in his embrace, not able to react yet.

The three hundred guests below were all left speechless, their jaws practically on the floor.