1 I went to pick up the wedding invitations for my boyfriend’s older brother. But when the heavy, cream-colored cardstock was pressed into my hand, the names staring back at me stopped my heart. The groom was indeed his brother, Xavier Vaughn. But the bride’s name—which should have belonged to his childhood sweetheart, Cecily Moore—had been replaced with mine. Summer Reynolds. I stared at the looping calligraphy, reading it over and over until the ink blurred. I pulled out my phone and messaged Bennett. The "typing" bubble appeared, vanished, and appeared again. Minutes ticked by, but not a single word came through. This was classic Bennett Vaughn. In our three years together, he had mastered one particular skill: whenever a question became too difficult to answer, he simply retreated into a fortress of silence. Do you love me? Silence. Why did you spend New Year’s Eve with Cecily while telling me you were stuck at the office? More silence. He knew that if he dragged it out long enough, I would eventually be the one to crack, the one to retreat, the one to apologize for even asking. An hour later, his reply finally hummed against my palm. “Summer, don’t be petty. It’s just a legal formality, a way to save face for the family.” “Once you divorce my brother, we’ll go back to how we were. I’ll still be your boyfriend. Okay?” The truth spilled out in fragments. Cecily had gotten cold feet at the last minute. Bennett couldn't bear to see her pressured, yet he was too terrified to let the Vaughn family suffer a public scandal in front of their high-society guests. So, he pushed me into the gap. He offered me up as the sacrificial lamb to protect her. I let out a sharp, hysterical laugh in the middle of the sidewalk. “Have you thought about what this does to me? The rumors? The looks?” Silence. “Did you ever actually love me, Bennett?” He stayed silent. Since silence was his chosen answer, I stopped asking. On the day of the wedding, I walked into that courthouse and signed my name on the marriage certificate with a steady hand. Then, I vanished. Three months later, Bennett found me. His eyes were bloodshot as he grabbed my arm, his voice trembling with a mix of rage and disbelief. “Why are you still with him? Why did you actually stay married to my brother?” I instinctively shielded my stomach, a small, knowing smile tugging at my lips. I didn’t say a word. Instead, I channeled him—I mimicked the very silence he had used to hollow me out for years—and simply handed him my phone. On the screen was his own text, edited and sent back to him: [Don’t be petty.] [It’s just a marriage and a baby.] [Once the dust settles, we can go back to how we were, right?] When I first arrived at the Vaughn estate after discovering the invitation, the house was in a state of quiet panic. Cecily had locked herself in one of the guest rooms. Bennett was pacing outside her door, his face a mask of frantic worry. “Cecily, honey, please. I’m right here. Nobody is going to force you into anything you don’t want to do.” He heard my footsteps and turned. His gaze flickered to my face, then slid down to the invitation in my hand, before he looked away as if nothing was wrong. “Summer? What are you doing here?” I held the card up between us, my voice tight. “I’m here to ask why my name is printed on this.” Bennett’s brow furrowed for a fraction of a second. He grabbed my wrist, his grip firm as he began leading me toward the grand staircase. “Let’s talk downstairs. Cecily hasn’t slept in days. Don't start something out here; she’s fragile right now.” His voice was as gentle as it always was, but the force in his hand was non-negotiable. I wrenched my arm back. “She’s fragile, so I have to be the one to take the blow? Is that how this works?” “It’s different for her.” Bennett fell silent for a few beats, then reached out to tuck a stray hair behind my ear. It was a practiced gesture of affection, one that usually softened me. “You know she lost her parents young, Summer. The Vaughns took her in. We owe her a certain level of care, don’t we? It’s just three months. Once the public interest dies down, I’ll personally drive you to the lawyer for the divorce. I promise.” There it was. The "Childhood Sweetheart" card. Because Cecily was the girl he grew up with, there was an infinite well of reasons why I, the outsider, had to yield. He always threw me a scrap of tenderness just when I was about to give up on him. But the moment I pushed for more—for honesty, for priority—that tenderness evaporated into a wall of silence. We walked into the living room, where a few of Bennett’s friends were lounging. They clearly knew the plan. As I stood there, one of them, Cooper, let out a low whistle and smirked. “Oh, come on, Summer. What are you complaining about? A girl with your background wouldn't even get past the gates of this estate if it weren't for Bennett. Now you get to be Mrs. Vaughn for three months. Admit it, you’re probably thrilled.” “Think of it as a trial run,” another added, laughing. “You’ll gain some experience, and it'll make things easier for Bennett when he finally takes his turn with you, right?” The room erupted into chuckles. Bennett’s lips curled into a faint, self-satisfied smile. “Hey, knock it off, guys.” Cooper nudged him. “What? Scared your little girlfriend is gonna run away?” Bennett looked at me, his eyes full of a quiet, arrogant confidence. “Not a chance. Summer’s been with me for three years. She’s loyal. She’s not going anywhere.” “Clearly,” Cooper replied. “She loves you so much, she’d probably jump off a cliff if you told her it would help Cecily. Marrying your brother is nothing compared to that.” In the midst of their mockery, Bennett didn't defend me. Instead, he pulled a stack of legal documents from the coffee table drawer. He took my hand, stroking my knuckles as if soothing a temperamental pet. “Ignore them. I’ve already prepared everything. You just need to show up and sign tomorrow. What do you want as a thank-you gift when this is over? That designer bag you were looking at?” I looked into the eyes of the man I had loved so desperately. The insults of his friends were still ringing in the air, yet he thought a handbag could fix the hole he was tearing in my dignity. “Summer? You’re awfully quiet,” Cooper called out. “Don’t tell me you’re actually trying to throw a tantrum now that Bennett’s being so generous.” Bennett watched me, waiting for the inevitable surrender. He assumed I was weak. And why wouldn't he? When he stood me up on our anniversary to pick up a drunk Cecily, I stayed mad for three days, and he punished me with a week of silence until I begged for his forgiveness. When I was hospitalized with a high fever, he forgot to visit because Cecily had had a nightmare and "needed" him. My best friend, Sloane, called me a doormat. But I had always believed that love was about sacrifice and patience. Looking at the sneering faces in that room, I realized I was done being patient. The fear of losing him was suddenly eclipsed by the sheer exhaustion of holding onto him. I pulled my hand out of his and closed the invitation with a definitive snap. “Fine. I’ll do it. I’ll marry him. But Bennett? Don’t you dare regret this.” Before he could respond, a heavy thud echoed from the guest room upstairs, followed by the sound of shattering glass. Bennett’s face went pale. He didn't even look at me as he bolted for the stairs. “Cecily!” He burst into the room. Cecily was slumped on the floor by the bed, shards of a water glass scattered around her bare feet. Her eyes were red, her lip trembling. “I’m fine, Bennett,” she whispered. “I just… I heard you all arguing about me. Am I making things too hard for you?” Bennett ignored her words, dropping to his knees and grabbing her ankles to check for cuts. “Don’t move. You’ll step on the glass.” Cecily pulled back slightly. “Bennett, Summer is right outside. She’ll be upset if she sees this.” “Who cares about that right now?” The words flew out of his mouth before he could stop them. He caught my gaze through the open door. For a second, he looked guilty, his lips twitching as if to offer an explanation. Then, he settled back into his default mode. “It’s fine. Summer isn't the type to hold a grudge.” He grabbed a damp towel, carefully wiping the dust from the soles of Cecily’s feet before sliding her slippers on with a tenderness he had never shown me in public. He hadn't offered me a single apology or a real explanation, but for her, he was a servant. The friends gathered at the doorway, sighing. “Man, Cecily is lucky. Bennett’s had her on a pedestal since they were kids. No one’s ever gonna top her in his heart.” Cecily let a tear fall. “No, don’t say that.” She looked at me, her voice dripping with a mix of guilt and curated sadness. “Summer, really, it doesn’t matter who Xavier marries. He’s just tired of being nagged by their father. He just needs a wedding to happen so he can get back to work.” Her eyes drifted back to Bennett. “The Vaughns have done so much for me. I should be the one helping Xavier. But the thought of being married and having to keep my distance from… from the person I actually love… it just breaks my heart.” She didn't look away from Bennett. They stared at each other for a long, silent moment. Cooper laughed. “The person she actually loves? I wonder who that could be.” Cecily blushed and looked down, while the corners of Bennett’s mouth twitched upward in a smirk he couldn't quite suppress. I stood in the doorway like a ghost in my own life, an intruder in a fairy tale that didn't include me. Cecily eventually reached out and took my hand. “Summer, please don’t take it to heart. Bennett and I… we grew up together. Our bond is just a little deeper than most. You love him, don’t you? Don’t make this hard for him.” Before I could answer, Bennett draped his arm around her shoulder. “I told you not to worry. Summer’s all bark and no bite. She already agreed.” “That’s our boy,” Cooper cheered. “One look from Bennett and any woman falls in line. Cecily, don’t feel bad. She’s not suffering. She’s getting an upgrade for three months. She should be thanking you!” Cecily finally smiled. Not one person in that room looked at me as a human being. I was a tool. A piece of tape used to patch a crack in their perfect world. Bennett wiped a stray tear from Cecily’s cheek, his voice firm. “It’s settled. You rest. Summer will take care of the wedding.” He waited until she was settled before walking back to me. There wasn't a trace of shame in his eyes. If anything, he looked proud. “Do this right, Summer, and I promise I’ll start seriously thinking about our future. Show me you can be the kind of supportive wife I need.” He straightened my coat and kissed my forehead. “Don’t worry. To make sure everything goes smoothly, I’ll be there at eight sharp tomorrow to pick you up. I’ll walk you to the ceremony myself.” I looked at him, the last embers of my love for him finally going cold. “Fine. I hope you’re a man of your word.” The next morning, Bennett was two hours late. When he finally showed up at the bridal suite, he was yawning, leaning back on the sofa. “Cecily is just too sweet. She cried all night. I had to stay up with her until dawn just to get her to calm down.” He finally looked at me, dressed in the white silk gown. A flash of genuine surprise—maybe even admiration—crossed his face. “You look… good,” he said, though he quickly masked it. “Of course, it was tailored for Cecily’s measurements. It would have looked better on her, but it works.” Usually, a comment like that would have stung. Now, I didn't even flinch. I just adjusted my veil in the mirror. Bennett frowned, unsettled by my lack of reaction. “Are you mad?” “No.” “Summer!” He stood up and gripped my shoulders. He was about to say something—likely one of his empty, "sweet" lies—when Cecily’s voice drifted in from the hall. “Bennett? Are you in there?” She walked in wearing a simple white sundress. Bennett immediately let go of me and went to her. “Why are you dressed so lightly? Your hands are freezing.” He stripped off his blazer and wrapped it around her shoulders, then called for someone to bring her tea. Cecily looked at my reflection. “You look beautiful, Summer. I guess it doesn’t matter who the groom is. Once you put on the dress, you really look like a bride.” Bennett didn't catch the barb in her voice. Or maybe he just didn't care. I watched him fuss over her, and a memory flickered in my mind—a time when he used to do that for me. He once drove across the city in a rainstorm just to bring me an umbrella. My messages used to be pinned to the top of his screen, answered in seconds. But then Cecily graduated and came back home. And slowly, everything changed. Seats next to me at the movies would go empty because she called with a "crisis." I woke up from minor surgery to find I had to sign my own discharge papers because she’d had a nightmare and he’d rushed to her side. One by one, our moments were devoured by her needs and his silence. The clerk arrived with the marriage license. I didn't hesitate. I signed Summer Reynolds in sharp, clear strokes. During the small family reception, the Vaughn parents looked confused when they saw my face instead of Cecily’s. They looked at Xavier, their eldest son. Xavier, who had been silent the entire time, stepped slightly in front of me, shielding me from their stares. “The bride is correct,” he said simply. Bennett’s friends were in the corner, already drinking. “Big day for Summer!” Cooper yelled. “Bennett, you better treat her right after this. A woman who’s willing to be a ‘second-hand’ bride just to stay near you? That’s hard to find!” Bennett beamed. He took my hand and, with a flourish, placed it into Xavier’s palm. “Brother, I’m lending her to you for three months.” Xavier’s grip on my hand was firm and surprisingly warm. He looked Bennett dead in the eye. “In marriage, there is no such thing as ‘lending.’” Bennett laughed, missing the weight of the words. He slid a hotel key card into Xavier’s pocket. “Whatever. Just play the part so Mom and Dad don't lose it. Don't blow the cover tonight.” He turned to me, lowering his voice. “Three months, Summer. I’ll be the first one waiting to take you home. And then, we’ll have a wedding that’s actually ours.” He sounded so sincere, as if he truly believed in the fantasy. Cecily watched his hand on my arm and bit her lip. “Bennett… my chest feels a little tight.” Bennett retracted his hand instantly. “Did you not sleep enough?” “I think I need some air.” She leaned into him, casting a small, apologetic smile over her shoulder at me. Bennett led her out, calling back over his shoulder, “Be good, Summer. I’ll call you when I’m done with the guests.” I watched their retreating backs. I reached up, unclipped the gold necklace Bennett had given me for our first anniversary, and dropped it into the trash can next to the vanity. Xavier stood behind me. He didn't say a word, but he opened the door for me. The car was waiting. A hall full of guests was waiting. I looked up and took Xavier’s hand. Goodbye, Bennett. This time, you won’t find me. The night of the wedding, Bennett sent only two texts. [Cecily isn't feeling well. I’m taking her home first.] [Don’t be mad. I’ll take you to dinner tomorrow.] I didn't reply. He didn't follow up, likely assuming I was just having one of my usual "spells" of frustration that he could ignore until I cooled off. The next afternoon, Bennett showed up at my apartment with a bouquet of flowers. But when he slid his key into the lock, it wouldn't turn. The landlord poked her head out from the neighboring unit. “Are you looking for Ms. Reynolds? She moved out yesterday.” Bennett’s smile froze. The landlord opened the door, revealing an apartment that had been scrubbed clean. Empty. He dialed my number immediately. But I had snapped the SIM card in half the moment he left the wedding, tossing it into the same trash can as the necklace. “The number you have dialed is no longer in service.” His friends gathered at the apartment shortly after. Cooper shrugged, patting Bennett’s shoulder. “It’s a stunt, man. You can’t see through this? She’s trying to scare you because you made her marry Xavier. She wants leverage.” Bennett nodded, forcing his heart rate to slow down. It made sense. Every time we fought, no matter how bad it was, I was always the one to bridge the gap in the end. He sent a message to my social media, assuming I’d eventually check it: [I’ll give you three days. Once you’ve had your fun, come home.] A week passed. I didn't appear. A month passed, and the bravado began to crack. Bennett went to Xavier’s office, but the assistant told him the CEO was out of town on personal business, return date unknown. Bennett’s face darkened, but he kept his voice steady. “I can’t believe my brother is actually helping her play this game.” “Exactly,” Cooper said. “She loves you too much to stay away. When the three-month mark hits, show up with a ring. She’ll probably cry and fall into your arms.” Bennett clung to that. He went to a jeweler and spent weeks designing a custom engagement ring. He booked a five-star restaurant and bought two tickets for a northern lights tour in Iceland. On the day the three months ended, he stood outside the courthouse at 9:00 AM, waiting for me to show up for the divorce. He waited until the sun went down. I never came. My phone was still dead. Xavier was still missing. Panic finally set in. He called everyone we knew, searched every place I’d ever mentioned. Nothing. Until that evening, when Cooper called him, sounding breathless. “Bennett, are you sure Summer hasn't been in touch?” “What is it, Cooper?” “I’m at the hospital. St. Jude’s. I just saw her best friend, Sloane, coming out of the OB-GYN wing. She was holding a prenatal chart... and the name on the top was Summer Vaughn.” The world seemed to tilt on its axis. “You’re joking.” “Bennett, I’m serious. And Bennett—Xavier’s car is in the parking lot. I just saw Sloane hand the lab results... to him.”
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