Alana’s POV.

After everyone left my room, I faced the full-length mirror, taking in my reflection. The princess dress I wore was a masterpiece, adorned with small, sparkling diamonds, custom-made by my father. It clung to my figure flawlessly, bound to capture headlines. A matching diamond necklace, earrings, and bracelet graced my neck, ears, and wrist, their value beyond imagination. A professional's touch had perfected my makeup, and my hair, typically flowing freely, was now elegantly placed in a neat bun.

With a smile on my red lips, I marvelled at the sight. I couldn't believe it—I was on the verge of marrying Daniel Ray, the man I cherished above all else. He had always been the one I imagined a future with. To the world, I was Alana Preston, a regular woman who had enjoyed the privileges of a well-off upbringing, eventually establishing her own agency in the entertainment industry. Yet concealed from the public eye was the truth—I was Alana Jordan, the hidden and sole heiress to the mighty Jordan group, an empire that held sway over a significant portion of the entertainment world, both directly and indirectly.

My phone rang, and I answered eagerly when I saw Daniel's name on the screen. He must be as thrilled as I was, considering we'd been planning this wedding for six months already!

"Hello, babe?" I answered, feeling a growing sense of nervousness and excitement in my stomach. Today was our wedding, oh god, I couldn’t believe it.

"Alana... There won't be a wedding," Daniel said, his tone serious. I rolled my eyes, thinking he was just playing around.

"Very funny, this is a cruel joke." I shook my head, assuming he was trying to calm my wedding jitters.

"I'm not joking, Alana. I won't come... We will not get married," Daniel revealed, his words cutting through my nerves and replacing them with worry and fear.

"Not today? Did something happen?" I panicked, stumbling over my words. There was no way this was real, our wedding would take place.

"Not ever, Alana. I'm sure you'll find out any moment now," Daniel replied coldly. "I expect my ring back."

As soon as the call ended, I felt dizzy and collapsed on the bed, trying to comprehend what had just happened. Right on cue, my mother barged into the room, her face etched with concern. At that moment, I realized that whatever Daniel had done, was something that could not be undone.

"Alana... I'm so, so sorry," Mom said as she sat down next to me.

"What did he do?" I asked, fighting back tears and trying to remain composed.

"You don't know?" Mom's lips quivered, and she glanced at my father, who had entered the room.

"Show her, Nina," Dad said.

"Show me what?"

"Here." Mom handed me her phone.

I scanned the headlines that had gone viral only minutes ago.

'Daniel Ray spotted getting cozy with Suzanne Cook' read the first one. Cozy was a nice way of saying Suzanne laid half naked on top of Daniel at a resort's balcony.

'Wedding of the century called off as Daniel Ray leaves Alana Preston at the altar' said another.

'How will Alana Preston recover from being left at the altar by rising star Daniel Ray?' That one was particularly cruel.

Recover? As if I were some fragile soul? They had no idea who I truly was, but how would they?

My father had built a vast empire, one he had intended to share with me once I was married and proved myself capable of running my own business. After three years of dating, Daniel, our marriage was finally planned. My father’s plan for me was to get married and only afterwards would the world find out I am Alana Jordan. It would take two years of marriage and running a successful agency for me to inherit his business but I was more excited about finally being myself. A world that would know me as a Jordan without being exploited. At least, that was the plan before Daniel destroyed everything.

This marriage was about more than just love for me. Daniel was indeed a rising star in Hollywood, and our union would bring significant publicity to my company. If I cast him in my projects, it would open doors for others in the industry. We could have had a life filled with love and luxury if he had gone through with it. I'll admit, from a business perspective, this marriage made sense, but I genuinely loved Daniel and had given my all to him.

Daniel could have spared me. He could've told me yesterday that this wasn't going to happen. Instead, he chose to humiliate me, leaving me at the altar. Worse still, I still couldn't prove to my father that I was ready to take over his empire.

"The media is going crazy with this news, did you know this would happen?" Dad scoffed, arms crossed as he stared out the window.

"Did I know that my ex-fiancé would cheat on me and leave me at the altar? No, Dad. I only got his call recently," I replied, earning a stern look from him. But Mom shot him a glare in return. This mess was mildly his fault, after all. He had been pushing for the wedding, wanting to test me before considering me for his company.

"Alana, I'm so sorry. I know you loved him a lot," Mom comforted me, gently rubbing my back, her lips pressed together.

"I did, Mom, I did," I admitted, feeling a lump forming in my throat. It was a win-win situation for Daniel. There was love, passion and growth for us both in our careers. I couldn’t think of a single thing I’d want more.

"Alana, you've become the laughingstock—or you will if we don't fix this," Dad said, insensitively but realistically.

"How can we even fix this?" I scoffed. The media already knew I had been left at the altar.

"We'll have to create a story that you weren't left at the altar, that this was all planned," Dad began scheming out loud, his concern for his own reputation shining through. I should've expected it. "You'll have to find someone else to marry you, or I will."

Someone else? I had been so focused on Daniel and work that I barely had any friends left. I scrolled through my contacts on my phone, desperately searching for a suitable male to marry. But the few men on my list were either out of town or already married. I couldn't believe that Daniel was going to be my downfall.

The wedding was already delayed by thirty minutes, and I was sure the guests had started gossiping by now. All I could think about was how I had lost the person I thought was the love of my life and jeopardized my career.

A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. I stared up at the ceiling, fanning my eyes to prevent my tears from ruining my makeup. Another knock followed, and finally, I replied, "Come in."

My father opened the door halfway and flashed me a faint smile. "I've found someone for you. We've crafted a story that fits perfectly, one we can tell the media because he's from your past."

"You have?" I exclaimed, a glimmer of hope spreading across my face. Maybe I could salvage this situation and make my comeback.

"I have," Dad confirmed, pushing the door open wider to reveal his choice. "Alana, meet your old friend, Alec Fisher."

My eyes widened as I saw him standing there.

But Alec Fisher wasn't an old friend; he was my long-time rival. I could vividly recall how I had always been at the top of my class from kindergarten onwards, excelling in studies, music, sports, and the arts. However, everything changed in high school when Alec Fisher arrived on a scholarship at my prestigious private school. Without much effort, he consistently claimed the first-place spot, relegating me to second, always in his shadow. And this pattern persisted even in college. When we parted ways, I was more than relieved to never see him again. Yet here he was, in a perfectly tailored tuxedo, his hair impeccably gelled, and a smirk playing on his lips.

"What do you say, Alana? Will I see you at the altar?" he asked with a hint of challenge.

Would I let my sworn enemy become my savior?

Alana’s POV.

Alec entered my life nearly eleven years ago, courtesy of my private high school's decision to grant three full-ride scholarships to less privileged students. Alec happened to be one of the recipients. Little did I know that he would become a constant thorn in my side, consistently outshining me academically. From high school all the way through university, this boy from a humble village managed to relegate me to second place, and I couldn't help but nurse a simmering resentment.

While I despised the ongoing rivalry, Alec seemed to relish it, thriving on the competition. I ensured he didn't have it easy, always trying to one-up him.

After graduating from university, I assumed our paths would never cross again. Yet, here I stood, faced with a pivotal decision.

"Alana? Any moment now." My father's voice urged me to make my choice.

***

The steady click of cameras blended with the bright flashes, temporarily blinding me as I walked down the aisle, escorted by my father. The audience was a mix of entertainment industry figures, friends from college, and coworkers, all drawn here by Daniel's invitation. They gazed intently at me, my father, and, of course, my groom.

As the realization dawned on their faces about the identity of the person escorting me, a collective shock swept through the crowd. My father, beaming with pride, gave my hand a reassuring squeeze and leaned in to speak to me.

The atmosphere was charged with intrigue and curiosity as I made my way to the altar, leaving everyone wondering about the unexpected turn of events. I barely had the time to admire my perfect wedding, the one I had planned so meticulously– now I couldn’t even enjoy it as it was meant to be.

"You're not smiling, dear," Dad whispered a gentle reminder, his own smile still firmly in place.

"Sorry, Dad," I whispered back, offering a quick smile for the clicking cameras. I leaned closer to my father, grateful that the aisle to Alec was long enough for us to hold a conversation. "Where did you even find this guy?"

"I overheard him talking to someone else. He mentioned you both went to school together, and after a quick background check, I figured something is better than nothing," Dad replied, and a puzzled frown crept onto my face. How did Alec end up here? I didn't recall sending him an invitation, and I had painstakingly memorized everyone Daniel had invited. Was this merely a coincidental twist of fate, or did Alec have some ulterior motive? He might not have known my father was Richard Jordan, but he did know about my wealth. Could he be after more money?

"And you're sure this won't backfire on us?" I voiced my concerns, worried that Alec might have a hidden agenda to humiliate me.

"Of course not. I made him sign a legal contract. Whatever happens, he can never reveal to the world that he was a substitute for Daniel. And, of course, I got him to sign your prenup," Dad whispered rapidly as we reached the front. He leaned over, planted a kiss on my cheek, and then spoke loudly and clearly for the benefit of the crowd. "I'm so proud of you, my child, my Alana."

"I promise to take good care of her, Mr. Jordan," Alec chimed in, extending his hand to my father.

"You'll be my son-in-law, so it's Richard now," my dad smiled warmly and shook Alec's hand.

The assembled guests lapped up this unexpected turn of events, their jaws nearly grazing the floor. Even the few of Daniel's friends present found it difficult to believe. Alec smiled and took my hands in his as the priest began his part. Our vows were simple and concise, and Alec delivered them with such finesse that if I were in the crowd, I'd easily believe in our love.

Though we had already signed our marriage certificate, it felt as though I were sealing my fate when my trembling hand slipped the ring onto Alec's finger. The shiny band matched mine perfectly. I glanced down at my left hand, where Daniel's ring had once resided. Alec had insisted I remove it before agreeing to marry me. Now I wore the white-gold wedding band with small diamond studs on the inside and Alec's initials engraved on it instead of Daniel's. Everything about this situation was surreal, but I had no time to process it all.

The priest's voice rang out, breaking the momentary silence, "You may now kiss your bride, Da- Alec."

Alec's lips curled into a confident smirk, his hand gently sliding from my arm to my waist as he drew me closer. His other hand brushed a stray curl away from my eyes, and then his knuckles grazed over my cheek, his fingertips tenderly caressing my jaw.

I peered up into his eyes, taking in his imposing height. He had to be at least 6'3", and even in my heels, I found myself slightly shorter than him. My fingers carefully rested on his impeccably tailored suit, and a brief frown crossed my face. Where had he acquired the funds for such custom-tailored attire? This suit rivaled the quality of my father's, and I couldn't help but wonder how Alec could afford it, even with any changes in his financial situation.

As I held him, I felt the flex of his biceps beneath my touch, and his eyes remained locked onto mine. It struck me that Alec had gained something he'd seemed to lack before — an undeniable confidence. I'd never witnessed him exude such assurance, especially not in my presence.

Alec drew closer, his cologne enveloping me in its heady, masculine scent. It was a captivating blend of amber, musk, and vanilla — simply said: fucking irresistible. His eyes closed briefly, and I followed suit, my heart racing in anticipation. Our lips met, fitting together with flawless precision, and he moved in rhythm, humming softly as he finally pulled away.

I looked up at him, momentarily dazed, while he maintained that self-assured smirk. "I win," he whispered, breaking the romantic spell that had momentarily enveloped us. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance, blaming the wedding atmosphere for allowing me to momentarily succumb to these unexpected feelings.

In the midst of the celebratory cheers and the fluttering petals, I quietly made a solemn vow to myself. I promised that I would ensure Alec regretted his role in this complicated situation, with Daniel not escaping my determination either. However, Alec would bear the brunt of my fury; I was convinced he must have struck some sort of deal with my father. How else could he have tricked his way into my wedding and now be my husband? I had little doubt that he had approached my father for financial support in orchestrating this bizarre turn of events, but my dad would never openly admit to such dealings. My mom wouldn't allow it. This right now was all about keeping an image and being distressed on my wedding isn’t exactly the image they were going for.

As we strolled down the aisle, our fingers intertwined, Alec wore an enormous grin that mirrored mine. Yet, the difference between our smiles was glaringly evident – mine was a facade. To add another layer to this dramatic charade, my parents and I, had intentionally invited a reporter from DevineMargot, a prestigious magazine with a knack for delving into people's lives. I had extended the invitation not only because I had been eager to see my marriage to Daniel featured but also because I wanted the world to acknowledge my true identity as a Jordan. Who better to break the news than DevineMargot? They made news spread like wildfire and sure had their way with words as well as the interviews they do from time to time.

Alec leaned in, his voice hushed as he continued to play the part of the contented newlywed. "Have you crafted a suitable lie to feed the public? Have you made up the perfect love story that explains why Daniel isn't the one standing beside you?" he whispered.

His question hung in the air, and I couldn't help but admire Alec's ability to maintain this charade, seamlessly transitioning from rival to fake husband. My mind raced as I considered the narrative we would need to spin to keep the curious masses at bay.

The woman from Devine Margot was right there, waiting for me along with many others who no doubt had many questions for me.