Chapter 2

Aria's POV

On the day of our wedding, he took me three times in the back of the limousine.

I was so thoroughly overwhelmed, crying and whispering between soft gasps, "Please, Julian... baby, stop."

Only then did he smile with deep satisfaction, kissing the tears from my swollen eyes.

I lay slumped across the leather backseat, my body completely drained of strength, aching in every joint.

Julian casually adjusted his designer suit, leaning down to plant a soft, lingering kiss on my lips. "I have a private celebration with the guys. Go home and get some rest first, okay?"

I nodded weakly.

I hated going to his parties anyway. His friends always looked at me with this strange, knowing smirk that made my skin crawl.

I watched his tall, elegant figure disappear into the exclusive VIP club entrance, a sweet, warm flutter rising in my chest.

For two years, from the moment our families set us up on that first date to our courtship and today's wedding, he had spoiled me to the bone.

Even though in the bedroom, he was always so insatiable, completely ignoring my pleas for mercy.

My cheeks flushed at the memory.

But I had to admit, he was incredibly skilled.

He had endless stamina and a taste for variety. Over the past two years, he had introduced me to so many wild places and positions.

He also loved recording videos.

At first, I hated it. Every time he lifted his iPhone, I would turn my face away in sheer embarrassment.

But he would hold me tight, whispering in his deep, husky voice, "When I'm away on business trips, I need to see you, Aria. Please?"

And my heart would melt.

I was always willing to make compromises for the man I knew as Hunter Vance.

As the car door shut, I leaned back to rest. That was when I noticed the custom diamond cufflinks I had gifted him lying forgotten on the adjacent seat.

Suppressing the ache in my lower body, I gathered my strength, grabbed the cufflinks, and headed into the club to return them to him.

The VIP lounge door was left slightly ajar. Just as I reached out to push it open, a sharp, ragged gasp echoed from inside.

I froze instantly.

That was my voice. That was the sound I had made in the back of the limo just half an hour ago!

"Jesus, Julian! Aria always acts like such an innocent, quiet girl in public. Who knew she was such a wild little slut in bed?"

"Right? Listen to her moan. Damn, that's hot!"

"Come on, Julian, you've got a whole archive of these on your Snapchat, don't you? AirPlay it! Let us all have a listen!"

The room erupted into loud, malicious laughter.

It felt as though a bucket of icy water had been dumped over my head. Every drop of blood drained from my face.

Shocked, I peered through the crack at the man sitting in the center of the velvet sofa.

Julian Carter?!

Why were they calling him Julian? His name was supposed to be Hunter Vance!

The man leaned back lazily, swirling a glass of whiskey, a cruel, mocking smirk playing on his lips as he tapped his phone screen.

My voice was blaring right from his speakers.

"She is quite wild," he murmured indifferently, taking a slow sip.

I could barely believe my eyes.

Just thirty minutes ago, this exact man had held me in his arms, whispering, "Louder, baby, I love it when you scream my name."

The crowd laughed louder, turning to the cold, silent man sitting right next to him.

"Hunter, you have got to admit, having Julian swap identities with you to play Aria for two whole years, that is the most genius scheme ever."

"Man, when she finds out her husband isn't just a fake, but that fake marriage certificate you guys printed is a total sham, do you think she will lose her mind on the spot?"

My brain exploded.

A loud buzzing filled my ears, and my body broke into a cold sweat. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think.

Wasn't my husband's name Hunter Vance?

Then who was the man they were addressing as "Hunter"?

If that man was the real Hunter Vance... then who on earth had I been sleeping with for the past two years?

What did they mean by "swap identities"?

What did they mean by "fake marriage certificate"?!

I stared, paralyzed, at the stranger sitting next to Julian.

He had a cold, chiseled profile, and right beneath his ear was a very distinct, bow-shaped birthmark. In his hand, he was casually spinning a pink candy-shaped hair tie.

My pupils dilated in absolute horror.

I knew that birthmark.

Twenty years ago, when I was still a little girl in the orphanage, there was an older boy named Seven who protected me. He had that exact birthmark.

And that hair tie... it was mine.

It was the parting gift I had given Seven the day his wealthy biological parents came to take him away.

So... Hunter Vance was Seven?!