Billionaire's Replaced Bride

Chapter 2: Conditions

Ivanna POV

They can't be serious. It's the day of my sister's wedding. I'm here to attend it, fix my relationship and fund a peaceful life. Not for getting married at the last minute. I have no plans to get married anytime soon, especially to a stranger, a man who was about to marry my sister.

"Janice, you're gotta be kidding me. Where's Irene?" I ask in a heavy tone, taking a step back.

Janice and dad look at each other and let out a deep sigh.

"She ran away somewhere and she doesn't want to marry him," dad says.

"Okay," I raise my palms to my chest and press my kios, giving them a nid. "I get it. She left. She doesn't want to marry. The marriage is supposed to be cancelled. Why do you want me to be a substitute to her?"

"Ivanna, you said..." dad strives to speak but I stop him.

" I said that I would try to fulfil my responsibilities as a daughter but I never said that I would be available as a proxy for my step sister. That tii at her wedding. Do you think I'm here for this?" I am pissed, angry and frustrated with them.

This is not what I expected after coming back home. Is that his they are welcoming me?

" Ivanna," dad held my shoulders again." My child, please try to understand. We need your help. You'll have to do it to save your family"

I squinted my eyebrows at them. Was Irene about to get married to an Italian mafia? Where does that 'saving the family' thing come from?

"The groom is nine other than the most influential businessman in the city. 'Christian Scott'," he adds with terror in his voice.

"So?"

"You're not getting it. Actually, when Irene started dating him, he used to help us a lot with the guny business. Our business didn't work and suddenly Irene turned on me and ran away. Now, in vengeance, he wants all the money he spent on our business. I don't have a single penny to give him," dad says, leaving me in a huge shock.

I always thought my father was a self esteemed person. But he had already taken Money from his daughter's rich boyfriend. I grab my head in tension and slam myself on the couch.

Dad kneels before me." Only you can help us, Ivanna. He doesn't want to spoil his reputation. There's already media coverage everywhere. If the news of Irene running away comes out, he'll be mocked. That's why he wants you to clear the mess of Irene. He has threatened to make our lives hell."

"Bloody rich bratt!" I grit my teeth. He wants to decide my entire life just to save his reputation. And he has the guts to threaten my family

" Please, Ivanna. You'll do it for your family, right?" Dad pleads, holding my hands. I hate to see dad in such a situation but he has always been bad at making decisions.

"I'm sorry, dad" I slipped my hand away. "I can't do it."

"Why?" Janice's voice comes out as clamour

"Because.." I pause and sniff out."Because I love someone in Texas."

"Who's he?" Dad ask.

"He.."

"Whoever he is," Janice speaks. "I bet he's not richer than Christian Scott. Is he?"

"Janice! This is not about being rich. I love that person. I can't marry anyone else."

"Ivanna, you should be grateful that you got this golden opportunity which Irene left. You can't be luckier enough.stop being so adamant and accept it," Janice barks.

I,as a daughter, have always hated Janice. But today I hate her as a woman for comparing ny kive with wealth. I had never prioritised wealth over love.

"She's right," dad says. "You'll have a better life, Ivanna. you'll be the wife of Christian Scott," he says proudly.

"I never wanted to be known as someone's wife," I groan. I grew up with the lessons that my mom gave me in her deathbed. She always asked me to be myself, to find my existence and fight for my happiness. It makes me realise that she might know about dad's betrayal but she never said that to me.

" Every girl says this but they indeed need a better secured life. I bet your boyfriend might be a simple poor boy from Texas who never bought you a diamond ring," she says in disgust.

"He never bought me anything," I mumble from nowhere.

"See, I told you to stop this stubbornness, Ivanna. You'll have to marry Christan Scott. otherwise, you'll be responsible for our downfall. Your mother is vine and your father is pleasing to you. Do you think you could ever be a good 6? You have this opportunity to use," Janice rants.

"Janice," dad shrugs.

I close my eyes for a second and let the memories I'd years flash in my mind. Dad was never a good husband to mim. But he is indeed a good father. He tried his best to give me all the happiness. It was I who kept running from him. Today, he's acting selfish but I don't blame him. In the last eleven years, I acted selfish.

" Fine," I breathe heavily, opening my eyes. "But I need some time."

Dad pulls a big smile on his face and looks at Janice who seems to be relieved.

"Thank you so much," dad cups my face in tears and u can see how proud he looks. Nonetheless, I never wanted him to be proud of me just because I was marrying someone to save him.

"How much time do you need? Mr Scott can't give you much time because the media can doubt it," Janice says.

"Just a few hours. I want to meet him before the wedding," I say as Janice's face drains. She looks at dad

"Relax, I'm not gonna offend him. But I should have the right to meet the person whom I will marry," I say.

"That's not an issue but Mr Scott can't move to meet you. The entire paparazzi are after him wherever he goes. It can be risky. But I think you can meet his assistant," he says.

That's ridiculous. Now, I'll have to meet another chick to deliver the news that my would-be husband ?what the hell is wrong with me? I think the marriage and husband wife s**t is enough for a person to have an instant change. I have started getting pissed at his assistant from his even when I'm on my way to break this marriage anyhow.

Yes, I'm gonna do it. Ivanna Rozario is not a damsel in distress to give in to him. He will know it's not easy to force a girl into marriage.

"Okay. That'll do," I say.

"I'll talk to Mr Scott right now and fix your appointment with his assistant," dad replies and kisses my forehead.

I wish he did this when he met me at the airport. It'll be the best welcome.

Janice and dad leave the room and I take some time to settle my stuff. A few minutes later, dad informs me that his secretary will be here in 20 minutes. I guess that rich brat is tii desperate to get married in the first half of the day. I use the time to get more information about him on social media. Since I'm not unti business stuff, I know nothing about these business tycoons.

Christian Scott is the only son of the late businessman, Adam Scott. Okay. I have heard a lot about his father. He died in an accident five years ago. Undoubtedly, he inherited everything his father owned that was why he is so arrogant about his image and rejection. I find his pictures in a popular magazine. No smile in any of those pictures. Ugh! He always wore an attitude on his face. But he is an okay okay type.

I toss my phone in the bed and share at the bridal gown which may be worth a million, I think, it's si pretty. I wonder why Irene left at the last minute. I would die to marry the man of my dreams. Unfortunately, Christian Scott is not that man.

A knock occurs at the door. I abruptly leave the sofa, discovering a young man un a suit and with a smile on his face.

"It's Kane. I'm the secretary of Mr Christian Scott," he says with a warm smile.

I didn't expect his secretary to be a man.

"Hello," I said, finding nothing to speak.

He comes inside and l let him occupy a couch.

"What do you want to know about Mr Scott?" He asks.

"Why doesn't he smile in any of the pictures?" The words slip out of my mouth and i feel like hitting myself for such a stupid question.

I head Kane laughing.

"I'm sorry" I mumble.

"That's fine, Miss Rozario. You'll get to know him well after your marriage," he chuckles and I'm not sure if I'm getting married to him. I just want to drive him away anyhow.

"I don't want to know anything about him right now. Everything is available on the internet."

"That's true. I think you have already done your research on our boss," Kane keeps the smile on.

I squirm on the couch uncomfortably.

"Yeah. I don't want to marry a complete stranger," I scoff. Actually, I don't wanna marry him at all.

"Fair enough, then why did you want to meet him?".

" Can I have ten minutes?" I ask him as he checks his wristwatch.

"Seven minutes,"he says as I look at him in disbelief. Why si strict about the time? "Not more than that. Indeed to leave in seven minutes and give your message to Mr Scott. the wedding is supposed to take place in forty five minutes. it's Mr Scott's order"

My jaw drops with his calcu6. There's no way I'm going to marry such a calculative person. It irks me.

"You don't have time, Miss please do it fast."

I move immediately and reach the desk, taking out my notepad. Yes, come on Ivanna you can do it.

I take a deep breath and start writing.

"Mr Scott,

This is not supposed to sound like a professional letter but I'm forced to write this since the wedding is more like a business deal to you.

I'm ready to marry you. But I have three

conditions for this marriage and I hope you will be a gentleman to respect my conditions as I'm doing.

1.

I won't change my plans just because I will be. Your wife. the descision of this marriage was an abrupt one, not my future plan. I have some commitments towards my studies and career further and I am not going to compromise with them.

2.

I love someone else. please feel free to read the first sentence again. I didn't make a mistake while writing that. Don't expect me to accept you wholeheartedly. You can place conditions for marriage, not for a heart. You can't touch me without my consent and force me to give you until I naturally fall in love with you which is next to impossible.

3.

I'm gonna work my ass off to repay the debt of my father to get myself out of this deal. The moment I pay the debt, I want to be free from this marriage, if you fail to win my heart.(Note that, you'll have to win me, not own me).

Consider accepting my conditions or walk away from this marriage, because if you try to force it on me, I'll be forced to go in front of the media and you know the consequences of it. let's be good in business.

-Ivanna.

I fold the letter and out it in the envelope, then take a glance at the clock with a smirk.

"Six minutes and I'm done," I turn to Kane and hand him the envelope.

"Nice to me meet you, Miss Rozario. Advance congratulations. You'll get the reply from Mr Scott in a while," he moves out right away and I smirk, crossing my arms.

I hear Janice yelling outside and telling me to get dressed. But I'm damn sure that Christian Scott is gonna turn this down. No Arrogant rich man is going to consider all those conditions to save his dominance and ego. I'm capable of repaying the debt anyway.

I get dressed into my joggers and tshirt. Lying in the bed, I start scrolling through the SNS when a message pops up from an unknown number.

I immediately open it.

"It's Kane . I'm glad to inform you that Mr Scott has accepted all your conditions. Please be prepared. The porch will arrive at your place in fifteen minutes.

I feel a big bomb blasting on my head. He approved the conditions. My phone slips out of my hand.

"Ivanna," a knock occurs with Janice's voice. "We're about to leave in fifteen minutes. Are you ready.?".