The Replacement Bride
Empty Seat
Vivian Reyes hadn't been home in almost a year and the silence that surrounded the mansion felt as distant and unfamiliar as her parents had always been
she stepped out of the car, smoothing down her dress her nurse's ID badge still clipped to her purse like a leftover
piece of her life a life far away from grand chandeliers and cold Marble floors
a life where she found passion and where she mattered not as someone's daughter not as someone's sister but just Vivian
a butler opened the front door before she could knock, bowing politely as if she belonged here
except that she didn't
she never had
the dining room was already set when she entered. The scent of garlic and roasted meat lingered in the air
at the long mahogany table sat strangers she had never seen or met
men in expensive suits, women with diamonds to heavy for their thin necks
conversations hushed when she appeared. Her heels clicked too loudly against the floor
Her parents looked up from the far end of the table. Her father Armando Reyes, gave her a small nod while her mom stood up and walked towards with open arms
an act that made Vivian freeze in place
ISADORA REYES (fL's mother)
"Vivian darling "
isadora said sweetly, pressing a kiss to her cheek
ISADORA REYES (fL's mother)
"You look beautiful! "
VIVIAN REYES
" ah... Thank you... mom. "
It was strange indeed. Her mother never complimented her without reason. She sat stiffly between two unfamiliar guests
and the entire meal carried on with tension just beneath the surface. Forks clinked. Glasses refilled. But couldn't ignore the empty seat two places across from her
her sister's name hadn't been mentioned once which was strange
the family that never invited her to Sunday dinners now smiled too politely, too carefully as though waiting for something
her father barely looked her way, focused on a conversation with a man she didn't recognize
the man tall, broad shouldered and quite didn't smile once, he only glanced at her occasionally his gaze sharp and unreadable
Vivian shifted uncomfortable in her sit
her mother reached over placing a hand on her wrist
ISADORA REYES (fL's mother)
"sweetheart "
she said with an eerie clam
ISADORA REYES (fL's mother)
" I know this is sudden, but there is something we need to discuss after dinner "
Isadora gave her hand a light squeeze
ISADORA REYES (fL's mother)
" Your sister made a foolish decision. She ran off with that boy, Rafael - she left the city - she is gone."
VIVIAN REYES
" she what? "
ISADORA REYES (fL's mother)
" she left "
ISADORA REYES (fL's mother)
" she left him "
Vivian looked around the table again, eyes locking on the man with the dark suit and silent presence.
' him' the man who had been watching her closely like he already owned her name
her heart sank, pounding in her chest as realization took shape
VIVIAN REYES
"you're not saying - "
ISADORA REYES (fL's mother)
" She was supposed to marry him, Vivian "
Isadora whispered , as if the walls could hear
ISADORA REYES (fL's mother)
" But she ran and well, arrangements were made. There's no time to delay, Mr. Moreno still needs a wife "
VIVIAN REYES
" So you're selling me, you're going to replace me in her place "
her voice was a sharp contrast to the murmurs around the table, warning glances and whispers
VIVIAN REYES
" are you offering me "
She hissed feeling her world split beneath her feet
ISADORA REYES (fL's mother)
" You will be safe"
Isadora said still smiling like this was an afternoon tea
ISADORA REYES (fL's mother)
" You will be apart of something powerful, he is kind in his way, And you're strong Vivian "
ISADORA REYES (fL's mother)
" this could your chance to matter"
Vivian stood from the table without another word. her pulse roaring in her ears
The man didn't speak a word. he just watched and observed
and as her mother words echoed around her, Vivian realized something
her entire life was about to change over dinner with one missing seat and a pair of unreadable eyes
Leverage
Vivian slammed the guest room door behind her, the sharp echo reverberating through the marble hallway
the air felt too think with lies, too sweet with manipulation, her hands trembled as she paced, heels clicking against the polished floors
like a metronome to her spiraling thoughts
Valeria Ran
𝙨𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙜𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙢 '𝙢𝙚'
Vivian Reyes, nurse, quiet daughter, the afterthought of the family. Now some heirs replacements bride
a knock came at the door. She didn't answer
ARMANDO REYES (fL's father)
"Vivian "
her father called, calm, controlled as if this was just another business meeting
ARMANDO REYES (fL's father)
" come downstairs. We need to talk. "
She yanked the door open and stormed past him without a word
back downstairs into the sitting room where her mother sipped tea like they weren't thinking of selling their daughter off
ISADORA REYES (fL's mother)
"Darling -"
VIVIAN REYES
" Why couldn't they go somewhere else, there are plenty of women who'd throw themselves at his feet "
VIVIAN REYES
" Mother, why bring somebody innocent into this mess "
her father walked into the room hands in his pockets
ARMANDO REYES (fL's father)
" Because names matter, Vivian, and so does reputation "
VIVIAN REYES
" Oh, it's about business "
VIVIAN REYES
" of course it is, you're selling your daughter for some reputation "
ARMANDO REYES (fL's father)
" You don't understand what you're being offered "
her father replied, voice clipped
ARMANDO REYES (fL's father)
" security, wealth, and power "
VIVIAN REYES
"I DON'T WANT ANY OF THAT! "
She shouted, chest rising and falling
VIVIAN REYES
" I want to choose who I marry, I want to love someone who loves me back, not be traded off like some goddamn-"
ISADORA REYES (fL's mother)
" Language "
her mother snapped, her smile fading
ISADORA REYES (fL's mother)
" this isn't the time be to dramatic "
VIVIAN REYES
" right, God forbid I ruin dinner. or this entire circle you have staged to clean up Valeria's selfish mess "
ARMANDO REYES (fL's father)
" You will marry Dominic Cruz Moreno. That's final "
VIVIAN REYES
" it's not your choice, I don't care what he is - I refuse to be some secondhand bride for a man my sister left behind "
VIVIAN REYES
" Does he even know that I am not the same sister you're whipping around"
she turned, ready to leave again, but her mother's next words froze her mid-step
ISADORA REYES (fL's mother)
" You think Rosa will be okay without us? "
Isadora set her tea down gently
ISADORA REYES (fL's mother)
" Your nanny Rosa. You still call her every week, don't you? you still visit her little apartment when you can? "
VIVIAN REYES
" You wouldn't dare -"
ARMANDO REYES (fL's father)
" she lives alone "
ARMANDO REYES (fL's father)
"old, quiet, no real protection, not after what happened last year her with her health, the kind of people Mr. Moreno will be protecting you from? They don't hesitate"
VIVIAN REYES
" you're threatening me using Rosa? "
ISADORA REYES (fL's mother)
"I'm reminding you that loyalty to this family has always come with conditions. Rosa stayed loyal, She raised you. she'd be devastated to see you throw away this opportunity . "
Vivian swallowed hard
her throat burned
they had taken so much from her over the years, affection, attention, choice, but this... this was a new low
VIVIAN REYES
" why do you hate me so much? "
Isadora looked, seemingly startled
ISADORA REYES (fL's mother)
" we don't hate you "
VIVIAN REYES
" you just loved her more "
VIVIAN REYES
" Valeria always got the best, I was the quiet one, the spare "
ARMANDO REYES (fL's father)
" You were the obedient one"
ARMANDO REYES (fL's father)
" Don't make me regret that "
Vivian's nails dug into her palms, she wanted to scream, to fight, and run like Valeria had done
but Rosa didn't deserve to pay the price for her rebellion
VIVIAN REYES
" I will meet him "
VIVIAN REYES
" But that's all I am agreeing to, 𝘼 𝙢𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜.? "
Isadora gave her that too sweet smile again
ISADORA REYES (fL's mother)
" that's a start "
her father nodded once and walked out already on his phone
Vivian stood alone in the silence, her heart breaking as her reflection stared back from the darkened window
they had never chosen her
𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩
contract
the restaurant was private dimly lit tucked away in one of the most exclusive rooftops in the city
high above the world and hidden beneath velvet curtains, it felt more like stage than a dinner table
the skyline behind tall glass windows, but Vivian had eyes only for the man seemed across from her
he wore a black button up that matched the ink-balck of his eyes both unbuttoned and unreadable
a gold watch clung to His wrist like it was made for him. his posture was relaxed, but there was nothing casual about the way he watched her
like he was already unwrapping her, layer by layer with his gaze alone
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" I appreciate you showing up "
he said first, voice low, deep
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
"your parents made it seem like I was dining alone. "
Vivian crossed one leg of the other, her posture perfect, her expression polite
VIVIAN REYES
" I come for clarity"
VIVIAN REYES
" Not charm "
a slow smirk spread across Dominic's lips
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" I wasn't offering charm, 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚. Just my time "
she hated how her stomach flipped at that
he signaled the waiter, murmured something in Italian, and handed her a folder. Clean professional and inside was a printed contract
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" I like things in writing "
he explained leaning back in his chair
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" Too many broken promises in this world, Too many mouths that say one thing and bodies that do another "
VIVIAN REYES
" that's rich coming from a man raised in secrets
Dominic laughed quietly, eyes glinting
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
"Touché"
she opened the folder and slid her own typed page across the table
he glanced at it and for the first time that evening, 𝐡𝐢𝐬 smile vanished
𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒
𝐕𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬
𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐳 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐨
𝟏. 𝐒𝐞𝐱 ' 𝐈𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐎𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 '
𝟐. 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐌𝐲 𝐉𝐨𝐛
𝟑. 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ' 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐟 𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 '
𝟒. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐎𝐟 𝐌𝐲 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞' 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐬 /𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬
𝟓. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭 - 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐀 𝐍𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐀 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞:-𝐕𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬
𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐁 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞:-
he looked up slowly after reading the contract his gaze sharp and amused
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" No Sex ? "
VIVIAN REYES
" No sex, if you can't understand clearly "
Dominic leaned forward, forearms braced on the table
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" you know.... most women dream about this arrangement, about me, the power, protection, the money "
VIVIAN REYES
" and yet most of those aren't here, as we speak "
his jaw ticked, and kind of interested
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" and what exactly do think this is, Vivian "
VIVIAN REYES
" A transaction, one I didn't ask but will get through "
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" you make it sound like marrying me is a punishment. "
VIVIAN REYES
" you make it sound as if I have a choice "
she said tilting her head
silence stretched between them taut and loaded. Then Dominic sat back with a king slow breath
as if forcing himself to stay composed
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" the first time I saw you"
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" you walked into your parents house, in that tight white dress with your hair up that you didn't want anyone to notice how beautiful you are. "
Vivian froze but stayed composed
she took a sip of her water
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
"I watched you sit at the table like a ghost"
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" quiet, observing , but your eyes? They were fighting a war no one else saw"
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" I wanted to 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 right then and there. "
Her throat dried with his unexpected words
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" you think this rules will keep me away, 𝙢𝙞 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙤𝙨𝙖 "
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" but you're wrong. They'll only make me go hungry "
VIVIAN REYES
" if the contract is broken, then it's off "
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" Keep the job, public affection only alright, stay out of your business alright "
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" I don't blame you "
he added his tone softening
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" they used you, your family, you have been invisible so long, you don't know what's like to be seen "
Vivian's walls cracked slightly
he reached for his own, signed the paper and pushed it towards her
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" you want control , you got it, but know this - "
he leaned in, his voice a velvet warning
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" you will be mine and when that moment comes, when you ask me to touch you.... I'll make sure you never forget who you married "
Vivian gripped the edge of the table her mind screamed to stand , run and to scream no but her body was
in listened in stunned silence
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