Aria Austin Ford NovelMy Wedding Plan Was a Trap, So I Became Another Man's Bride.

A video of my boyfriend slow dancing with his secretary at a private charity gala went viral overnight.
Not a normal dancethe kind where his hand rested on her waist like it belonged there.
The secretary even posted a public confession:
Ive waited years for the man I love to choose me. Tonight he finally did.
The comments section exploded:
Im dyingthis chemistry is insane!
They look like theyve been secretly in love forever!
I didnt cry.
I didnt scream.
I simply locked my phone and went to find him.
Thats when I overheard him talking to a friend behind the stairwell.
What was I supposed to do? Her familys pushing her into an arranged marriage. If I dont step in, shell be miserable.
And Aria? Youve been dating her for years.
She wont leave. Seven years is too long for her to walk away now.
Fast forward to our wedding day.
Yesour wedding day.
On the same morning he was marrying his secretary,
I was slipping into my own wedding dress for someone else.
Our wedding cars passed on the road.
As tradition, the brides exchanged bouquets through the open windows.
The moment he saw my face behind the veil
saw me in white
his expression collapsed completely.



Mom, Ive decided to go through with the arranged marriage.
In the dimly lit living room, my voice sounded distant and numb, like it didnt even belong to me.
Hearing my sudden change of heart, my mom was stunned. You werent willing before. Why the sudden change? Aria, marriage isnt a joke. It doesnt matter whether its arranged or notwhat matters is that youre happy. You need to think this through. Dont rush into it.
Her words made my chest tighten, and for a moment, my eyes stung with tears.
Mom, Ive thought it through. You can start planning the wedding.
Mom mustve sensed how I felt because she paused for a second before softly reassuring me:
Youve been with Austin for so long, and he still wont go public with your relationship. He hasnt even agreed to meet us. Your dad and I have known for a while that things wouldnt last between you two.
Her words felt like a knife twisting in my chest.
It turns out that everyone on the outside could see the truth so clearly. The only fool here was me.
The Ford boy is someone your dad and I carefully picked for you years ago. We made sure hes a good match. Not only is he from a solid family, but hes also a man of great character. Aria, you deserve the best.
I took a deep breath. Thanks, Mom. I trust you and Dads judgment.
Mom continued, Do you want us to arrange a meeting with him in the next few days?
Theres no need. Just go ahead and plan the wedding.

After I hung up the phone, I realized Austin had appeared behind me at some point, holding a small cake. He looked confused.
A wedding? Whos getting married?
I am. Im the one whos getting married.
I answered him silently in my heart, but the words never left my lips.
Instead, I kept my expression calm and shook my head. No one. Just a friend.
As soon as I said that, I noticed the tension in his shoulders ease. His face relaxed noticeably, and it made my heart ache all over again.
Was he nervous because he thought I was going to pressure him into marrying me? Or was it because he thought Id found out about him and Aria, his perfect secretary, and assumed they were the ones getting married?
I brought you your favorite cake from that bakery you love. Want to eat it now? he asked.
There was a time when Austin would bring me little treats after worksnacks and desserts he thought Id enjoy.
Even if I didnt always like them, the thoughtfulness of it made me feel like I was floating in a sugary dream. I felt cherished, loved, remembered.
But now, as I stared at the cake in his hands, all I felt was bitter irony.
Not long ago, Id stumbled across Arias newly public social media posts.
I couldnt bring myself to scroll far because just a few entries in, the truth hit me like a slap in the face.
This cake wasnt for me. It was Arias favorite.