The man appeared restless, checking his phone several times, reading the text message Aaron had sent him regarding the arranged marriage between his daughter, Sofia, and William Green.

"You must marry him, Sofia, Please," Mr. James, the owner of the house, shouted, his voice echoing through the living room.

Sofia took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. She knew the man she was being forced to marry—William Green, a ruthless CEO notorious for his brutal tactics and fearsome influence.

"But, Dad... I don't want to. He's not the right man for me," Sofia protested weakly, her voice trembling. "I already have a boyfriend. How can I marry him and abandon my boyfriend? No way!"

Mr. James stared at his daughter, his gaze so cold. "You have no choice, Sofia. Our family business is at risk. We need to maintain good relations with his family, or we'll lose everything. Besides, he's one of the most successful businessmen in the country now. You'd be a fool not to marry him."

"No, Dad. He's not a good man. I'm scared of him," Sofia whispered, her eyes filled with fear. "Even women from wealthy families wouldn't marry someone like him. How can you sacrifice me, your beautiful daughter?"

Mr. James shook his head firmly. "This is business, Sofia. Sometimes, we have to do things we don't want to." He stepped closer, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You have a month to prepare. I'll buy you whatever you need."

Despair washed over Sofia. She knelt before her father, pleading for mercy. But his gaze remained cold, unwavering.

She had never met William Green, but the rumors about him were enough to make her adamant in refusing the marriage. She didn't want to marry, let alone a man known for treating women cruelly.

"It's pointless, Sofia. He doesn't need love; he wants your body!" Mr. James thundered. "You must help me save the family business!"

Tears filled Sofia's eyes as she struggled with an internal battle. Marrying such a man meant sacrificing everything she believed in. But rejecting the marriage would destroy everything her family had worked for.

"What should I do? I don't want to marry him," Sofia thought desperately.

"Marry him. It's the best option," her father insisted.

Sofia's heart sank as her father's pressure weighed down on her. She felt trapped, suffocated by the expectations placed upon her.

In her desperation, an idea crossed her mind. "Dad, not me. Why not use someone else?" she pleaded, her voice trembling.

Mr. James' expression remained unyielding. "No, Sofia. Who else could take your place? Your younger siblings are still children. As the eldest, this is your sacrifice to make."

Her father's words deepened her despair. Anger surged within her. How could he be so indifferent to her feelings?

Before she could argue further, the sound of breaking glass shattered the tension in the room. All eyes turned toward the source of the noise. A maid stood trembling, trying to pick up a broken glass.

"What are you doing?!" Mr. James roared, his voice filled with irritation. "You're here to serve, not to cause chaos!"

The maid quickly bowed, apologizing. "S-sorry, sir!" she stammered as she backed out of the room.

An idea sparked in Sofia's mind. Why should she be the one to sacrifice her happiness? Why not let someone else bear the burden of pleasing the ruthless CEO? Perhaps... the maid?

A sly smile tugged at Sofia's lips as the thought took hold. "Her... I could use her."

Sofia looked at her father with newfound determination. "Dad, what if we have the maid marry him in my place?" she suggested, her voice trembling but bold.

Mr. James stared at Sofia, shocked. "What are you talking about?"

Straightening her posture, Sofia quickly explained her plan. "We can make the maid look like me. She'll dress and be made up to pass for me. He won't notice, and we'll solve the problem without me having to sacrifice my life."

Her father shook his head skeptically. "That's too risky. We can't trust a stranger with something this important."

Sofia retorted sharply, "What's the difference between forcing me to marry a man I don't love and this? At least this gives me a chance to find another way out without ruining my life."

Mr. James sighed heavily, seeing the sadness in his daughter's eyes. His heart softened. He rubbed his face in frustration and glanced at the maid. Maybe he could let her take the risk. After all, with the benefits at stake, he could always find another young woman in the future.

***

"In a month, you will leave this house and marry William in Sofia's place. You are now officially adopted into this family, so you must repay us by fulfilling this duty," Mr. James declared that evening. After hours of negotiation, Sofia had convinced her father to let the maid take her place.

The maid, Jenny, stood nervously before Mr. James' desk, uncertain of the consequences of his command.

"Sir, I... I'm not sure I can do this," she said hesitantly.

Mr. James gave her a stern look. "You have to do it, Jenny. This is an order."

Jenny swallowed hard, glancing at Sofia, who stood behind her father. Sofia gave a small smile and stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on Jenny's shoulder. "Jenny, wouldn't it be better to be the wife of a CEO than to remain my father's mistress? Even if he's feared, isn't being a wife more honorable than being a concubine?"

Jenny hesitated, memories of her harsh past flooding her mind. She remembered the struggles of living on the streets, scavenging for food to survive, and the fear of being sold into servitude, enduring years of abuse while trying to protect her dignity.

Sometimes, she also had to endure violence from the mistress, Luna, the wife of James, whenever any man tried to show interest in her. Jenny, of course, was deeply tortured, punished for something she didn't do.

With a firm resolve, Jenny finally nodded, accepting the role. Whether it led to heaven or hell, she had no choice but to follow through.

"Fine. I'll do it," Jenny said, her voice steady despite her pounding heart filled with fear and determination.

Sofia sighed in relief as she saw Jenny agree. "See, Daddy? She's willing to do it," she said, though her smile faded as her father's reluctance remained.

"But … I think this will fail, Sofia. It will all come to light. She doesn't even carry herself like you. They'll suspect we just picked her up to pretend she's part of our family. What if they feel insulted when we present a maid as my beautiful daughter?" Mr. James scoffed.

"Darling!" Erika, Mr. James' wife, who had been watching uneasily, snapped angrily. "You can't say that! Sofia is far more valuable than she is. That's why we have to send her. They didn't say it had to be a biological child, just someone legally considered ours. And by law, she's our adopted daughter, so there won't be any issues."

"But this is risky, Erika. If it fails, our business will be ruined," Mr. James argued, though his true concern was his reluctance to let Jenny go.

Who could resist? Jenny had a certain charm. Her tall, slender figure and striking beauty, even without the pampering that Sofia and Erika enjoyed, were enough to tempt anyone. Her light blue eyes were as calm as the ocean, and her thin, sensual lips often made Mr. James imagine things he shouldn't.

"Exactly why we need to train her to fit the role. Jenny can be molded to resemble our precious daughter," Erika said.

Sofia saw an opportunity in her mother's suggestion and quickly agreed. "Mom's right, Dad," she said firmly. "I'll train her to be perfect like me. Well... she won't ever be as perfect as I am, of course."

Mr. James frowned thoughtfully but eventually nodded in agreement. "Fine, do whatever you want. But remember, this is a big deal. Make sure she doesn't get caught!"

With her parents' approval, Sofia turned to Jenny with a smile. "Come on, Jenny. Be a good girl."

***

With patience, Sofia taught Jenny everything she needed to know to act like a wealthy heiress. They practiced how to sit gracefully, walk confidently, eat politely, and speak elegantly. Sofia also introduced Jenny to fashion and makeup, making sure she looked perfect.

The day came. Jenny sat in her room, preparing to leave for the groom's house. She was alone, as the groom had specifically requested. Her things were packed, but doubts lingered in her mind.

"Miss Sofia," she asked nervously, "what if they find out?"

Sofia approached with a reassuring smile. "That won't happen. He's never met me, so he won't know what I look like. You've learned everything well, and I'm sure you'll pull this off."

Jenny felt a bit better, but her worries returned. "But what if he finds out about you?"

Sofia thought for a moment. "If that happens, tell him I'm very ill and that you're my illegitimate sister, sent to take my place. He won't question you."

"Um... but..." Jenny hesitated.

Sofia's smile disappeared, replaced by a cold look. "You will be his wife. If you fail, do whatever it takes to make him accept you. If you come back here and he demands me again, then... you'll die."

Jenny froze, biting her lip as she clutched the wedding dress. Sofia's smirk sent a shiver down her spine.

***

Jenny sat nervously in the wedding car, her eyes shaking as she looked at the grand streets and luxurious buildings around her. The wealth of the city's elite seemed so far removed from her own simple life, reminding her of her past struggles. Fear gripped her heart, especially after hearing stories from a former colleague about the cruelty of her soon-to-be husband. The tales of his violent past haunted her, making her feel like her life was in danger.

"Master William doesn't play around," her friend had warned. "They say he was once a mafia boss, and he's killed many people." Jenny shivered, knowing she had no choice but to follow Sofia's orders if she wanted to survive. She clung to the hope that their plan would protect her from harm.

Meanwhile, inside the mansion, William stood on the second floor, watching the car pull into the driveway. He clicked his tongue, annoyed. "Finally," he muttered with a sinister smirk.

William, a CEO with a notorious past, looked at the black sedan parked below. He sighed, frustration evident in his voice. "I never expected Aaron to force me into this. He gave me a company, a house, and now a wife." He shook his head. "It's too much."

He had always avoided this reality, but now it seemed unavoidable. "It's like he's trying to tie me down to his family name when all I want is peace." He glanced back at the car, feeling the weight of Aaron's expectations pressing on him. Turning away from the window, he paced the plush carpet, his thoughts swirling.

"A wife... such a hassle. Why don't you take her yourself, Aaron?" William muttered, frustrated. The idea of being tied to someone, of losing his freedom, felt suffocating. But deep down, he knew he couldn't refuse Aaron's request. To do so would be a betrayal, and that was something William couldn't do.

With a resigned sigh, William straightened himself and headed downstairs, ready to face what awaited him. Despite his unease about marrying a stranger chosen by Aaron, he knew he had to face it, just like he had faced every challenge before. "She's just a spoiled heiress; she won't be able to kill me," he told himself.