Eleanor's breath caught in her throat. The woman standing under the dim auction lights was like a mirror image of herself—same delicate features, same sharp jawline, even the same stormy gray eyes that had always set her apart. But there was one difference.
This woman carried an air of calculated coldness, a chilling presence that sent a shiver down Eleanor's spine.
Murmurs erupted through the hall, the elite crowd whispering theories and speculations. But Eleanor's mind was too numb to process any of them.
Alexander had just bought a woman who looked exactly like her.
And he had paid two billion dollars for her.
She turned sharply toward him, her voice low but edged with steel. "What the hell is going on?"
Alexander's expression was unreadable. "We'll talk later."
"No." Eleanor grabbed his wrist, ignoring the way Sebastian raised an eyebrow at her defiance. "You don't get to pull this cryptic bullshit with me. Who is she?"
Alexander's jaw clenched, but before he could answer, the auctioneer's voice cut through the tension.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome—" He hesitated, glancing at the woman as if waiting for her confirmation. She tilted her chin up slightly and spoke for herself.
"Isla."
A single name. Nothing more.
Eleanor narrowed her eyes. Isla. Who was she really?
Lucian Vale, still seated across from them, watched the scene unfold with an infuriating smirk. He raised his glass toward Eleanor in silent amusement before turning his attention back to Isla. There was something in his gaze—something knowing.
Alexander's grip on Eleanor's waist tightened. "We're leaving."
Eleanor wanted to protest, to demand answers right then and there, but the intensity in Alexander's eyes stopped her. This wasn't the time or place. Too many eyes. Too many threats lurking in the shadows.
Sebastian let out a low whistle as they walked away. "You do know how to make an evening interesting, brother."
Alexander ignored him.
As they left the grand auction hall, Eleanor cast one last glance over her shoulder.
Isla stood motionless, her piercing gaze locked onto her.
And for the first time in a long time, Eleanor felt a strange, unshakable sense of dread.
---
The Blackthorne Mansion – Midnight
The moment they reached Alexander's private wing, Eleanor turned on him.
"Talk. Now."
Alexander sighed, removing his cufflinks with deliberate slowness. "You should get some rest, Eleanor."
"Don't you dare dismiss me!" she snapped, stepping in front of him. "I deserve to know who she is and why the hell she looks exactly like me."
Alexander's expression darkened. "Because she was meant to replace you."
Silence.
Eleanor stared at him, her heart pounding. "What?"
Sebastian leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "This is where it gets interesting."
Alexander exhaled sharply. "Isla was part of a plan. A contingency."
"A contingency for what?" Eleanor demanded.
Alexander met her gaze. "For if you ever became… disposable."
The air left Eleanor's lungs.
Disposable.
The word echoed in her mind, colder than any winter night.
She took a step back. "So, what? She's my replacement? A body double in case I become inconvenient?"
Alexander's eyes darkened. "It wasn't my plan."
"But you knew." Eleanor's voice was barely above a whisper now, laced with hurt. "You knew there was a version of me waiting in the shadows, ready to take my place if I didn't play by your rules."
Alexander's silence was answer enough.
Eleanor let out a hollow laugh, shaking her head. "Unbelievable."
Sebastian finally spoke up, his tone lighter but carrying an edge. "To be fair, Ellie, Isla wasn't just meant to replace you. She was meant to be you."
Eleanor's blood ran cold.
"What the hell does that mean?"
Sebastian shrugged. "You're Alexander's wife. His queen. That makes you a target. If something were to happen to you, do you really think the Blackthorne empire would just accept your disappearance?"
Eleanor clenched her fists. "So instead of keeping me safe, you all just had a backup version of me?"
Alexander took a step forward, his voice low and controlled. "It wasn't my plan."
Eleanor met his gaze, searching for something—regret, remorse, anything. But Alexander Blackthorne was a fortress, his emotions locked away behind steel walls.
"So why buy her?" she whispered. "Why bring her here?"
A muscle ticked in Alexander's jaw. "Because I won't let her be used against you."
Eleanor frowned.
Alexander's voice was softer now, but no less intense. "She was created to be a weapon. And if I didn't buy her tonight, someone else would have."
Eleanor swallowed. The weight of his words sank in. Isla wasn't just her duplicate—she was a tool. And whoever had orchestrated this had plans far more sinister than she had realized.
Sebastian sighed dramatically. "Well, this has been fun, but I think I'll leave you lovebirds to your trust issues."
He strolled out, whistling to himself, leaving Eleanor and Alexander alone.
Silence stretched between them.
Finally, Eleanor broke it. "I don't know if I can trust you."
Alexander didn't flinch. "Then don't."
Eleanor blinked. She hadn't expected that response.
His voice was quiet, but firm. "You don't have to trust me, Eleanor. But you will believe me when I say that I will protect you. No matter what."
Eleanor wanted to argue, to tell him that trust and protection weren't the same thing. But the exhaustion of the night settled deep in her bones, and for now, she let it go.
She turned away. "I'm going to bed."
She didn't look back to see Alexander watching her go, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.
---
Elsewhere in the Mansion…
Isla sat in the dimly lit room, running a finger along the rim of a wine glass.
Lucian Vale stood across from her, his green eyes gleaming with amusement.
"So," he mused, "how does it feel to finally meet your other half?"
Isla smirked, lifting the glass to her lips.
"Oh, Lucian," she murmured. "This is only the beginning."
---
Next Chapter: The Game Begins
Eleanor struggles with her growing feelings for Alexander while Isla's true purpose starts to unfold. With Lucian pulling the strings from the shadows, and danger closing in, Eleanor realizes one thing—
This isn't just about survival anymore.
It's about winning.