1 Chapter 1: The Wrong Chapel

"Lucas, please know that I understand how big of an undertaking this is and that it could even put you at risk should we be discovered… so if you choose to back out now, I would completely understand." Hannah Grace stared at the text she sent to Lucas 2 hours ago. The message was still marked unread and she realized now that he may be having cold feet. After all, a marriage, even of convenience is no small endeavor. They would have to lie to friends and to the authorities and to everyone except themselves. He wouldn't be able to freely date girls and… oh god, she had not even thought about that. How could she bind her best friend to a life-long lie that would most likely lead to him growing old alone? Now, perhaps, she too may be having cold feet. Getting the American dream and being able to provide for her family back home wouldn't be worth tying someone's life into hers, was it? Not even if it was her best friend.

They've known each other for only the three years since she started working in New York but their friendship clicked so quickly and naturally that it almost felt like they've known each other their whole lives. He was American but lived most of his life in Australia. After moving back to New York with his family, he felt as foreign to the place as she did. They found kindred spirits in each other's shared misery—and then the rest was history. He introduced her to his family, and she was often invited to their family events and vacations. Meanwhile, her family back home knew all about him since he was almost always with her when they dropped for a call.

As she stood in front of the pristine white chapel in her cream white dress, she felt almost sick with how impure she felt. How was she willing to do this? For her family? For her dreams? The fact that the marriage only benefited her made her believe more that Lucas realized the same and was now halfway across the state or maybe even the globe to get away from her. She started fidgeting with the skirt of her dress as she tried to decide whether to wait another two more hours or if she should just give up now.

However, like some sort of divine intervention, a handsome man who looked about her age but dressed impeccably way better in his dashing black suit and tie, asked her, "Are you Hannah Grace?"

For a moment, she wondered who he was and how he knew her. However his impatient demeanor somehow had her quickly answering, "Yes, yes! That's right. I am Hannah Grace." At that, he looked her up and down, inspecting every fine detail about her— from her modest sandals to her knee-length flowy cream white dress, her bare neck, her classic pearl earrings, her long black hair that cascaded down long enough to hide the fact that her dress had a low cut at the back and finally her hazel brown eyes that glowed almost amber when the sunlight hit it right. His gaze unnerved her and at the same time flattered her because of the subtle approving nod he made.

"Not bad," he said before taking her hand and walking towards the chapel, forcing her to trudge alongside him. Was he Lucas's friend? Was Lucas already waiting inside after all? Then why'd he send a friend to fetch her instead of him? It didn't matter to her now though. She was just glad he didn't stride off into the sunset without even letting her know. He was here now. She will be okay. They will be okay— they always are, when they are together. A smile found its way on her lips as she let the tension and stress glide away from her body. The man turned around just in time to catch her smile. It brought his pace into a halt and she wondered if something was wrong.

"No, nothing." He said gruffly. "I just don't think I have introduced myself to you yet, Hannah Grace." Her name slipped off his tongue like honey on her favorite morning pancakes. She wondered if it was his low crisp voice that made the contrast of the soft vowels of her name on his lips made it sound so sweet and savory. Like she could be the soft filling while he…

Ahh! She tried to stop her thoughts from straying further than that. This was not the time nor place to be thinking about such things. She was in a freaking Chapel, for heaven's sake! And about to get married to someone else at that!

"Um, right. I didn't catch your name. How do you know me though…?" She let her question hang as a smirk emerged from his lips.

Huh. So he could smile like that. Is it possible to describe teeth as gorgeous because he had this smile that should be on a freaking toothpaste ad.

"My name's Archer Easton." He held out his hand to her and she accepted his firm handshake. It was quite odd to be shaking someone's hand inside a Chapel, like they were making some unholy business transaction of sorts instead of just exchanging pleasantries between strangers.

"As for your question… no, I don't. It isn't a problem for me though. Hopefully, the same goes for you?" He arched an eyebrow at her and she found the odd question a little off-putting but she tried not to let it show.

"Uhh, no, not really."

"Great!" Taking her hand, he intertwined their fingers so casually and kissed the back of her hand. "Now, shall we get married, my lovely Hannah Grace?"

It would be only an hour later when she realizes she was standing in front of the wrong chapel after all and for Mr. Easton to realize he had just married the wrong Hannah Grace.