He Wanted an AI Bride Swap? Surprise, I Swapped Husbands for Real! Chapter 01

I was a leading beauty influencer with more than ten million followers across social media.

But over the past six months, I’d gone from about 99 pounds to 143 pounds for no apparent reason.

To lose weight, I once tried going seven days on nothing but water. I ended up in the hospital with hypoglycemic shock.

My boyfriend, Damian Cross, looked at me with reddened eyes, heartbroken over what I was going through. Every day, he made me a different low-calorie soup.

But I kept swelling up like a balloon.

The day of our wedding photo shoot, Damian’s childhood friend, Sienna Blake, was livestreaming.

The moment I tried to zip up, the wedding dress burst open.

The comments flooded with mockery. They called me a fat pig. Said I didn’t deserve to wear a wedding dress.

Damian gently guided Sienna in front of the camera. “Sienna, try on the dress and stand in for her. We’ll use AI to swap in her face during postproduction.”

I hid in the changing room, humiliated. Then I overheard the two of them talking outside the door.

Sienna giggled. “It’s been so long. She still hasn’t figured out you’ve been slipping corticosteroids into her meals?”

Damian sounded unconcerned. “She draws too much attention with that face. Putting on some weight will knock her down a peg and help with your insecurities about your own looks.”

My blood ran cold.

So, to him, my suffering was nothing more than a way to put me in my place and soothe someone else’s insecurities.

I wiped my tears and called my childhood friend.

“City Hall in three days. I need a groom. You in?”

…

“See you at City Hall in three days. Dress nice.”

I clutched my phone. My cold fingertips finally felt a little warmth.

The changing room door swung open. Damian walked in.

His eyes landed on the busted zipper. Then he pulled my fallen wrap back into place.

“You saw what happened.” His voice was gentle. “The wedding will be livestreamed. The guests and the press will all be watching. If you go up like this, you’ll only humiliate yourself.”

He looked at me. Paused.

“Sienna and I talked. Let her walk down the aisle in your place.”

I smiled faintly.

“Damian. Do you remember what you said when you proposed?”

That day, he’d knelt on the beach, fireworks lighting up his eyes. Holding my hand, he’d promised I’d wear the most beautiful wedding dress, marry him in a grand ceremony, and receive everyone’s blessings.

Damian loosened his tie.

“It’s only temporary. She’ll take your place in front of the cameras. You’ll still be the one marrying me on paper. Once you’ve recovered, I’ll give you the real wedding you deserve.”

My fingers curled tight.

His patience thinned.

“Elara, don’t make such a big deal out of a ceremony. You’ll still be Mrs. Cross. It doesn’t matter who walks down the aisle.”

I looked at the man I’d loved for three years. My chest tightened. It was hard to breathe.

“Whatever.”

Damian frowned.

“Don’t be difficult.”

“Your parents — I’ve handled them too.” He held his phone out to me.

“The money’s transferred. They won’t cause trouble on the wedding day. You rest backstage. After the ceremony, we’ll go straight to the toasts.”

That sentence hit me hard.

My parents showed up at my company and apartment every few weeks, demanding tens of thousands each time.

Every time, Damian stepped in and dealt with them.

That’s why I’d put up with his controlling behavior and his blatant favoritism toward Sienna.

Now I finally understood. It had all been a way to keep me under his thumb.

“I understand.”

I grabbed my coat and walked out.

“Where are you going?”

Damian took two steps after me. Then Sienna’s voice came from behind.

“Damian, the main dress needs more alterations. My waist is way thinner than hers.”

Damian stopped.

I didn’t look back. I only heard him turn toward Sienna, his voice soft again.

“Okay. Whatever you want.”

I gripped my coat, pushed the studio door open, and walked faster.

*****