WE CAME FOR MONEY NOT LOVE

"If I ever become poor in my next life, please remind me to marry a billionaire."

Maya said this while lying upside down on her bed, scrolling through pictures of expensive houses on her phone.

Zoe, who was sitting beside her with a packet of biscuits, looked at her like she had just announced something ridiculous.

"Your next life? What makes you think you'll survive this one with the way you spend money?"

Maya lifted her head.

"Excuse me. I'm not a poor spender. I'm a woman with expensive taste and limited financial resources."

"That's another way of saying you're broke."

"Zoe, friendship is supposed to involve support."

"I'm supporting you by telling you the truth."

Maya threw a pillow at her.

Zoe caught it and laughed.

It was a normal evening for the two best friends. They had been sharing an apartment for almost two years, and somehow, despite their different personalities, they had managed to remain friends.

Maya was dramatic, stubborn and always dreaming about a luxurious life.

Zoe was more practical, although her mouth could be just as dangerous.

Both had one thing in common.

They wanted money.

Not the kind that could only buy lunch and transport fare. They wanted the kind that came with beautiful houses, expensive cars, shopping without checking price tags and vacations where nobody asked them to share hotel rooms.

"Imagine marrying a billionaire," Maya said dreamily.

Zoe shook her head.

"I would rather marry a man who knows how to cook."

"That's because you lack ambition."

"I have ambition. I just don't want to spend my life arguing with a man who thinks he owns the world."

Maya sat up.

"Then marry his younger brother. Problem solved."

Zoe threw a biscuit at her.

"You're impossible."

Maya laughed before reaching for her laptop.

"Anyway, I found something interesting."

"Please tell me it's not another way to make money online."

"It's a novel."

Zoe groaned.

"Of course."

"Listen! It's called The Billionaire Brothers' Brides. Two rich brothers, arranged marriages, two women, family drama and enough money to make us forget our problems."

"Sounds like your dream life."

"Exactly."

Maya turned the laptop towards her.

The cover showed two handsome men in expensive suits standing in front of a magnificent mansion.

Zoe leaned closer.

"Okay, they're not bad-looking."

"Not bad-looking? Girl, one of them looks like he was personally designed by the universe."

"Which one?"

"The one on the left."

Zoe studied the cover.

"He's probably arrogant."

"How do you know?"

"Look at his face. He looks like he would charge someone for breathing his air."

Maya burst into laughter.

"You're just jealous."

"Read the story before you start planning your wedding."

Maya clicked on the novel.

They had barely reached the first chapter when Zoe noticed something.

"Wait. What does that mean?"

"What?"

"Read that part."

Maya scrolled back.

The opening paragraph introduced Adrian and Ethan Blackwood, two billionaire brothers whose grandfather had arranged marriages for them.

Adrian was the older brother. Cold, controlling and completely uninterested in marriage.

Ethan was the younger one. Charming, careless and famous for turning every serious situation into a joke.

Their grandfather had given them an ultimatum.

They would either accept the brides he had chosen or lose their inheritance and their positions in the family company.

Maya whistled.

"Now that's a serious grandfather."

Zoe continued reading.

"Wait. The brides are called Amelia and Sophia."

"Yes."

"And they're supposed to marry the brothers?"

"Apparently."

Zoe leaned back.

"I already feel sorry for those women."

Maya laughed.

"Why? They're marrying billionaires."

"Because money doesn't make a difficult husband easy to live with."

Maya ignored her and continued reading.

They read for almost an hour.

The story was entertaining, although Maya kept complaining about Adrian's attitude while Zoe found Ethan's jokes irritatingly funny.

Eventually, Maya yawned.

"I'm tired."

"Then close the laptop."

"Just one more chapter."

"You said that four chapters ago."

"Do you want to know what happens or not?"

Zoe grabbed another biscuit.

"Fine. Continue."

Maya clicked the next chapter.

But instead of opening, the screen suddenly went black.

"Seriously?" Maya complained. "Not now!"

Zoe leaned forward.

"Did your laptop die?"

"No. It's fully charged."

The screen flickered.

A line of white words appeared.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO CHANGE THE STORY?

Both women stared.

Zoe slowly lowered her biscuit.

"Please tell me that's an advertisement."

Maya blinked.

"Maybe it's some new reading feature."

Another message appeared.

TWO NEW CHARACTERS HAVE BEEN SELECTED.

Zoe stood up.

"Nope."

Maya looked at her.

"What?"

"I'm not interested. Close it."

"I didn't even click anything!"

The screen flickered again.

WELCOME TO YOUR NEW STORY.

A bright flash filled the room.

Maya screamed.

Zoe screamed louder.

And then everything went dark.

---

The first thing Maya noticed was the smell.

Expensive perfume.

The second thing was the bed.

It was enormous.

The third thing was the ceiling.

There was a beautiful chandelier hanging above her.

Maya slowly opened her eyes.

"Zoe?"

No answer.

She sat up.

The room looked nothing like their apartment. There were enormous windows, cream-coloured curtains, a dressing table and a wardrobe that looked bigger than their entire living room.

Maya stared.

"Okay..."

She looked down at herself.

She was wearing a silky nightdress.

That was strange.

Very strange.

"Zoe!"

A groan came from somewhere nearby.

"Why are you shouting? My head is already doing enough shouting."

Zoe sat up from the other side of the bed.

Her eyes widened.

She looked around the room.

Then she looked at Maya.

Then back at the room.

"Where are we?"

Maya swallowed.

"I don't know."

Zoe climbed out of bed and rushed towards the mirror.

She stopped.

Her mouth fell open.

"Why do I look like someone who has a personal makeup artist?"

Maya joined her.

They stared at their reflections.

Their faces were the same, but their clothes, hair and surroundings were completely different.

Zoe turned around.

"Did we get kidnapped by rich people?"

Maya looked around the room again.

"If this is kidnapping, I think we should remain calm."

"Maya!"

"What? At least the kidnappers have good taste."

Before Zoe could reply, the bedroom door opened.

A middle-aged woman entered, carrying two elegant dresses.

"Good morning, ladies. The Blackwood family is expecting you downstairs."

Maya froze.

Zoe slowly turned towards her.

"Did she just say Blackwood?"

The woman frowned.

"Yes, Miss Maya. Is something wrong?"

Maya's heart began beating faster.

She looked at Zoe.

Zoe looked at her.

Neither said anything.

Then Maya asked the question she was afraid to ask.

"What is today's date?"

The woman gave her a confused look.

"It's June 14th, Miss."

Maya shook her head.

"No, I mean the year."

"2026, of course."

Maya grabbed Zoe's arm.

"Zoe..."

"What?"

"We're in the novel."

Zoe stared at her.

Then she slowly sat down on the edge of the bed.

"No."

Maya nodded.

"Yes."

"No, Maya. Absolutely not."

"I think-"

"Don't think! Find a way to wake us up!"

The woman looked between them.

"Are you both feeling unwell?"

Maya forced a smile.

"No, we're perfectly fine."

Zoe turned to her.

"Speak for yourself. I think my brain has resigned."

The woman placed the dresses on the bed.

"Please hurry. Mr. Adrian and Mr. Ethan are waiting. Your engagement announcement will be made this morning."

Silence.

Maya blinked.

Zoe blinked.

Then both women spoke at the same time.

"ENGAGEMENT?"

The woman nodded.

"Yes. Your marriages to the Blackwood brothers will be announced today."

Maya slowly turned towards Zoe.

Zoe looked like she was about to faint.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

Then Zoe whispered, "Please tell me we're not the brides."

Maya swallowed.

"I think we are."

Zoe closed her eyes.

"Of all the novels in the world, why did we have to enter the one with arranged marriages?"

Maya looked at the expensive dresses.

Then at the enormous room.

Then at the beautiful jewellery sitting on the dressing table.

Her expression slowly changed.

"Wait a minute."

Zoe opened one eye.

"What?"

Maya picked up a diamond necklace.

"We're in a billionaire novel."

Zoe stared at her.

"And?"

Maya smiled.

"Have you seen the size of this necklace?"

Zoe grabbed her hand.

"Don't you dare get distracted by jewellery! We need to find a way home!"

Before Maya could answer, the woman spoke again.

"One more thing, ladies."

Both turned.

"Mr. Adrian has specifically requested that his future wife understands one rule before the wedding."

Maya raised an eyebrow.

"What rule?"

The woman hesitated.

"Mr. Adrian does not intend to share his personal space, and he expects his marriage to remain strictly formal."

Maya stared.

Then she laughed.

"Perfect. I don't intend to share mine either."

Zoe shook her head.

"You're already negotiating with a fictional man."

But their laughter stopped when the woman added one final sentence.

"Also, Mr. Ethan would like to know whether his future wife is always this loud."

Zoe's mouth dropped open.

"Excuse me?"

The woman smiled politely.

"He's downstairs."

Maya slowly turned towards her best friend.

"Congratulations, Mrs. Blackwood."

Zoe picked up a pillow and threw it at her.

"I HATE YOU!"

And somewhere downstairs, two billionaire brothers were about to meet the two women who would turn their carefully controlled lives upside down.

Neither brother knew what was coming.

Neither did the girls.

But one thing was certain.

The original story was about to have a very serious problem.