THE WHEELCHAIR BILLIONAIRE'S WIFE

THE WHEELCHAIR BILLIONAIRE'S WIFE

CHAPTER ONE

"Tell me you're joking."

Victoria Bennett's voice rang through the dining room.

Nobody answered.

Her father sat at the head of the long dining table, his expression unusually serious. Beside him, Margaret Bennett carefully placed her teacup on its saucer.

Charlotte, who had been quietly eating her breakfast, looked up.

She had never seen her sister look so disturbed over a family announcement.

"What is going on?" Charlotte asked.

Victoria turned towards their father, ignoring her question.

"You expect me to marry a complete stranger?"

Richard Bennett sighed.

"He's not just anyone, Victoria. He's Alexander Sterling."

That name changed something in the room.

Even Charlotte recognised it.

Alexander Sterling was one of the wealthiest businessmen in Britain. His family owned hotels, luxury properties and several international companies. His name appeared regularly in business magazines, and his reputation was almost impossible to ignore.

But there was something else people talked about.

Something Charlotte had heard whispered more than once.

Alexander Sterling had been involved in a terrible accident.

And he had not walked since.

Victoria pushed her chair backwards.

"Absolutely not."

"Victoria," her mother warned.

"No, Mum. You cannot expect me to do this."

Richard's jaw tightened.

"The Sterling family has agreed to this arrangement. It will secure our business partnership and solve several financial problems we have been facing."

Victoria stared at him.

"So you want to exchange your daughter for a business deal?"

"Watch your words."

Charlotte stopped eating.

She had known the family business was struggling. She had overheard enough conversations to understand that things were not going well.

But marriage?

She had never imagined her father would go that far.

Victoria picked up her phone and handbag.

"I don't care how much money he has. I'm not marrying a man who cannot even walk."

"Victoria!" Margaret exclaimed.

"What? Am I supposed to pretend I'm happy about it?"

Charlotte lowered her eyes.

She knew her sister well enough to understand that once Victoria made up her mind, changing it was almost impossible.

Richard stood.

"Sit down."

"I'm leaving."

"Then perhaps you should understand what your decision will cost this family."

Victoria paused at the doorway.

For a moment, something uncertain crossed her face.

Then she walked out.

The sound of her heels disappeared down the hallway.

Silence settled over the dining room.

Charlotte slowly placed her spoon beside her plate.

"Dad?"

Richard didn't look at her.

"Not now, Charlotte."

"But what happens to the agreement?"

Her mother exchanged a glance with her father.

It was brief.

Almost unnoticeable.

But Charlotte caught it.

And suddenly, she wished she hadn't asked.

---

An hour later, Charlotte was called into her father's study.

She found both her parents waiting.

Her father's laptop was open on the desk, and several documents were spread across the polished wooden surface.

"Come in," he said.

Charlotte stepped inside.

"Is something wrong?"

"Sit down."

She obeyed.

Margaret sat on the sofa, twisting the ring on her finger.

Charlotte looked at the documents.

"What's all this?"

Richard closed the laptop.

"We have a problem."

Charlotte swallowed.

"With the business?"

"Among other things."

He leaned back in his chair.

"The Sterling family has made it clear that they will not withdraw from the arrangement. They expect a Bennett daughter to marry Alexander."

Charlotte frowned.

"But Victoria has refused."

"Yes."

"Then what happens?"

Her father looked directly at her.

For the first time that morning, Charlotte felt uncomfortable under his gaze.

"That's why we called you."

She glanced at her mother.

Margaret looked away.

Charlotte's fingers tightened around the armrests of her chair.

"Why?"

Richard took a slow breath.

"Because Victoria is no longer an option."

Charlotte stared at him.

She didn't understand.

Or perhaps she understood, but her mind refused to accept it.

"What does that have to do with me?"

Her father pushed a document across the desk.

Charlotte looked down.

At the top of the page were two names.

ALEXANDER STERLING

CHARLOTTE BENNETT

Her breath caught.

She looked up slowly.

"Dad..."

Richard's expression remained firm.

"Your sister has made her decision. Now, you must make yours."

Charlotte stared at the document.

Then she looked at her mother, waiting for her to say something.

Anything.

But Margaret remained silent.

And in that moment, Charlotte realised something terrible.

They weren't asking her to attend a meeting.

They weren't asking her to help the family.

They were preparing to give her away.

"You're going to marry Alexander Sterling," her father announced.

Charlotte's lips parted, but no words came out.

She had never met the man.

She didn't know what he was like.

She didn't even know whether he wanted to marry her.

Yet her future had apparently already been decided.

Then her father added one final sentence.

"Your wedding will take place in three weeks."

Charlotte looked at the document again.

Three weeks.

That was all the time she had before becoming the wife of a stranger.

And somewhere across London, Alexander Sterling had no idea that the woman he was supposed to marry had just been changed