Unwanted luck

stained-glass windows, casting colored patterns across the marble floor, but the warmth of the light did nothing to calm her racing heart. From beyond the thick, oak door, the mu

een arranged as part of a strategic deal to merge their father's company, Hartwell Industries, with Christopher's global empire, Reynolds Enterprises. Their father, Daniel Hartwell, had worked his entire life to bring the company to the pinnacle of success, but recent financial setbacks had put them in a precarious position. The marriage would save everything. Or at least, that was the plan. Jillian couldn't shake the irony of it all. Emily, the golden child, had agreed to the marriage without protest, seemingly as committed to their family's future as anyone else. But now, at the eleventh hour, she had disappeared, leaving the rest of them scrambling for answers. As if on cue, her father, Daniel Hartwell, entered the room, his jaw clenched and eyes filled with frustration. He was a tall man, his hair graying at the temples, but his presence always commanded attention. Today, however, there was a weariness in his face that Jillian hadn't seen before. "Still no word from Emily?" he asked, though he already knew the answer. "No," Charlotte replied, her voice tight. "She's disappeared." Daniel ran a hand through his hair, his face darkening. "This isn't just a family embarrassment; this is a disaster. We can't afford this. Not now. If the Reynolds family thinks we've backed out of the arrangement, if Christopher walks away-" He broke off, clearly struggling to contain his frustration. The door opened again, this time revealing Christopher's mother, Eleanor Reynolds, a regal woman with sharp features and cold blue eyes. She stepped into the room, her gaze assessing the situation quickly. "We have a problem," she said bluntly, her voice crisp. "The guests are waiting, and Christopher doesn't know what's going on. This wedding needs to happen, today." Jillian felt her stomach drop at the commanding tone in Eleanor's voice. There was no room for negotiation or delay. The entire day had been engineered for this purpose: to unite two families and seal the deal that would save Hartwell Industries. There w