Ruthless Billionaire, Reluctant Bride

ch. She swallowed the lump in her throat as Dominic pulled away, his expression impa

nse. He offered his arm to Lila, and she hesitated only for a second before slipping

said quietly, his vo

an-this stranger. The air outside was cool, a stark contrast to the warmth of the sun, and the sounds of the bustling city g

Dominic didn't say a word as he helped her into the backseat before climbing in beside

numb, her mind struggling to process the enormity of what had just happened. The man sitting next to her was

silence. His voice was calm, detached. "We have an appearan

gaze still fixed on the pa

orcing just how transactional this marriage was. She wasn't his wife in a

more exclusive area. The houses here were enormous, their sprawling lawns and gated entrances screaming of wealth and privi

pened the door and stepped out, waiting for her to follow. Lila took a deep breath and climbed

immaculate, the sharp angles of the furniture and the minimalist décor creating a space that f

through the grand foyer and into a spacious living room. He stopped in

e said simply. "You'll hav

esigner furniture, the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the perfectly man

d quietly, not knowi

mething-something deeper than the cold detachment he always wore. But it was gone as q

le for tomorrow," he said, already turning

oom, disappearing down the h

ficult, that it wouldn't be like the fairy tales she had once dreamed of, but she hadn't anticipated just how isolating it would feel. Th

rt. The rooms were beautiful, yes, but they were also lifeless. There were no personal touches, no signs that anyone act

risp white sheets awaited her. A gown for the gala tomorrow was already laid

over her. She had no idea what her future with Dominic would hold, but o

reality pressed down on her, and for the first time since agreeing to this marriage, Lila allowed herself to cry. The

he had married who saw her as nothing more than a tool in his plan for revenge. She cried for th

yes and forced herself to sit up, determined not to let the despair consume

the last light of the day casting a soft glow over the landscape. In the

he had to find a way to endure it. She would play the role she had agr