THE BILLIONAIRE'S BARGAIN

he aisles of St. Matthew's Church. Catherine stood at the edge of the grand entryway, her breath shal

father's words from the night before ec

ve to understand-"

e had shouted, fury and disb

e had been etched

g what I

estroying

ou," he said thro

h had be

e to Richard Lawrence? What

ay to keep you s

but Daniel had turned awa

e never chose, the weight of his betrayal pressed d

s soft voice broke t

her, elegant in a pale blue dress. Her mother's f

ice?" Catherine'

pressed int

es, but some come

therine snapped. "You sto

linched but

A hush fell over the guests as Catherine stepped forward, her father beside he

h this," Daniel whispered as they

's steps

ha

really can't do this," he sa

torn between desper

that? After

rine,

keeping her voice low. "

n her arm

walk

untless guests bored into her, their faces blending into a blur of silk

oad-shouldered, and exuding an air of unshakable authority. His tailored black suit clun

steps falt

niel muttered thro

the polished marble floor. When they finally reached the altar, Daniel released her

was unreadable, but h

utiful," he s

ed herself to

an be de

rled into a

dee

ine barely registered the words. Her min

nce to be your lawfully wedded husband?" Th

whose face remained a mask of stoic determination. Her mother sa

no one t

er voice

e bore into h

, the words tasting l

t turned

take Catherine Park to be

firmly, his voice s

's heart

n me, I now pronounce

, but Catherine barely heard it.

rushing her ear. "Smile, Cath

ips curved into a hollow smile, bu

m, possessive. Catherine's heart raced as the weight of her father's

he could think was that this was only the

crowd. Friends from school, acquaintances from her parents' social circle, and even a

t the back of the church, his eyes locked onto hers with a fierce intensity. For a

ned, and she was forced to look away,

congratulations and well-wishes. She smiled and laughed and played the p

Remember, Catherine, you're mine now. You'll do

y the part of the obedient wife. For now, at least, she was trapped in this ni

mpagne toasts. Catherine went through the motions, smi

and resentment. She was trapped, caught in a w

ore and more desperate. She needed a way out, a way to

orced to play the part of the happy bri