Billionaire Gambit

ina'

nd dust-like something beautiful

nt. Flawless. Heavy. The lace itched my skin, and the fitted bodice made it hard to breathe. M

her's ceremony.

veil and smoothing out imaginary wrinkles. They di

okstores and ran barefoot through the gardens when no one was watching. The girl wh

was

nock at

, though I alread

ker than his mood. His silver hair was neatly c

a quick scan of my dress, my face, and a nod of

d quietly, fingers

hing great," he said. "For the

my veil like a man who belie

everything cha

m-What about me? W

ady knew t

th

ame on my

," my father added, his voic

my happiness, not truly. It was always about control. Always about making sure the Sincl

Today was n

ion with an air of satisfaction. "He'll strengthen the famil

ckthorn was exactly what my father wanted. Cold, calculating, ruthless-a perfect addition to the Si

ngering on me. I felt the weight of it, the way it pressed

l stern. "Mike will be a good husband. Remember your duty,

mind. It's not about

ugh it didn't reach m

ould head to

ut paused at the door

... remember

his words biting deeper than I wanted to a

law, every lie. I reached up and touched my cheek, feeling the coolness of the diamond-studded earrings my father had insisted I wear. They were b

for the Sinclair empire. A family legacy

er wanted

or startled me out of my thoughts. I turned to fi

oftly, her hands clasped in front of h

To marry a man I hardly knew? A man

, saw me as little more t

The longer I stood here, the more I felt my world slipping away.

t's

nd down the long corridor. The walls were lined with

gh the openings. I could hear them-the guests-waiting for the huge display, the carefully prepared moment when

wasn't a union of love. It was a merger. A commercial arrang

th varied degrees of interest. Some grinned, others just observed, cold and calc

h the same cold indifference he always wore. There was no warmth, no understand

isle. The world around me appeared to fade, the sounds diminishing as I focused on each strid

. When I eventually approached him, Mike didn't smile. He didn't even glance at me. His gaze

of it. The words felt meaningless. But the pressure to go through with it, to nod

otten here? Was it possible that in the chaos of t

ioning. The ritual continued, e

it was just another item to tick off his list. When it was my turn, I did the same. I placed the ring on

s the bride," the

ps just brushing my cheek.

s clapped, and I felt the knot

gorgeous bride and a handsome husb

didn't see the cracks in the facade.

visitors mingled like they usually did-perfect, polished, and chilly. The drinks f

nce like ice beside me. He didn't tal

then, just as I thought I may break the silence,

mistake sleep

fro

opped. How d

but there was a coldness to them-

at did he mean? Was he

able. His eyes, usually so calculating, were now sharper than ever. I couldn't tel

uld I say? What could I possibly say to defend myself whe

ng in, choking me. I needed to leave. To get out

my shoulder. And I knew, even before I turned around, that something had

u