The Billionaire's forgotten Bride

lia

l understand why they call him the 'Beast of Cole Industries.'" I forced myself to keep walking, head held high. Or at least as high as I could manage. If I let her see me falter, it would only fuel her cruelty. The church was packed. Rows of strangers turned to watch me as I entered, their eyes a mix of curiosity and maybe....pity. My legs felt like lead as I walked down the aisle, Margaret clutching my arm like a vise. And then I saw him. Maxwell Cole stood at the altar, his towering frame clad in a sharp black suit that seemed to emphasize his intimidating presence. His face was hard, the scar running down his left cheek only adding to his severity. His green eyes locked onto me with a piercing intensity that made my stomach churn. Lisa hadn't been lying. He was older-far older than I had imagined-and the limp in his stride was unmistakable as he shifted his weight. He looked every bit the ruthless billionaire the tabloids described, a man who consumed everything in his path. And now, he would consume me too. I wanted to run. My feet itched to turn around and bolt out of the church, but Margaret's iron grip on my arm kept me rooted. The whispers among the guests were deafening, though I couldn't make out the words. Were they pitying me? Laughing at me? Judging me? Did they know that I was nothing more than a pawn in my mother's schemes? The priest's voice broke through the haze. "We are gathered here today to witness the union of Maxwell Cole and Amelia Hayes..." My heart hammered in my chest as the ceremony began, each word blurring together into a meaningless hum. Maxwell's gaze never left me, his expression unreadable but intimidating. Did he hate this as much as I did? Or was he simply indifferent, like everyone else in my life? When the priest turned to him and said, "Maxwell Cole, do you take Amelia Hayes to be your lawfully wedded wife?" my breath caught. For a fleeting moment, I thought he might say no. That he might refuse this farce of a marriage and set me free. But instead, his deep, gravelly voice cut through the silenc