Chapter Three

There was a pause. “A wedding?” His mother’s tone brightened instantly. “Oh, don’t tell me you finally proposed to that nice British woman we met in London! What was her name, Amelia?”

He hesitated. “Not Amelia. Someone else.”

Another pause.

His father spoke this time, voice steady but wary. “Sebastian. What exactly are you trying to tell us?”

“I got married,” he said simply.

For a few seconds, silence reigned. Then,

“You what?” his mother shrieked. “Married? To whom? When?!”

“Yesterday. At a church in downtown Manhattan.”

“Dear God,” his father muttered. “And who is the woman?”

“Her name is Olivia Bennett. She works at the company. She was supposed to marry one of our marketing managers, but he left her at the altar. ” Sebastian exhaled. “I stepped in.”

The silence that followed was heavier than before.

When his mother spoke again, her tone had shifted from shock to anger. “Sebastian Alexander Hart! You married a stranger? At a public event? Without consulting anyone?”

He winced. “It wasn’t planned.”

“Oh, that’s clear enough!” she snapped. “Do you have any idea what this looks like? The media will twist this into a scandal. Your father’s already dealing with the investors for next quarter, and now this, this impulsive marriage will send the board into a frenzy!”

“Catherine,” his father warned softly, though his voice carried tension too. “Let him explain.”

“There’s nothing to explain!” she shot back. “He’s a public figure! Every business outlet in the country will pick this up. ‘Hart Heir Marries Abandoned Bride’, you can almost see the headlines!”

Sebastian pressed his temples, trying to stay calm. “I didn’t do it for attention. I did it because she was humiliated in front of hundreds of people. I couldn’t stand there and do nothing.”

“Sebastian,” his father said quietly, “you’ve always had a good heart. But you must start thinking like a leader, not a savior. You came home to take over the company. That means every action of yours reflects on all of us.”

“I know, Dad. And I’ll handle it.”

“How?” his father asked, skepticism in his tone.

“I’ll keep her out of the spotlight. Handle the press before they identify me. We’ll issue a statement, maybe even make it look like a private ceremony, planned in advance.”

His mother sighed sharply. “So now you want to lie to the media?”

“It’s called strategy,” Sebastian replied dryly.

His father cleared his throat. “We’ll discuss this tonight. Come to the estate for dinner. And bring your wife.”

Sebastian’s pulse jumped. “You want to meet her?”

His father’s tone was unreadable. “You’ve given us no choice.”

When the call ended, Sebastian sat in silence again.

Outside, the city glimmered in morning light, alive and indifferent to the storm gathering around him.

He leaned back, eyes closing briefly as he replayed his mother’s words. Every action of yours reflects on all of us.

Maybe she was right. Maybe he had been reckless.

But when he remembered Olivia’s tear-streaked face, her trembling shoulders, the way her eyes had met his in disbelief and trust, he knew he would do it all again.

Even if it meant facing the wrath of his powerful family.

Even if it meant chaos in the press.

Even if it meant risking everything he’d built.

Because for the first time in years, something felt right.

The next evening arrived faster than Olivia could process.

One moment, she had been sitting quietly in her small apartment, still in shock over the whirlwind that had become her life, and the next, Sebastian Hart, her unexpected husband, had called to tell her that his parents wanted to meet her.

She had nearly dropped her phone.

“Your parents?” she’d repeated, her voice a trembling whisper.

“Yes,” he’d replied calmly, as though announcing a business meeting. “They’re hosting dinner at the family estate. Seven o’clock sharp.”

“And they know about the wedding?”

“They do now.”

“And they want to meet me?”

“They don’t have much of a choice.”

That was how Olivia found herself standing nervously in front of the floor-length mirror of a luxury boutique hours later, wearing the elegant but simple dress Sebastian had insisted she choose.

She still wasn’t sure how to feel about him.

He was kind, polite, and surprisingly composed for a man who had just made one of the most impulsive decisions in history. But he was also unreadable, a man of few words, whose gray eyes seemed to see too much and give away too little.

And now she was supposed to meet his family, one of the most influential families in the country.

What have I gotten myself into?

By seven o’clock, a sleek black Rolls-Royce pulled through the gates of the Hart Estate, a sprawling mansion nestled in the quiet hills outside New York City. The stone driveway curved through manicured lawns lit by soft golden lights.

Olivia stared out the window, her breath catching. The place looked like something out of a magazine, elegant, intimidating, untouchable.

As the car came to a stop, Sebastian stepped out first, tall and composed in his dark suit. When he opened her door, Olivia hesitated before taking his hand.

His touch was warm and grounding.

“You’ll be fine,” he said quietly. “They can be intense, but they’re fair.”

She tried to smile. “I’m not sure ‘fine’ is in my vocabulary tonight.”

He gave a faint, reassuring smirk. “Then borrow mine.”

They walked together up the marble steps and into a grand foyer that made Olivia’s breath catch again. The air smelled faintly of lilies and expensive wine. A chandelier hung above them like frozen rain.

A butler appeared almost instantly. “Mr. Hart. Mrs. Hart. Welcome.”

Olivia nearly stumbled at the title, Mrs. Hart. It sounded unreal.

Sebastian nodded. “Thank you, Thomas.”

“Your parents are in the dining room, sir.”

“Of course.”

The dining room was vast, elegant, and intimidating, just as Olivia had feared. At the far end of the long mahogany table sat Mr. and Mrs. Hart, both poised with the quiet authority that came from generations of power.

His father, Richard Hart, was tall, silver-haired, his presence commanding even in silence. His mother, Catherine, was impeccably dressed in a cream silk blouse and pearls, her expression polite but guarded.

When they entered, both parents stood.

“Sebastian,” his father greeted coolly. “You’re on time, for once.”

“Good evening, Father. Mother.”

Catherine’s gaze swept over Olivia's head to toe with practiced precision. Not cruel, but sharp.

“So,” she began, her tone clipped. “You must be Olivia Bennett.

“Yes, ma’am,” Olivia said softly, her palms damp. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Hart.”

Catherine’s lips curved in a faint smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I imagine this isn’t how you expected your week to turn out.”

Olivia swallowed. “Not at all, ma’am.”

Richard gestured to the table. “Sit. Let’s talk.”

They did. The clinking of silverware filled the silence as servants began to pour wine and serve dinner. Olivia could barely touch her food; her appetite had vanished somewhere between the grand staircase and Catherine’s scrutinizing stare.

Finally, Catherine set down her glass of chardonnay and turned her attention fully to Olivia.

“So, Olivia,” she said, her tone polite but pointed. “Tell us how exactly our son ended up marrying you?”

Olivia froze, glancing nervously at Sebastian.

He spoke before she could. “It wasn’t planned,” he said evenly. “The groom didn’t show. She was left standing at the altar.”

Catherine arched a brow. “And your solution was to take his place?”

Sebastian’s jaw tightened slightly. “It was the only way to stop the scene from turning into a spectacle. The guests were already recording.”

Richard sighed, his deep voice calm but heavy. “You’re aware this kind of publicity could affect the company, Sebastian. Especially if the press identifies you.”

“They don’t know who I am,” Sebastian replied firmly. “Not yet. The story is circulating online, yes, ‘Mystery Groom Marries Abandoned Bride.’ But my name hasn’t surfaced.”

Catherine leaned forward. “And you think it won’t? You carry the Hart face, Sebastian. All it takes is one photograph from the right angle, and someone will recognize you.”

“I’m working on controlling the leak,” he said.

Olivia sat silently, staring down at her plate. She had no idea what to say, no idea what part of her life she was supposed to defend.

Catherine’s voice softened slightly. “Olivia, dear, I’m sure this situation wasn’t your fault. But you must understand how sudden this is for us. My son has always been unpredictable, but this, this is something else entirely.”

“I understand, ma’am,” Olivia said quietly. “It was never something I asked for. He just stepped in. I didn’t even know his name until after the ceremony.”

Richard looked between them, his expression unreadable. “Are you two planning to make this real? Or is this simply a matter of convenience until we resolve the publicity issue?”

The question hung in the air like smoke.

Sebastian spoke first. “It’s real. I made vows, and I intend to honor them.”

Catherine’s eyebrows lifted slightly, surprise flickering across her face before she quickly masked it. “That’s a very noble sentiment, Sebastian. But marriage is more than a moment of chivalry.”

“I know that,” he said quietly. “I don’t regret it.”

Olivia’s heart skipped. His words were calm, certain, and hit something deep inside her.

Catherine sighed and leaned back in her chair. “Well, it’s done now. What’s important is managing the consequences. You’ll both have to stay out of public view for the time being. No interviews, no social media, no appearances. The less attention, the better.”

Sebastian nodded. “Understood.”

“And Olivia,” Catherine continued, “we’ll need to have a private chat soon about what’s expected now that you’re part of this family.”

Olivia’s throat tightened. “Yes, ma’am.”

Richard’s tone softened slightly. “We’ll handle this quietly. The board doesn’t need to know until things settle.”

Sebastian gave a small nod. “Agreed.”

Dinner continued with polite, strained conversation. Olivia tried her best to answer questions about her background, her job at the company, and her family back in Ohio. She could feel Catherine studying her, weighing every word, every gesture.

When the plates were cleared and dessert was served, Catherine finally spoke again, her tone gentler this time.

“You seem like a kind young woman, Olivia. And I believe you when you say none of this was planned. But the world we live in isn’t kind to surprises, especially when the name ‘Hart’ is attached.”

Olivia met her gaze and nodded quietly. “I understand, Mrs. Hart. I don’t want to cause trouble. I just want to do the right thing.”

Catherine’s expression softened almost imperceptibly. “Good.”

Later, as they walked back toward the car, Olivia let out a shaky breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

Sebastian glanced sideways at her. “You did well.”

She let out a dry laugh. “I felt like I was on trial.”

He smiled faintly. “That was their way of being polite.”

“Polite?” she said, arching an eyebrow.

“You should see them when they’re actually angry.”

She laughed despite herself, tension breaking for the first time that evening.

When they reached the car, he opened the door for her again. “Thank you,” she said softly.

“For what?”

“For standing by me,” she murmured. “You didn’t have to.”

He met her eyes, calm, steady, unreadable as ever. “I know,” he said quietly. “But I wanted to.”

And for the first time, Olivia wondered if this strange, impossible marriage might lead somewhere neither of them expected.