2

"Penelope said she's not ready for marriage, what would I tell granny? That my girlfriend left me?"

Alexander’s jaw tightened as he stood just outside the courthouse, the white pillars towering behind him like silent witnesses to his humiliation.

He's on a phone call with his brother.

“I thought you said you’d get a quick bride for me?” Alexander snapped into the phone, his voice sharp enough to cut through steel.

“I’m trying my best, brother. I don’t want you to marry just anyone.”

Alex let out a dry, humorless laugh, dragging a hand down his face.

“I do not give a fucking shit how you’ll do it,” he said, his tone dropping into something colder, something final. “I want a bride. At any cost, anyone we'll be getting divorced after a year!”

There was silence for a second.

Then he ended the call.

He didn’t wait for a response, didn't need one either. He wants quick actions, and he doesn't care if he sounds desperate.

His hand slowly lowered, the phone slipping back into his pocket as he stared ahead, his vision unfocused. People moved in and out of the courthouse behind him, couples, families, with laughter, joy but none of it touched him.

Today, he was the man who got abandoned on his own wedding day, the one woman he chose—the one woman he actually wanted—walked away like it meant nothing. She claimed she's not ready for marriage.

The words echoed in his head again, bitterly and mockingly.

Alex scoffed under his breath, straightening his tie with stiff fingers. His reflection briefly caught in the glass doors of the courthouse in front of him. He looks perfect in his suit. Perfect posture. Perfect image and perfect fool.

“You must get married, Alexander. A man in your position cannot remain alone forever.” his grandmother had said to him which encouraged him more to propose to his so called girlfriend, she was the only person he couldn’t ignore. The only one whose expectations actually mattered to him.

He closed his eyes for a second, exhaling slowly.

He wasn’t doing this for love anymore.

If he doesn’t walk into that courthouse as a groom today, the whispers would start. The headlines. The quiet mockery behind closed doors.

He can't let that happen which is why he has to get married at any cost.

Alex pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his face, though there wasn’t any sweat. Frustration written all over his face.

For the first time in a long time… he didn’t have control.

And he hated it.

“I’ll marry you.” The voice came from behind him, slightly breathless.

Alex froze and slowly, he turned to see the beautiful Elara standing in front of him.

She was striking.

Her chest rose and fell quickly, like she had run to get here. A few strands of her hair clung slightly to her face, her makeup fresh but not overdone. Her dress hugged her just enough to draw attention without trying too hard.

She looks beautiful, no denying of that.

For a second, Alex just looked at her, his mind trying to catch up with what she had just said.

"You heard me right? I'll marry you." Elara said with confidence.

"We'll be getting a divorce after a year." He replied, assessing her with his gaze.

Then his phone rang again.

He held her gaze for a moment longer before lifting a finger slightly. “One minute.”

He turned away to answer the call, bringing the phone to his ear.

Elara watched him in silence, her heart still racing, not just from the run, but from what she had just done.

What she had just offered.

She didn’t even fully understand it herself.

All she knew was, she needed a solution.And somehow, this man, this stranger standing in front of a courthouse without a bride was hers.

“I can’t get through the agent, please let’s...”

“You don’t have to worry,” Alex cut in, his voice calm now. “I’ll sort myself out. Bring the family to the courthouse.”

He ended the call before Julian could say anything else.

He turned back to her. His gaze moved slowly from her face, to her shoulders, down to her legs… and back up again assessing her

She held his gaze, refusing to look away, even though there was something about his eyes that made her chest tighten.

He slipped his phone back into his pocket and stepped closer, extending his hand toward her formally.

Elara looked at his hand before placing hers in his.

“My name is Elara,” she said softly.

“Alex.” He replied shortly. His voice carried that same cold edge, like he was holding everything else back behind it.

Elara noticed it immediately.

But she didn’t expect anything else from a man who had just been left at the altar. She heard his conversations and that's how she knew this man was abandoned at the altar by his girlfriend.

Alex didn’t let go of her hand right away.

Instead, he tightened his grip slightly and turned, leading her toward his car.

Elara followed him as he dragged her gently, she has never imagined marrying a stranger but it is what it is.

When they reached the car, he opened the door and reached inside, pulling out a bouquet of flowers. White roses, carefully arranged.

He paused for a second before handing them to her.

The same flowers he had bought for his girlfriend.

Elara accepted them without a word.

Her fingers wrapped around the stems gently, but her mind registered everything.

“My family will be here soon, tell them we've been together for three years.” he started and she nodded obediently.

“What do you do?” he asked her, his gaze fixed on her as he jam shut the car door.

“I just got a new job and will be resuming tomorrow.” she replied. “What do you do?”

He looked at her with surprise, who doesn’t know him? He never expected her not to know him.

“Are you for real?” He asked and she nodded.

“Are you a billionaire? If you're a famous billionaire, sorry I don't know any one at all in this city.” She explained, Elara isn't a social person, she's just one woman struggling to make ends meet.

Even with the new job she got, it was one of her friend that helped her with it.

“I'm the CEO of Harrington Global.”He said.

“That's nice.” she said without even bothering to ask more about him.

"I can't believe you don’t know who I am," he said and she said nothing to that.

"Can we go?" she asked.

He held her hand and they walked side by side toward the courthouse entrance, their steps measured, their silence heavy but not uncomfortable.

Alex had already arranged everything, a private space, he doesn't want attention and crowds.

He wasn’t just rich. He was powerful. And suddenly her decision didn’t feel as reckless as she thoughtit was, and it strengthened her resolve.

Alex stopped walking and finally released her hand.

He turned slightly toward her, his expression unreadable.

“What will you benefit from marrying me?” he said calmly.

Elara held his gaze, clutching the bouquet just a little tighter.

“Nothing, I'm doing this to avoid humiliation.”she replied softly.

He suddenly pulled her by the waist, a gasp escaped her lips and before she could say a word he smashed his lips on her own.