Chapter 1

‎BLURB

‎On her wedding day, Ava Carter lost everything.

‎Her fiancé betrayed her.

‎Her sister stole her future.

‎Her family collapsed into bankruptcy overnight.

‎Left humiliated and powerless, Ava thought her life was over.

‎Until a dangerous stranger stepped forward.

‎Dominic Vale.

‎The ruthless billionaire feared by the entire business world.

‎Cold. Untouchable. Merciless.

‎And he had only one proposal for her:

‎“Marry me, and I’ll save your life.”

‎Desperate and trapped, Ava agrees to a contract marriage with the man whose heart is said to be made of ice.

‎But living with Dominic Vale is far more dangerous than she ever imagined.

‎Because beneath his cold exterior lies a past filled with secrets… revenge… and a darkness that could destroy them both.

‎And as Ava finds herself falling for the one man she was never supposed to love.

‎She begins to wonder:

‎Did Dominic marry her to protect her…

‎Or to use her as a pawn in a war she knows nothing about?

.........

‎ Betrayed At The Altar

AVA’S POV

Ava’s hands trembled as she stared at her reflection in the bridal mirror. The white gown hugged her perfectly, soft lace cascading down her body like a dream she had spent three years building. Every bead, every stitch, every delicate detail represented the future she had believed in so completely.

Today was supposed to be the happiest day of her life.

Instead, it felt like a funeral.

The room smelled of fresh roses and expensive perfume, but Ava could barely breathe. Her chest felt tight, heavy, as if something invisible was pressing against her ribs. The cheerful laughter of bridesmaids outside had faded, replaced by low murmurs, whispers that carried an unmistakable tone of shock.

Then the whispers grew louder.

Sharper.

Crueler.

“Did you hear?”

“I can’t believe it…”

“He actually did it…”

Ava’s heart began to pound.

She strained her ears.

“…He ran away.”

“…With her own sister.”

The words hit her like a physical blow.

No.

That couldn’t be true.

Her fingers tightened around the edge of the vanity table as she shook her head slowly, refusing to accept what she had just heard.

Ethan loved her.

He had proposed under the stars.

He had promised her forever.

He would never humiliate her like this.

Never.

The door burst open before she could gather her thoughts.

Her younger cousin stood there, pale, breathless, and visibly shaken. Her eyes were wide with panic, and she looked as though she wished she could disappear.

“Ava…” she whispered, voice trembling. “Don’t go out there.”

Ava’s stomach dropped.

A cold chill spread through her body.

“Why?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her cousin hesitated, biting her lip, clearly struggling to say the words.

Then she whispered the sentence that shattered Ava’s world.

“Because Ethan isn’t coming back. He left… with Vanessa.”

Silence fell like a death sentence.

Vanessa.

Her sister.

Ava blinked slowly, the words refusing to register in her mind.

The world tilted.

Her ears rang.

For a moment, she felt as if she were floating outside her own body, watching someone else’s nightmare unfold.

She forced a laugh, small, brittle, and completely hollow.

“That’s not funny,” she said weakly. “Stop joking.”

But the pity in her cousin’s eyes destroyed her last piece of hope.

“He sent a message,” her cousin continued softly. “He said… he said he loves her. Not you.”

Something inside Ava cracked open.

It wasn’t loud.

It wasn’t dramatic.

It was quiet.

Like glass breaking deep inside her chest.

Her knees nearly gave way, but she locked them firmly, refusing to fall. Refusing to collapse in front of anyone.

She would not cry.

Not here.

Not in this room.

Not while people outside were already whispering about her humiliation.

She lifted her chin slowly, her expression hardening as numbness spread through her veins.

“If he doesn’t want me,” she whispered, her voice turning icy and distant, “then he’s free to go.”

Her fingers tightened around the door handle as she prepared herself to walk out and face the shame waiting outside.

But before she could open it..

A deep voice spoke behind her.

“Perfect.”

Ava froze.

Her heartbeat stuttered.

Slowly, she turned around.

A tall man stood leaning casually against the doorway, as though he had been watching everything unfold. He was impossibly handsome, dressed in a perfectly tailored dark suit that screamed wealth and authority.

His sharp jawline, cold eyes, and commanding presence made the air around him feel heavy.

He didn’t look sympathetic.

He didn’t look surprised.

He looked calculating.

Dangerous.

And when his gaze met hers, it felt like he could see straight through her broken heart.

His lips curved slightly, not in kindness, but in satisfaction.

Then he spoke again.

Each word is calm.

Each word deliberately.

Each word steals the air from her lungs.

“Because,” he said smoothly, stepping forward with quiet confidence, “I need a bride today.”

‎