The Billionaire Cursed Bride

Zebulunia’s POV

“Ladies and gentlemen, the to-be-bride and to-be-groom may now come forward for their dance.”

I stood rooted in place, my gloved fingers clenching the soft folds of my dress. My breath snagged behind the silver lace mask I wore, the same mask I'd worn since I was fifteen. Not for mystery or fashion-but for safety. Safety from the world that had once punished me for beauty I never asked for.

But tonight, the mask didn't do much even though I was meeting them for the first time.

The crowd turned to watch us-me,and Ethan Cross, the to-be-groom, the heir to CrossTech Group, the man my parents, the Johnsons, had traded me to after years of silence. Their sudden interest in me hadn’t been love, It had been for their selfish interest.

And now, I was presented like a gift.

It was our engagement.

Ethan stood across the ballroom, tall, sharp-jawed, expressionless. But the moment his eyes met mine, something twisted in his feature, something cruel.

He stepped forward, took the mic and said in a cold voice:

“I can't do this.” It sounded more like a mockery.

The music stopped. Whispers erupted.

“I can't get marry to someone who hides her face like a ghost. This-” He gestured at me in disgust “-isn't what I signed up for.”

A collective gasp rippled through the guests. The bargain was that I would only reveal my face after the wedding, just to my husband for some reason.

My vision blurred for a moment, but I refused to flinch. My mother’s hand tightened around my wrist

“This must work,” she hissed in my ear, her voice low and desperate. “ Remember why you are here. Remember what’s at stake, we need this alliance.”

I remembered….

I remembered the cold morning they called me after seven years of silence, asking me to return home to help ‘the family business.’ The business I knew nothing about. I thought they had finally decided to accept me as their daughter……

Ethan turned his back on me. “I won't marry a ghost,” He murmured again, tossing the mic aside as he walked out of the ballroom.

My chest became hollow, my limbs numb.

What was my parents even thinking, that they could win in every situation like they succeeded in abandoning me. So they think they could just marry me off without revealing my face to the groom or the evil behind it. That's pathetic.

They obviously didn't tell them I wore a mask everywhere I went. This has made many people think I was very ugly to show my face and I appreciated that.

This has been my life ever since I was a child…

My beauty brought too much chaos. The highest of them all was when a wealthy client of my father’s nearly destroyed our business just to claim me.

My parents called it a curse they couldn’t contain. So they sent me away to a hidden village, where silence was safe, and I wore a mask ever since fearing history could repeat itself.

I could feel every eye on me,their pity sharp and suffocating. I hated pity.

My father stood stone-faced beside my mother. No one moved to console me.

No one cared, all they wanted was their gain, how to raise their falling business by marrying their last child off without getting to know her or how she felt about it.

Yes,I have a sibling, an elder sister who was studying abroad in an expensive school-their favourite child. But of course, they had to call the forbidden child to achieve their selfish goal.

I quietly went back to my seat, if this doesn't work out, I can't be blamed but I would never reveal my face to any of them,it was pain and always would be.

Then a different voice cut through my thoughts,

“May I have this dance?”

I raised my head.

He was tall, handsome and composed; dressed in a black suit that fit too well.

He extended his hand casually, like we were in the middle of a movie scene and he had all the right to.

I hesitated and turned to my mother who was already behind me fuming in desperation.

“This is Damon Cross,” she whispered quickly from behind me, “Ethan's older brother,accept his offer.”

Elder brother? No one told me Ethan had a brother. So why was he considered the heir, if he had an elder brother.

Of course, why won't she agree to sell me off again-they don't consider my feelings at all.

Ethan was supposed to be the groom, but since he rejected me and I probably be replaced by his brother. That was still a chance for them.

I took his hand. Why?, I didn’t know. Maybe because he didn’t look at me like a monster as his brother did or because I had to do as the family wanted.

He led me to the dance floor, everyone watched in surprise as murmur filled the air but he didn't seem to care…. The music resumed-soft, slow and mocking.

As Damon Cross guided me with fluid grace, he smirked that made me raise my eye brow, then his voice came low enough that only I could hear:

“You know, for someone in a mask, you carry yourself like royalty.”

I tilted my head. “And for someone uninvited, you seem too friendly.”

He chuckled. “But I can bet I'm the most welcome person in this room right now.”

“Is that arrogance or just delusion?”

“A little of both. But I’d prefer to call it charm.” He smirked.

“You think this is charming?” I narrowed my eyes.

“Oh, I know it is.Don’t pretend you’re not at least slightly intrigued by the infamous Damon Cross.” His smirk deepened.

I rolled my eyes behind the mask. “You're not as infamous as you think because I didn’t recognise you.”

He leaned in, just enough to make my skin prickle. The scent from his cologne was thrilling, I must confess and I felt like sniffing it more.

“Yet here you are, letting me spin you around the floor like it’s our wedding night.” That annoyed me, does he think I'm desperate?.

I remained calm and silent.

“But I wonder if I peeled that off…. Would I find a beauty queen, or a dangerous little secret?”

“Try it,” I dared quietly, “and you might not leave with your fingers.”

His confidence was almost irritating. Almost. But there was something behind it…something flickering. Not quite cocky as he appeared. And that made it dangerous.

He laughed out loud at that, throwing his head back, it was one of the disarming genuine laughs I have seen in a while. “I think I like you already”

That was when I truly stared into his eyes, they were charming blue eyes but a little pale that made it look sleepy and kinda sexy.

He watched me closely, “You're not shaking or looking affected by the whole drama, normal people would’ve fled by now”

“I learned not to run,” I said, staring over his shoulder. “You only get hunted faster, I wanted to think.”

His smile faltered, just slightly.

But then I noticed it-his hands trembled. Not from nerves, but something deeper.

“You're sick,” I said before I could stop myself.

His brow lifted. “Excuse me?”

“You're pale, that's not fit for an heir, you are supposed to be strong. And I know it's not stress, it's internal.”

His grin returned, slow and curious. “An heir?, anyways that's impressive, how come you know that, I wasn't told you were a doctor.”

“I studied medicine. The traditional kind, remedies, diagnosis and so on.”

“He tilted his head. “So you can tell I'm sick just from a dance?” He smirked and that made my cheek heat up.

“I can tell you need help, but you're hiding it.”

He leaned in, his voice lower. “Maybe I am.”

The dance slowed.

“And maybe,” I said carefully, “I can offer you something.”

His eyes flickered. “Oh?”

I stopped moving. My fingers tightened on his. “Get engaged to me.”

That caught him. “To you?”

“Yes. Tonight. Publicly. My family needs the merger with your family which would only work if I get married into the family.”

He stared at me for a beat.

“In exchange?” He asked.

“I'll heal you,” I said without thinking “Whatever’s wrong, I will treat it. I have access to cures most doctors wouldn’t believe. But only if you agree.”

His lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile. I wanted to say I was kidding, but then I remembered my parents. They need this.

“I don't buy it totally, convince me further”

This young man is obviously a Jerk, I cursed inwardly.

“Look, it won't be forever, just a year and everything would be over”

“Are you sure?”, he planted a smirk on his lips “what if you fall in love with me before the contract is over”

That caught me off guard but I knew he was only teasing but I replied anyways: “I don't fall in love, are you in?”

Then suddenly….

Damon released me, took two casual steps toward the center of the ballroom-took the mic.

My chest tightened. “What are you doing?”I hissed under my breath.

He raised a hand to quiet the room, that signature calm smirk curling at his lips. “Since my dear brother has made a fool of himself,” He began, drawing gasps and a few muffled laughs, “I suppose it falls to me to do what he couldn’t.”

The murmuring grew.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” He said clearly. “To honor both families, and because I happen to like her spirit… I, Damon Cross, would like to formally take my brother’s place and ask Zebulunia to marry me.”