The Billionaire's Regret

Marriage Proposal ~ Elena ~"Do you, Elena Moretti, take Alexander Drake as your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?"The priest’s voice echoed through the majestic cathedral. My throat felt dry, and my palms were clammy beneath the silk gloves my mother insisted I wear. Every pair of eyes in the room was fixed on me. My father sat in the front pew, stiff and unreadable, as if this moment was just another business deal he was overseeing. To him, it probably was.I stole a quick glance at Alexander. He didn’t return my gaze. His eyes were focused straight ahead, his jaw set like stone, dark hair slicked back perfectly, and his tailored suit as sharp as the intensity in his stare. I had never seen a groom look so eager to be anywhere but here."I do," I whispered.The words felt heavy, like chains clinking around my wrists.The priest looked at him intently. "Do you, Alexander Drake, take Elena Moretti..""I do."

A Night To Remember ~ Elena ~ The days after the gala felt like a routine I never signed up for, yet here I was, living it. Alexander was buried in work, putting in long hours, while I stayed behind in the penthouse. He’d leave in the mornings with barely a word, come home late, often way too late, and usually head straight to his office or his room. We managed to share dinner only twice, and even then, the conversation was sparse. I tried to shake off thoughts of Victoria, but it was like trying to catch smoke with my bare hands. Every time I remembered the way he smiled at her, my heart would twist painfully. He had never looked at me like that. By the third night, I had given up on waiting for him. I curled up in bed with a book until sleep finally claimed me. I was deep in slumber when I heard the door to my bedroom creak open. I stirred but didn’t fully wake up until I felt something warm against my thigh. At first, I thought I was dreaming. My body reacted instinctively, sh

Boundaries Tested ~ Elena ~ That morning, I found myself lingering in my room longer than usual. Sunlight poured in through the curtains, but I stayed put. My thoughts were a chaotic storm, swirling around the life I was living and the role I felt I had to play. Lately, it felt like my existence had been reduced to whatever Alexander wanted from me. Every look, every touch, every interaction seemed to revolve around him asserting his dominance, and I was beginning to feel a sense of bitterness creeping in. Today, I decided it was time for a change. No more smiles just to please him, no more silent acceptance when he treated me like an object. I wouldn’t greet him. I wouldn’t answer his questions. I wouldn’t let him use me as a toy to satisfy some urge and then leave me behind in the aftermath. When I heard his car pull into the driveway, I stood my ground. Instead, I walked over to the door, made sure it was locked, and took a deep breath. A flicker of defiance sparked within me.

~ Elena ~The word, trust, hung heavy and sharp in the air. Without waiting for an invitation, Alexander entered my room and the door clicked shut behind him. I got a chill from the sound. Like a predator circling its prey, he moved slowly and deliberately. The picture that was hidden under my pillow felt like it weighed a thousand pounds, and my heart pounded. "Trust," I said again, trying to sound steady, "isn't that a bit ironic coming from you?" He squinted his eyes. "Be careful." I straightened my posture on the bed and gripped the sheets tightly, as if they would protect me. "Alexander, you want obedience. Trust is not the same as that.”He moved in closer. “You haven't run, though. You’re still here. That gives me some insight.”I took a deep breath. "Perhaps I have no other option." His eyes darted over me as he said, "Everyone has a choice." "The question is if you can afford it." My fingers touched the edge of the pillow. I couldn't get the picture out of my head—the b

~Elena~Long after Liam left, I could still hear the echo of his words, as if his warning had been absorbed by the walls themselves. “Some secrets are deadlier than your husband.” The disturbing, piercing phrase kept repeating in my mind, making me reevaluate all I believed to be true about Alexander and myself. The light from the chandelier was scattered across the silk and polished marble at the dinner table by crystal glasses. I sensed the tension beneath the surface as the guests laughed and shared stories. Every compliment was too scathing, every smile too rehearsed. This was a gold-and-glitter-clad battlefield, not a dinner.Alexander sat beside me, his posture relaxed yet commanding. His hand rested on my chair, a silent reminder of possession. He leaned in once to whisper something about smiling more, but my mind was elsewhere—still replaying Liam’s voice, still trying to decode the danger hidden in his words.When the main course was served, I caught sight of Victoria across