Chapter 1

Elizabeth hazel Kingston (AUTHOR POV)

The cold marble floor felt like ice against Hazel’s bare knees. She was shivering, but not because of the air conditioning that was turned up to maximum power inside the massive, cold mansion. She was shivering because of fear.

In front of her stood a man who looked like he was carved by gods, yet his eyes were colder than the deepest part of the ocean.

Xander Kingston.

The name alone commanded respect and fear in the entire country. He was the youngest billionaire, the CEO of Kingston Group of Companies, and the most eligible bachelor—until today. Today, he was forced to marry her.

Hazel looked down at her hands. They were trembling. She was wearing a simple white dress, nothing compared to the luxury surrounding her. She didn’t look like a bride. She looked like a prisoner standing before her judge.

“Look at me, Hazel,” Xander’s voice was low, deep, and laced with venom. It sent chills down her spine.

Slowly, Hazel lifted her head. Her big, innocent eyes met his piercing gaze. Xander was sitting on the expensive leather sofa, legs crossed, looking at her with pure disgust.

“Do you know why you are here?” he asked, his finger tapping rhythmically on his knee—Hazel swallowed the lump in her throat. Her voice came out as a whisper.

“Because… because we are getting married, Sir

.”Xander let out a short, mocking laugh.

“Sir? Call me husband later, but don’t you dare fool yourself, Hazel. This is not a marriage made in heaven. This is a business transaction. A deal.”

He stood up and walked towards her. He was so tall that he towered over her small frame. The scent of his expensive cologne filled her senses, but it didn’t make her feel romantic, it made her feel small and insignificant.

“You and your family need money,” Xander said coldly, his eyes narrowing. “Five million dollars. That is the price I paid to buy you. That is enough to pay your father’s debts and pay for his surgery, isn’t?”

Hazel’s heart clenched painfully. Bought. That was what she was. A commodity. Something to be purchased.

“Yes,” she answered softly, tears threatening to fall but she held them back. She couldn’t cry. Not now. Not in front of him. “Thank you, Mr. Kingston. I… I will do everything to repay you.”

“Repay me?” Xander scoffed. He grabbed her chin forcefully, forcing her to look at him directly. His grip was tight, hurting her. “You can never repay me with anything, Hazel. The only thing you need to do is to act as my wife in public. You will wear the ring, you will attend parties, and you will bear my name. But inside this house? You are nothing.”

He let go of her face as if touching her burned him. Hazel stumbled back a little, holding her aching chin.

“Understood?” he demanded.

“Yes,” Hazel whispered, her heart breaking into tiny pieces. “I understand.”

The wedding was quick and cold. There was no celebration, no music, no guests except for the lawyers and witnesses. The priest mumbled the words, but Hazel felt like she was in a nightmare.

When the priest asked if Xander took her as his wife, he didn’t say “I do” with love. He said it with gritted teeth, looking at her as if she was the worst thing that ever happened to him.

And just like that, Hazel Anderson became Hazel Kingston. The wife of the richest man, but also the most unwanted woman in the world.