I can’t go through with this

The suite where Xander stood was bathed in warm, filtered sunlight. It was elegant—nothing flashy, just tastefully decorated in deep maroons and golds. The air held the scent of fresh roses and new beginnings, but also something else… something heavier.

Xander stood in front of a tall mirror, already dressed in a tailored navy tuxedo. His eyes were sharp, but distant—like a man watching himself from the outside. His father, Maxwell Stone, adjusted his cufflinks with practiced ease, then walked behind his son, resting both hands on his shoulders.

“You look like a king today,” Maxwell said, voice deep with pride.

Xander gave a forced smile. “It’s just a tux, Dad.”

“No, no,” Maxwell said, eyes gleaming as he looked at his son’s reflection. “It’s not the clothes. It’s the legacy, the power, the restoration of our family name—all coming together today. You’ve done what no one else could. You’ve saved us, Xander.”

Xander remained quiet.

Maxwell turned him around, straightening his lapel like a father would before sending a son off to battle. “You did everything right. You gained her trust. You played the part. You made her fall in love. And now, when the priest says ‘You may kiss the bride,’ you’re not just sealing a marriage… you’re sealing our return to greatness.”

Xander looked down at his shoes, avoiding his father’s intense gaze. “And after? What happens when she’s given me everything? Her name, her inheritance, the stake in Williams Group? What do I do with her then?”

Maxwell gave a cold smirk. “You do what all powerful men do. You take the victory. Then you walk away.”

Xander’s jaw tightened. “So just like that? After I make vows before God and people, I tear them up when it’s no longer convenient?”

“Don't get sentimental now, Xander. This is business. You don’t love her.”

There was silence.

“…Do you?”

Xander said nothing.

Maxwell narrowed his eyes, sensing something shift. “Tell me you haven’t let emotions get in the way. That’s dangerous, son. That girl is not one of us. She’s leverage. A key. A transaction wrapped in lace and lipstick.”

Xander’s throat tightened. He thought about the nights they laughed in the kitchen. The way June would fall asleep mid-conversation, curled beside him on the couch. The way she had started to trust him not just with her heart, but with her vulnerability.

“She’s not a fool,” Xander said softly. “She loves deeply. She trusts completely. That’s not something I want to destroy.”

Maxwell rolled his eyes. “For heaven’s sake, Xander. You think she wouldn’t do the same if it was her company on the line? Her legacy? Women like her know what they’re worth. And she’s getting the man she thinks she chose. Let her have her fantasy.”

Xander turned away, clenching his fists. “And what if I can’t go through with it?”

Maxwell’s tone dropped. “Then you’ll lose everything. I’ll disinherit you.Our company . will go under. And you’ll drag us all into ruin because of some girl you were meant to use, not worship.”

Xander looked at the mirror again, this time seeing a stranger in a perfect suit. “And if I marry her… if I go through with it… when do I tell her the truth? Or do I just ruin her quietly in the background?”

Maxwell smiled, tapping his shoulder. “You don’t tell her anything. You enjoy the benefits, let her keep dreaming. In six months, after the ink dries on the business merger, you file for divorce. It’ll be amicable. You’ll say you fell out of love. Blame the pressure. She’ll move on. And we? We walk away rich.”

The door creaked open slightly Xander’s best man peeked in. “They’re ready. Five minutes till the ceremony.”

Maxwell patted his son one final time. “There you go. Showtime.”

As the door shut, Xander looked at himself again in the mirror.

He barely recognized the man looking back.

Was he a savior of his family?

Or a traitor to the woman who had finally taught him what love could feel like?

The weight of both identities crushed him as he headed for the altar.