All Chapters of THE BILLIONAIRE'S RELUCTANT BRIDE : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

EVANGELINEThe words hit me like ice water. The irony was almost laughable. A honeymoon with a man who was already honeymooning with someone else.Gael's entire body tense on the opposite sofa and his jaw clench so tightly I could hear his teeth grinding.The muscle in his cheek began twitching, a telltale sign of his mounting agitation.Was he thinking about her? About how this would interfere with his affair?"You haven't arranged your honeymoon yet. Haven't decided where to spend quality time together as newlyweds should." Arthur's smile widened.I felt like a mouse being studied by a particularly satisfied cat."I'm confident you'll love the place I've chosen, my dear."The idea was so absurd I almost laughed. So completely divorced from our reality, that for a moment I wondered if I'd misunderstood.You're not my father, Mr. Dettling.The words burned in my throat, begging to be spoken. The sheer presumption of it made my blood boil. He was treating me like a child, making major

EVANGELINE~Flashback~"Come in."Mom's radiant face appeared in the doorway and her eyes swept over my appearance with unmistakable pride. Despite the turmoil raging inside me, I kept my expression carefully neutral, unwilling to dampen her obvious joy."Darling, our guests have arrived."I managed a slight nod, feeling my heart pound against my ribs like a caged bird desperate for freedom and my hands trembled slightly as I smoothed down my dress one final time."I'll be down in a moment, Mom."She lingered for a heartbeat longer, taking in every detail of my appearance one last time."You look absolutely beautiful, sweetheart," she whispered emotionally.Then she pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead before turning away. Her footsteps echoed softly down the hallway as she returned to our waiting guests.Alone again, I stood frozen in the center of my room as the silence pressed down on me.I drew in a deep breath, held it until my lungs burned, then released it slowly through parted

EVANGELINE"Evangeline!" Mom burst into my room with characteristic energy one morning, gasping when she saw me still in my robe. "You haven't changed yet? Your fiancé's family is already here!"When had he become my fiancé? The title felt foreign, uncomfortable, like wearing clothes that didn't fit properly. Just three weeks ago, I had been a free woman, focused on my psychology studies, planning a future that belonged entirely to me. Now I was being swept along by arrangements made by others, promises exchanged between families rather than hearts.My features twisted with barely concealed sarcasm. "Mom, was it really necessary to rent such an elaborate venue? This is just an engagement party. We could have held it at home, kept it simple, intimate. Why all this extravagance?"The ballroom downstairs was a testament to excess: crystal chandeliers casting rainbow light across marble floors, enough flowers to stock a greenhouse, a string quartet that cost more than most people's monthl

EVANGELINE"Let's see where this decision takes you, Evangeline." I whispered to myself while forcing my feet to carry me toward the stairs where Gael waited with his expression unreadable as granite.He extended his arm without looking at me. His distaste was evident in every line of his body and every reluctant gesture.I placed my hand on his arm, feeling the tension in his muscles, and we descended the stairs in synchronized steps.The grand ballroom came into view. An opulent space filled with elegantly dressed guests, crystal chandeliers casting rainbow light across polished marble floors, all eyes focused on our entrance like spotlights.I unconsciously tightened my grip on his arm as nervousness overwhelmed me completely. Being the center of attention had always made me uncomfortable, made me want to disappear into the shadows where no one could see me stumble or fail.Gael glanced at me briefly. His expression remained indifferent, before returning his focus forward as if my

EVANGELINE"Mom! Dad!"I called out to both of them the moment I spotted their figures in the living room, still awake despite the late hour."My dear, you're home." Mom approached me first and enveloped me in her warm embrace.Her familiar scent and gentle touch almost broke my resolve. Almost."Dad." My gaze remained fixed on his face while my mind raced, formulating the right way to begin this conversation."You were wonderful today, sweetheart. Your Dad is so proud of you. You can't imagine how happy I was seeing my daughter as a radiant bride-to-be." The joy in her voice was like a knife twisting in my chest.I looked between their faces, a terrible feeling settling in my stomach."Dad, I need to tell you something.""My dear." He interrupted my words with his own gentle voice. "Today must have been exhausting for you. Go get some rest, my little one." He added while his bright smile never left his face.I could see how genuinely happy he was, how much joy this engagement brought