All Chapters of The billionaire's unwanted bride: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The rain hammered against the windows of my father's study like it was trying to break through, which was exactly how I felt about this conversation. I stood there, my arms crossed, staring at the man who was supposed to protect me, not sell me off like some kind of business asset."Emma, you're being dramatic," my father said without even looking up from the contract he was reviewing. His reading glasses perched on his nose, gray hair perfectly combed back like always. Everything about Richard Chen was perfect, controlled, calculated."Dramatic? You're asking me to marry a complete stranger!" My voice came out higher than I wanted, but I didn't care anymore. This whole thing was insane.He finally looked up, his expression tired. "Alexander Knight is hardly a stranger. His father and I have been business partners for twenty years.""I've met him twice. Twice! Once at some charity gala where he barely said three words to me, and once at that dinner where he spent the entire time on hi

Three weeks turned out to be both too long and not nearly enough time. I spent the first week in a blur of dress fittings, venue bookings, and trying to pretend this was a normal wedding. Jess was with me for most of it, playing the role of maid of honor and reality check."This dress makes you look like a cupcake," she said bluntly as I stood on the pedestal in the bridal boutique, drowning in layers of white tulle."Agreed." I turned to the consultant, who looked personally offended. "Can we see something simpler? More elegant, less... pastry?"The woman sniffed but disappeared to find other options. As soon as she was gone, Jess leaned in. "Have you talked to him since the meeting?""Alexander? No. His assistant emails me updates and coordinates schedules. Very efficient, very impersonal.""That's weird, right? You're marrying the guy in two weeks and you haven't even had a phone conversation?"It was weird. But also kind of fitting for whatever this arrangement was. We weren't a r

Moving into Alexander's penthouse was surreal. The place was massive three floors of modern luxury with floor-to-ceiling windows, a chef's kitchen I'd probably never use, and more space than one person could ever need. It felt more like a museum than a home."Your room is on the second floor," Alexander said, carrying one of my suitcases up the stairs. He'd insisted on helping despite having staff who could do it. "Master suite is on the third floor, so you'll have plenty of privacy."Privacy. Right. Because we were roommates, not a married couple."Thanks," I said, following him down a hallway lined with abstract art. "This place is... impressive.""It's too big," he admitted, pushing open a door. "I bought it because my publicist said a CEO should have an impressive residence. But honestly, I mostly just sleep here."The room he showed me was beautiful spacious, with its own bathroom and a view of the city that took my breath away. There was even a small sitting area with a couch an

The jet's cabin was all cream leather and polished wood, luxury I still wasn't used to despite living in Alexander's world for weeks. I sat by the window, watching Seattle disappear beneath us, my phone clutched like a lifeline.No updates from my father yet. The surgery was supposed to take six hours. We were only two hours into the flight."You should eat something." Alexander appeared with a plate of fruit and pastries. When I shook my head, he sat down across from me. "Emma, you need to keep your strength up.""Please don't tell me what to do." The words came out sharper than intended. "I'm sorry. I just... I need her to be okay first."He nodded, setting the plate down. "I understand. But I'm here, okay? Whatever you need."What I needed was to rewind time. To not have kissed him last night. To not have these feelings complicating everything when my mother's life hung in the balance. To not be sitting here with a deleted text message burning a hole in my conscience."Alexander,"

I pulled my hands from his, stepping back until I hit the wall. "You can't just say you love me and expect everything to be fixed.""I'm not trying to fix anything. I'm telling you the truth.""Truth? Now you want truth?" I laughed bitterly."Falling for you wasn't part of any plan. It was the one thing I couldn't control."My phone buzzed again. The reporter. My father. Our lives imploding tomorrow."This is such a mess." I slid down the wall.Alexander sat across from me. "Then let's fix it together.""How? By tomorrow everyone knows our marriage is fake. Contract voids, merger collapse""I don't care about the company if it costs me you.""Easy to say now. But when everything disappears?" I met his eyes. "Will you still love me then?"Silence. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't terrified of losing everything." At least he is honest."But I'm more terrified of losing you. Of never knowing what we could be."I wanted to believe him."I need to call my mother. She needs to know funding