I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced a smile. "Thank you, Mom."
In truth, I felt anything but beautiful. My hands were cold, my heart a heavy weight in my chest. Today, I was marrying Jameson Edward-a man I had never met, a billionaire known for his ruthless business tactics and cold, emotionless heart.
The name Edward carried power. The family was one of the wealthiest in California, controlling industries from real estate to technology. Jameson was the heir, but I had heard the rumors-his father had cut him off. And now, to regain his fortune, he needed a wife.
A contract wife.
I was the girl desperate enough to take the deal.
My father entered the small bedroom, his face lined with guilt. "Alexa, it's time."
I nodded and turned to my younger sister, Emma, who clung to my arm. "Promise me you'll come back," she whispered, her voice breaking.
I knelt to hug her tightly. "I promise," I lied.
We both knew that once I stepped out of this house, my life would never be the same.
A loud knock echoed through the house. They were here.
A man in a black suit stood at the door, his face expressionless. "The car is waiting, Miss Lim."
I took a deep breath and stepped forward. My mother's sobs were the last thing I heard before the door closed behind me.
---
The drive to the Edward mansion was silent. I sat stiffly in the back of the sleek black Mercedes, my hands folded in my lap. The city lights blurred past, but I felt detached, like I was watching someone else's life unfold.
"Mr. Edward doesn't like delays," the driver said after a long silence. "When we arrive, follow my lead."
I nodded numbly.
Fifteen minutes later, the car pulled through towering iron gates and onto a long driveway lined with neatly trimmed hedges. The mansion came into view-a massive estate of white marble and tall glass windows. It was breathtaking, but it felt cold.
Like its owner.
The driver opened the door, and I stepped out, my heels clicking against the stone pavement. The air smelled of roses and fresh-cut grass, but there was no warmth in this place.
A woman in a black uniform approached me. "This way, Miss Lim."
I followed her inside, my heart hammering against my ribs. The entrance hall was grand, with chandeliers that sparkled like diamonds and floors polished to a mirror shine. But the beauty of it all only made me feel smaller.
Then, I saw him.
Jameson Edward stood at the foot of the grand staircase, dressed in a black suit, his piercing blue eyes locked on me. He was taller than I expected, his sharp jawline and dark hair making him look like he had stepped out of a magazine.
But there was no warmth in his gaze. No emotion.
This man wasn't just cold. He was ice.
"You're late," he said, his deep voice sending a shiver down my spine.
"I-" I hesitated, unsure how to respond.
"It doesn't matter." He glanced at the woman beside me. "Take her to my office."
The woman nodded and led me through a set of heavy wooden doors into a large study. The walls were lined with bookshelves, the scent of leather and expensive cologne filling the air.
Jameson entered a moment later, his expression unreadable.
"Sit," he ordered.
I obeyed, my hands gripping the armrests of the chair.
He leaned against the desk, arms crossed. "Let's get one thing clear, Alexa. This isn't a marriage. It's a business arrangement. You are here because I need a wife to regain my inheritance. In return, your family gets financial security."
I nodded, my throat dry.
"You will act like my devoted wife in public," he continued. "You will attend social events, smile for the cameras, and do exactly as I say. In private, you will stay out of my way."
I clenched my fists under the table. "And after one year?"
His lips curled into a smirk. "After one year, we divorce. You take the money and disappear."
My stomach twisted. One year. I just had to survive one year.
"Understood," I said quietly.
"Good." He opened a drawer and pulled out a contract, sliding it across the desk. "Sign."
I hesitated. "No vows? No ceremony?"
Jameson chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "This isn't a love story, Alexa. It's a transaction."
I swallowed the lump in my throat and picked up the pen. With one shaky breath, I signed my name.
The moment the ink dried, Jameson took the contract, glanced at my signature, then stood. "It's done. You're now Mrs. Edward."
The words hit me like a punch to the gut.
"Melinda will show you to your room," he said dismissively. "Remember-stay out of my way."
I stood slowly, my legs unsteady. As I followed the maid out of the office, I felt the weight of my new reality settle on my shoulders.
I wasn't a bride. I was a pawn.
A woman sold to a man who would never love her.
And as the doors to my new prison closed behind me, I realized something terrifying.
I had just signed away my soul.
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