Married to billionaire boss

ight over a scene of quiet despair. The scent of damp wood and old bread filled the room. Sitting by the window was Elena Harper, an ei

eavier than usual. The rent was due. The bakery where she worked part-time had cut her hours again. And her mother's cough had wors

table, trying to finish a piece of stale bread. Their mother, Margaret Harp

argaret ca

, rushing to her side and ta

other whispered. "You shoul

in her throat. "We'll g

dn't pay rent o

of her late father - but he had stepped in after her father's death five years ago. Victor was a

ir in the room and looked at Elena with a

ictor said. "I've found a so

ned. "What d

owerful, wealthy beyond imagination. His name is Alexander Blackwood

Red Willow had. Alexander Blackwood was a billionaire, not

continued. "Not for love. For... a

ld. "What does that

lot. Enough to clear your family's debts, buy your

lently. "No. No! I'm not

ling. It's survival. You mar

How could he speak so casually

he whispered

ardening. "The landlord's coming next week. You owe month

sation from the sofa, tried to sit

s is what it takes to save T

d. "There has to

't. They had no relatives. No mone

Elena a crumpled piece of p

ress as best you can

like that

-

mewhere out there, Alexander Blackwood lived in a palace of glass and steel, untouched by

ght of her dreams - dreams of becoming a te

ashe

put on her best dress - a simple white one she had worn to church s

hugged Tommy tightly, and walked o

r. Its marble floors gleamed under chandeliers the size of carriages. Men in crisp suits and women in s

suit approached. "M

aid, her voice

is

ounge. And there, sitting in a black leathe

ine, piercing gray eyes that seemed to see straight through he

r silently for

cted," he said finally, his

thing, too af

d toward her, his movemen

d why you're h

r throat too tig

s. Blackwood in name only. You will attend events with me, smile when needed, and st

ting herself, hating the entire wor

accept?"

mother's sunken face.

er pride, her f

t," she