Married to billionaires boss

to edit thi

ll review it.

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

she spoke. No flicker of sympathy. No sign of triumph. Just a col

r in. The man, who introduced himself as Mr. Hawthorne

ave the premises without permission. You will attend all public events scheduled. You will not interfere with my per

if it were a snake. She felt h

t makes no difference. You're free to walk away no

knife to

d to steady. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to run, to fight, to refuse. Bu

si

bled onto the paper, binding her tighter

e placed the pen dow

The wedding will be tomorrow. Ci

orr

Elena had to grip the edge o

a snap. "We'll arrange transportation

na echoed, her

here now," Al

ng made her s

lackwood Mano

the distance between her old life and her new prison. Elena stared out the tinted win

, they

one walls, iron gates, manicured gardens stretching into forever. A fountai

at struck Elena. It was the coldness. Th

ants in crisp uniforms bustled abo

," Hawtho

er entire apartment. A king-sized bed, soft light

ckwood's quarters are in the west wing. Y

all in. This could not be her l

dinner," Hawthorne said

r click

rying to breathe, trying to believe that this was real. That she had ag

screamed

ilver tray. She sat curled up by the enormous window, staring at th

iling, the squeaky floorboards, Tomm

secret: opening a small school for children in Red

it was

hugged her knees to her chest and wept,

e with brut

le white dress. No lace, no flowers. Just a plain gown,

r had been brushed into soft waves. A touch of pale powder duste

ceremony would take place. No church. No music. Just papers and

there, standing like

-looking man in a blac

Alexander Blackwood to be

ce caught i

rced i

d

kwood, take Elena Harper to

said withou

ngs were exchanged - simpl

as d

became Elen

turned to her, his

s you expect, the easier th

her standing there - a bride with no wedding, a wi

ight of the new name she bore, the

rned - anger, fear, sorrow, hope - but for now,

as no longer

rs. Black

was no g

to edit thi

eview it. Thanks

wor

lis

aled in D

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

she spoke. No flicker of sympathy. No sign of triumph. Just a col

r in. The man, who introduced himself as Mr. Hawthorne

ave the premises without permission. You will attend all public events scheduled. You will not interfere with my per

if it were a snake. She felt h

t makes no difference. You're free to walk away no

knife to

d to steady. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to run, to fight, to refuse. Bu

si

bled onto the paper, binding her tighter

e placed the pen dow

The wedding will be tomorrow. Ci

orr

Elena had to grip the edge o

a snap. "We'll arrange transportation

na echoed, her

here now," Al

ng made her s

lackwood Mano

the distance between her old life and her new prison. Elena stared out the tinted win

, they

one walls, iron gates, manicured gardens stretching into forever. A fountai

at struck Elena. It was the coldness. Th

ants in crisp uniforms bustled abo

," Hawtho

er entire apartment. A king-sized bed, soft light

ckwood's quarters are in the west wing. Y

all in. This could not be her l

dinner," Hawthorne said

r click

rying to breathe, trying to believe that this was real. That she had ag

screamed

ilver tray. She sat curled up by the enormous window, staring at th

iling, the squeaky floorboards, Tomm

secret: opening a small school for children in Red

it was

hugged her knees to her chest and wept,

e with brut

le white dress. No lace, no flowers. Just a plain gown,

r had been brushed into soft waves. A touch of pale powder duste

ceremony would take place. No church. No music. Just papers and

there, standing like

-looking man in a blac

Alexander Blackwood to be

ce caught i

rced i

d

kwood, take Elena Harper to

said withou

ngs were exchanged - simpl

as d

became Elen

turned to her, his

s you expect, the easier th

her standing there - a bride with no wedding, a wi

ight of the new name she bore, the

rned - anger, fear, sorrow, hope - but for now,

as no longer

rs. Black

was no g