Billionaire's Contract Bride

PROLOGUE

“I couldn’t accept that.”

My voice trembled as I met his furious gaze. A chilling smile spread across his face, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. He always had this way of making me feel so small, like I was nothing. I instinctively stepped back until I felt the wall against my back. He moved in closer, his hands slamming against the wall beside my head, trapping me. I shut my eyes and held my breath, trying to control the fear that gripped me, feeling like his anger was squeezing the life out of me. I had been through so much, but I never thought I’d end up here, like this.

I flinched as his fingers brushed against my skin, and my eyes flew open. I fought against the tears, but they spilled down my cheeks anyway.

"Do you even realize what you've done?" he demanded, his voice cold and sharp. "This won’t end here," he added, his eyes boring into mine with a look that made my stomach twist.

I took a shaky breath, trying to muster the courage to speak. “Is this all because of what she said?” I glanced over at the woman beside him, who wore a smug smile, clearly enjoying my pain.

“Don’t you dare look at her, not after what you’ve done!” he snarled. I closed my eyes again, fighting the tears that kept coming. “You’re going to regret this every moment of your existence. I promise you that.”

For a moment, I saw the man I had first met, the one who looked at me like I was nothing. He pulled away, storming out of the room, and she followed, like a shadow clinging to him. But before she left, she turned back and gave me a smile that felt like a knife to my heart, then closed the door behind her, leaving me alone.

I sank to the floor, burying my face in my hands as the tears flowed freely. I could feel it. The fairy tale was over. It’s shattered into pieces. All the joy we had, everything I thought we had is gone. If I could just go back, I’d run as fast and as far as I could. I’d never have let myself believe in something that wasn’t real.