Leila Adams has always felt small, living in the shadow of her family’s expectations. Shy and unsure, she never thought much of herself—until her father arranges a marriage to a man she barely knows: Alexander Hawke. He’s a powerful billionaire with a cold, unfeeling exterior, hiding the pain of a past full of betrayal. At first, Leila’s marriage to Alexander feels like a business deal. He’s distant, controlled, and doesn’t care for her at all. But as time goes on, something starts to change. Leila begins to find her own voice, growing stronger with every passing day. And Alexander, who thought he could keep everything under control, starts to see the woman beneath the surface—the woman who could break down the walls around his heart. As Leila and Alexander begin to learn what it means to trust, love, and heal, both of them must face their pasts and decide if they can build a future together. Will Leila finally embrace her true strength? Can Alexander let go of his fear and open up to love? In The Billionaire’s Reluctant Bride, passion, trust, and transformation collide in a story of love that neither of them ever saw coming. Read Now and experience their journey of love, healing, and second chances.
View MoreThe ballroom is massive,it is too large for me to truly understand it. A sea of polished marble stretches beneath my feet, the high ceilings is very far above, decorated in gold ornamental work. The chandeliers sparkle as the stars in the sky sparkle, and every corner of the room is bathed in a golden light.
Be that as it may, regardless of how lovely the space is or the way in which stunning the visitors are, I feel thoroughly like a gatecrasher who doesn't have a place there.All I taste is dread in me. My heels against the marble floor as I'm strolling reverberations noisily in my ears, yet the clamor is immediately gulped by the mumble of discussion and the clunk of glasses. I don’t belong here. The dress is great—an intricate blend of satin and lace—lace that clings to my body in ways that make it feel unnatural. I never imagined I’d wear something like this. It’s beautiful, yes, but it feels like a mask, a costume, something I’m expected to wear to play a role that isn’t mine — just like a movie. The weight of it presses down on my shoulders, heavier than I ever anticipated. But it’s not just the dress. It’s the life that comes with it—the life that’s been planned for me without my knowledge whether I wanted it or not. I feel small in this room, small in this life. My father’s world of high society, of power and money, is foreign to me. It always has been. I glance through the crowd, my eyes landing briefly on the people who fill this space and they are perfectly poised, effortlessly graceful, each one in their element. None of them are like me. I’m out of place. But none of them matter, either. I turn my head, seeking some eyes that are familiar in this sea of strangers. And then I see him. At the far end of the room,my father stands there surrounded by his usual entourage,business partners, associates, people who live in the world he’s built. His back is straight, his posture is impeccable. He’s shaking hands, exchanging pleasantries with a smile that never quite on his face. The perfect businessman. Always performing. But when his gaze flickers toward me, there’s something I’ve seen countless times in it. A glint and a glimmer of expectation. What's more, it makes my stomach beats. I've done my part however I don't feel like I'm in charge of anything any longer. I've gone through my whole time on earth attempting to satisfy my dad's unimaginable guidelines, continuously remaining in the shadow of my ideal more established sister, Veronica. And now,this marriage is one thing that was never my choice. “Leila.” I stiffen at the sound of his voice. My father’s tone is calm, cold as always. “You’ve made it,my dear daughter,” he says, his eyes flicking over me in the same way he would assess any business deal. “Good. Keep your head up dear. You’re representing this family tonight.” I nod, though the words pierce me like a pin. “I know.” “You should be proud of yourself darling,” he adds, though I can hear the strain in his voice, as if he’s convincing himself more than me. “This marriage– you are doing— will ensure our future.” Our future. The words make my stomach twist. “Is it everything you expected?” he asks, his eyes narrowing slightly as he assesses me again and again, the smile on his face just a little too perfect. I force a fake smile, but it feels brittle. “It’s... fine.” He looks at me as if he’s waiting for something more, but the silence stretches between us, very thick and suffocating. Finally, he speaks again and his voice is now softer, but there’s an edge to it I don’t miss. “I didn’t have the luxury of choice when I was your age, Leila. You should comprehend that. This is your duty. This marriage will secure your place.” “Understood,” I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper. I turn away before he can say more words. I can feel his eyes boring into my back as I walk away, but I don’t dare look back at him. As I walk through the crowd, I spot Veronica across the room. She’s talking with some man I don’t recognize, but her posture is perfect and her smile radiant, as always. She’s everything I could never be. Confident. Successful. Accomplished. She fits here. I never will. I calm my nerves and take a deep breath. "Leila." The voice stops me. I turn slowly, almost feel extreme reluctance to look at anyone, and there he is. Alexander Hawke. The man I’m about to marry. The billionaire. The stranger. He’s taller than I expected, his presence is commanding. Even in a room full of great and powerful people, he stands out. His dark hair is neatly combed, and his sharp suit fits like it was tailored for him. He looks at me assessing me with his gaze, and I can’t help but feel like I’m being weighed and measured. "Mr. Hawke," I manage, my voice feels small in comparison to his own voice. “Leila,” he says in a low voice, smooth and almost too calm. “I trust you're enjoying the evening?” I force a fake smile, but it feels like it’s held together with strings. “It’s... fine.” He nods, but doesn’t smile back. “Good. The arrangements have been made. Everything is in place. Your father is now satisfied.” The words sting. “I’m glad to know.” He seems to study me for a moment, his dark eyes flicking over my face with an intensity. “I hope you understand the gravity of what this marriage means.” I try to ignore the fear in me, but it’s impossible. "I do." "You’re not just marrying me, Leila. You’re becoming part of something far bigger than you’ve been prepared for. Your family’s future depends on this." Hope you understand? There it is. The truth. I’ve been nothing more than a pawn all along. My stomach twists again, but I keep my face neutral. "I understand," I repeat. "Good," he says, "I’m not one for pretense, Leila. You know why this arrangement exists. You know why we’re here tonight.” I nod, unable to speak the words aloud. Yes, I know. This isn’t about love. This is about survival. About saving my family from the mess my father has made of their finances. I see the irregular move of something in Alexander’s eyes—something I can’t quite place. But before I can ponder it further, he turns, his hand gesturing toward the crowd. “Shall we mingle?” he asks.But it’s not just a question, rather; it’s an order. I nod and step beside him, the silence continues to hover between us,filled with unspoken things. As we make our way through the crowd, the tension between us grows and thickens like smoke. Alexander doesn’t speak again, but his presence looms over me, the weight of his status, his power, undeniable. Finally, we stop near a window where the city lights of New York are stretching out in front of us. He looks out over the skyline, his posture rigid, his gaze faraway. “What do you want from me, Leila?” he asks, I looked up at him surprisingly with the question he asks. He turns to face me, and for the first time, I see something more than just business in him. I try to calm my nerves,but my heart still pounds in my chest. “I... I want to understand. I want to know what this is. What you expect from me.” His lips tighten slightly, looking at me, but he doesn’t answer immediately. Instead, he watches me with an intensity that makes me feel more exposed and vulnerable. And then, just as I think he might speak, just as I think I might finally understand what he wants from me, the door to the ballroom swings open and a sharp, harsh voice cuts through the air, the last thing I ever expected to hear tonight. "Leila, you’re needed." I freeze. It’s my father.The phone call from Robert echoed in my mind long after I had hung up. His voice, smooth and chilling, was a reminder that no matter how far we thought we’d come, the battles we faced were never really over. But this time was different. It wasn’t just about the company. It wasn’t just about the business or the threats. This time, it was about us. About everything we had built, not just as partners in a deal, but as a couple. As a team. As a family.I looked up at Alexander, who had been standing quietly beside me, his presence the steady anchor I needed to keep myself grounded. We had been through so much—more than I had ever imagined, more than I ever thought we could withstand. But here we were. Together.“We’ve been fighting for so long,” I whispered, my voice barely audible in the silence that had descended between us. “But now, I feel like we’re just beginning.”Alexander’s eyes softened, and he stepped closer, his hand gently brushing the side of my face, lifting my chin so that
The words Sophie had spoken still echoed in my mind. We’ve found the mole. I had barely processed the enormity of what she was saying when my fingers trembled against the phone, as if I could somehow steady the storm that was gathering inside me. Robert was playing a game on a level I hadn’t anticipated, and now, it wasn’t just about the company or the fight for our future—it was about betrayal.The silent dread I’d felt in the past few moments wasn’t just the weight of the business decisions or the personal stakes anymore. It was the realization that someone close to us had sold us out. They had been feeding Robert information. Our information. And every moment we spent uncovering the layers of this conspiracy, the deeper the pit in my stomach grew.I turned to Alexander, who had been standing quietly beside me, his eyes reflecting a calm I was beginning to envy. He knew the stakes. He always did. But the way his hand reached for mine, the quiet strength in his touch, reassured me. N
The moment Sophie spoke, the words themselves seemed to shift the ground beneath my feet. “It’s worse than we thought.”The room seemed to shrink in on itself. I could feel the chill creeping back into my chest, the anxiety knotting up inside me once more. Whatever news Sophie had come to deliver, it wasn’t just business. It was something bigger. Something more personal.Alexander’s hand, firm and steady, still gripped mine, but I could sense the same quiet tension that had been present before. He wasn’t showing it, but I knew him too well. We had faced many storms together, but something about this felt different. More dangerous. More insidious.“I don’t understand,” I said, my voice rising slightly in disbelief. “What do you mean it’s worse? What’s happening?”Sophie stepped into the room, her eyes darting between Alexander and me, searching for some kind of grounding in the storm. “Robert’s been planning this for months. It’s not just about the company anymore. He’s moving into our
I didn’t realize how much I had been holding my breath until Sophie’s words settled into my chest. Someone’s been feeding him information. We’ve got a mole.The weight of that statement hung in the air, suffocating any peace I’d managed to find. A mole. Someone on the inside, working against us. I felt the familiar cold clutch of betrayal settle over me, creeping into the spaces between my ribs. Betrayal always tasted the same—bitter, poisonous—but this? This was different. This was a threat I hadn’t seen coming.“Leila,” Sophie’s voice crackled through the phone, dragging me back to the moment. “We need to find out who it is. If we don’t, Robert will have everything we’ve worked for before we can even react.”I swallowed, pushing past the rush of panic that rose in my throat. “Do you have any leads? Any idea who could be involved?”There was a pause on the other end of the line, a brief hesitation that spoke volumes. “Not yet,” Sophie replied, the frustration in her voice palpable. “
The buzzing of the phone echoed in the quiet room, sharp and insistent, like a reminder that the world outside was far from the peace we had built inside these walls. I had hoped for a moment longer, just a moment, to breathe, to enjoy the feeling of—of being together without any looming threats or doubts.But then Robert’s name flashed across the screen.My fingers hovered over the screen for a moment before I pressed accept, feeling my heart race as the seconds ticked by.“Leila,” his voice came through the phone, smooth and controlled, as always. “I think it’s time we had a little chat.”I could feel the weight of his words settle over me, his calm, calculating tone making my stomach twist. But I didn’t flinch. I didn’t give him the satisfaction of showing how much his presence still unnerved me. Not this time. Not after everything we had been through.“I’m listening,” I said, my voice steady, despite the storm brewing inside me.There was a brief silence on the other end, then a s
The air around us crackled with tension as I ended the call with Sophie. Her words, once a murmur on the other side of the line, now echoed loudly in my mind. It’s not just Robert. We’ve uncovered something else. Something even bigger.I could feel Alexander's gaze on me, his presence like a steady anchor, even though his thoughts were no doubt racing. The moment we had just shared—the promise of a future that wasn’t consumed by the next battle, the next fight—now seemed like an illusion, slipping away as quickly as it had arrived.Sophie had said it. Something bigger. My stomach twisted at the thought. What did she mean by that? And if Robert wasn’t the only threat we faced, who else could be pulling the strings?I turned toward Alexander, trying to find the calm I knew he could give me, but it was harder to find this time. His eyes locked onto mine with the same fierce determination they always had, but this time, there was something else. A flicker of doubt. It wasn’t much—barely n
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