All Chapters of The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The 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

The penthouse feels too big for me. Its elegant, of course, every inch of it designed with a kind of perfection that makes me feel like Im living inside a museum. The floors gleam underfoot, the walls adorned with modern art pieces that scream wealth. The view from the floor-to-roof windows is confounding — a general scene of New Yorks skyline that feels as far off as all the other things in this world. I step into the living room, my heels clicking against the cool marble floors, however the sound appears to be suppressed here, consumed by the huge space around me. Alexander is now sitting on the lounge chair, a glass of whiskey in hand , the cool amber liquid getting the light. He doesnt even look at me when I enter. Make yourself comfortable,he says, his voice smooth but detached. It’s as if he’s speaking to a guest, not a wife. I nod awkwardly, uncertain where to start. The quiet stretches between us, thick and choking. He hasn't spoken much since we left the wedding. In fact

The evening feels different from the others. There's an unpretentious change in the air, a slight pressure that I can't exactly put. It's like something is going to occur — something that could either break us apart or unite us. I sit in the lounge area, tinkering with my fork, not really tasting the food before me. I've never been a lot of an eater, however this evening, the food feels particularly unappealing. The lavish dishes Alexander ordered are all fine dining, too rich and elaborate for my simple tastes. The flavors are too bold, too fancy, and I find myself pushing the food around on my plate, lost in thought. Across from me, Alexander is focused on his phone, eyes flicking from the screen to his glass of wine. He doesn’t look up at me. The distance between us is as it always has been—an unspoken wall that neither of us has bothered to address. But then, something shifts. Just a flicker, a small moment, but it’s enough to make my heart skip a beat. “Leila,” he says sud

The morning light is simply starting to channel through the blinds of our penthouse, creating long shaded areas across the cleaned floors. The city outside murmurs with life, the usual chaos of blaring vehicles and the blur of individuals hurrying to their next destination. Yet, inside, everything is still. The air feels as if it's not moving, as if it's holding its breath, waiting there expecting something.I sit at the kitchen island, gazing down at a cup of coffee that has gone cold. My fingers twist around the porcelain, however my mind is somewhere else. It's been right around fourteen days since I moved into this penthouse, and I've become used to the quiet between Alexander and me. The briskness, however, still present, feels less choking out now, more like a far-off murmur. Yet, it's still there, waiting like a shadow I can't exactly shake off.Just as I take a sip of the now tepid coffee, the lift tolls, signalling Alexander's return. He steps into the room, his presence as

I look fixedly at the clock on the wall, counting the seconds that slip by without anything changing. The quietness between Alexander and me feels heavier tonight. It’s the kind of silence that stretches out into hours, pressing on me, chocking me. I’ve learned how to continue to be in this silence, how to feign it that it doesn’t bother me, that it’s just a part of the arrangement. But, it’s different, tonight.I’ve reached my limit.I can feel this biting emptiness that has been creeping up on me since the day we said our vows. I’ve been endeavouring to ignore it, trying to persuade myself that this is exactly what my life has turned to, that this is the price I pay for saving my family from mess. But tonight, I can’t push the thoughts aside any longer.I’ve had enough.Taking a deep breath, I move in the direction of the man turning over a financial report like it’s the most interesting thing in the world,who’s sitting across the room. His attention is fixed on the papers before hi