The Billionaire's Contract Bride

The room erupted in applause. I smiled. For the first time that evening, I truly believed I was the happiest woman alive. My fingers tightened around the small bouquet of white roses as I looked across the beautifully decorated ballroom. Crystal chandeliers glittered above us, champagne glasses sparkled on every table, and dozens of familiar faces had gathered to celebrate my engagement. Tonight was supposed to be the beginning of my forever. I looked at my fiancé. Daniel stood beside the stage in his perfectly tailored black suit, looking every bit like the man I had fallen in love with five years ago. Our eyes met. He didn't smile. A strange feeling settled in my stomach. Before I could ask what was wrong, Daniel stepped toward the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen," he said. The room slowly became quiet. "I have an announcement to make." I smiled nervously. Maybe he was going to surprise me. Maybe he was going to announce our wedding date. My heart fluttered. Then Daniel turned toward my sister. And smiled. "Tonight was supposed to be my engagement celebration with Sophia." My smile disappeared. "Unfortunately, that engagement is over." A murmur swept through the room. I stared at him. "What?" Daniel didn't look at me. Instead, he walked toward my sister, Emma. She stood near the front of the room in a red dress I'd helped her choose only three days ago. Daniel took her hand. My stomach dropped. "I'm marrying Emma." Silence. Complete, unbearable silence. For several seconds, I couldn't breathe. Someone behind me whispered my name. I heard another person gasp. But all I could see was Daniel holding my sister's hand. My sister—the person I had trusted more than anyone. My fiancé—the man I had planned my entire future around. "No," I whispered. Daniel finally looked at me. There was no guilt in his eyes. Only impatience. "Sophia, don't make a scene." A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "Don't make a scene?" My voice shook. "You just announced in front of everyone that you're leaving me for my sister." Emma stepped forward. "Sophia, please—" "Don't." She stopped. I looked at her. "How long?" Her face went pale. "How long have you two been together?" Neither of them answered. That silence was enough. My chest tightened. Five years. Five years of loving Daniel. Five years of believing that I had found the person I would spend the rest of my life with. And they had been laughing behind my back. My eyes burned, but I refused to cry. Not here. Not in front of them. I placed my bouquet on the nearest table. "Congratulations." Daniel frowned. "What?" I forced myself to smile. "You wanted to marry her. Fine." I looked at Emma. "Then I hope you both get exactly what you deserve." I turned around. And walked away. I didn't make it past the ballroom doors before the tears finally fell. But I had no idea that leaving that room would be the last decision I made as the old Sophia. Because waiting outside the ballroom was a man who had been watching everything. Alexander Kane. The most powerful businessman in the city. The man everyone feared. And the last man I ever expected to speak to me. He stepped out of the shadows. "Sophia." I froze. I wiped my tears quickly. "Do I know you?" His expression didn't change. "No." He stepped closer. "But I know you." I stared at him suspiciously. "How?" His eyes moved over my face before settling on mine. Then he said the words that would change my life forever. "I have a proposition for you." "What kind of proposition?" He pulled a black folder from inside his jacket and held it toward me. "Marry me." My heart stopped. I stared at the folder. Then at him. "You're insane." A faint smile touched his lips. "Perhaps." He opened the folder. "But I'm offering you ten million dollars." My breath caught. "And all you have to do..." He looked directly into my eyes. "...is become my wife for one year."