The Billionaire's Unwanted Wife

The Billionaire’s Unwanted Wife Chapter 1 — The Marriage Proposal Rain poured heavily against the windows of the small Carter family home. Elena Rose Carter sat quietly at the old wooden dining table, staring at the cup of untouched coffee in front of her. She had been sitting there for almost twenty minutes. Across from her, her father, Daniel Carter, looked exhausted. His once-black hair had turned gray in several places. His shoulders were always tense these days, and the tired lines on his face seemed deeper than they had been a month ago. Beside him sat Elena's mother, Maria. Neither of them spoke. The silence made Elena nervous. “Dad,” Elena finally said, “what happened?” Daniel looked at his daughter. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. Elena's heart tightened. “Is it the company?” Her father's small construction business had been struggling for months. Several clients had refused to pay, and the bank had already sent multiple warnings about their unpaid loans. Daniel lowered his head. “We're going to lose everything.” Elena froze. “What?” “The bank is giving us two weeks.” Her mother immediately looked down, trying to hide her tears. Elena stood from her chair. “How much do we owe?” Daniel didn't answer. “Dad.” “Twenty million pesos.” Elena's face went pale. Twenty million. There was no way their family could pay that amount. “That's impossible,” she whispered. “I know.” “Can we sell the house?” “No. Even if we sell it, it won't be enough.” “Then what are we going to do?” Daniel looked at his daughter with an expression Elena couldn't understand. It was sadness. And guilt. “What?” Her father slowly pushed a large white envelope across the table. Elena stared at it. “What is that?” “Open it.” She hesitated before picking it up. Her fingers carefully opened the envelope. Inside was a document. At the top were several words that immediately caught her attention. Marriage Agreement. Elena's eyes widened. “What is this?” Her father closed his eyes. “It's an agreement from the Black family.” “The Black family?” “Yes.” Elena had heard of them. Everyone had. The Black family was one of the most powerful families in the country. Their company, Blackstone Empire, owned hotels, banks, technology companies, shopping centers, and several other businesses. And at the center of that empire was one man. Adrian Alexander Black. The billionaire CEO. A man known for being cold, powerful, and impossible to approach. Elena looked back at the document. “Why are they sending us a marriage agreement?” Her mother finally spoke. “They want you to marry Adrian.” The room became completely silent. Elena thought she had heard wrong. “Excuse me?” “They want you to marry him,” her father repeated. Elena let out a nervous laugh. “This isn't funny.” “No one is joking.” She looked between her parents. “You're serious?” Her father nodded. Elena pushed the document away. “No.” “Listen to me—” “No, Dad.” She stood up. “You can't ask me to marry a stranger.” “He can save the company.” “That isn't my responsibility!” Daniel looked hurt. Elena immediately regretted her words. But she was terrified. She didn't want to marry someone she didn't know just because her family was drowning in debt. “I love you,” she said softly. “You're my father. I'll help you find another way.” “There is no other way.” Her father's voice cracked. “The bank will take everything.” Elena's eyes filled with tears. Her mother reached for her hand. “Elena, please.” She looked down at the contract. There was a photograph attached to it. A man wearing a perfectly fitted black suit. Dark hair. Sharp jaw. Cold eyes. Even through a photograph, Adrian Black looked intimidating. Elena stared at his face. “He doesn't even know me.” “He agreed to the marriage,” her father said. “Why?” “We don't know.” Elena frowned. “Then what does he want?” Her father shook his head. “The contract says the marriage will last two years.” “And after two years?” “You will divorce.” Elena's fingers tightened around the document. “So I'm supposed to become his wife for two years?” “Yes.” “And in exchange, he'll pay our debts?” “Yes.” She looked at her parents. Neither of them could meet her eyes. Elena felt tears running down her cheeks. She hated this. She hated that her family had reached a point where her future had become a solution to their problems. But she also couldn't watch her parents lose their home. She slowly picked up the contract. “I'll meet him first.” Her father looked surprised. “You will?” “I didn't say yes.” She wiped her tears. “I just want to know what kind of man I'm supposed to marry.” --- The next morning, Elena stood in front of Blackstone Empire. The enormous glass building seemed to touch the sky. People in expensive suits walked through the entrance, speaking confidently into their phones. Elena looked down at her simple white blouse and black skirt. She suddenly felt out of place. A receptionist approached her. “Miss Carter?” “Yes.” “Mr. Black is expecting you.” Elena nodded. “Thank you.” She followed the receptionist into the elevator. As the elevator climbed higher, Elena's heart beat faster. She wasn't sure whether she was nervous or angry. Maybe both. When the elevator doors opened on the top floor, the receptionist pointed toward a large office. “Mr. Black is inside.” Elena thanked her. Then she walked toward the door. She knocked. “Come in.” The deep male voice made her stop for a moment. She took a breath and entered. The first thing she noticed was the enormous window behind the desk. The second thing she noticed was him. Adrian Black stood near the window, looking over the city. He was taller than she expected. His black suit fit perfectly against his broad shoulders. He turned around. His eyes immediately landed on Elena. Neither of them spoke. Adrian studied her quietly. Elena did the same. He looked exactly like the photograph. Cold. Calm. Untouchable. “You're Elena Carter.” It wasn't a question. “Yes.” Adrian walked toward his desk. “Sit.” Elena sat across from him. Adrian placed a folder on the desk. “You've read the contract?” “Yes.” “You understand the conditions?” “Yes.” “Then this should be easy.” Elena frowned. “Easy?” Adrian looked at her. “This is a business arrangement.” She felt a strange sting in her chest. “I know.” “There will be no interference in each other's personal lives.” Elena nodded. “You won't question where I go or who I meet.” “Fine.” “You won't expect affection.” Elena looked at him. “I wasn't planning to.” His eyes narrowed slightly. Perhaps he wasn't used to people answering him that way. Adrian leaned back in his chair. “You'll live in my house.” “Do I have to?” “Yes.” “Why?” “Because the public needs to believe this marriage is real.” Elena sighed. “Of course.” Adrian pushed the contract toward her. “If you agree, your family's debt will be paid immediately.” Elena looked down at the papers. Twenty million pesos. Her family's home. Her father's company. Her mother's future. Everything depended on her decision. She picked up the pen. Before signing, she looked at Adrian. “One question.” “What?” “Why me?” Adrian's expression became unreadable. “Because you're suitable.” “That's not an answer.” “It doesn't matter.” Elena stared at him. For some reason, she felt that there was something he wasn't telling her. But she didn't have the strength to investigate. She signed. Elena Rose Carter. Adrian watched her. Then he signed his own name. Adrian Alexander Black. The contract was complete. Elena slowly stood. “So that's it?” “For now.” She nodded. “Then I'll see you at the wedding.” Adrian looked at her. “There won't be a wedding.” She blinked. “What?” “A private ceremony. No unnecessary attention.” Elena stared at him. “Fine.” She turned toward the door. “Elena.” She stopped. Adrian's voice was colder than before. “Don't mistake this marriage for something real.” She looked over her shoulder. For a moment, their eyes met. Then Elena smiled sadly. “Don't worry, Mr. Black.” She opened the door. “I know exactly what this is.” She walked away. Adrian remained in his office, staring at the closed door. He didn't know why her words bothered him. He had wanted a simple arrangement. A wife on paper. Nothing more. But for the first time in years, Adrian had a strange feeling that his carefully controlled life was about to change. And Elena? She walked into the elevator with tears in her eyes. She had just agreed to marry the most powerful man in the city. A man who didn't love her. A man who didn't want her. A man who had already warned her not to expect anything from him. She took a deep breath. “Two years,” she whispered. “Just two years.” She didn't know that two years would be much harder than she imagined. And she certainly didn't know that one day, the cold billionaire who called her his unwanted wife would be the same man begging her not to leave.