The Billionaire Broken Bride

The Bride They Betrayed

“Fine?. Do you know what people are saying? David told everyone you ran off with another man”.

Adian closed her eyes. She could hear people's whispers in her head.

“He is lying”. She said, trying to convince her mother.

“Then come home and explain”. Her mother snapped.” Fix this before it gets out of hand”.

“Fix this”.? Adian repeated those words in her head as if she were the problem. As if she was at fault. As if she was not the victim here.

“I can't.”

“ What do you mean you can't?. This is your wedding”.

“No”. Adian said, her voice shaking.

Then she ended the call. Her hand trembled as she placed the phone on the table. Her eyes were blurry. She had lost everything,her relationship, her life, her family trust, her reputation all in one night.

“Mind if I sit?”. Adian was startled; she abruptly turned her breath seized for a second. “Ethan?”.

He stood there, he was calm as ever as if nothing in this world bothers him.

“What are you doing here”. She asked surprised.

“I could ask you the same”. He replied calmly, pulling out a seat across from her without asking for permission.

Adian frowned.Looking around

“Did you follow me”?.

“No”.

“Then how?.

“ You're not hard to find today”.

Her heart sank. The scandals. The news.

He glanced at her phone then back to her.

“ They are blaming you”.

Adian nodded bitterly.

“Of course they are. Who else will they blame?. No one believes me

“And what are you going to do about it”?

She exhaled sharply, looking exhausted.

“What can I do? No one will ever believe me”. She said,

Ethan rested his back on his chair studying her.

“There is always a way”.

“Not this time”.

“Yes…especially time like this”.

Adian shakes her head.

“ You don't understand. His family is powerful and my family cares more about their reputation than the truth am alone”.

Ethan was silent for a moment.

“Then marry me.”

Adian froze. It is like everything around her stopped.she felt those words like a bomb.

“What?.

“I said…marry me”. He repeated those words calmly.

She stared at him, not sure of what she just heard.

“This is not funny.”

“I'm not joking.”

Her heart began racing faster this time.

“You're serious?”

“Yes.”

Adian let out a dry laugh.

“But we just met “.

“I'm aware. And we slept together once”.

She shook her head slowly.

“This is insane.”

“It's practical”.

She froze.

“What's practical?”.

“Yes. Ethan said. You need protection,your reputation is already destroyed. If you agree to marry me it changes everything “.

“How?.

“Because I don't lose”.

The confidence in his voice sent a strange chill through her spine.

“People will respect you. Your ex fiance won't be able to disturb you. Your family will have no choice than to accept it”.

Adian's mind went wide.

“And you?. What do you get in return?. She asked.

“ A wife”.

She stared.

“But you could have anyone?”.

“Yes. I could have anyone but I love solving problems. I want a solution”.

She stared at him longer this time.

“And I'm your solution?”.

“Yes. This would be a contract. No emotions. No expectations, we helped each other.”

“This is crazy. Completely crazy.”

She has had enough already and the only way she could leave this mess is by agreeing to his offer. At least she would have control.

“What happens when it's over?. She asked, confused.

“We go our separate ways. No attachment. No heartbreaks just deal”.

Adian looked out of the window then back to him.

“Are you serious about this?" .She asked to be sure.

“I don't make offers I don't have internet on”.

Her chest tightened. She could have just walked away or just taken the risks but this is a dangerous one but maybe… a necessary one.

Adian took a long deep breath.

“Okie. I accept”.

Ethan didn't react to her answer as if he was already expecting that.

“Okie”. He repeated.

“What now”?. Her voice was steady but her heart was still racing.

Ethan stood up adjusted his jacket

“Now everything has changed. We will rewrite your story”.

Carter's estate was filled with people. The wedding was supposed to start in less than two hours but there was no bride. Guests moved in and out of the hall impatiently, there was chaos everywhere and the staff was trying back and forth to maintain order but the rumours in the air were high and it's a question about scandals no one dared to ask.

David Carter stood inside his room near his window, his jaw tightened.

“This is getting out of hand”. He murmured.

Molly sat on the couch across from him. She placed her hand on her lap nervously.

“She will come back”. She said quietly” she has to”.

David let out a sharp laugh.

“After everything that happened ?.

“ She will come back”. Molly repeated.

“I doubt that”. David's expression changed now to something colder.

“This might be for the best. I was already planning to cut her off”.

Molly starred.

“Then why didn't you?”.

“Timing”. He said.

Before Molly could respond, the door burst open. Adian is here. Both of them froze. For a moment they couldn't move.

David and Molly stood up abruptly.

“She actually came back." Molly said her face was pale.

“Of course she did. She has nowhere else to go. And today is her wedding “. David said.

But deep down they felt something about her… something was off “.

The gigantic door of the hall was opened slowly. Adian Victory stepped in and everyone turned to see her. Whispers stopped and everywhere was silent.

She stood there not in a wedding dress, not in tears not broken. She was composed and elegant and beside her was him. Ethan Blackwood.

The crowd was shocked, people were surprised.

“Is that Ethan Blackwood”?. No one dares to ask out aloud. “ What is he doing here?...with her?. But rumours had it she ran away with someone. Ooh my God! …Is that him?.