The Billionaire Broken Bride

A Proposal Without Love

For a moment, the world seemed to pause. Their eyes met.

“ Something like that”. Adian replied.

He studied her for a moment longer than necessary.

“ You don't look like someone who belongs here”. He said.

Adian left out a laugh short and quick.

“ Where do I belong”?.

He didn't answer immediately. He picked up his glass and took a sip before speaking.

“ Somewhere better than this”.

Adian shook her head.

“You don't know anything about me”.

“ No. But I see pain when I see one”. He replied.

His words hit harder than expected. Adian looked away, holding the glass tightly.

“ Then you must see alot?”. She said softly

“Not like this”. His tone became softer .

Adian swallowed hard.

“Tell me," he asked. What happened”?.

She hesitated and then laughed.

“Why not?. You're a stranger”. It doesn't matter”. She said,

Then she told him everything about the wedding, about the betrayal, about her sister. Not everything but enough.

When she finished there was silence.

“ They don't deserve you”.

Adian looked down at herself.

“You don't even know me, how do you know?”. She said quietly.

“I know enough”. He replied to her.

His gaze held her. Steady.unyielding.

“And what plan do you have now?.

Adian thoughts for a longer moment.

Then slowly she said” I don't know”.

“But I know about one thing”. A strange determination filled her eyes.

“What is that?”. He asked

She turned fully to him. Her expression was bold “ I am not going to be the woman they think I am”. Something flickered through her eyes.

He was amused and he admired her.

“Good”. He said.

Adian looked up at him and asked”what about you”.?

“What about me?”.

“Why are you here”?. He smiled. “Business “.

“At a bar?”. Adian asked, surprised.

“Sometimes the best deals are made in unexpected places”.

Adian studied him for a moment.

“Take me somewhere else”. She said without understanding why she made that decision. A reckless one.

“Are you sure?”.

“No..but I don't care”. She admitted.

For a moment neither of them moved.

“Alright”. He said standing up.

Adian opened her eyes slowly,she didn't move,her mind was still half sleep half wakefulness. Everything felt unfamiliar,the scents,the soft and golden curtains warming the quiet room preventing sunlight from penetrating into the room.

The silence. The weight of something she couldn't place.

Adian stirred. Then it hit her. The bar. The stranger. David and Molly then her eyes opened widely.

Adian sat up quickly,her breathing catching as if suffocating as she looked around the room. The room looked expensive,elegant and minimal. This room doesn't belong to her. Slowly,she turned her head and there he was .

He was lying beside her, one arm resting loosely across the bed. Even in his sleep he was calm as if nothing bothers him in this world.

Adian throat went dry. This wasn't a dream it has really happened.

“Oh God”. She whispered. Pressing her hand on her forehead.

“ What have I done?.” She cautiously stepped out of bed. Her movement was slow as if waking him up would make things worse. She carefully picked up her clothes lying on the floor since last night. Her hands were trembling. She needed to leave now. Whatever this was has been a mistake, a moment of weakness and nothing more.

She grabbed her heels, hurriedly moving towards the door.

“Leaving already?. Ethan said half awakened.

The voice startled Adian. Slowly she turned ,he was there awake.

He was lying there with one arm on the bed popping out his head. There was no confusion in his gaze. No regrets. Just calmness.

“I…I.” Adian was trying to say something but words were not forming in her mouth .

“ I didn't want to wake you.” She finally said.

“You didn't”. He replied immediately.

Silence fell between them.

Adian looked down, avoiding his eyes.

“Last night. It shouldn't have happened”.

“And yet it did”. His tone wasn't mocking. It wasn't emotional but factual.

Adian gripped her finger tightly on her shoes.

“I was upset and sad. I wasn't thinking clearly “

“I know”.

That surprised her then she looked up.

“ You told me why”. He continues” you were betrayed".

The words felt heavy on her.

“ Still that doesn't justify this”. She said, shaking her head pitifully.

He studied her for a moment. Then asked.

“ Do you regret it?”.

Adian opened her mouth but words were not coming. Did she?

Last night had been reckless, emotional draining and was completely unlike her but regrets? She wasn't sure.

“I don't know. She murmured.

“Then don't rush to justify it”. He said.

Adian inhaled and exhaled slowly

“It doesn't matter, it's over”. She turned ready to leave again.

“What's your name”?

She paused

“Adian.”

“Adian?. He repeated the words as if testing how it sounded.

After a brief moment, he said “Ethan”.

She nodded.

“Good bye Ethan”. And this time she walked out.

The world outside felt too normal as if nothing had happened but everything had.

Adian stopped a taxi and she settled in, her mind racing.

Today is her wedding or… it was supposed to be. She switched on her phone she had earlier switched off last night. Numerous messages start coming in. All from David, from her parents,unknown number, calls, messages and notifications.

The News had already spread.

“Adian Victory disappeared the night before her wedding “. “Bride to be caught in scandal “. Her chest tightened. Of course, David won't stay silent, he would protect himself even if it meant destroying her.

“Where to?. The driver asked.

Adian hesitated then gave him an address. Not her home because she couldn't go back there yet.

By the time Adian decided to attend to her message ls. The damage has already been done. The taxi dropped her at a small cafe she entered and sat at the corner and ordered a cup of coffee.

Her phone buzzed again.

“Adian, where are you?”. Her mother's voice came through sharp and panicked.

“I'm fine”. She said softly.