THE BILLIONAIRE'S UNWANTED BRIDE

Rain poured heavily over the streets of London as Emily Carter hurried toward the bus stop. She pulled her worn coat tighter around herself and glanced at her phone. Three missed calls from the hospital. Her heart sank. Emily worked two jobs to support her mother, who had been ill for years. Every penny she earned went toward hospital bills, rent, and food. There was never anything left for herself. As she rushed through the crowd, someone suddenly stepped into her path. The collision sent a stack of documents flying into the air. "Oh no!" Emily gasped. She immediately bent down to gather the papers. "Watch where you're going." The cold voice made her freeze. She looked up. Standing before her was the most intimidating man she had ever seen. Tall. Sharp jawline. Perfectly tailored suit. And eyes that seemed incapable of kindness. Alexander Kingston. Although Emily didn't recognize him immediately, nearly everyone in Britain knew his name. Young billionaire. CEO of Kingston Holdings. One of the wealthiest men in the country. Emily quickly handed him the papers. "I'm sorry. It was an accident." Alexander inspected the slightly wet documents. His expression darkened. "Do you have any idea how important these are?" Emily frowned. "I said I was sorry." "Sorry doesn't fix damage." The accusation made her blood boil. The rain soaked her hair as she crossed her arms. "And being rude won't dry them." For a moment, Alexander looked surprised. People rarely spoke back to him. Especially strangers. Especially people who clearly had very little. Emily turned to leave. "Wait." She stopped reluctantly. Alexander studied her. Most women recognized him immediately. Most tried to impress him. Most smiled and flirted. This woman looked as though she wanted to throw him into the Thames. "What's your name?" he asked. She raised an eyebrow. "Why?" "Because you ruined my morning." "And you ruined mine." Without another word, Emily walked away. Alexander watched her disappear into the crowd. For reasons he couldn't explain, he couldn't stop thinking about her. --- Two weeks later, fate brought them together again. Emily had managed to secure temporary work at a luxury charity gala. The pay was excellent. She desperately needed it. The event was hosted by Kingston Holdings. The moment she entered the grand ballroom, her stomach dropped. Standing near the stage was Alexander Kingston. He looked even more intimidating than before. Emily silently prayed he wouldn't recognize her. Unfortunately, he did. Their eyes met across the room. A flicker of recognition crossed his face. Neither looked away. Neither smiled. And neither knew that this second meeting would change their lives forever.