The Billionaire’s Bride
1204 Words
Emily woke before dawn.
For several seconds, she forgot where she was.
Then she saw the white wedding dress hanging beside the window.
Reality came rushing back.
Victoria was dead.
And Emily was about to become her.
She sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the dress.
It was beautiful.
Ivory silk.
Long sleeves.
A delicate veil.
Victoria had chosen it herself.
Emily remembered the day.
Victoria had stood in front of the mirror while Emily sat on the bed.
“Do I look like a billionaire’s wife?”
Emily had laughed.
“You look like a woman who is about to make a terrible financial decision.”
Victoria had thrown a pillow at her.
Now the dress looked like a funeral shroud.
A knock sounded.
Emily turned.
Her father entered.
He looked exhausted.
“Dad.”
Richard stopped.
For a moment, he stared at the dress.
Then he said, “You don’t have to do this.”
Emily looked at him.
“Yes, I do.”
“No.”
“You need the treatment.”
“We can find another way.”
“Can we?”
Richard said nothing.
Emily stood.
“How much time do you have?”
He looked away.
“Dad.”
“I don’t know.”
“How serious is it?”
His jaw tightened.
“Your sister wanted this marriage.”
“She’s dead.”
“I know.”
“Then why are we still talking about it?”
Richard walked toward the window.
Emily watched him carefully.
There was something wrong.
He was hiding something.
But she didn’t have time to investigate.
Her wedding was in less than three hours.
At nine o’clock, Emily walked into the private chapel.
Her heart was beating so hard she could hear it.
Alexander stood at the altar.
He wore a black tuxedo.
His dark glasses were gone.
His eyes were fixed straight ahead.
Emily’s steps slowed.
There was something strange about the way he stood.
He didn’t look toward her.
He seemed to be listening.
The priest began.
Emily walked down the aisle.
Alexander didn’t move.
Not until she reached him.
Then he turned his head precisely toward her.
“Victoria.”
Emily smiled weakly.
“Alexander.”
His hand found hers.
His grip was firm.
Warm.
But his fingers paused when they touched her left hand.
Emily suddenly realized something.
Victoria wore her engagement ring on her right hand before the wedding.
Emily instinctively held out her left.
Alexander’s fingers tightened.
“You’ve changed.”
Emily’s heart stopped.
“What?”
“The ring.”
She looked down.
“Sorry. I…”
She forced a laugh.
“I’m nervous.”
He said nothing.
The priest continued.
The vows were spoken.
The rings exchanged.
Then came the final words.
“You may kiss your bride.”
Emily’s breath caught.
Alexander leaned toward her.
She expected the kiss to be brief.
It wasn’t.
His lips touched hers gently.
For one dangerous second, Emily forgot everything.
The hospital.
The lie.
Victoria.
Then Alexander pulled away.
His face was unreadable.
But Emily could feel his heartbeat through his hand.
The ceremony ended.
Outside, cameras flashed.
Reporters shouted.
“Alexander!”
“Mr. Blackwood!”
“Who is your new wife?”
Emily lowered her head.
Alexander placed one hand at her waist.
“Smile.”
She did.
“You’re shaking.”
“I’ve never had this many cameras pointed at me.”
He leaned closer.
“Neither had Victoria.”
Emily froze.
He was testing her.
She forced a smile.
“People change.”
His mouth tightened.
“Apparently.”
They entered the waiting car.
The moment the doors closed, Emily exhaled.
Alexander sat beside her.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
Then he said, “Champagne?”
Emily immediately shook her head.
“No.”
Silence.
“Why?”
“I don’t like it.”
Alexander turned toward her.
“Since when?”
Emily’s stomach twisted.
“Since always.”
His voice became very quiet.
“That’s interesting.”
She looked out the window.
“Why?”
“Victoria loved champagne.”
Emily swallowed.
“People change.”
Again.
Alexander gave a low, humorless laugh.
“You keep saying that.”
The car stopped at the mansion.
Emily stared through the window.
The Blackwood estate was enormous.
Stone walls.
Tall iron gates.
Perfect gardens.
It looked less like a home and more like a fortress.
Alexander stepped out.
Emily followed.
Inside, servants stood waiting.
Daniel Reed approached.
“Welcome home, Mrs. Blackwood.”
Emily forced a smile.
“Thank you.”
Daniel looked at her for several seconds.
Then his gaze moved toward Alexander.
“Sir.”
Alexander nodded.
“Everything is ready?”
“Yes.”
Emily noticed the tension between them.
Alexander placed a hand on her back.
“Come.”
She followed him upstairs.
The master bedroom was enormous.
Emily stopped at the doorway.
“This is…”
“Your room.”
“Our room?”
Alexander looked at her.
“The contract says we must appear married.”
She frowned.
“So we have separate bedrooms?”
“No.”
Her eyes widened.
“You expect us to sleep together?”
“I expect us to maintain appearances.”
Emily stared at him.
He walked closer.
“You don’t have to worry. I won’t touch you without permission.”
She relaxed slightly.
“Thank you.”
His lips curved.
“You’re welcome.”
He turned away.
Emily watched him.
Something about him was unsettling.
He seemed to know where everything was.
He moved around the room without hesitation.
He picked up a glass from the table.
He walked to the window.
He never once bumped into anything.
Yet Emily remembered his strange eyes.
She wondered if she had imagined it.
That night, Emily couldn’t sleep.
Alexander was in the adjoining room.
She quietly left the bedroom.
She walked down the hallway.
The mansion was silent.
Then she heard a voice.
Victoria’s voice.
Emily froze.
“Alexander.”
Her sister.
She knew that voice.
She would recognize it anywhere.
Emily followed the sound.
It came from behind a closed door.
She opened it.
Inside was a recording system.
Dozens of files.
Hundreds.
Victoria’s voice filled the room.
“Alexander, I don’t think this marriage is a good idea.”
Another recording.
“I wish you could see what I’m seeing.”
Emily’s blood ran cold.
She looked around.
Photographs of Victoria covered the walls.
Recordings.
Letters.
Videos.
Alexander had kept everything.
Then Emily saw a screen.
A file was open.
VICTORIA — FINAL RECORDING
Emily’s hand trembled.
She pressed play.
Victoria appeared on the screen.
Her face was frightened.
“Emily, if you’re watching this, something has happened to me.”
Emily stopped breathing.
Victoria continued.
“Do not trust Alexander’s company.”
The video suddenly froze.
A voice sounded behind her.
“What are you doing in here?”
Emily turned.
Alexander stood in the doorway.
Her heart stopped.
He wasn’t wearing his glasses.
And he was looking directly at her.
Emily stared at him.
Then at the screen.
Then back at him.
For the first time, she understood.
Alexander Blackwood wasn’t blind.
Or was he?
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