THE BILLIONAIRE’S BIGGEST REGRET

CHAPTER 1 “A Kingsley never marries beneath his class.” Those words echoed in Isabella Laurent’s mind as she stood outside the towering doors of St. Andrew’s Cathedral. Her fingers tightened around the bouquet of white peonies until the thorns dug into her skin. Today was supposed to be the happiest day of her life. Instead… She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. The wedding coordinator rushed over, smiling brightly. “Miss Laurent, everyone’s waiting.” Isabella forced a smile. “I’m coming.” The cathedral doors slowly opened. A wave of golden light spilled across the marble floor as hundreds of guests turned toward her. Crystal chandeliers glittered overhead. A string quartet played softly. Journalists lined the back rows, their cameras flashing without mercy. This wasn’t just another wedding. It was the wedding of Ethan Kingsley. America’s youngest billionaire. CEO of Kingsley Global. The man every woman wanted. The only man Isabella had ever loved. She walked slowly down the aisle, her heart pounding against her ribs. Every step brought her closer to forever. At the altar stood Ethan. Black tailored tuxedo. Broad shoulders. Cold gray eyes. He looked devastatingly handsome. But he wasn’t smiling. Not even a little. Her smile faltered. He’s nervous, she told herself. That’s all. When she finally reached him, their eyes met. For one brief second… She thought she saw warmth. Then it disappeared. The priest began. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…” Isabella barely heard him. She was too busy staring at Ethan. Three years. Three years of late-night phone calls. Business trips. Birthday surprises. Promises whispered beneath the stars. Three years of believing he loved her. Finally… The priest smiled. “If anyone has any lawful reason why these two should not be joined together in holy matrimony, let them speak now…” Silence. The kind of silence that made your heart slow. Then— The cathedral doors burst open. “STOP THE WEDDING!” Every head turned. A woman in a crimson dress hurried inside, breathing hard. Sophia Whitmore. Ethan’s childhood friend. She looked terrified. “I tried to stop this…” Sophia cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. “But she fooled all of us.” Isabella frowned. “Sophia… what are you talking about?” Sophia didn’t answer. Instead, she handed Ethan a thick brown envelope. “You deserve the truth.” The air grew heavy. Ethan slowly opened it. Photographs slid into his hands. His expression changed. Confusion. Disbelief. Then… Rage. “Ethan?” Isabella reached for him. “What is it?” He stepped away before she could touch him. Her hand froze in the air. He held up one of the photographs. There she was… Wrapped in another man’s embrace. The picture looked intimate. Damning. But Isabella recognized it instantly. “No…” Her voice cracked. “No, that’s not what it looks like.” The man in the photo was Victor Laurent. Her uncle. The only family member who had supported her after her parents died. Someone had cropped the photograph. Cutting everyone else out. Making it look like a secret affair. Sophia spoke softly. “I didn’t want to believe it either.” She pulled another document from the envelope. Bank records. Five million dollars. A transfer made in Isabella’s name. “I hired someone to investigate,” Sophia whispered. “She accepted money to marry you.” The church exploded into whispers. “Oh my God…” “She sold herself.” “I knew she was too ordinary for Ethan.” Isabella felt as though the floor beneath her had vanished. “No!” She turned desperately toward Ethan. “Those documents are fake!” “I’ve never seen them before.” “Ethan…” “You know me.” “Look at me.” He did. His eyes were no longer filled with love. Only betrayal. “How long?” he asked quietly. She blinked. “What?” “How long have you been lying to me?” Tears spilled down her cheeks. “I never lied.” “I love you.” His jaw tightened. “Enough.” The single word hit harder than a slap. The priest stood frozen. No one moved. No one breathed. Ethan reached into his pocket. He removed the diamond wedding ring. The ring Isabella had dreamed about wearing for the rest of her life He stared at it for several long seconds. Then… He dropped to one knee. Hope exploded inside her chest. Was he choosing her? Was he about to prove everyone wrong? Instead… He placed the ring on the marble floor between them. His voice was calm. Cold. Deadly. “I would rather bury this ring…” “…than marry a woman who deceived me.” A sharp gasp swept through the cathedral. Isabella couldn’t breathe. The world blurred. She shook her head. “No…” “Please…” “You have to believe me.” “I have nothing except you.” Ethan looked at her one last time. His next words shattered what remained of her heart. “You were never worthy of becoming a Kingsley.” He turned. Walked down the aisle. Never once looking back. Every camera followed him. Click. Click. Click. The guests began leaving. One by one. Some laughed. Some whispered. Some pitied her. Sophia paused beside Isabella. Leaning close enough that only she could hear. A smile curled across her lips. “You never stood a chance.” She walked away. Leaving Isabella alone… Still wearing the white dress that had become a symbol of humiliation. A single tear rolled down her cheek. Then another. Slowly… She bent down. Picked up the abandoned wedding ring. Closed her bloodied fist around it. Her tears stopped. The broken bride who had walked into the cathedral no longer existed. Only one thought remained. “One day…” “The man who destroyed me…” “Will beg for the forgiveness he doesn’t deserve.”