Billionaire's Replacement Bride

Chapter: 6 Left Alone

Alina

The wedding reception was a blur of laughter and chatter, a cacophony of voices that felt distant and muffled to me. I stood at the edge of the room, a porcelain doll in my exquisite wedding dress, surrounded by well-wishers who offered their congratulations with smiles that didn’t quite reach their eyes. I could feel their pity, the way they looked at me as if I were a fragile thing, a girl trapped in a gilded cage.

Kai was beside me, but he seemed miles away, his attention consumed by his phone. I watched him, a knot of anxiety tightening in my stomach. He was handsome, undeniably so, but there was an aloofness about him that made me feel invisible. I had hoped for a flicker of kindness, but all I received was the cold look angry gaze.

Kai excused himself, slipping away from the gathering without a backward glance. My heart sank. I knew he had left intentionally, He didn’t want to be here with me, and I was just a burden he had to bear for the next two years.

Suddenly, I noticed a shift in the atmosphere. Whispers began to ripple through the crowd, and I caught snippets of conversation that made my heart race. “Did you hear about his past?” “He’s not the marrying type.” “Poor girl.” The murmurs wrapped around me like a suffocating blanket, and I instinctively lowered my head, wishing I could disappear.

As I stood there, feeling more alone than ever, Kai’s mother approached me, her expression a mix of concern and sympathy. “He had to step out for some urgent work,” she said, her voice soothing yet distant. “Don’t feel sad, dear. It’s just business.” I nodded, forcing a smile, but inside, I felt a hollow ache. I knew the truth; he didn’t like me. I was just a means to an end, a contract he had to fulfill.

She took my arm gently and led me to a waiting car, instructing the driver to take me to Kai’s home. The ride was silent, the city lights blurring past the window as I stared into the darkness, my mind racing with thoughts of what awaited me.

When we arrived, the maid greeted me and led me to Kai’s room. The door closed behind me with a soft click, and I was left alone in a space that felt foreign and intimidating. The room was elegantly decorated, but it felt cold, devoid of any warmth or personal touch. I stood there in my wedding dress, feeling like a ghost haunting a place that wasn’t mine.

Nervously, I approached the closet, my heart pounding as I opened the doors. Inside hung a collection of Kai’s branded suits, shirts, and casual t-shirts. I hesitated, my fingers brushing against the fabric. Part of me longed to wear something of his, to feel a connection, but fear gripped me. What if he was angry? What if he saw it as an invasion of his space?

With a heavy sigh, I stepped back, deciding against taking anything. Instead, I sank onto the edge of the bed, the weight of my wedding dress pooling around me like a heavy cloud. I felt trapped, suffocated by the reality of my situation. I had never owned anything of my own, always wearing my stepsister’s hand-me-downs, and now, in this lavish room, I was still just a girl without a place to call her own.

As I lay back on the bed, staring up at the ornate ceiling, I couldn’t help but wonder what life would be like in this loveless marriage for the next two years. Would I ever find a way to connect with Kai? Would he ever see me as more than just a contract? The questions swirled in my mind, and I closed my eyes, hoping for sleep to take me away from the uncertainty that loomed over my future.