PROLOGUE ( THE WEDDING)
781 Words
THE WEDDING THAT SHOULDN'T BE
The mirror didn’t lie.
Charlotte Hayes looked every inch the perfect bride—flawless makeup, hair cascading in soft waves, and a white lace gown worth more than most people’s annual salary. A gown that symbolized everything she was about to lose.
Her freedom.
Her choices.
Her heart.
She forced herself to breathe as the reality of the day settled in. In less than an hour, she would become Mrs. Damian Roy.
Not because he loved her.
Not because he wanted her.
But because their families had made a deal—a billion-dollar merger disguised as a marriage contract.
The air in the bridal suite felt stifling. Scarlett’s fingers trembled as she reached for the diamond necklace her mother had placed around her neck just moments ago.
“This is the right thing to do,” her mother had said, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “For the family. For your future.”
Charlotte wasn’t so sure.
The door creaked open behind her. A familiar presence filled the room, and she turned, already knowing who it was.
Eli.
Her older brother stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable. He was the reason she was here. The reason she was being given away like a chess piece in a game she never agreed to play.
“You look beautiful, Char” Liam said, stepping closer.
She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Is this really what you want for me?”
Eli sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It’s what’s best for everyone.”
Everyone.
Except her.
Her stomach twisted as she glanced at the bouquet resting on the vanity. White roses. Pure. Innocent. Everything this marriage wasn’t.
“You’ll learn to love him,” Liam added, his tone softer now.
Charlotte let out a humorless laugh. “You mean like he’s learned to love me?”
Because Damian Roy didn’t love her. He barely even tolerated her.
She had spent years watching him from the sidelines, a man who was always just out of reach. Damian had been her brother’s best friend, the untouchable CEO who never spared her a second glance. And now, he was about to become her husband.
A knock at the door cut through the tension.
“It’s time,” her mother’s voice called.
Charlotte inhaled sharply. Her heart pounded as Liam took her arm, leading her toward a future that felt more like a cage than a dream.
As she walked down the long marble hallway of the estate, she could already see the grand ballroom ahead. The doors stood wide open, revealing hundreds of guests, a breathtaking altar, and a groom who refused to look at her.
Damian stood at the front, clad in a black tuxedo, his face unreadable, his jaw clenched like this entire ceremony was an inconvenience.
Charlotte's fingers dug into Eli’s arm.
Everything in her screamed to run.
But when Damian finally turned his gaze toward her, his piercing blue eyes locked onto hers, and for a split second, she saw something that looked a lot like regret.
And just like that, it was gone.
The ceremony passed in a blur. Vows were exchanged. Rings slid onto fingers. And then—
“You may kiss the bride.”
Charlotte barely had time to brace herself before Damian leaned in.
It wasn’t a kiss. Not really. His lips barely brushed hers, his mouth a hard, unyielding line. No passion. No warmth. Just a show for the audience watching.
And then it was over.
She was officially Charlotte Roy.
The reception was extravagant—champagne, laughter, and forced smiles—but Damian barely acknowledged her. He entertained guests, spoke in hushed tones with business partners, and kept his distance as if she were a burden instead of his bride.
By the time they arrived at his penthouse, exhaustion clung to Charlotte like a second skin. The silence between them was deafening as Damian poured himself a drink.
“This marriage is just a contract,” he said, his voice cold, cutting. “You understand that, don’t you?”
Charlotte's chest tightened. She had always known. But hearing him say it still shattered something inside her.
She lifted her chin. “Of course.”
Damian studied her for a long moment, his gaze unreadable. And then, without another word, he turned and disappeared into his bedroom, leaving her alone in a marriage that already felt like a prison.
Charlotte exhaled shakily, gripping the edge of the vanity as a single
thought echoed in her mind.
She may have married Damian Roy today—
But she would never have his heart because he didn't have one.
- Writer
