The Billionaire CEO’s Reluctant Bride

Chapter Five: Three Days

Amelia’s pov

I barely slept that night

Every time I closed my eyes, the same thought came back to me. Ihad agreed

to marry Alexander Blackstone.

A man I barely knew, a man I had only met once

I turned over in bed and stared at the ceiling

“This is crazy,” I whispered

But then I thought about Ethan

That was enough to quiet every doubt for a moment

The next morning, I stood in front of my wardrobe for almost ten minutes

before finally picking a simple dress

I wasn't trying to impress anyone

I was going to sign a contract, not go on a date

At least, that's what I kept telling myself

When I arrived at Blackstone Group, the receptionist recognized me

immediately

“Ms. Hart, Mr. Blackstone is expecting you”

“Thank you”

I walked toward the elevator

My stomach was already turning

When I reached the top floor, the same man from yesterday was waiting for

me

He led me to Alexander's office

I knocked before walking in

Alexander was already behind his desk

He looked up

“You are on time”

“I try to be”

He pointed toward the chair

“Sit”

I sat down

A folder was waiting on the desk

“The contract,” he said

“I know”

“I want you to read it again before signing”

I opened the folder

He didn't rush me

I went through every page carefully

The conditions were still the same

One year living together, Attending public events together when

necessary,keeping our personal lives separate,no interfering in each other's

business.

I stopped at one section,

“This rule”

Alexander looked up

“What about it?”

“It says I have to attend certain events with you whenever necessary”

“Yes”

“And what if I don't want to?”

His expression didn't change

“Then you will have to find a way to want to”

I frowned

“That isn't an answer”

“It is”

I stared at him

“You're difficult”

“I've heard that before”

I shook my head and continued reading

Another rule caught my attention

“You can't interfere in my personal affairs either”

“Correct”

“So if someone from my past shows up, you stay out of it?”

“Yes”

“And I will do the same?”

“Yes”

“Good”

I went quiet

For the first time since I entered the office, the seriousness of what I was doing

really hit me

I could still leave

I could close the folder, stand up and walk away

But then I remembered Ethan

His hospital bed, the bills

His voice asking me if I would figure everything out

I picked up the pen

My fingers felt strangely cold

Alexander noticed

“You don't have to sign it”

I looked at him

“What?”

“You can still change your mind”

I studied his face

He wasn't trying to stop me

He was simply giving me a choice

I looked down at the contract.

“I know”

Then I signed my name

Amelia Hart

I stared at it for a moment

That little signature had just changed my entire life

Alexander took the pen

He signed underneath my name without hesitation

Just like that, it was done

I looked at him

“That was easy for you”

He placed the pen down

“It's business”

Of course

Business

I looked away

“Ethan's treatment,” I said

“It will be handled”

“When?”

“Today”

I looked back at him

“Today?”

He nodded

“You will receive confirmation”

I felt some of the tension leave my body

For the first time in days, I felt like I could breathe

“Thank you”

He simply nodded

I stood and picked up my bag

“I will see you when…”

The words died in my mouth

When would I see him again?

At the wedding?

After the wedding?

When we moved in together?

The thought made my stomach twist

Alexander seemed to notice

“Someone will contact you about the arrangements”

“Okay”

I walked out of his office

As soon as I stepped outside the building, I took a deep breath

It was official

I was going to marry Alexander Blackstone

The man I barely knew

The man who treated marriage like another business deal

I hadn't even reached the road when my phone rang

I looked at the screen

Alexander

I answered

“Hello?”

“Where are you?”

“Outside your office”

“Good”

I frowned

“Why?”

There was a short pause

“The wedding is in three days”

I stopped walking

“What?”

“Three days, Amelia”

I stared at the building

“You said we would have time to prepare”

“We do”

“Three days isn't enough time!”

“It is”

I couldn't believe him

“You are serious?”

“Yes”

The call ended

I slowly lowered my phone

Three days

I had three days to prepare for my wedding

Not the kind of wedding I had imagined as a little girl

Not a wedding filled with love and excitement

I was marrying a stranger

And somehow, I had agreed to it.

I looked up at the sky and let out a slow breath

“What have I gotten myself into?”

My phone buzzed again

I pulled it out, expecting to see Alexander’s name

Instead, there was a message from an unknown number.

Your wedding arrangements have been started. Someone will contact you

shortly.

I stared at the screen

Wedding arrangements

Just seeing those two words made my stomach twist

I had spent years imagining my wedding day. I used to think about the flowers,

the music, the dress, and the man waiting for me at the end of the aisle.

I had always imagined love being the reason I walked down that aisle

Never money

Never a contract

And definitely not a man I barely knew

I put my phone away and started walking home

By the time I got to my apartment, I was exhausted

I opened the door and looked around

Everything was exactly the way I had left it. The old sofa was still pushed

against the wall, and a pile of bills sat on the little table beside it.

I stared at them for a moment

Those bills were the reason I was doing all of this

Well, not all of them

Ethan was the real reason

I dropped my bag on the sofa and sat down for a few seconds, I just sat there

quietly.

In three days, I was going to be married and I still couldn't believe it

My phone suddenly rang.

I grabbed it quickly

The hospital

My heart jumped

“Hello?”

“Amelia Hart?”

“Yes.”

“Good afternoon. This is the billing department at St. Mary's Hospital”

I sat up straighter

“Is something wrong?”

“No, Ms. Hart. I'm actually calling to let you know that the payment for Ethan's

treatment has been received”

I froze

“What?”

“The outstanding balance has been paid.”

I couldn't speak for a second.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Everything has been settled”

I closed my eyes.

A breath I didn't know I had been holding escaped me.