The billionaire secret wife

Aria sat by the window of her small room in the family mansion. The sun was bright but did not reach her heart. She stared at the garden below, where her parents walked together, laughing as if the last twenty-four years of her life did not exist. Her scars burned slightly under her sleeve, a constant reminder of what they had done.“Aria” her mother’s voice called from the hallway. It was cold and sharp. “Come down. We have guests”Aria rose slowly. Every movement reminded her of the pain she carried. She had learned to hide it, to smile when needed, but she never forgot. She followed her mother to the large living room. The space smelled of polished wood and expensive perfume. Her father sat on a leather chair, reading a tablet.“Aria,” her father said, not looking up. “Stand here”She obeyed silently. She was twenty-four, but in their eyes, she was still a problem to be hidden, a shame to be erased.The man they called Julian Cross stepped into the room. He was tall, dressed sharply, with an air of control. His dark eyes scanned the room and stopped on her. Aria met his gaze briefly and turned away.“Ms Aria” Julian said politely. His voice was calm, but there was an intensity behind it. “It is a pleasure to meet you”Aria’s mother cleared her throat. “Julian, this is our daughter. She will be… your wife”Aria froze. Her heart skipped a beat. “Excuse me” she whisperedHer father looked up finally, his expression serious. “Julian needs assurance. A marriage agreement is best for our families. You will comply”“I… I cannot” Aria said softly. “I am not ready for… this”Her mother’s face hardened. “Ready or not, this is your duty. Your scars… your flaws… they do not matter to the business. Only appearances matter”Aria’s lips pressed together. “You want to give me… to him?” she asked, voice shaking“Yes,” her father said. “Julian Cross is wealthy, powerful, and… reclusive. He will only agree to this for someone like you”Aria looked at Julian. He said nothing. He was calm, unreadable. Her parents expected horror, embarrassment, rejection. She expected disgust.Instead, Julian’s lips curved in a small, almost unnoticeable smile. “I accept” he said, voice firm and evenAria’s breath caught. “You… you accept?” she asked“Yes,” Julian said. “I will marry you”Her mother’s jaw dropped. Her father’s eyes widened. “Are you sure” her mother demanded“I am sure,” Julian said calmly. “This is a business agreement. I see no reason to refuse”Aria felt her knees weaken. She had been expecting rejection. Mockery. Shame. But he… he had accepted her. Just like that.“Julian” her father said quickly. “You must understand… she is… she is flawed. Scarred. Weak”“Does not matter,” Julian said. “I see intelligence, wit, and a strong mind. That is what I value”Aria’s eyes widened slightly. She could not believe what she heard. “You… you do not care about my scars?” she asked softlyJulian’s gaze met hers. “Your scars are not a problem”Her mother scoffed. “Of course they are. Any man would reject her”“Not me,” Julian said quietly. His words were calm, but his eyes were sharp. “I do not marry for appearances”Aria did not know what to feel. Relief, fear, confusion. She wanted to run, to hide, to scream. Instead, she bowed slightly. “Thank you” she whisperedJulian nodded. “We will finalize the agreement. Terms, dates, appearances. Soon”Her father’s voice was low, almost urgent. “We will prepare everything. She will be ready”Aria’s mind raced. She wanted to refuse. To escape. But the truth was, she had nowhere to go. Her parents had controlled her life for twenty-four years. And now, Julian Cross, this powerful man, had accepted her as his bride. She did not know if it was pity, calculation, or something else entirely.Later that evening, Aria sat in her room, staring at the ceiling. Her mother had left instructions for her to prepare dresses, to practice polite speech, to hide her scars as best as possible.“They expect me to smile and be perfect” she whispered to herselfHer wolf inside stirred, though it was silent. She had always been clever, resourceful. And now, trapped in this arrangement, she knew she had to be smart. She had to protect herself. She had to survive.A knock on her door made her jump. “Aria,” Julian’s voice said softly. “May I come in”“Yes” she whisperedHe entered calmly, closing the door behind him. His presence was commanding, yet there was no threat. Just… control.“Do not worry,” he said quietly. “This… this arrangement is temporary. We both have things to gain”“I… I am not sure I want this” she admitted. “I do not know you”“I know enough,” Julian said. “And soon… you may learn more about me than you want”Aria frowned. “Why did you accept me then?”Julian paused, his dark eyes serious. “Because I need to know the truth about your family. About your mother. About what they took”Aria froze. “What… what are you talking about?”Julian did not answer immediately. “All will be revealed in time. For now… we have a marriage to prepare”She nodded slowly. Her stomach twisted. She hated him. She feared him. And she was curious about him. Dangerous, controlled, and… intelligent.For the first time in a long while, Aria felt a spark of life inside her. This was no longer just about hiding from the world. She had a chance to uncover secrets, to fight back, to protect herself.And Julian… Julian Cross had just stepped into her life.She did not know if he was an enemy or an ally. But one thing was certain. Her life had changed forever.