Arranged Marriage with the Ruthless Billionaire

Prologue:Amelia's POV I checked the time again. 11:57pm Xavier should have been here by now. I sat on the cold metal bench, gripping my suitcase so tightly my knuckles turned white. The bus station was almost empty, except for the few late night travelers and the homeless people at the corner. I dropped my suitcase on the bench, pulling my jacket together to stop myself from shivering. It was cold out here. Where the hell was Xavier? My heart pounded as I scanned the streets for his car, for any sign that he was coming. He said he was coming. Tonight we had planned to escape. It was my chance to escape my father's deal, to escape from a ruthless man waiting to claim. Jefferson Reynolds. Even his name sent a shiver down my spine. A man feared across Stormbridge, a billionaire that had the power to destroy lives with just a phone call. And my father had sold me to to him like a business transaction. “You will marry him, Amelia.” I had laughed at first. It was probably some joke. But when I saw the desperation in my father's eyes and the way he's hands trembled, clutching to the foreclosure notices. Reality hits hard, you know. “He's willing to save us. But only if you agree.” Agree? He made it sound like I had a choice but the truth was that I didn't have a say. I had told Xavier of the arranged marriage, we planned to run away tonight. He was the one who brought up the suggestion and I had agreed. “We’ll run away, Amelia. Tonight by midnight. Just wait for me at the bus station, and we'll leave this city behind.” So I waited. And waited. Where the hell was he? I checked the time again. 12:00 am. Just like that midnight struck, the street remained empty. I didn't know it then but my fate was already sealed. There was no where Xavier would abandon me. He was probably late, maybe caught in traffic. At night? Traffic? I stiffened. What if he had an accident? I felt my heart pounding as I grabbed my phone and scrolled to my contacts. My fingers were shaking as I dialed his number. It rang and rang but there was no reply. I called again but there was still no reply. I panicked. No no no no. Xavier don't. Not today. My hands shook as I sent him a message. >Where are you? Please, Xavier don't do this to me< I stared at my screen. The message delivered, but there was no reply. The uneasy feeling inside grew better. I called again. This time it went straight to voicemail. Disconnected. I felt something in my stomach drop. Xavier wasn't coming. The truth hit like a wrecking ball, knocking the air out my lungs. He had promised. Swore we'd run away together but here I was…. Alone. A soft gust of wind blew past me, rustling the sides of my dress. My escape had turned to a nightmare. Then before I could process the detestation, the low hum of a car engine cut through the silence. A sleek black car pulled up in front of me. I didn't care, whoever it was, I only hoped they could take me far away from here. The back door swung open and a man in a black suit stepped out. “Miss Bolton,” he said, his voice even. “It’s time to go.” I looked up and I felt my blood turn to ice. I shook my head, my heart slamming against my ribs. No, no, no, no… I grabbed my suitcase and took a step back, but the man moved faster. In one swift motion, he took a firm hold on my wrists, not violent, but enough to make it clear that I wasn't going anywhere. “Your father is waiting,” I barely heard him. My wide eyes were locked on the shadow in the car. The man sitting in the back seat. Jefferson Reynolds. He glanced at me. “Get in, Amelia.” I couldn't read his gaze but I knew if I didn't comply, I wouldn't like his reaction. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I let go of my last shred of freedom and stepped into the car.