CEO's secret bride

Chapter 1 Ivy’s POV "I will never marry him!" The words shot out before I could stop them, as if they had been waiting their whole life to be spoken. My chest rose and fell, shallow breaths shaking in my lungs. But for the first time in my life, I found the courage to stand up for myself. She’s all I have left. My stepmother. My family, after both my parents are gone. My mother, gone the moment I was born, and my father—his death years ago left me with only her cruel hands to care for me. Hands that never showed love, only cold demands. I remember the day my father remarried like it was yesterday. I was just a child, barely able to comprehend the shift in my world. But I knew then—I didn’t need anyone else. I didn’t need a family. I had learned long ago that my father was distant, a shadow in my life. I was fine on my own. But he remarried anyway, and after his death, I was left with them—her, my stepmother—and Lily, the stepsister who made sure I knew I was nothing more than a burden. My stepmother froze, her face morphing into something dark and cruel. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes narrowing into sharp slits. “What did you just say?” she hissed, her voice a jagged knife of ice. “Are you talking back to me? Do you think you’re so grown up now that you can make decisions for yourself? How dare you speak to me like that?” Before I could take a step back, her hand lashed out, gripping my ear with a vice-like pressure. I winced, biting back a scream as pain lanced through me. “You will do as I say,” she spat, her breath sour and hot on my face. “You’re marrying him. End of story.” “I said no!” My voice cracked, but I didn’t care. My head jerked back as I yanked my ear from her grip. The slap came before I could even react. Her hand collided with my cheek with a force that sent me crashing to the cold tile floor. The sting of it exploded across my face, my knees scraping against the hard ground. I stayed there, frozen in the aftermath of the pain, my vision a blur. “You ungrateful little brat!” she screamed, towering over me. Her words came like daggers, each one more cutting than the last. “Do you know how much we’ve done for you? Fed you, gave you a roof over your head. And this is how you repay us? Do you think you have a choice in this? That man will save us, and you’re too selfish to see it!” From the corner of the room, Lily leaned against the wall, her arms folded across her chest. Her laugh bubbled from her throat, low and mocking. “Let her go, Mom. She’s pathetic. No one else will want her anyway.” The words stung far worse than the slap. My vision swam as my eyes welled with tears, but I refused to let them fall. Not in front of them. Slowly, I pushed myself off the floor, my hands trembling beneath me. My voice was steadier now. “I’m not marrying him.” Her face flushed with rage, her nostrils flaring, but before she could strike again, I turned and fled. Her furious screams echoed down the hall, but I didn’t stop. My legs carried me forward, the rawness in my chest propelling me through the corridors. I didn’t know where I was headed—only that I needed to escape. The city streets stretched before me, cold and silent, the night air biting at the bare soles of my feet. My heart thundered in my chest, panic crawling up my throat as my mind raced, battling against the overwhelming tide of emotions. People passed by, their glances lingering on me before they quickly averted their eyes. Judgment. Pity. But it didn’t matter. I kept walking, letting the chill numb the panic that threatened to swallow me whole. I wandered for what felt like hours, each step mechanical, until I found myself in front of a dimly lit bar. The neon sign buzzed weakly, an invitation to forget, to disappear. I pushed open the door without thinking, the cool air inside a welcome change from the biting wind outside. The bar was thick with smoke, the hum of conversations blending with the clink of glasses. I found an empty stool and sank onto it, the wood biting into my skin. My hands trembled as the bartender slid a drink toward me. I didn’t hesitate. One sip turned into two, then three. The burn of the liquor soothed my frantic thoughts, numbing the chaos swirling in my mind. "Ma’am," a voice sliced through the haze, gruff and impatient. "How are you paying for this?" I blinked, my vision swimming. "Pay?" The word felt foreign, a heavy fog settling over my thoughts. I couldn’t remember how I got here, let alone how I was supposed to pay. He sighed, annoyance creasing his face. "You need money to drink here. Got any?" I shook my head, the alcohol clouding my senses further. "No," I whispered. His lips curled into a sneer as he reached for my wrist. "Then pay with your body." Panic clawed at my chest. My heart raced, blood roaring in my ears. "No!" I yanked my arm back, but his grip tightened, and I flinched away from him. Before I could do anything else, a figure stepped between us. Tall, broad-shouldered, and imposing, he cut through the tension with an air of quiet authority. His dark suit was perfectly tailored, exuding wealth and power, a sharp contrast to the chaos around us. “I’ll pay for her,” he said, his voice low and calm, like he was used to making problems disappear. I barely registered his words before my legs buckled beneath me. The room spun, tilting sideways, and before I could hit the ground, strong arms wrapped around me, steady and sure. He wasn’t familiar, but in that moment, I felt something I hadn’t in years—safety. His hands were firm, pulling me against him, and for a fleeting second, I let myself believe I was safe. Everything faded to black. When I opened my eyes, the sunlight was soft and warm against my skin. I tried to move, but then the ache between my legs hit me, deep and unmistakable. My breath caught in my throat, and my heart skipped. I looked down, panic clawing at my chest. I was naked. The room around me was foreign—sleek, expensive. The scent of cologne clung to the air, thick and overpowering. And then, I saw it. The blood. It stained the pristine sheets, a stark reminder of what had happened. Tears welled in my eyes, each one a searing reminder of everything I had lost. A sob wrenched itself from my throat, harsh and ragged. I couldn’t make sense of it. My body shook uncontrollably as the reality set in. What had I done? My hand reached for the nightstand, trembling fingers grazing a note. The handwriting was neat, hurried. I'm sorry. I didn't know you were a virgin. The words blurred as the tears spilled over. What had I done? My step mother is going to kill me if she finds out!