The Billionaire's Unwanted Wife

4:00 a.m. The alarm never got the chance to ring. Elena Hart opened her eyes before the first sound could escape, as if her body had already memorized the hour. For a few seconds, she remained still beneath the thin blanket, staring at the ceiling of the small two-bedroom apartment. Four days. In four days, she would become Mrs. Daniel Carter. A smile slowly spread across her face. She lifted her left hand and stared at the engagement ring on her finger. It wasn't the most expensive ring in the world. The diamond wasn't enormous, and the band wasn't made of anything particularly rare. But to Elena, it was perfect. She had imagined this moment countless times. Walking down the aisle in her wedding dress. Seeing Daniel waiting for her. Hearing him promise that he would never leave her. Building a home together. Starting a family. And, most importantly, finally giving her mother the peaceful life she deserved. For years, Elena had worked herself to exhaustion trying to keep their little family together. She had learned how to stretch money until there was almost nothing left to stretch. She had learned how to smile when she was frightened and stay strong when she wanted to break down. But Daniel had changed everything. He had promised that once they were married, her mother's medical bills would no longer be something she had to worry about. He had told her to stop carrying everything alone. For the first time in years, Elena had allowed herself to believe that maybe life was finally going to be kind to her. She slipped out of bed and quietly crossed the tiled floor. The apartment wasn't luxurious. The cream-colored walls were beginning to peel, some of the furniture had clearly seen better years, and the rusty cupboards made noises whenever they were opened. It wasn't much. But it was home. Elena pushed open her mother's bedroom door. Her mother was still sleeping. The oxygen concentrator hummed softly beside the bed. A half-empty glass of water sat beside a bottle of medication. Elena walked closer and gently pulled the blanket over her mother's shoulders. "I'll make everything better," she whispered. She didn't know whether she was promising her mother or herself. Probably both. After quietly leaving the room, Elena headed into the kitchen. Within minutes, the smell of oatmeal filled the apartment. She prepared breakfast for her mother, made tea, and arranged the morning medication. She had taken the day off work. Today was supposed to be about her wedding dress fitting. She had chosen the dress months ago, but she still couldn't wait to see herself wearing it properly. The thought made her smile again. Would Daniel like it? Of course he would. She laughed softly at herself. Why was she even wondering? Daniel always told her she looked beautiful. A weak cough suddenly came from the bedroom. Elena immediately abandoned what she was doing and hurried back. Her mother was awake. "Awake before dawn again?" her mother asked, her voice weak but amused. Elena smiled. "I couldn't sleep." "I wonder why." "You know exactly why." Her mother gave a quiet chuckle. "My daughter is getting married in four days." The warmth rushed to Elena's cheeks. "I'm just excited." "You deserve to be happy." The words were simple, but there was something heavy behind them. Her mother reached for the cup of tea Elena had prepared. "You've sacrificed enough for me," she continued. "You've spent years working and worrying about this family. It's time someone took care of you for a change." "Please don't say that." "I mean it." Elena looked down at her hands. "Daniel will." Her mother studied her for a moment before smiling. "He seems like a good man." "He is." Elena didn't hesitate. Daniel had come into her life when everything seemed to be falling apart. He had listened to her when she needed someone to talk to. He had stayed awake with her through difficult nights. He had made promises when she had almost stopped believing in promises altogether. He was the man she trusted. Or at least, that was what Elena believed. She helped her mother eat breakfast and take her medication before returning to her bedroom. Her wedding dress was still safely packed away, but Elena opened her wardrobe and took out the small box containing the shoes she planned to wear. She held them against the dress and smiled at her reflection. Four days. Just four more days. Everything was finally falling into place. Her phone vibrated on the bed. Elena's smile widened. Daniel. She reached for it without thinking. But the smile disappeared the moment she saw the screen. Unknown Number. Her eyebrows drew together. Who would text her at four in the morning? She unlocked the phone. There was only one message. Don't become the biggest fool at your wedding. Elena stared at the words. For several seconds, she couldn't move. Then she frowned. "What kind of joke is this?" Her thumb hovered over the delete button. The phone vibrated again. Another message appeared. If you think Daniel truly loves you, go to the Grand Meridian Hotel tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. Come alone. The smile was completely gone from Elena's face. Her heartbeat became uneven. Daniel? No. That was impossible. She read the message again. Then again. Someone was trying to scare her. That had to be it. Maybe someone was jealous of her. Maybe it was a cruel prank. Maybe— Her phone vibrated a third time. Elena froze. This message was shorter. Room 814. You'll see the truth yourself. Her fingers suddenly felt cold. She stared at the screen. Room 814. Why would a stranger know enough about Daniel to send her to a specific hotel room? And why tomorrow? She tried to convince herself that none of it mattered. Daniel loved her. He had chosen her. He had proposed to her. He had promised to take care of her and her mother. He wouldn't betray her. Not four days before their wedding. Not after everything they had been through. Elena locked the phone and placed it face down on the bed. She tried to return her attention to the wedding shoes. She couldn't. Her eyes kept moving back to the phone. What if it was true? She immediately pushed the thought away. No. She trusted Daniel. At least, she thought she did. Elena picked up the phone again and opened Daniel's contact. Her thumb hovered over the call button. She wanted to ask him. She wanted to hear his voice. But what exactly would she ask? Are you cheating on me? The question sounded ridiculous. She couldn't accuse him based on two anonymous messages. So she put the phone down. Then something caught her attention. The ring on her finger. The same ring that had made her smile only minutes earlier suddenly felt different. Elena slowly turned it beneath the light. For months, she had looked at that ring and imagined her future. Now, for the first time, she wondered whether she had ever truly known the man who had given it to her. She looked toward the dark window. Four days until her wedding. Twenty-four hours until she was supposed to go to the Grand Meridian Hotel. And somewhere inside that hotel, someone claimed to know a truth about Daniel that could destroy everything Elena had spent years believing. She swallowed hard. Maybe it was a lie. Maybe it was a cruel game. But there was only one way to find out. Elena looked back at the message. Room 814. For the first time since Daniel had proposed, she was no longer thinking about her wedding. She was wondering what she would find when she opened that door.