THE BILLIONAIRE'S WIFE WAS NEVER HIS CHOICE

Rain poured over New York City as Amara Williams stood outside Blackwood Tower, staring at the enormous glass building. Her hands trembled as she held her handbag tightly. Inside it was an old photograph of her father, the only thing she had left to remember him by. Tonight, she was going to marry a man she barely knew. Adrian Blackwood. At twenty-nine, Adrian was one of the richest businessmen in the country. Women admired his handsome face, newspapers praised his success, and people feared his cold personality. Unfortunately, Amara was about to become his wife. Not because she loved him, but because her family needed help. "Miss Williams?" A man wearing a black suit approached her. "Mr. Blackwood is waiting for you." Amara forced a smile. "Does he always welcome his future wife like she's attending a business meeting?" The man said nothing. He simply led her toward the elevator. As the doors closed, Amara whispered, "I hope I'm doing the right thing, Papa." But nobody answered. Three weeks earlier, she had never imagined marrying a stranger. However, after her father's business collapsed and the family became buried in debt, Adrian's offer had seemed like the only way out. One year of marriage in exchange for financial security. It sounded simple enough. At least, that's what she had told herself. --- When Amara entered the penthouse, she found Adrian standing beside a window, talking on his phone. "Make sure the contract is ready by Friday," he said before ending the call. He turned toward her. "You're here." "You invited me." "I wasn't sure you would come." Amara frowned. "Why would I agree to something and then change my mind?" Adrian gestured toward a chair. "Sit down. We need to discuss the marriage." She sat opposite him as he placed some documents on the table. "As agreed, I'll settle your family's debts and pay for your brother's education. In return, we'll remain married for one year. After that, we'll divorce." He spoke as though he were discussing an ordinary business transaction. "And what happens between now and then?" Amara asked. "Nothing complicated. You'll live here, attend certain family events with me, and avoid interfering in my personal affairs." Amara stared at him. "Do you always talk to people like this?" "Like what?" "Like they're employees working for you." His eyebrows lifted slightly. "If you don't like the arrangement, you're free to leave." She wanted to tell him exactly what she thought of his attitude, but she remembered her mother's worried face and her younger brother's school fees. She couldn't walk away. "Fine," she said. "But I have conditions." Adrian looked surprised. "Go on." "Don't ever use my family against me. Don't humiliate me in public, and don't expect me to beg for your attention." He studied her face. "Attention?" "Yes. I know you don't love me, and I won't force you to. But I won't spend one year trying to convince a man to care about me." Adrian leaned back in his chair. "Don't worry. Falling in love with me won't be a problem because I have no intention of loving you." His words hurt more than Amara expected. She looked down and picked up the pen. "Good. Then we understand each other." She signed the contract. With that single signature, she had agreed to become the wife of a man who had already rejected her heart without ever giving her a chance. --- Their wedding took place that evening in a private hotel room. There were no flowers or excited guests, just a registrar, two lawyers, Adrian's mother, and a few members of the household staff. Adrian's mother, Eleanor, approached Amara before the ceremony. "So you're the girl my son has chosen." Amara offered a polite smile. "Good evening, ma'am." Eleanor examined her simple blue dress. "I hope you understand that marrying into this family doesn't automatically make you one of us." Amara swallowed her embarrassment. "I understand." "Good. I wouldn't want you getting the wrong idea about your position." Before Amara could respond, Adrian walked over. "Mother, that's enough." Eleanor looked at him. "I'm only making sure she understands." "Then explain it without insulting her." His mother gave him an angry look before walking away. Amara turned toward Adrian. "Thank you." "Don't thank me. I don't want unnecessary drama at my wedding." She sighed. For a moment, she had thought he was defending her because he cared. Apparently, she had misunderstood. Soon, the ceremony began. When the registrar asked whether they accepted each other as husband and wife, Adrian answered immediately. "I do." Amara hesitated for a second before answering. "I do." Adrian slipped a diamond ring onto her finger. It was beautiful, but as she looked at the man standing beside her, she wondered whether she had just exchanged her family's financial problems for a different kind of suffering. "Congratulations," the registrar said. Adrian checked his watch. "I have a meeting." Amara stared at him. "You're leaving?" "Yes. The driver will take you to the mansion." "We just got married, Adrian." "And?" She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Can't you spend one evening with your wife?" He looked at her coldly. "Let's not complicate this arrangement." Then he picked up his jacket and left. Amara stood there, fighting back tears. She had never expected a perfect husband, but she hadn't imagined being abandoned on her wedding day either. --- The Blackwood mansion was enormous. Grace, the housekeeper, welcomed Amara and showed her to a beautifully furnished bedroom. "Mr. Blackwood asked me to make sure you have everything you need, madam." "Where is he?" Amara asked. "He hasn't returned yet." Amara nodded. After Grace left, she noticed an envelope on the bedside table. Inside was a bank card and a short note. Your monthly allowance has been arranged. Please respect my privacy, and I will respect yours. She read it twice before putting it down. Was this what her marriage would look like? Money on a table and instructions about keeping her distance? She sat on the bed and took out her father's photograph. "I wish you were here, Papa." Her eyes filled with tears. "But I'll be fine. I promise." She wiped her face and put the photograph back in her handbag. She had made her decision, and she wasn't going to give up so easily. Around midnight, Amara heard someone entering the hallway. Adrian had returned. She stepped outside her room and found him removing his tie. "Can we talk?" she asked. He looked exhausted. "About what?" "About how we're going to live together. We can't pretend the other person doesn't exist forever." "We agreed to keep our distance." "I know. But I'm still your wife, Adrian. I deserve basic respect." He looked at her for a moment. "You knew what you were agreeing to." "Yes, I did. But I didn't agree to being treated like I'm invisible." Something flickered across his face, but he quickly looked away. "Goodnight, Amara." She called after him. "Why did you choose me?" He stopped. For a moment, she thought he might finally tell her the truth. Instead, he said, "You needed something I could provide, and I needed something you could give me." Then he entered his bedroom and closed the door. Amara returned to her room, disappointed. As she approached the dressing table, she noticed a small black box she hadn't seen earlier. Curious, she opened it. Inside was an old photograph of her father standing beside a younger Adrian. Amara froze. She had never known they knew each other. She turned the photograph over. A date was written on the back: October 12, 2016. The year her father died. Beneath the photograph was a folded piece of paper. Her hands trembled as she opened it. If Amara has married Adrian Blackwood, then he has finally made the same mistake his father made. God help her when she discovers what really happened that night. Amara read the message again, struggling to understand. What mistake? What had happened to her father? Suddenly, a voice came from behind her. "Where did you get that?" She turned sharply. Adrian stood in the doorway, staring at the photograph. His face had lost its usual confidence. "I found it inside this box," Amara answered. "Why? Who was my father to you?" "Give it to me." "No. Not until you explain what's going on." He walked into the room and shut the door. "Amara, you don't understand what you're getting yourself into." "Then help me understand! Why were you with my father?" Adrian looked away. For the first time, he seemed genuinely afraid. "Your father and I knew each other a long time ago." "Why didn't you tell me?" "Because I didn't want you asking questions." Amara's heart began to pound. "Questions about what?" Adrian remained silent. She stepped closer. "Did you know what happened to him?" He closed his eyes briefly before looking at her. "There's something you need to know about your father's death." Amara felt her legs weaken. "What is it?" Adrian took a deep breath. "Your father wasn't supposed to die that night." She stared at him, unable to speak. Before she could ask another question, he turned toward the door. "Get some sleep. We'll talk tomorrow." "Adrian, wait!" He stopped but didn't turn around. "Please," she whispered. "Tell me the truth." For a moment, he stood silently. Then he spoke. "Sometimes, the truth is more dangerous than a lie." He walked away, leaving Amara alone with the photograph. She had married Adrian to save her family. But now she wondered whether she had made the biggest mistake of her life. What really happened to her father, and why was her husband so desperate to hide the truth? Amara knew one thing for certain. She would not rest until she discovered the truth, even if it destroyed her marriage. And perhaps, even if it destroyed the man she was slowly beginning to fear she might one day love. End of Episode 1.