Bound to the Cold Hearted CEO

The Diamond in the Rough

The gala was a sea of flashing lights, expensive champagne, and whispers that felt like paper cuts. Every eye in the ballroom turned as Alexander Sterling entered, but for the first time in his life, they weren't looking at him.

They were looking at me.

I felt Alexander’s hand tighten slightly on my waist, a possessive gesture that sent a rush of heat through my body. "Head up, Bliss," he whispered near my ear, his breath warm and intoxicating. "You are the most beautiful woman in this room. Act like you know it."

A group of wealthy socialites approached us, their eyes filled with judgment. "Alexander, dear," one woman sneered, looking me up and down, "we didn't know you were seeing anyone... especially someone so... new to our circles."

I felt the sting of her words, but before I could shrink back, Alexander stepped forward. He didn't raise his voice, but the sheer power in his tone silenced the entire circle.

"Bliss isn't just 'someone,' Mrs. Vanderwall," he said, his eyes turning to me with a look so sweet and intense it felt terrifyingly real. "She is the only woman who matters to me. And if you have a problem with her, you have a problem with me."

He leaned down and kissed my cheek—a lingering, soft press of his lips that felt like a sacred promise. The room went silent. In that moment, the girl who was drowning in her father's debt died. I was Alexander Sterling's queen now, and he looked ready to burn the world down just to keep me smiling.