Married to the Billionaire Against My Will

Twenty years earlier, at the top of one of the tallest skyscrapers overlooking the city, a meeting room with panoramic glass windows was bathed in the orange glow of the setting sun. The luxurious setting—thick carpets, leather furniture, modern art paintings—stood in stark contrast to the heavy tension hanging in the air. Two men sat facing each other under the impassive gaze of their financial and legal advisers. Their silence was heavier than any words could have been. On one side was Richard Delacroix, patriarch of a family that had ruled the banking sector for decades. His impeccable suit seemed tailored to impose authority. His face, marked by time but still proud, bore the weight of the enormous responsibility he carried. Opposite him sat Gérard Morel, a real estate magnate, a reserved man whose reputation was built as much on the solidity of his investments as on his calm, unshakable temperament. That evening, neither of these business titans was there to negotiate a typical contract or discuss a merger. They were gathered to seal a far more personal alliance—an alliance born of necessity, born of fear of losing everything they had built. Richard broke the silence, his voice firm but carrying an unusual gravity: “We both have reputations to protect. Our families, our children… their future depends on what we decide tonight.” Gérard nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on an invisible point far beyond the windows. “The market is unstable. The financial storm threatens to sweep everything away. But I have a solution. A solution that will end this uncertainty.” With deliberate slowness, he pulled a leather-bound document from his briefcase and placed it carefully in front of him. His fingers brushed the cover, as if weighing its significance. “A marriage,” he announced simply. “A union between our children. An alliance sealed not just by contracts, but by blood.” Richard furrowed his brow. Such agreements were not unheard of in aristocratic circles, but in the modern business world, this was bold—perhaps even reckless. “You’re talking about an arranged marriage? To bind our families rather than just our companies?” “Exactly,” Gérard confirmed. “This pact will outlive our mistakes, our eventual bankruptcies. It will protect our names, our legacies.” A heavy silence filled the room. Both men knew this choice would bind their children to a fate they had not chosen. But in the game of power, feelings had no place when survival was at stake. “Very well,” Richard finally said with a heavy voice, “Let it be done. They will marry, whatever the cost.” The signatures followed one another, formalizing a commitment as invisible as it was irreversible. This pact sealed an uncertain future, filled with obligations and sacrifices that no one yet dared to imagine. Meanwhile, in a more modest but lively part of the city, a little girl with bright eyes played innocently with her dolls. This was Vanessa Delacroix, Richard’s only child. She was growing up in a world where luxury was not a privilege but a necessity, and where love remained a sweet, intangible idea—still far from the constraints of family obligations. That night, no one could have guessed that this forgotten oath would soon resurface, upheaving everything in its path. Twenty years later, in the elegant apartment where Vanessa had grown up, the atmosphere was heavier, saturated with contained tension. Richard, once confident and self-assured, now wore a drawn face, marked by fatigue and anxiety. The weight of years and trials had taken their toll. The phone had just rung several times, shattering a silence that felt almost supernatural. “Vanessa, sit down,” he said in a grave voice, unable to hide his worry. She obeyed, her heart tightening. She sensed that something terrible was about to be revealed. “The bank has cut off all our credit lines,” he said bluntly. “We’re bankrupt. All our assets are at risk of seizure.” The ground seemed to slip beneath Vanessa’s feet. The world she had always known collapsed in an instant. “But how? You always told me everything was fine,” she protested, her voice trembling. “I didn’t want to worry you,” her father answered bitterly. “But the debts exploded. We are victims of a bad deal... or a betrayal.” A shiver ran down her spine. She understood then that her life would never be the same. A few days later, in her father’s dimly lit office, Vanessa discovered a truth that would shake her existence. “There’s a secret I hid from you,” Richard confessed, his voice breaking with emotion. “Twenty years ago, a pact was signed… an arranged marriage with Gérard Morel’s daughter, Alexandre Morel.” Vanessa stared at him in disbelief. “You mean... I’m promised to a stranger?!” “It’s not just a promise,” her father explained solemnly. “It’s a signed contract. If we don’t honor it, our reputation will be ruined, and everything we own will be lost.” A quiet anger rose inside her. “Why me? Why should I sacrifice my life to fix your mistakes?” “Because it’s the only way to save our name, Vanessa. I know it’s unfair, but you have no choice.” That night, in the silence of her room, Vanessa felt the full weight of this new reality settle on her shoulders. She had dreamed of studying abroad, of freedom, of true love. All of it slipped away, replaced by a destiny not her own. But deep inside, a spark of rebellion ignited. She would not give in without a fight. The next day, resolute, Vanessa made a decision. Before accepting this forced marriage, she wanted to meet this man, this Alexandre Morel, who was to seal her future. In the dark, immaculate offices of the Morel company, Alexandre waited—distant and impassive. Heir to a powerful and cold dynasty, he too was prisoner to a heavy secret. When Vanessa entered, their eyes met. Two opposite worlds, two destinies linked by a vow they had never sought. Thus began a story of obligations, sacrifices, but also invisible hopes. The pact of the past had burst into their present, forcing them to rewrite their future.