The Divorce He Never Wanted

Chapter 1

Celeste Wren always knew her family loved money more than they loved her.

Still, she never expected them to sell her.

The evening rain tapped softly against the windows as she entered the living room. Her father sat rigidly on the couch while her mother paced back and forth. The atmosphere felt heavy, as though something terrible had already happened.

"Mom? Dad?" Celeste asked cautiously.

Neither of them answered immediately.

Her stomach tightened.

Finally, her father cleared his throat. "Sit down, Celeste."

The seriousness in his voice made her uneasy. She lowered herself onto a chair opposite them.

"What happened?"

Her mother exchanged a glance with her father before forcing a smile that never reached her eyes.

"An opportunity came our way."

Celeste frowned.

"What kind of opportunity?"

"A marriage."

The single word landed like a stone in her chest.

For a moment, she thought she had heard wrong.

"A marriage?" she repeated.

"Yes," her mother said. "And not just any marriage."

Her father's gaze dropped to the floor.

"You're going to marry Zayden Lockwood."

Silence filled the room.

Celeste stared at them.

The Zayden Lockwood?

The billionaire whose name appeared in business magazines every week. The man known for his cold personality and ruthless reputation.

Her laugh came out shaky.

"This isn't funny."

"No one is joking," her mother replied.

The smile vanished from Celeste's face.

"You already agreed?"

Her mother nodded.

Her heart stopped.

"You agreed without asking me?"

"Celeste, listen—"

"No." She rose from her seat. "You don't get to decide who I marry."

Her father finally looked at her.

"We don't have a choice."

The desperation in his eyes startled her.

For months, she had noticed their growing financial troubles. The unpaid bills. The constant arguments. The fear hanging over the household.

But marriage?

This?

"Then find another solution," she whispered.

Her mother's expression hardened.

"There isn't one."

The room suddenly felt smaller.

Celeste looked at the two people who were supposed to protect her.

Instead, they looked like strangers.

"What if I refuse?"

Neither parent answered.

That silence hurt more than any words.

A terrible feeling settled inside her chest.

For the first time in her life, Celeste realized she wasn't being treated like a daughter.

She was being treated like a transaction.

And whatever agreement had already been made, she was the price.

Outside, the rain continued to fall.

Inside, her world quietly began to fall apart.