**Chapter 1: The Wedding That Wasn’t Hers**
280 Words
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### 💍 **Married to the Billionaire Stranger**
Anjali stood at the grand entrance of the Mehra mansion, her heart pounding louder than the distant sound of temple bells. Her hands trembled as she adjusted her red bridal saree — not out of excitement, but fear. This wasn’t how she dreamed her wedding would be.
She had never even seen the groom’s face.
Her family had called it “an opportunity of a lifetime.” A rich, powerful billionaire businessman from Mumbai — Aaryan Mehra — had agreed to marry her, under circumstances no one would explain clearly. All Anjali knew was that her father’s debts would vanish the moment she said “I do.”
Aaryan Mehra. The name alone carried weight — ruthless, mysterious, and filthy rich. Some said he built his empire from scratch, others whispered darker tales. But none of that mattered now. She was being handed over like a peace offering to a man she didn’t know.
“Are you ready, beti?” her mother asked, eyes filled with hope and helplessness.
Anjali forced a nod. “Yes, Amma.”
The wedding hall glittered with gold and artificial smiles. The groom arrived — tall, suited, face unreadable. He barely glanced at her before the rituals began.
No love. No words. Just signatures.
After the ceremony, in the bridal suite, he finally spoke — cold, direct, almost bored.
“I married you because I needed a bride today. That’s all. This is a deal. Don’t expect anything else.”
Her heart shattered silently.
Anjali had always believed in fairy tales. But tonight, she was married to a stranger… a stranger with shadows behind his smile.
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- Writer
