Betrayed by the Billionaire: His Reluctant Bride

In the dimly lit presidential suite of the Hyatt Hotel, a tense and stifling atmosphere filled the room. Suddenly, a sharp cry pierced the silence. “No! Stop…” Sophie Clark was forcefully pressed against the vanity. Her engagement dress, now torn, exposed her pale shoulders and neck. She looked terrified, her eyes brimming with tears, the picture of helplessness. “Daniel, are you out of your mind?” Sophie’s voice was raw, desperate, clinging to the last shred of her dignity. “You vile woman, Sophie!” Daniel’s face twisted with rage, his voice cold and cutting like a blade, as if he wanted to tear her apart. His grip on her wrist was unrelenting, the pressure so intense it seemed like it might shatter her bones. Fear flashed in Sophie’s eyes. She couldn’t understand why the day that was supposed to be their joyous engagement had turned into such a nightmare. “What are you talking about? I don’t understand…” Sophie choked out, her voice trembling, tears brimming. She had never seen Daniel so unhinged. Daniel’s mind was filled with the image of Emily’s tear-streaked face. He had always believed that Sophie, backed by the power of the Clark and Mitchell families, had driven away his beloved sister. Now that Emily was back in the country, seeing Sophie here, acting as if nothing had changed, reignited his fury. “Stop pretending, Sophie. Did you really think I wouldn’t find out what you did to Emily?” Daniel’s voice dripped with venom, his eyes cutting into her like daggers. Sophie froze. The day she had dreamed of, her engagement, had turned into a nightmare of accusations and humiliation. “Daniel, you’ve got it wrong. I didn’t do any of that…” She tried to explain, but Daniel cut her off sharply. “Today’s engagement is off! Don’t even dream of marrying me!” His words were as cold as ice, like a judge delivering a harsh sentence, before he turned to leave without looking back. “Daniel!” Sophie threw caution to the wind, lunging forward to grab him, clutching his waist tightly. “Please, just listen to me. It’s not what you think!” Her voice was filled with desperation, her entire body trembling. Daniel paused, casting a frigid glance back at her, his eyes full of disdain and disgust. He forcefully shook her hands off, sending Sophie stumbling backward. She nearly fell, her pearl tiara slipping from her head, her hair falling messily around her shoulders. The tiara was a token he had once given to Emily. Seeing it lying at Sophie’s feet only fueled Daniel’s rage further. He snatched it up, his fingers digging into the delicate pearls as if he intended to crush it. “Sophie Clark, did you really think you could deceive everyone?” His sneer was laced with contempt. Sophie looked at him, her face filled with desperation, but Daniel’s expression remained cold, unyielding. Just then, a wave of discomfort swept over him, a strange agitation that made his body tremble uncontrollably. “Stay away from me!” he growled, his voice tinged with pain. Sophie froze, noticing the pained expression twisting his features, the pallor of his face. She suddenly remembered the old warning from her grandmother: “Mitchell men lose control when they’re around the one they love, but if you love him, don’t be afraid.” Her heart skipped a beat. Maybe he never loved her, but Daniel was clearly suffering, and she couldn’t just stand by and watch. She took a shaky step forward, gently cupping his face. “Daniel, who am I?” His eyes grew hazy for a moment, struggling to focus on her. In a hoarse and weak voice, he murmured, “Sophie…” Tears welled up in Sophie’s eyes, spilling over as she bit down on her lip and leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. That kiss was like a switch, pushing Daniel past his breaking point. A low growl rumbled from his chest as he pulled her into a crushing embrace, as if trying to merge her into his very being. Sophie felt herself being pushed down onto the sofa, overwhelmed by his urgent desire. She held onto him tightly, yielding to his fervor. Tears streamed down her face, knowing that this was just the result of his illness, a passion born of uncontrollable impulse, while her own love was being torn to shreds in the process. When the storm finally subsided, Daniel’s breathing came out in labored gasps. He slowly pulled away from her, standing unsteadily in front of the sofa, his clothes disheveled. His face darkened when he noticed the vivid stain of red on the cushions, his expression a mix of conflict and anguish. He turned to look at Sophie, his voice like ice. “Don’t think that just because this happened, you’ll secure your place as Mrs. Mitchell.” Sophie stared at him, silent tears falling. She let out a bitter laugh. “Should I thank you for your ‘generosity’ then?” Daniel’s gaze turned razor-sharp, watching her every move, every word with a cold calculation. He turned away, reaching for the door handle when a knock sounded from the other side. “Daniel, are you in there?” Emily Clark’s voice was laced with urgency. Daniel froze mid-step, and Sophie quickly collected herself, knowing that if Emily walked in now, her reputation would be ruined beyond repair. “Daniel, I’m begging you, don’t open the door…” Her plea was barely more than a whisper, drenched in desperation. Daniel glanced back at her, a mocking smile curling his lips. “Weren’t you eager to join the Mitchell family? Now you’re afraid of embarrassment?” Sophie’s heart clenched, and she gritted her teeth, suddenly grabbing his arm with surprising determination. “If you don’t want to marry me, fine. But I have one condition.” Daniel frowned, clearly impatient. “What condition?” “I want to sleep with you. Right now. This very moment.” Sophie’s voice was steady, her gaze unwavering, filled with a grim resolve. Daniel froze, then let out a cold laugh. “Sophie Clark, you’re shameless.” Sophie responded with a bitter smile, her face hardening. “And you’re no better. So, let’s get this over with.” Daniel’s eyes grew colder, and without another word, he pushed her back onto the sofa, taking her again, pouring all his anger into the act as if to burn away his rage. Outside the suite, the guests had already noticed the commotion and paused in their conversations, whispering among themselves. Their friend Alex Carter couldn’t help but joke, “Looks like Daniel just couldn’t wait, huh?” Amidst the knowing chuckles, only Emily stood pale as a sheet, her fists clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palms without her noticing. “Let’s go, Emily.” Alex patted her on the shoulder. “Nothing to see here—engagements are just formalities anyway.” Emily forced a tight smile, taking a deep breath. “Yeah, I know.” She turned away, a flash of something cold and calculating in her eyes, as if she was hiding a plan of her own. Inside, the bitter confrontation dragged on through the night. Sophie’s strength was completely drained. When Daniel finally stopped, she lay limply on the sofa like a discarded rag. Daniel stood, wiping the corner of his mouth with his hand. He looked down at her, his voice dripping with contempt. “Is this what you wanted?” Sophie refused to back down, lifting her head with a defiant smile. “Yes, I wanted you.” Her voice was hoarse, but there was a stubborn determination in it, tinged with despair. Daniel’s lips curled into a cold sneer. He bent down to pick up the fallen pearl tiara, tossing it carelessly at her. “Then take your ‘prize’ and get out of here.”