Forced to marry the cold billionaire

My mother died the day my brother was born. The day our home was filled with cries, was also the day it lost its warmth. People said he was a blessing. And he was. But growing up, I couldn’t ignore the way the house changed after that day. The silence became heavier. The love became thinner. And somehow… everything that went wrong seemed to trace back to him. But none of that mattered to me. Because he was my brother. And in a house where I was never truly wanted… He was the only reason I stayed. He was the only piece of my mother I had left. The only person in that house who still looked at me like I mattered. Every morning, before anyone else woke up, I would check on him. Make sure he was warm. Make sure he was safe. Make sure, at least for him, the world wasn’t as cold as it was to me. Because in that house… Kindness didn’t exist unless I created it myself. When my father remarried, everything changed. My stepmother didn’t just take my mother’s place— She erased it. And with her came her daughter. Perfect. Loved. Protected. Everything my brother and I were not. We learned quickly. In that house, love wasn’t given. It was chosen. And we were never chosen. That morning felt different. Too quiet. Too controlled. Like something bad had already been decided without me. “Elisa,” my stepmother called. Her voice was calm. That was what made me suspicious. I walked slowly into the living room. My father didn’t look at me. My stepsister did—but she was smiling. And that smile told me everything. Something was coming. Something I wouldn’t like. A document lay on the table. A contract. My name was already written on it. My heart tightened. “What is this?” I asked quietly. My stepmother leaned back, as if she were discussing something ordinary. “It’s time you give back to this family that has been feeding you all these years.” The words hit harder than they should have. Feed me? I had never been treated like someone who was cared for. Only someone who was tolerated. My eyes dropped to the document again. And that was when I saw it. A name. A man I had only heard about in whispers. A billionaire. Cold.Ruthless.Untouchable. A man even the news described him as a warning. As if on cue, the television in the corner flickered louder. “…Adrian Kane, one of the most powerful businessmen in the country, continues to dominate the corporate world. Known for his cold personality and ruthless decisions, many describe him as a man incapable of love…” The screen showed him. Expressionless. Sharp. Distant. Dangerous. A chill ran down my spine. I already knew where this was going. “You will marry him,” my stepmother said. The words settled heavily in the room. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. Then— “No.” The word came out before I could stop it. Soft. But firm. “I said no,” I repeated, my voice shaking now. “I’m not doing it.” My chest rose and fell quickly. This wasn’t right. This wasn’t fair. My stepmother sighed, almost disappointed. “Elisa, you don’t understand what you’re refusing.” “I understand perfectly,” I said, my hands clenching slightly. “You’re trying to sell me.” Silence. My father shifted uncomfortably. But still… he said nothing. Then my stepmother stood. And when she spoke again, her voice changed. Colder. Sharper. “Then your brother loses everything.” My world stopped. “What…?” She stepped closer, watching me carefully. “His education. His care. His future. All of it depends on this family.” My hands went cold. “No… you wouldn’t…” “Oh, I would,” she replied calmly. “And I will.” I turned to my father, panic rising in my chest. “Dad… please…” But he didn’t look at me. Not even once. And just like that— I understood. This was never a choice. It was a trap. My throat tightened painfully as I looked back at the contract. My name stared back at me. Cold. Final. I hated them in that moment. Every single one of them. But more than that— I was terrified. Because I knew one thing for certain. To save my brother… I was about to marry a man everyone feared.