The Billionaire's Lost Bloodline

Chapter 1 "Miss Williams, you'll need to sign now. Mr Hayes has already signed his part." The court clerk's tired voice echoed faintly through the courtroom, impatient in the way people became when dealing with the rich. His fingers pushed the marriage documents closer to her and the paper scraped softly against polished wood. Abigail stared at the signature waiting beneath another already written name- Christopher Hayes. The letters looked expensive, powerful and nothing like hers. Her fingers tightened around the silver pen but refused to move. The tears gathering in her eyes blurred the words until they became meaningless black lines. She thought betrayal would feel louder than this, rage enough to crush her ribs. The wedding dress fit perfectly. Someone measured her days ago without explanation and now expensive ivory satin wrapped around her body like it belonged there, hugging her slim waist before falling softly around long legs. Tiny diamonds rested among dark curls spilling over her shoulders and against her warm skin. Her beautiful eyes scanned across the room. Her grandmother used to hold her face between rough palms and whisper that women born with their eyes survived impossible things. The mark from heaven- One eye blue and the other brown. The same eyes her father carried, only his had grown dull over the years beneath alcohol, debts and disappointments. Slowly, Abigail lifted her head and looked across the courtroom. Christopher Hayes sat several feet away with a half-filled glass of wine resting loosely in one hand while the other tapped against the arm of his chair. Twenty-nine looked unfair on him. Men his age usually carried traces of recklessness or softness. Christopher carried neither. His black suit fit broad shoulders with irritating perfection and dark hair rested carelessly above sharp brows. Handsome wasn't the right word. Christopher Hayes looked like the type of man women would kill to have. He wasn't watching her. His dark eyes moved around the room lazily, taking in the clerk, the guards by the doors, her father standing beside her. Abigail's stomach twisted. Her father's hand settled gently against her shoulder. The weight felt familiar enough to hurt. She turned toward him slowly and for one terrible second she saw the man who raised her instead of the one selling her. His expensive suit sat awkwardly on his body and his eyes remained fixed somewhere near her forehead instead of meeting hers. "Abby." The thought arrived before the guilt followed. Her lips parted immediately. "Was I not good enough?" His fingers stiffened against her shoulder. Her voice dropped lower barely above a whisper. "Why?" His breathing changed. The wetness gathering in his eyes made him look older than she remembered. "No," he said quickly. "Never think that." His jaw tightened. "You know the debts I owe. I tried. I tried fixing everything." The tears burning behind Abigail's eyes became heavier. Her father swallowed hard before forcing a smile that looked painful. "Your life will be better now. No more worrying about money. No more suffering. You'll have everything." His fingers slipped from her shoulder. He continued, "I'm sorry I failed you as a father, Abby." The court clerk cleared his throat awkwardly. "Miss Williams... the documents." Reality returned immediately. The paper remained in front of her. Her hand trembled when she picked up the pen. She looked once toward Christopher. His attention shifted briefly. Their eyes met for less than a second. Nothing changed in his face. So with a shaking hand— Abigail signed. The sound of the pen scratching against paper seemed louder than expected. Her old life disappeared beneath ink. The court clerk exhaled visibly before gathering the documents with satisfaction. "Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Hayes." Silence answered him. Her father moved first, his trembling fingers reached toward her face to kiss her forehead. Abigail turned her face away instantly. His hand froze in the air, hurt crossing his expression. He lowered his hand slowly and smiled. "You may never believe me," he whispered, "but I have loved you more than you'll ever know." Her throat closed painfully as he stepped backward until the distance between them looked strange. Her father nodded once toward Christopher. "Take care of her." Christopher said nothing. Her father laughed weakly under his breath, wiped beneath one eye and turned toward the doors. Halfway there, he stopped and Abigail held her breath, hoping he'll turn back one more time but he didn't. The doors closed behind him. "That's enough drama for today." Christopher's voice cut through the silence. Abigail looked toward him immediately. He stood now, placing the untouched wine glass aside while adjusting the cuff of his suit. "The journey home is long. I don't enjoy wasting time." Her stomach tightened. The courthouse doors opened before she could answer. High heels struck marble sharply. The woman entering looked beautiful enough to stop conversations. Blonde hair framed a face ruined by tears while expensive makeup failed to hide reddened eyes as pain sat openly on her features. Her gaze found Christopher instantly. "You married her." Christopher looked at her briefly and then away. The woman laughed softly, the sound breaking halfway. "Why?" Her breathing became uneven. "Why her?" Her voice rose slightly. "Why this poor nobody instead of me?" Still nothing. Christopher moved toward the documents on the table, uninterested. That seemed to destroy something inside her because the next time she looked at Abigail, the sadness had changed. She walked towards her immediately, her hand lifted suddenly. Abigail caught her wrist before impact and pushed her back, almost enough to let her fall. The woman stumbled backward slightly in her heels and steadied herself with widened eyes and surprise. The blonde stared for several seconds before tears gathered again. Then she smiled. "I pity you." Her voice trembled. Abigail frowned in confusion. The woman wiped beneath one eye angrily before speaking again. "You don't know what's coming." The smile widened. "He married you for a reason. "Her gaze shifted briefly toward Christopher before returning. "And whatever you think this marriage is..." She laughed weakly. "You're wrong." Abigail's fingers curled unconsciously. Another tear slipped down despite the smile remaining. "You just signed your life away." The words landed heavily. She turned immediately after, slamming the doors closed behind her. Abigail stared at the entrance several seconds before turning slowly toward Christopher. His expression remained unreadable. "What was she talking about? What did she mean by I signed my life away?”