The billionaire’s rejected bride

Jolie Carter had dreamed about this day for three years. She had imagined the flowers. The white dress. The music. And most of all, the moment she would finally look into Haron Blackwood’s eyes and become his wife. Now, standing in front of the mirror in the bridal suite, she could hardly believe the woman staring back at her. Her white wedding gown hugged her waist before falling into a long, elegant train. Tiny crystals shimmered beneath the soft lights, making her look like the princess she had secretly dreamed of becoming when she was a little girl. Her hands trembled as she touched the diamond necklace around her throat. “Haron is going to lose his mind when he sees you.” Jolie smiled at her best friend, Mia, through the mirror. “You think so?” “I know so.” Mia walked behind her and adjusted the veil. “You’ve waited three years for this. You deserve to be happy.” Three years. Jolie’s smile softened. Three years of loving Haron. Three years of waiting for him to say he loved her. Three years of believing that the distance between them was simply part of who he was. Haron had never been the affectionate type. He rarely spoke about his feelings. He could spend hours in a room with her without saying more than a few words. But whenever Jolie needed him, he was there. When she had been sick, he had stayed beside her hospital bed all night. When her mother died, he had held her while she cried. And when Jolie’s father had told her that he approved of their relationship, she had believed everything was finally falling into place. Today was supposed to be the beginning of their forever. Her phone buzzed. A message from Haron. Where are you? Jolie’s heart fluttered. She typed quickly. In the bridal suite. I’m nervous. His reply came almost immediately. Don’t be. She stared at the two words and smiled. Typical Haron. No heart. No romantic speech. Just two words. Still, she loved him. “It’s time,” Mia said. Jolie took a deep breath. The doors opened. Outside, the wedding venue was filled with hundreds of guests. Business partners, family friends, relatives, celebrities and powerful people from across the country had gathered to witness the marriage between the Carter and Blackwood families. Jolie’s father stood at the end of the corridor. His eyes immediately filled with tears when he saw her. “My little girl.” Jolie laughed softly. “Dad, don’t cry.” “I waited for this day.” He kissed her forehead. “So did your mother.” Jolie’s smile faded for a moment. She wished her mother could have been here. Her father offered his arm. “Ready?” Jolie nodded. “Yes.” The music began. She stepped forward. One step. Then another. Her heart pounded harder with every movement. At the end of the aisle stood Haron. Tall. Handsome. Perfectly composed in his black tuxedo. His eyes were fixed on her. For a brief moment, everything disappeared. There was only him. Jolie smiled. Haron didn’t. Instead, he looked at her with an expression she couldn’t understand. Something was wrong. But before she could think about it, her father handed her over. Haron took her hand. His palm was cold. “Are you okay?” Jolie whispered. “Yes.” The ceremony began. But before the priest could finish his first sentence, a wedding planner hurried toward Haron and whispered something into his ear. Haron’s expression changed. He looked toward the side doors. Then he released Jolie’s hand. “Wait here.” “Where are you going?” “I’ll be back.” He disappeared through the doors. Jolie stood there confused. Five minutes passed. Then ten. Guests began whispering. Her father’s face tightened with worry. Jolie lifted her dress and quietly followed. She didn’t know where Haron had gone. But she knew the building well enough to find the private meeting rooms behind the ballroom. She was almost at the end of the corridor when she heard voices. Haron. And another man. Jolie stopped. She shouldn’t listen. She knew that. But then she heard her name. “Jolie cannot find out.” Her heart stopped. She moved closer. The door was slightly open. Haron stood with his back toward her. Across from him was one of his closest business associates. “It’s too late,” the man said. “Once the marriage is finalized, the Carter fortune will legally become much easier to access.” Jolie’s blood ran cold. “What are you talking about?” The man’s voice lowered. “You’ve spent three years getting close to her. Don’t tell me you’re suddenly having second thoughts.” Jolie’s fingers went numb. Three years? Getting close to her? She pressed herself against the wall. Haron didn’t answer immediately. Then the man laughed. “Come on, Haron. You know exactly why you chose her.” Jolie held her breath. “Her father owns one of the largest private investment groups in the country. Once you’re married, you’ll have access to everything.” Jolie’s eyes filled with tears. No. No, this couldn’t be happening. She waited for Haron to deny it. To laugh. To tell the man he was crazy. Instead, Haron said quietly, “I know.” Jolie covered her mouth. Her knees almost gave way. The man continued. “So what happens after you get the company?” Haron’s voice was cold. “We take control.” Jolie felt as if someone had driven a knife through her chest. The man smiled. “And Jolie?” There was a long silence. Jolie waited. Please. Please say something. Please tell him you love me. Finally, Haron answered. “Jolie was never part of the plan.” Her tears spilled. She couldn’t hear anything else. The man asked another question, but Jolie was already backing away. Her veil caught on the corner of a table. She pulled it free. A crystal decoration fell to the floor and shattered. The sound made both men turn. Haron’s eyes met hers through the open doorway. His face changed instantly. “Jolie.” She stared at him. The man beside him went pale. Jolie looked down at her wedding dress. At the ring waiting on her finger. Then back at the man she had loved for three years. “You were going to take my family’s company?” Haron said nothing. That silence was enough. Jolie nodded slowly. “Three years.” Her voice cracked. “I loved you for three years.” “Jolie, listen to me.” “Don’t.” She stepped backward. “You don’t get to explain.” “It’s not what you think.” She laughed through her tears. “Then tell me what it is.” Haron took a step toward her. Jolie immediately stepped back. “Don’t come near me.” He stopped. For the first time since she had known him, Haron looked afraid. But Jolie didn’t care. She turned and ran. She ran past the guests. Past her father. Past the flowers and the decorations and the life she had spent three years imagining. She didn’t stop until she reached the entrance. Outside, rain had begun falling. Jolie pulled off her veil and threw it onto the ground. Behind her, the wedding doors burst open. “Jolie!” Haron’s voice. She froze. For one second, she almost turned around. Then she remembered his words. We take control. She stepped into the rain. “I hope you get everything you wanted, Haron.” She removed the engagement ring from her finger. Then she threw it at him. The ring struck the ground between them. Haron stared at it. Jolie walked away. Neither of them noticed the black car parked across the street. Inside, a man watched Jolie disappear into the rain. He lifted his phone. “She left him.” A quiet laugh came from the other end. “Good.” The man looked toward Haron, who was still standing outside the wedding venue. “And the girl?” There was a pause. Then the voice replied, “Don’t touch her yet.” “Why?” “Because Haron Blackwood will come looking for her.” The man smiled. “And when he does?” The voice became colder. “We’ll finally have something he can’t afford to lose.” The call ended. Across the street, Jolie disappeared around the corner. Completely unaware that her broken wedding was only the beginning. And that someone had been waiting three years for her to walk away from Haron Blackwood.