Forced to be with the Billionaire

Chapter 5

Scarlett’s POV

A gasp went up from the guests, and I felt my stomach drop. The words echoed in my head, but I couldn’t understand them. What was he saying? Why wasn’t he marrying Jasmine?

I glanced at my sister, and she was frozen, her face draining of color. I could see the shock, the disbelief, in her eyes. Her lips parted as if she were about to speak, but no words came out.

Jasper took a breath before continuing. “I’m marrying Scarlett.”

My world stopped. My knees nearly gave way beneath me, and I had to grab the nearest chair for support. What was he saying? Was this some kind of joke? I searched his face, looking for any hint that this was a mistake, but all I saw was determination.

Jasmine didn’t move. Her face was pale, and I could tell she was on the verge of tears. My father’s face was even more striking, contorted with rage and disbelief.

“No!” he shouted, his voice thunderous. “This is absurd! Scarlett is not…”

But Jasper’s family stood silent, their faces unreadable. I could see that they had known about this. This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. This was planned.

The room felt like it was spinning. My heart hammered in my chest as I looked around, searching for any answers, any explanation.

But no one could offer one.

David White, my father, was furious, his eyes blazing with anger. “This is insane!” he spat, his voice shaking with rage. “Jasmine is the one who was supposed to marry you! Not Scarlett!”

Jasper didn’t flinch. His gaze never wavered from me, and I could feel the weight of his stare as if he were trying to communicate something deeper. Something I wasn’t sure I understood.

My mind was in turmoil. What was happening? How had I become the bride in this twisted game?

And then, it all came crashing down. My father’s voice broke through the haze. “Fine,” he said, his voice almost resigned. “If this is what it takes to salvage the business deal, then so be it.”

His words were like a slap to my face. My life wasn’t my own. It never had been. This was all a business arrangement, a deal for the future. There was no room for me to choose.

“Scarlett,” my father said, his voice cold. “Do your duty.”

I couldn’t breathe. My heart was breaking into pieces as I nodded, knowing deep down that I had no choice. This wasn’t my decision. It was never my decision.

And with that, the wedding was about to continue. I stood there, unsure of what was happening to me, my life, my future. Everything I had known, everything I had wanted, was slipping through my fingers.

“No… please,” I finally whispered, the words shaky and soft, barely cutting through the thick silence. I turned toward my father, toward Jasper, toward anyone who would listen. “Can we, can we at least postpone this? I’m not ready. I wasn’t supposed to be the bride. I…I’m not even dressed.”

My voice cracked. My hands trembled as I clutched the sides of the gown, one that, I just randomly picked. None of this felt like mine.

“I haven’t prepared for this. I don’t even have vows. I didn’t…” My eyes darted around desperately. “I didn’t agree to this. Not like this.”

My mother averted her gaze. My father didn’t even flinch.

And Jasper? He simply stood there, expression unreadable, like this was just another boardroom deal.

“It doesn’t matter,” my father said flatly, cutting me off like my words were noise. “All that matters is this wedding happens.”

I felt the breath knock out of my lungs.

It didn’t matter.

I didn’t matter.

I looked around at the faces I had grown up trusting, loving, believing in. My mother, who always brushed my hair back when I cried. My father, who once told me I’d change the world.

And Jasmine… the sister who used to braid my hair, steal my clothes, and sleep beside me during storms.

Now she stood beside the guests like a shattered statue, hatred carved into her face like it belonged there. Her eyes, red-rimmed and wild, locked on mine with pure venom.

And in that moment, I wondered if anyone had ever loved me at all. Or if I was always just a piece of the puzzle. A bargaining chip. The dispensable daughter.

A sob clawed up my throat. My hands curled into fists at my sides.

Charles.

His name whispered through my thoughts, breaking me further. The one person who would’ve fought for me. Who would’ve picked me first. The man with a crooked smile who once swore he’d never let the world touch me like this.

But he wasn’t here.

And no one else cared.

They didn’t even give me the decency of a choice… or a moment to breathe.

The music started again, louder this time, erasing the moment like it had never happened.

I felt Jasper shift beside me, his presence like cold steel brushing against my skin.

The priest’s voice rose once more, louder, firmer, final.

“We are gathered here today…”

I swallowed hard, blinking away tears as Jasper reached for my hand.

His fingers brushed mine, cool, calculated, and slid the ring onto my finger.

It felt like a collar.

My knees wobbled beneath me, but I forced myself to stay upright.

Beside me, he stood tall, unmoved, indifferent. He didn’t even glance my way.

“You may now kiss the bride,” the priest announced.

My breath caught in my throat.

He turned slowly and lifted the veil from my face, as if it weighed nothing, though it carried every ounce of my dread.

I looked up at him, at the man who had once barely acknowledged me.

Four years ago, Jasper Carrington was just a distant crush. A cold, older stranger in a café. My sister’s fiancé. And now…

My husband.

He leaned in close, his breath brushing against my ear.

“Don’t get the wrong impression,” he whispered.

“I will never love you.”

He smirked, and before I could respond, his lips met mine.

The kiss was hollow. Cold. A performance for the cameras, the crowd, the merger.

It was nothing like Edward’s kisses, nothing like the stolen moments we’d shared in secret corners, the way he used to hold me like I mattered.

I pulled back instinctively, needing space, needing air. And as I did, my gaze swept the room, until it landed on Edward.

My boyfriend.

His eyes met mine across the crowd, blazing with disbelief. And betrayal. And something far darker.

Hate.

And just like that…

Our whole world crumbled.

And as the applause erupted around us, sealing a marriage I never asked for, I realized…

This wasn’t the end of a love story.

It was the beginning of my undoing.