THE BILLIONAIR'S REGRETFUL WIFE

CHAPTER THREE

Chapter Three

Sophia’s POV

I walked slowly down the aisle, my mum’s hand warm and steady in mine. People always said a wedding day was the happiest day of a woman’s life. Mine felt nothing like that. Instead of happiness, my heart was filled with fear and uncertainty. Everything had happened so fast. Just a few days ago, I was dreaming about my future with Nathan. Today… I was walking toward a man I barely knew.

Fredrick had wasted no time. The moment I signed the contract, the wedding preparations began immediately. Money really could make anything happen. Within two days, everything had been arranged: the church, the decorations, the guests, even the dress I was wearing.

I glanced down at the beautiful white gown wrapped around my body. It was breathtaking, but I wasn’t surprised. Fredrick owned one of the biggest fashion companies in the country, so getting a custom-made wedding dress within two days wasn’t impossible for him. Still… I had always imagined designing my own wedding dress. Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of sketching every detail with my own hands and wearing something I had created myself. I smiled bitterly. Some dreams were never meant to come true.

As we got closer to the altar, my breathing became uneven. I hadn’t even asked to meet Fredrick before today. What would have been the point? Nothing would change. I already knew enough about him: cold, powerful, a ruthless businessman. Those were the words people always used whenever his name came up.

Mum gently placed my hand into Fredrick’s before returning to her seat. The moment our hands touched, my body tensed. I kept my eyes on the floor, the veil hiding the tears gathering in my eyes.

The priest began the ceremony. His voice echoed through the church as he spoke the vows. Everything around me felt distant, almost unreal. It was as if my body was standing there while my mind was somewhere else.

When it was time to exchange the rings, Fredrick carefully slipped the wedding band onto my finger. I stared at it. A single tear escaped my eye. I was officially Mrs. Stones. The thought alone made my chest ache. Nathan’s face suddenly appeared in my mind—his smile, his gentle voice, the promises we had made to each other. I’m sorry, Nathan, I whispered silently. I hope one day… you’ll forgive me.

“You may now kiss the bride.” The priest’s voice pulled me back to reality. My heart immediately began pounding. I heard Fredrick take a step closer. Then I felt him gently lift my veil. For a moment, neither of us spoke. Slowly, his fingers rested beneath my chin, lifting my face until our eyes met. My breath caught in my throat. For the first time, I saw my husband clearly. His piercing blue eyes were fixed on mine, his expression calm and unreadable. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

Before I could look away, he leaned forward and pressed his lips gently against mine. I froze. My body refused to respond. It wasn’t because the kiss was rough—it wasn’t. I simply couldn’t bring myself to kiss him back.

The church suddenly filled with applause and cheerful voices. “I now pronounce you husband and wife.” Those words echoed in my mind. Husband and wife. It was real. There was no turning back anymore. Tears blurred my vision once again. For the first time in my life, I felt like my future no longer belonged to me.

Fredrick’s POV

I stood at the altar with my hands behind my back, waiting for the bride. The soft music filled the church as everyone turned toward the entrance. Then I saw her. Sophia. She walked slowly down the aisle with her mother beside her. The wedding dress fit her perfectly. I wasn’t surprised. I had personally made sure she got the best designer in the city. If she was going to become Mrs. Stones, nothing about this wedding was going to be ordinary.

As she drew closer, I noticed she never looked up once. The long veil hid most of her face, but I could tell she was nervous. Maybe even scared. Her mother finally placed her hand in mine before quietly returning to her seat. The moment our hands touched, I felt how cold her fingers were. She was trembling.

My eyes swept across the church. Every member of the Stones family was present. Business partners. Close friends. Important guests. Outside, dozens of reporters were waiting for us. Even though the wedding had been arranged in only two days, the news had spread like wildfire. Being a Stone meant there was hardly any privacy. Sometimes, it was exhausting.

The priest began the ceremony, and the church fell silent. We exchanged our vows one after another. Sophia’s voice was soft. She never once looked at me. “You may now kiss the bride.”

I had been expecting those words. I slowly reached for her veil and lifted it. For the first time, I saw her clearly. She was even more beautiful than I remembered from the company presentation. The makeup was simple and elegant, bringing out her natural beauty instead of hiding it. She still kept her head lowered. Almost as though she couldn’t bear to look at me.

I gently placed my fingers beneath her chin and lifted her face. Our eyes finally met. Her beautiful brown eyes were filled with fear, sadness… and uncertainty. She looked completely lost. I knew she probably had countless questions running through her mind. Questions I had no intention of answering today.

Without saying a word, I leaned closer and captured her lips with mine. The kiss was gentle. Brief. She remained completely still. She didn’t kiss me back. I hadn’t expected her to.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife.” The priest’s voice echoed through the church. The guests immediately burst into applause. A faint smile appeared on my lips. It was done. From this moment on… Sophia