The Price of Forever: Married to a Billionaire

The sound of my phone ringing echoed through my small dorm room. I glanced at the screen and saw my mother’s name flash across the display. My stomach tightened. It wasn’t like her to call during midterms unless it was important. "Juliet," she said, her voice brisk, distant. "You need to come home. Right now." I blinked, momentarily stunned. I hadn’t even finished my art project, and my professor was already expecting a draft. "But... Mom, I’m in the middle of finals. Is everything okay?" There was a pause on the other end of the line, a silence that felt too heavy for a simple call. Finally, she responded, her tone colder than usual. "Pack your things. Don’t argue." A knot formed in my throat. Something was wrong. I could feel it in the air, like a storm gathering in the distance. But I didn’t ask. I never did when it came to my mother. She rarely gave me details unless it was absolutely necessary. I gathered my things in a daze, the strange urgency in her voice rattling my nerves. I barely remembered to say goodbye to my roommate as I left the dorm and headed to the nearest bus station. By the time I arrived at the house, the atmosphere was thick with tension. My father was pacing in the living room, his face drawn and tired. He didn't look up as I walked in, and my mother stood by the window, her expression unreadable. "Mom? Dad?" I called, a sinking feeling growing in my chest. My mother turned slowly, her lips tight, her eyes avoiding mine. "Sit down, Juliet." I hesitated but obeyed, taking a seat on the worn sofa. My father finally spoke, his voice heavy with something I couldn’t place. "We’ve made an important decision, Juliet. A decision that will affect the entire family." I frowned. "What do you mean?" My mother’s eyes flicked to my father before she spoke. "You’re going to marry Alexander Gabriel Knight." The name hit me like a slap. "Who?" "Alexander Gabriel Knight," my father repeated, though his voice seemed strained. "The billionaire. He owns Knight Enterprises." I stared at them, speechless, as the weight of their words sank in. "What are you talking about?" I asked, the disbelief creeping into my voice. "I can’t marry someone I don’t know. I have plans for my life. This—this isn’t what I want!" "Juliet," my mother interjected, her voice sharp, "it’s not about what you want right now. It’s about what the family needs." I stood up, pacing. "This is insane! You’re trying to force me into some business arrangement for what? Money? Status? I won’t be a part of this!" My heart was pounding now, blood rushing in my ears. The anger I felt was rising like a tide. "I’m not some pawn in your plans. I have a future. I’m studying, I’m working hard for my art career." My father stood from his chair, his face grim. "This is bigger than your art, Juliet. Alexander Knight’s family is in trouble. He’s about to lose everything—his company, his name. And your marriage to him will help secure his position. Your mother and I are in debt. We owe people who... who can’t be ignored. Your marriage is the only solution." I froze. "Debt?" My mother nodded, her face pale. "Yes, Juliet. Your father made some bad investments. We don’t have time to explain it all now, but the truth is, we’re in danger of losing everything. Knight Enterprises is the lifeline we need." I looked back at my parents, my mind reeling. My life—everything I’d worked for—was suddenly in someone else’s hands. The idea of marrying a stranger, let alone someone like Alexander Gabriel Knight, felt impossible. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of decisions I had no control over. "Do you really think I can just do this?" I asked, voice trembling with the weight of what they were asking. "Marry a man I don’t even know just to save this family?" "It’s not just for the family," my father said quietly. "It’s for your future too. You’ll have everything you’ve ever wanted. A home, security, the chance to pursue your art without fear. This is an opportunity, Juliet. Don’t you see?" My mother added softly, "He’s a good man, Juliet. He’s doing this because his family needs him to. And he has agreed to this arrangement... because of your father’s reputation." I felt a deep, painful pang in my chest as I sat back down. My parents were desperate—broken by their choices. And they needed me to fix it. I wasn’t sure if I could forgive them for putting me in this position, but I knew I had no other choice. I took a deep breath. "When do I meet him?" "Tomorrow," my father replied. "We’ve arranged a meeting." "Fine." I stood up, my fists clenched by my sides. "But know this: I will never love him. And I won’t pretend to." My mother’s eyes softened for a brief moment, but she said nothing. As I left the living room, a thought gnawed at my mind. I had agreed to this, but I wasn’t sure who would win in the end—the daughter forced into a marriage for a family’s survival or the artist fighting to keep her heart and soul intact.