Shackled By Choice

Chapter1

Chapter 1: Shackled By Choice

“For the love of God, Elena, stop fidgeting!” Victoria whisper-yelled her way into the bridal suite.

“If I wasn’t being thrust into this circus, I wouldn’t be fidgeting,” Elena shot back, smoothing the ivory silk of her wedding dress for the hundredth time. Now the mirror showed a woman she hardly recognized — hair perfect, makeup pristine, a designer gown. All for a man who couldn’t even be bothered to meet her before their wedding day.

"Forced?" Victoria’s lips, expertly painted, twisted into a mocking smile. “Oh please, we both know you leapt at the chance to steal Marcus from me. I’ve been trying for months to get him to notice me and now daddy dearest gives you this sham of a marriage?”

Elena’s knuckles clenched into fists. “I had no choice, and if I had a choice — trust me.

"But you don't, do you?" Victoria approached, her voice low and poisonous. “Poor Elena, giving up her own life to save the family business. I know damn well you’re doing this just to get back at me and hold on to your precious CEO position.”

"Victoria!" So their stepmother Margaret yelled. “Quit giving your sister a hard time on her wedding day.”

“Stepsister,” the two women corrected one another at once, then glared at each other.

Elena looked back in the mirror and her internal voice was screaming. How did I end up here? Three months ago I was designing buildings, living my life and now...

The memory of her father’s ultimatum was still fresh:

"It's non-negotiable, Elena. Produce an heir, marry Marcus Reed — or Mitchell Industries goes to Victoria. “I’ve already done everything with Reed’s team.”

"But why me? Why not Victoria? She’s the one who’s got to try to get his attention!”

“Because he personally requested you.”

That detail had plagued her for months. Why her? She had never met the man, had never run into him at any social functions. The inscrutable Marcus Reed, who was said to dominate his business empire from behind closed doors, who allegedly wielded as much cruelty as genius.

A rap at the door broke through her reveries. Her father came in, his expression a mask of practiced neutrality.

"It's time," he said simply.

Taking his arm, Elena could feel her heart thundering in her chest. “Dad, please… there’s got to be some other way.”

"There isn't." His voice softened slightly. Elena, we’re not always able to do things in the way we want, sometimes we need to sacrifice things for the greater good.

"Greater good?" She pulled away from him. "You mean your good? The board's good? What about my good?"

"Once you're CEO—"

“Once I’m president, I’ll be trapped in a marriage with a man who has been described as an animal!”

“Mr. Reed is just a businessman, plain and simple. This is a merger, Elena. Treat it as such."

Elena ran through her options one last time as they neared the chapel doors. She could run. Get her a new name and start anew somewhere else. Black’s hit men…But the idea that Victoria would take away everything her grandfather had built…

The doors opened, and she saw him, for the first time.

Marcus Reed stood at the altar like a statue of ice. Awsome handsome, and expressionless. His dark gaze fell on her, as deep as the endless void, eyes intense enough to catch her breath.

Only business, she told herself. *Survive the ceremony, secure the company and get the hell out. *

"Dearly beloved...” the priest started, but Elena hardly heard the words.

“Mr. Marcus Reed, are you willing to take this woman as your lawfully wedded bride?"

It was like a cold, deep winter sea when his voice came. "I do."

“And do you, Elena Mitchell, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

Time seemed to freeze. At that instant, every decision, every circumstance that had brought her here crashed upon her like the waves on the shore.

"I... I do."

The words were chains around her wrists.

"You may kiss the bride."

It was then that Marcus looked at her, and something shifted in those dark eyes of his — something that had her pulse racing. When his hand cupped her cheek, it was surprisingly warm.

It was a quick, businesslike kiss, but Elena felt it shoot through her like lightning. When he withdrew, his features hadn’t altered, but she could have sworn his breath quickened a little.

"Congratulations!" Margaret’s too-bright voice shattered the moment. "What a lovely ceremony!"

Elena saw Victoria’s murderous glare from the tiny group of witnesses. Her stepsister’s hands were balled up so tightly her knuckles had turned white.

As they stopped for a photo op, she could feel Marcus’s hand settle on her lower back like a vice. said, she looked up at him, though his face betrayed nothing.

A chief of staff, James Walker, came over with a tablet. “Mr. Reed, the jet is standing by whenever you wish to depart.”

"Jet?" Elena looked between them. "What jet?"

Marcus finally looked at her, his lips twisting into what could have been a smile but was more of a predator’s warning. “You didn’t think we were going to have a honeymoon, wife?”

Edward declared 'wife' in a way that sent chills up her spine.

“I… I don’t know about any travel,” she said.

“There’s a lot you didn’t hear,” he said quietly, for her alone. “But don’t stress — we have a lot of time to get acquainted here. After all...” His hand tightened on her waist a little. "This is just the beginning."

Elena's heart sank. She had thought she was ready for this arrangement, thought she could handle whatever came her way. But when she looked into Marcus Reed’s eyes, she knew she may have just made the biggest mistake of her life.

What have I done?

Pacing the vast Reed Manor living room in her wedding dress, Elena kept checking her phone. That was three hours after Marcus had suddenly ordered his driver to take her home, alone, no explanation given.

“You look unhappy, Mrs. Reed.” It was the soft voice that made her turn. An elderly gentleman, impeccably suited, was standing in the doorway. “I’m Harrison, the house staff manager. Is there anything you need?"

Elena managed a tight smile. "Please, call me Elena. I…” she paused, pride fighting with concern. “Has Mr. Reed said when he will be back?”

Harrison's eyes softened. "Ah. Fair warning — Mr. Reed frequently vanishes without warning. Sometimes for days or weeks. He's quite... independent."

"Independent?" Elena scoffed. “My husband left his bride on our wedding day! Doesn’t that feel excessive, even for him?”

“He has his reasons, Mrs. Reed. His private quarters on the upper floor - no one allowed. Even the staff." Harrison’s tone was a light warning. "Make yourself comfortable. Conclusion — He’ll come back when he is ready.

After Harrison left, Elena wandered the lower levels of the mansion, attempting to keep her mind off her increasing frustration. The house’s grandeur did nothing to temper her rising anger. First the No-Show, now this disappearing act? What kind of man mistreats his wife — even a contract wife — like that?

That evening, she couldn’t help herself. The forbidden top floor called to her. What was Marcus Reed hiding up there? She tiptoed up the darkened stairs, heart racing.

"Looking for something?"

The frost in Marcus’s voice sent a chill through her. She turned slowly to see him watching her from the shadows, his expression unreadable.

“I wanted to talk to you,” she said, retreating. “You left me without a word —

He moved until she was pinned against the wall. "Careful, Elena. In this house, curiosity can be deadly.”

"Are you threatening me?"

His laugh was soft and cold. "Not at all. I'm warning you. “You don’t want to know things about me. His fingers followed the line of her jaw. “But since you’re so … interested..."

He kissed her then, fevered and greedy. Elena knew she ought to pull away from him, but a darker, more primal part of her reacted to his hands. This was a game of power, she recognized. And she was not going to be a passive participant.

She kissed him back just as passionately, sensing his surprise. When they finally pulled apart, his eyes had shifted, less icy, more predatory.

"Your room," he said roughly. "Now."

And as Elena followed him down the hall, she sensed she had just crossed a threshold. That’s not just lust — it’s about control and the desire for dominance and secrets.” And she was walking directly into his web.

What game are you playing, Marcus Reed? she wondered. And then what happens when I learn the rules?