The Billionaire's Unforgiving Bride

Cassandra’s POV Rose aroma mixed with dishonesty permeated the air. I held the edges of my dress, a perfect white that paraded the gloom of my life, and my fingers shook. Standing before the mirror, I gazed at Dominic Hale, the most dangerous guy I had ever come across set to be married. a man I used to know quite closely who plagued both dreams and nightmares. The contemplation was entirely incorrect. Though all I saw was a prisoner caught in a loveless deal, burdened with secrets too heavy to carry, I was supposed to seem like a brilliant bride. Whipped under a golden falsehood, my parents had framed the marriage as a commercial transaction. Dominic's money was essential to save the Blackwell name and our business. My father, Victor Blackwell, treated me like a commodity, a chess piece he could trade off for advantage. Cold and harsh as the razor he used to cut me off whenever I tried to speak up, his voice rang in my head. Cassandra, this is your responsibility. You owe us a lot. And I had been dumb enough to trust him. Still, this went beyond mere money or authority. Not now. Because Dominic was more than simply a businessman walking into our lives with a cold, calculated smile. I had kept this secret from everyone, including him; he was the father of my child. Lily? My darling, naive Lily, the daughter I swore to guard at all expenses. She was my secret, my one decent thing in a world of falsehoods. Every choice I made and every struggle I battled was for her. And now I was ready to wed a guy who, should he ever find out, would wreck everything. The stakes were great, and I had no margin for mistake. At the door, there came a harsh, impatient knock. I inhaled deeply and plastered on a smile like a thin, flimsy mask. I called, "Come in," my voice was more consistent than I felt. The door opened, and there he was Dominic Hale, wearing a black suit built specifically to exude power and control. His dark hair slicked back to accentuate the sharp lines of his face, and his steely blue eyes raked over me like I was nothing more than a piece in his game. Dominic was a guy who regarded people as assets or dangers, nothing more; he had made enemies in every boardroom. And today I was both too. "You look... appropriate," he replied, his voice tinged with apathy. Just a businesslike evaluation of his soon-to-be wife; no compliments, no warmth. "Are you prepared?" Was I ready? Prepared to wed a man who considered me as a tool for achieving his goals rather than a loving partner? ready to keep my daughter's existence secret from the one man who could wipe out her life in a heartbeat? I nodded, swallowing the terror that may have choked me. Indeed, I responded. "Let us finish this." Early That Day Like every other morning, the one at the Blackwell estate began with the regular tense breakfast. Reading the financial part of the newspaper, my father sat at the head of the table and wrinkled in annoyance. Helena, my mother, sipped her coffee with the grace of a lady who had long since stopped giving any thought beyond looks. Their voices were low, their words tinged with haste and hardly veiled terror. I ate with pickiness; my hunger is absent. Though I couldn't afford to display frailty, the weight of what was approaching pressed down on me. Not yet today. Victor said, "We're running out of time," tossing the newspaper down on the table. We lose everything if Cassandra decides against this marriage. Helena fixed me with hard, calculated eyes. "You understand Cassandra, what is at risk here? This concerns more than just you. I nodded mechanically, miles away in my mind. Their priorities were not what I desired, what I felt. To them, I was only their fix for their woes. Still, I was doing this for Lily—not for them. The only reason I felt ready to stroll down the aisle was her. Recollection One year ago Dominic had not seen me in more than a year, not since that terrible night when everything had changed. Desperate and careless, I had been out of my mind attempting to flee the stifling expectations of my family. Though it was just for a time, Dominic had been the only one who actually saw me. If only for a few hours, we had both been shattered, lost in our own suffering and sought comfort in one another. I had not intended to conceive. When I discovered it, though, I realized I cannot tell him. Dominic Hale was not the sort of man who would greet fatherhood with wide arms. He was merciless, pragmatic, and utterly unsuited for a parent to my child. I had thus kept Lily a secret, reared her alone, hidden from the world. Today: The Ceremony in Present Time I walked down the aisle during the wedding march, each step feeling as though it counted toward catastrophe. Dominic stood at the altar, his face blank, his eyes locked on me with a combination of contempt and apathy. No soft looks, no whispered love vows. This was a transaction, basic and direct. But I could feel the first slippage in my will as I stood next to him and slid the chilly band of gold on my finger. Dominic leaned forward, his voice low and lethal. "You would do better in helping Cassandra. Each of us stands to lose too much. I nodded and forced a smile not visible to my eyes. But when I raised my head to meet him, I saw something black and a relentless flutter in his eyes. Dominic was preparing the scene for something far more evil than merely playing a game. And in that instant I understood that marriage to Dominic was merely a starting point. Still to come was the actual fight. I slipped a moment to myself in the garden while the reception hummed with guest conversation, the cool night air a welcome relief from the stifling drama within. I pulled out my phone, my fingers hesitating over the screen as I looked at the last message I had gotten that morning, one that chilled me to my core. From: unknown We are aware of your secret. Lily isn't secure. You have created a dangerous opponent. My heart hammered as I turned around to see Dominic captivating our visitors with his lovely smile out of the shining windows of the reception hall. Too many risks were circling us, too many hazards hiding in the darkness. And today Lily was known to someone. Trying to control my breathing, I stashed my phone behind us. This marriage was meant to guard my family and drive away Dominic's rivals. But the sensation that I had made a horrible mistake persisted as I observed him from the shadows. In marriage to Dominic Hale, I had not just signed a contract. I had entered a labyrinth of danger, treachery, and falsehoods. And I did not know how I was going to leave.