Mr.Bride

“You must marry her! Or watch everything our family has worked for burn to the ground.” My father’s voice rattled in my ears, as I stared blankly in the mirror trying to adjust my crooked tie. He had said those words a million times over the past month, but each time, they pressed against my skull like iron chains. We were bankrupt. This arranged marriage was the only way our legacy could survive my stepmother’s ruthless schemes. Even after the divorce, she was still plotting in the shadows, waiting to buy out our remaining shares and leave us ruined on the streets. I had begged. I had argued. I had stayed up for nights on end hoping there might be another way out. But there wasn't. The Sterling family was our sole lifeline. Their astronomical wealth and political influence were the only things standing between us and total destruction. I was left with no choice but to marry his daughter. If I refused, the humiliation, the debt, and the ruin would collapse on my shoulders. My jaw clenched at the thought of my stepmother gloating over our downfall. Yet, here I sat. Helpless as a sheep led to the s*******r, preparing to bind myself forever to someone I didn’t love. “Ethan!” My father’s harsh snap cut through my thoughts. He leaned against the heavy oak doorframe, his brow arching with impatience. My heart shuddered, leaving a dull, hollow ache in my chest. Nothing I said mattered anymore. “Why are you still sitting there?” he demanded. I inhaled deeply, forcing my shaking legs to stand. “I’m—I’m ready, Father.” He studied me for a long, agonizing moment, as if checking to see if the misery drenching my face would give us away. “Don’t ruin this,” he warned, his stern look lingering before he finally turned to walk down the hall. I sank back onto the edge of the sofa, my fingers gripping the velvet cushion. My father glared back at me, his cold eyes flickering behind his lenses. “Don’t do any—” he tried to whisper. “Don’t do anything stupid. I got it!” I retorted, my voice laced with a bitterness I couldn't hide. Father paused, biting his lip. I hated how he always repeated those words. It felt insulting, like I was a child who didn't understand the gravity of the situation. I kept my gaze locked on the grandfather clock in the corner. The steady, heavy ticking was the only sound filling the suffocating silence stretching between us. Suddenly, the sharp clink of expensive heels echoed on the marble floor outside. A luxurious, suffocating scent of expensive perfume filled the air. My legs started to tremble again, and I gripped the cushion tighter. I tried to scramble for the practiced, polite phrases I had rehearsed in my head. Father cleared his throat and anxiously adjusted his collar, proving that he, too, felt the overwhelming weight of the presence approaching. Mr. Sterling marched into the room, his shoulders thrown back and his head held high with the absolute authority of a man who owned the city. Beside him stood his daughter, Selena. She was pretty, dressed in a flawless designer gown. “Ethan, it’s finally good to see you,” Mr. Sterling said. I stood up fast from the couch and stretched out my arm. “Th—thank you, sir,” I nodded. My Father stepped forward, exchanging grand pleasantries with the tycoon. For a split second, Father’s eyes clashed with mine, flashing a silent, desperate warning. I drifted my gaze away. I really hated that look. “This is my daughter, Selena,” Mr. Sterling said, patting her shoulder proud. Selena bowed down, her movements perfectly engineered for high society. I froze for a second, unsure of what to do. Father’s eyes perched on me again, burning a hole through my suit. “Ni—nice to meet you, Selena,” I forced a smile, the falsehood of it tasting like ash in my mouth. We were gestured to sit together. As the conversation shifted, Selena’s eyes hung on me, tracking my face for almost a full minute. I pretended to look at the floor, but I could feel My Father’s intense gaze pinning me from across the table, directing my every move so I wouldn’t mess this up. I let out a quiet sigh, rolling my eyes when no one was looking. “So… how have you been?” I managed to break the ice with her. “Well? I’m good,” she responded, placing a manicured palm on her thigh. In that moment, a vigorous, laugh burst from Mr. Sterling, drawing my attention away. It was ironic I found myself far more interested in the terrifying aura of the billionaire father than in the woman who was supposed to become my wife. Mr. Sterling rested his heavy arms on the back of the couch, his chin held high as he discussed financial terms with my father. But his laughter ceased when he noticed I was peeking at him. “I see you like my daughter, boy,” Mr. Sterling noted, his voice carrying a dangerous edge. “Yes… I like her very much, sir.” Hearing those words leave my mouth made my stomach twist. Across the table, my father’s lips parted, and he let out a faint smile. He leaned back into the cushions, looking like a general who had just successfully accomplished a life-or-death mission. Well, in a way, he had. Just as I thought the worst of the tension had passed, another set of heavy footsteps echoed off the marble walls outside. The sheer weight of the stride made the floorboards beneath my feet seem to vibrate. “Before we proceed with signing the final marriage contracts,” Mr. Sterling said, leaning back in his chair with a slow, calculating grin. “Ethan, there is someone else you must meet. I’d like you to introduce you to my eldest son.” I nodded casually, barely paying attention. Another wealthy, arrogant family member to exchange fake smiles with was the absolute least of my worries. My mind was already drifting back to the impending nightmare of my wedding with Selena. But then, the heavy doors slid open. A tall, breath taking, confident man stepped inside the room. He filled the doorway, casting a long shadow across the marble floor. His styled dark hair gleamed under the crystal chandeliers, and his sharp, predatory jawline was set in a cold line. Slowly, his intense, dark gaze scanned the room until it landed squarely on mine. The moment our eyes locked, the air was ripped right out of my lungs. It was as if everything else in the world had paused.