Alex's POV.
The wedding ceremony seemed to drag on endlessly, each passing moment feeling like an eternity as I longed for the day to be over so that I could finally escape the suffocating atmosphere of the crowded hall. The officiant's voice was a monotonous drone, explaining the significance of the vows we were about to take, but it all fell on deaf ears. None of these vows held any true meaning for me; they were nothing more than empty words. The truth was, I had no genuine affection for the girl standing beside me. This marriage was merely a business transaction, a strategic move to secure my family's empire. I felt no love for her, and she probably felt the same way about me.
My eyes rolled involuntarily, and I cast a quick glance towards the first row where my family and friends we
