Married to My Enemy's Father

"You chose her over me? Fine. I'll marry your father." The words left my lips before I could think. A collective gasp swept through the church. The air seemed to vanish. Every conversation died. Every phone that had been secretly recording froze in midair. Dozens of stunned eyes darted between me and the man standing a few feet away. Ethan's face drained of color. "What... what did you just say?" His voice cracked, the confidence he'd worn moments ago crumbling before everyone's eyes. I didn't answer him. Instead, I kept my gaze fixed on the man beside him. Damian Blackwood. The billionaire whose name alone could make CEOs lose sleep. The man who had built one of the largest business empires in the country with nothing but ruthless ambition. The man everyone feared. And Ethan Blackwood's father. For the first time since my world had fallen apart, I felt strangely calm. Maybe heartbreak had pushed me past the point of tears. Maybe humiliation had turned into something colder. Or maybe I simply had nothing left to lose. The silence stretched between us. Damian's sharp gray eyes searched mine as though trying to decide whether I had lost my mind. His expression remained unreadable. No surprise. No amusement. No pity. Just quiet, dangerous composure. Vanessa let out a nervous laugh. "Zara, stop embarrassing yourself." I slowly turned to look at her. She stood exactly where I was supposed to be, her fingers wrapped possessively around Ethan's arm. The white dress she wore wasn't a wedding gown, but it didn't matter. She had already stolen everything that was supposed to be mine. My fiancé. My wedding. My future. "You've already made enough of a scene," she continued with a smug smile. "Just leave while you still have some dignity." Dignity? I almost laughed. She was the one who had been sleeping with my fiancé behind my back, yet she dared speak to me about dignity. Ethan finally found his voice. "Zara, you're upset. You don't mean this." "No?" He took a cautious step toward me. "You're angry, and I understand that, but don't drag my father into this." I looked at him as if he were a complete stranger. Three years. Three years of dates, promises, birthday surprises, family dinners, and whispered plans about the children we would have someday. Three years... Reduced to nothing in a single afternoon. "You understand?" I repeated quietly. He swallowed. "I never wanted to hurt you." The words ignited something inside me. "You never wanted to hurt me?" A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "You cheated on me with my cousin." His jaw tightened. "You planned this humiliation on our wedding day." Neither of them spoke. "You let me walk down that aisle believing I was about to marry the man I loved." Still, silence. "So don't stand there pretending you understand my pain." Vanessa rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. You're acting like a victim." I turned toward her so quickly she instinctively stepped back. "Because I am." She opened her mouth but no words came out. The guests whispered among themselves. Some looked horrified. Others looked fascinated. The gossip from today would spread across every social circle before sunset. I no longer cared. My life had already shattered. What more could they take from me? Slowly, I lifted my chin and faced Damian again. "If my proposal offended you," I said steadily, "I'll apologize and walk away." A pin-drop silence followed. "But I wasn't joking." For the first time since entering the church, Damian spoke. His voice was deep, calm, and powerful enough to silence the room without effort. "You wish to marry me?" Every heartbeat echoed in my ears. "Yes." Ethan's eyes widened. "Dad, don't entertain this nonsense." Damian didn't even glance at him. His attention remained fixed on me. "And why," he asked evenly, "would you want to marry a man nearly twice your age?" I held his gaze without blinking. "Because the man I loved destroyed my heart." I paused. "And I'd rather spend the rest of my life with an honest stranger than another minute loving a liar." The church fell deathly silent. No one dared breathe. No one dared speak. Damian Blackwood studied me for a long moment. Then, to everyone's astonishment... The corner of his lips lifted into the faintest smile.