BILLIONAIRE'S UNWANTED BRIDE

CHAPTER ONE

The dress didn't fit.

Elena Reed stood in front of the mirror, her hands shaking as she tried to zip it up. It was too tight around the ribs, loose at the shoulders. It was made for someone else-someone taller, slimmer, louder.

It was made for someone she'd never be.

It was made for her sister.

"Elena! Are you ready?" her mother's voice snapped from outside the dressing room.

Elena didn't answer. She couldn't. Her throat was too dry, her chest too tight.

She had always followed rules. She had always stayed in the background. That's where it was safe. But today, she was about to walk into a room full of people wearing a white dress that wasn't hers but was about to be hers and say "I do" to a man who didn't want her. A man who she didn't know,a man who would never really know her.

This wasn't supposed to be her wedding.

The morning had started like any other wedding day. Hair, makeup, flowers, people rushing around. Isabella had been laughing just hours ago. But then she disappeared.

One moment, she was there. The next, she was gone.

No one could reach her. Not by phone, not by text. Her dress, her veil, her shoes-still there. She was gone like she was never there. No explanation,she just upped and left the chaos

The panic had started small. A whisper between her mother and the wedding planner. A forced smile. Then shouting. Then crying.

And then... silence.

"Elena," her mother had said, eyes wide, voice flat. "Put on the dress."

"What? No-" she had tried to protest because she couldn't imagine doing such thing

"She's not coming back. The guests are seated. The press is outside. We don't have a choice." her mother said forcefully through clenched teeth.

It happened so fast.

One moment, she was just the little sister, the quiet one. The next, she was being shoved into a dress that didn't belong to her, being told to fix her hair, to not cry, to walk down the aisle and marry a man she had never spoken to.

Well, maybe once. Briefly. Years ago. He hadn't even looked at her.

Her hands found the zipper again. She tugged. It caught halfway, refusing to go any higher. Great!,she thought. Nothing was cooperating.

Her mother knocked again, harder. "Now, Elena!" She whisper yelled loud enough to be heard.

"I'm trying," she whispered.

She took a deep breath, turned around, and yanked. It zipped.

Barely.

She stepped out of the room. Her mother was there, looking her up and down. Her lips were thin, her eyes cold.

"Smile," she said, pressing the veil into Elena's hair.

Elena tried. It felt wrong.

Someone handed her the bouquet-white roses. They smelled strong. She swallowed hard.

Outside the dressing area, the music had started.

The wedding march.

"Oh God," Elena breathed. Her legs felt weak,and her eyes were stinging badly..... she couldn't.....

"Don't think," her mother said sharply. "Just walk."

Just walk don't think?? Like that was possible. On a normal occasion,she might have whispered a sarcastic come back,but at that point,she felt dead...

The chapel was full to the brim with faces she never thought she'd see, and people she had never seen and every seat was taken. As Elena stepped into view,people turned in their seats to stare at her.. Cameras flashed all around....

Breathe! Count to ten!

Just anything. In and out,breathe,you can do this

She told herself as she counted sheep's causing a bitter smile to slip into her face. She couldn't do it!!!!!!

"I can't"she whispered in terror under her breath but she still walked slowly, her eyes locked straight ahead.

And there he was.

Aiden Black.

Tall, sharp, cold. Dark suit, darker eyes. He looked like he could see through lies. And right now, she was walking toward him wearing the biggest lie of her life.

I'm not just wearing the lie,I am the lie

A pathetic lie! The thought brought tears and a ghostly smile to her eyes....Smiling in such predicament? She was surely going crazy....

His jaw was tight,and his big hands clenched into tight scary looking fists.He was angry.

He knew.

Of course he knew she wasn't the real bride yet he didn't stop the ceremony.

He didn't leave.

He didn't say a word.

He just stared at her like he was watching something rotten unfold.

Of course,I myself feel rotten for being in this position. She thought all the while her heart pounded so hard she could hear it in her ears.

The vows were read robotically and rings were exchanged .....

Her voice shook when she said, "I do."

His voice was flat when he said the same.

A kiss was expected but there was nothing like that he barely brushed his lips against her cheek,like she was infected.

Then it was over.

Elena Reed had become Elena Black.

Just like that.

The ride to the penthouse was silent.

No party. No smiles. No joy.

He sat across from her in the car, his arms crossed, his face stone.

Elena stared out the window. Her hands were still holding the bouquet. She didn't know what to do with them.

When they arrived, he didn't wait for her. He walked ahead, straight into the building, through the private elevator, and into a space that didn't feel like home.

It was glass and steel. Cold. Beautiful. Empty.

He finally turned to look at her.

"You have two minutes to explain," he said in a low dangerous voice,while his cold eyes glued to her

Elena opened her mouth to explain but nothing came out.

What would she say?

"Where's Isabella?"

"I... I don't know," she whispered truthfully.

"Don't lie to me."He snapped causing her to tremble slightly....

"I'm not lying. She was there this morning. Then she was gone."

"And you just stepped in like a good little puppet?" he said mockingly and it stung,even if it was true ,it still stung.

"I didn't want to!" The words burst out. "They made me. My mom-she said I had to. She said if I didn't, everything would fall apart."

Aiden laughed once, but it wasn't funny. "Of course she did."

He walked toward her slowly. "And what did you want, Elena?"

She looked at him. Really looked.

He was angry, yes. But behind the anger, there was something else. Cold. Deep. Like betrayal.

"I didn't want this," she said softly. "Not this way."

He nodded, once. "Good."

Then he turned and walked into another room.

The door shut.

She stood there, alone, in the middle of a penthouse that felt like a prison.

Still in the wrong dress,still holding someone else's flower,still being the pathetic unwanted bride,still alone pretending to be someone else.

With a silent sob stuck in her throat,she dropped the bouquet on the floor and walked to the nearest chair.

She sat.

And she cried. Quietly.

Because she didn't know what else to do.