Instead, I made a choice—one that would alter everything.
I had driven there glowing with happiness, imagining our future.
My wedding dress was hanging neatly in the back seat, my white shoes wrapped with care, and a smile lingered on my face that refused to fade.
I’d written Thomas a handwritten note, something personal and tender to give him before the ceremony. It was late—nearly midnight—but excitement doesn’t obey the clock.
I lifted my hand to ring the bell when his voice reached me through the door.
“Tomorrow, it’s finally over,” he said. “The rest is just procedure.”
I stood completely still.
I recognized his parents’ voices immediately. His mother spoke with a sharpness I had never heard directed at me.
“Stick to what we discussed,” she said. “This marriage is strategic, not emotional. Once it’s done, you’ll handle things properly.”
“I understand,” Thomas answered. “She believes everything I tell her. She has no idea.”
The breath left my lungs.
“And when do you plan to tell him?” his father asked.
Thomas laughed softly.
“There’s no need. Once the paperwork is signed, the business is protected. After that, if he grows bored… there are ways out.”
My hands started shaking.
They weren’t speaking about love. They were discussing assets, leverage, security. I wasn’t a bride in their eyes—I was a safeguard. A transaction.
“And honestly,” his mother continued, “her surname, her background—it all works in our favor. She’s trusting. Thankful. Exactly what we need.”
My skin went cold.
