CHAPTER 32Natalie, my maid of honor, leaned in closer, her eyes wide with admiration. "Emma, you look absolutely stunning! Alexander is going to be floored when he sees you."I smiled, my heart swelling with joy. "Thank you, Nat. You and Laila look breathtaking too. I'm so lucky to have you both by my side on this special day."Laila, beamed at me, adjusting the delicate flowers in her hair. "Emma, you're the one who's lucky. Alexander is such a wonderful man, and you two are perfect for each other. He is also lucky to have you and soon you both would be married and complete each other as a family."I blushed, feeling the warmth of their love and support. "I truly believe that, Laila. Today is the beginning of our forever. And I can only hope that our forever is just perfect with less hurdles in our path."As the makeup artist put the finishing touches on my look, she handed me a mirror. I held it up, my breath catching in my throat. The reflection stari

CHAPTER 34The reality of our situation weighed heavily upon me, and the hope that had flickered within my heart extinguished.But deep down, a small ember of hope refused to die. Perhaps, just perhaps, love could find its way into Alexander's heart. Maybe, with time and patience, our fragmented promise could be mended, and the icy walls around him would thaw. The car rolled to a stop in front of Alexander's grand mansion, a symbol of his wealth and power. As I stepped out, my heart heavy with the weight of his words, he marched forward without sparing me a glance. I followed, my steps faltering, as if I were an unwelcome intruder in my own life. Once inside, a woman approached me with a warm smile. "Hello, I'm Maria, Mr. Alexander's maid. Welcome to your new home Miss Emma." Her kindness provided a fleeting moment of solace amidst the storm brewing within me. "Thank you, Maria," I managed to utter, my voice betraying the sadness that clung to me like a

CHAPTER 36The love I had imagined, the connection I had longed for, seemed to have vanished in a few hours. The reality was far from the dream I had held onto so tightly.With a heavy heart, I mustered the strength to respond, my voice barely above a whisper. "I... I thought... I thought we could talk, Alexander," I managed to say, my voice betraying both vulnerability and determination.He let out a sigh, his gaze shifting away from me. "There's nothing to talk about," he replied curtly, his words cutting through the air like a knife. "We both know what this marriage is, Emma. Let's not pretend otherwise."His dismissal stung, and I felt a lump form in my throat. The realization that he no longer desired me, that our union had become a mere facade, tore at my heart. But even in the face of his coldness, I refused to let go of the hope that flickered within me.Summoning every ounce of courage, I met his gaze, my eyes filled with a mix of determination

CHAPTER 38Last night, the times I had locked eyes with him had been almost too intense for me. Those blue orbs of his warmed me in a way that his embrace almost never could- and his embrace was one of the most comforting things I had ever been in. There was just something about his eyes that made heart flutter and made a delicious shudder lick up my spine; they were so full of life and emotions, sparkling intensely bright, yet warm and calm.I slowly snuggled closer to him once more and rested my head on he's broad chest while he spooned me lovingly. I felt a slight weight on the crown of my head and got out of my trail of thoughts, I glanced up to see that Alexander was now fully awake and had placed a kiss on the crown of my head. A nice gesture that always made me feel loved by him. I looked up to find Alexander's face mere inches from mine. His lips curved into a mischievous smile, and he leaned in to steal a morning kiss. Instinctively, I palmed m

Chapter 40The setting was indeed romantic, and for a moment, I felt a pang of jealousy towards a love story that had begun in such a beautiful place. I found myself imagining Alexander proposing to me once more in such a beautiful place. We moved towards the gazebo, and as we sat, I felt a sudden shift in the atmosphere. Her icy demeanor seemed to harden further, if that was even possible."Emma," she began, her voice cold and hard. "I want you to understand something. I despise you."I felt a jolt of shock, but before I could respond, she continued. "I will never accept you as a part of this family. No matter what you do, no matter how hard you try, you will always be an outsider to me. A mere low class girl that is undeserving of my family's high class status."Her words stung, but I refused to let her see that. "May I ask why, ma'am?" I asked, meeting her gaze squarely."You think I do not know?" she spat, her eyes gleaming with anger. "You think I don't