The Heiress Returns : Married to a Tycoon

Mia Smith stood in front of the mirror, tugging nervously at the corset of her wedding gown. Her round face, framed by soft brown curls, glowed with a mix of nervous excitement and quiet dread. She was fat, yes-at least that's what they always reminded her-but today, she felt beautiful. Or at least, she wanted to.

She was marrying Kelvin Richard, the only son of the most powerful family in the City of Eldergate. Everyone said she was lucky. She didn't feel lucky. She felt... trapped.

Her life had never been kind. Born without a mother, raised by a cold, military-disciplined father who rarely looked her in the eye unless he was shouting at her. Then came the stepmother-a venomous woman who never missed a chance to remind Mia she was unwanted. And her daughter, Tasha, who treated her like dirt under her designer heels.

Still, Kelvin had chosen her. Or rather, the arrangement was made, and no one asked Mia what she wanted.

But fate had its own twisted script.

Just days before the wedding, during the final ritual at the Richard estate, Mia collapsed. Everything turned to black.

---

She woke up in the hospital. The sterile white ceiling stared down at her as if mocking her confusion. Her father loomed over her bed, red-faced and furious as the doctor left the room.

"What the *fuck* did I just hear?" he growled.

"W-what...?" Mia sat up weakly.

"You're *pregnant*, Mia! *Three months!*" His voice cracked the air like a whip. "What kind of dirty little *whore* are you, huh? Sleeping around like some back-alley *bitch*?"

Mia's eyes widened in horror. "No-I didn't-! I've never slept with anyone! I swear on Mom's grave!"

"*Bullshit!*" he spat. "You think I'm a fucking idiot? Who's the father? WHO IS HE?"

"There is no one!" Mia cried, tears spilling. "I never even left the house-! I've been locked in since I was fifteen! How could I...? How-?"

Her father stared at her as if she were a stranger. Something in her words, in the fear and truth behind her voice, made him pause-but only for a second.

"You disgusting little *wretch*," he hissed, turning away. "You've ruined everything."