Chapter 2 The Wedding Day

The soft murmur of the guests filled the grand hall as Amelia stood at the altar, her heart racing. The wedding was happening, and she could barely process it. She looked around the lavish room, the flowers, the guests, all eyes on her. How did I end up here?

Cassandra stood at her side, a smile too perfect to be genuine on her lips. "You look beautiful, dear. Try to enjoy the moment. You're doing a good thing."

Amelia forced a smile but felt a lump in her throat. She wasn't doing a good thing. She was fulfilling a promise that wasn't even hers to make.

The doors at the back of the hall creaked open. The hush that followed was immediate and palpable. Amelia's heart skipped a beat.

Darius, the assistant, appeared first, his steps measured as he helped Ethan down the aisle. He was blind, yes, but something about the way Ethan carried himself was different from what Amelia had imagined. He wasn't frail or hesitant. His presence was commanding.

Amelia's breath caught in her throat as Ethan's arrival took a turn she hadn't expected. A convoy of luxury cars had pulled up outside. Each car gleamed under the sun like a polished gem, and the engine hums filled the space as the guests whispered among themselves. Amelia turned, a bit stunned. Is this really happening?

"Who is he?" she heard a guest murmur to another.

"It has to be him, the billionaire," the second person replied. "I heard he's worth billions. It's no wonder he had all these cars."

Amelia's mind raced. Billionaire?

Ethan stepped forward, dressed in a tailored suit that looked worth more than her entire life savings. His assistant, Darius, gently guided him to the altar.

Amelia's legs felt shaky as he stood before her. He was blind, yes, but his presence... it was hard to ignore. He held himself with such quiet authority, the kind that made everyone in the room wait for him to speak.

Ethan smiled, though it was subtle, his voice smooth. "Amelia, I'm glad we're finally meeting."

Her heart skipped again, but she didn't respond. She couldn't. This was all so surreal. She didn't know this man. And yet, here she was, about to marry him.

The priest began the ceremony. "Do you, Amelia, take Ethan to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I-" Amelia paused. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. She barely knew him, didn't know his world. But she could hear the pressure building from all sides. Her father's eyes, pleading. Cassandra's cold smile. I have no choice, she thought. I have no choice.

"I do," she said, her voice quiet, almost resigned.

Ethan's head turned slightly toward her, a soft smile gracing his lips. "I do too." His voice was calm but carried a certain strength.

The guests cheered. Loud applause echoed around the hall, but Amelia felt numb. She'd just pledged her life to a man she didn't know, for reasons that weren't her own.

In the back of the room, Cassandra and Lilian stood, exchanging looks that spoke volumes.

Lilian's face was a mixture of shock and disbelief. "Is this... is this really happening?" She whispered, eyes wide.

Cassandra's eyes narrowed as she watched Ethan, clearly stunned by the grandeur of the event. "I never expected this. A billionaire? How could he keep that a secret?"

Lilian's hand clenched into a fist. "This... changes things. He's not what I thought he was. A blind billionaire? That's... that's different."

For a moment, Lilian felt a wave of regret. Maybe I should've married him, she thought. Maybe this wouldn't have been so bad. Maybe it would've been better than I thought. But the thought of living with a blind man, no matter how rich, still made her stomach churn. No, I couldn't do that. It's not worth it.

Cassandra, seeing the hesitation in her daughter's eyes, shot her a look that immediately snapped Lilian out of her thoughts. "Don't get soft on me now. This isn't your problem anymore. Amelia can have him. Let her deal with this mess."

Lilian nodded, a twisted grin spreading across her face. "Right. Let her be the one to deal with a blind billionaire."

But both Cassandra and Lilian shared a dark satisfaction in their hearts. Amelia had married this man, but they were determined to make her life miserable. No matter how rich he was, they weren't going to let her live in peace.

"We'll see how long this lasts," Cassandra murmured, her eyes gleaming with calculated coldness. "She'll regret this decision soon enough."

The ceremony ended, and the guests mingled. But amidst the celebration, Amelia felt more isolated than ever. Ethan, now her husband, seemed distant, his hand holding hers gently but firmly. His presence was overwhelming, and yet there was still so much about him she didn't understand.

"Are you alright?" Ethan asked, his voice soft.

Amelia nodded, not trusting herself to speak. "I'm fine," she said, her voice strained.

Ethan smiled slightly, sensing the tension in her. "I won't bite. You're safe."

But Amelia wasn't sure about that. She wasn't sure about any of this. She wasn't sure about the promises made, or the man who had just become her husband.

And she certainly wasn't sure about the life that lay ahead of her.