Arranged Marriage To The Billionaire Heir

I swirled the wine in my glass, glancing around the restaurant in boredom. I'd been waiting here for over thirty minutes and there was still no sign of my parents. It's funny how punctuality was one of their favorite lectures. Yet here I was, alone. While they were thirty minutes late.

"Elena!" I looked up to see them finally approaching. My mum wore a ridiculously over-sized hat paired with dark sunglasses, her appearance drawing a few stares from the nearby tables. My dad, thankfully, had kept it simple in a dark suit and blue tie.

"Hi Mum. Hi Dad."

"Hi, honey." Mum replied as Dad pulled out her chair. Neither of them acknowledged their late arrival, 1:34, when we were supposed to meet at 1:00 on the dot. I didn't mention it though, just took another sip of my wine and waited for my dad to settle in.

"Elena, have you heard from your sister?" No greeting, no small talk. Straight to the point, as expected.

"No, Dad. I haven't."

"Are you sure?" His tone made me bite down on a snarky remark. Eleanor, my older sister, had more or less, run away. And honestly, I couldn't blame her.

My parents had arranged a marriage for her without her consent, the worst part being that she didn't even know the guy. It was Dad's brilliant plan to save the family business and Eleanor, who was being used as bait, had no say in it.

She felt trapped and had confided in me a few times. But what could I do? Talking to Dad was pointless and Mum always backed him up. So Eleanor did the only thing she could do at the moment, she disappeared. That was nearly two weeks ago.

"Elena, sweetheart." Mum leaned forward, her voice low but firm. "You have to tell us if you've heard anything. This is a serious matter. Your sister embarrassed us and the Sinclairs. And to think it was just a week before the wedding."

I stayed quiet. It was clear they weren't worried about Eleanor's safety. They were upset that she had ruined their great plan.

How pathetic.

"I met with Mr. Sinclair yesterday." Dad continued. "We talked through the situation and came up with a solution." I raised an eyebrow. What kind of solution? Were they planning to track Eleanor down with the FBI and drag her back here?

"You're going to marry the Sinclair boy."

Everything seemed to stop as the words left his mouth. I stared at him, completely stunned. "W-what?"

"You'll be marrying the Sinclair boy." he repeated, firmer this time. My hands trembled as I set my glass down, trying to process his words.

"Elena, honey, please say something." Mum's voice was soft, almost pleading, but her sunglasses and stupid hat made it hard to read her expression.

"I can't get married. You can't do this to me." I said, my voice rising as the words rushed out.

"The decision's been made. You're marrying him, that's final." Dad's tone was cold, his expression unreadable. I felt helpless. Angry.

"No!" I said it loud enough to draw attention from the nearby tables. Of course they'd chosen a public place for this conversation, probably hoping that I wouldn't make a scene. Well too bad.

"You think you can force me into this like you did with Eleanor?"

"Elena, lower your voice." Mum hissed, her embarrassment clear.

"No!" I snapped. "I'm not doing it. Leave me out of this." I grabbed my purse and stood up, ready to walk away before I said something I'd regret.

"I knew you'd be difficult." Dad said calmly. "So I'm giving you a choice." I turned to face him. He looked composed, while Mum sat stiffly beside him. "If you refuse, we'll cut you off. Completely."

I gasped, nearly stumbling before grabbing the back of my chair.

"We'll block your accounts, cancel your cards and don't expect to be in my will either."

I stood frozen, his words echoing in my head. Was this really happening? "You'd cut me off because I won't marry a stranger?"

"Elena," Mum sighed, finally removing her sunglasses and placing them on the table. Her eyes looked tired. "Please don't make this harder than it already is. It's only for a year. After that, you can get a divorce."

"How do you expect me to spend a year with someone I don't even know? This is insane!"

"The decision has been made. And if you don't go along with it, you'll face the consequences." Dad said, his voice clipped. "Now sit down, let's discuss things further."

I didn't sit down. I just stood there, heart pounding, eyes tearing up as my mind filled with a million questions at once.

The restaurant buzzed around me, clinking glasses, murmured conversations, the occasional burst of laughter. But I blocked that all out, my blurry gaze settling on my parents who had just given me the worst news imaginable.

"Elena." Dad said again, his voice sharp. "Sit."

I met his gaze, refusing to flinch at the icy stare I was receiving. "No."

"Elena, please." Mum tried again, her voice softer now. "We're doing this for the family."

"For the family?" I let out a bitter laugh. "You mean for the business and for your reputation. You don't care about the family. Because if you did, you would have considered my feelings in all this. You wouldn't be sitting here threatening me to marry someone!"

"Feelings don't keep companies afloat."

That was it. My dad's words had delivered the final blow. I felt something inside me snap, like a twig under too much pressure. I couldn't hold back the tears any longer. It hit me at that moment that this was how Eleanor must have been feeling too. Miserable and all alone. I really couldn't blame her for running away.

"You're being awfully dramatic Elena." My mum's voice brought me out of my thoughts. "And you're causing a scene. Like I said, it's only temporary, for a year at least. After that you can get a divorce and move on with your life." The way she spoke sounded so... indifferent. Like marrying a stranger and spending an entire year with him wasn't a big deal.

"Also, you won't be going back to your apartment until the wedding is over. You'll be staying at our place, so that we can keep an eye on you. And Elena..." Dad paused, the cold look still not leaving his face. "Don't even think of running away like your sister."

I watched in silence as my mother fastened a pearl necklace around my neck. Her hands were steady and practiced, like she'd done this a thousand times before.

"It goes beautifully with the dress." she gushed, clapping her hands in delight. "You look absolutely stunning. I'm so glad we picked this gown."

I stared at my reflection in the vanity mirror, not bothering to hide the annoyance on my face. I hated the dress. It was too frilly, too lacy and far too much for my taste. But of course, Mum thought it was perfect. And now here I was, wearing it on my wedding day.

A wedding I didn't even want.

"I look ridiculous." I muttered.

Mum frowned. "Don't be dramatic. You look beautiful, like a proper bride."

"The gown is suffocating." I groaned, tugging at the neckline. "Just like this whole day."

Mum let out a sigh as her fingers brushed the edge of my veil. "Elena, please don't start now."

I turned to her, my voice coming out shakier than I expected. "How do you expect me not to? I'm about to marry a man I've never met before. You know that's insane, right?"

Her eyes softened, but her voice stayed firm. "It's not insane. It's necessary."

"Necessary for who?" I snapped. "For Dad? For his business?"

"Elena-"

"No Mum, you need to listen. You're letting him do this to me. You're standing by while he hands me off like I'm some pawn piece."

She looked away, her gaze falling to the floor. "You think I have a choice?"

"You're my mother." I said, voice cracking. "You're supposed to protect me."

"I'm trying." she whispered. "In my own way."

"By dressing me up and walking me down the aisle?" I stared at her, stunned. "Maybe if you had tried harder I wouldn't be here. Maybe Eleanor wouldn't have run away in the first place." I paused. "Are you even worried about her at all? What if something bad happens to her?"

Her silence was enough of an answer for me.

A knock at the door broke the moment and a blonde woman peeked in. "It's time. Everyone's waiting outside."

"We'll be out in a minute." Mum replied, her voice tight. She turned back to me, smoothing the veil over my shoulders. "We have to head out. Are you ready?"

I looked at her, eyes burning. "If I say no will you stop the wedding?"

She didn't respond. Just gave me a tight-lipped smile, handed me a bouquet and opened the door for me to step out.

Feeling defeated, I took in a deep breath and tried blinking away the tears as I lifted my dress and I followed her out. My heart thudded against my ribs as I stepped into the hallway. The air was thick with tension and as I got closer to the wedding hall, every step felt heavier than the last.

The procession music was loud and overwhelming as we made our way to the main hall. I hated everything about this: the dress, the venue, the rushed planning. It was all thrown together in a week, just like the engagement, courtesy of my father and his selfish plans.

Mum walked beside me, her arm linked with mine. She kept her gaze forward, her posture perfect but I could feel the tension in her grip, like she was bracing herself.

At that moment I wished I had my sister's courage. Maybe then I'd have run away too. But instead, I found myself walking through those stained glass doors, dozens of eyes watching me as whispers floated through the air.

My gaze locked in on one person. My soon to be husband.

I couldn't help but be curious. In a few minutes we'd be married and all I knew was his name. I hadn't seen a photo, hadn't even heard his voice either. From what my mum had told me, though I'd barely been listening, he hadn't even been in the town until last night. He flew back the day before just in time for the wedding, like it was some business meeting he needed to attend.

Nerves hit me hard as I walked closer. I gripped the bouquet tighter and tried to ignore the stares all around me. There wasn't a single familiar face in the crowd. Not even Kaylor, my best friend, who was off to Greece for a trip she couldn't miss. I could've been there with her, sipping martinis and soaking up the sun. Living my best life.

Instead, I was here, at my own wedding.

At the front, I finally saw him clearly. Nathaniel Sinclair. He had pretty green eyes, a sharp jawline, high cheekbones and wavy brown hair. He was really handsome and I didn't hide the fact that I was checking him out. And from the way he looked at me, I guessed he was doing the same. The priest cleared his throat, snapping us out of our silent exchange.

The ceremony dragged on. The priest spoke about love and unity, but it felt hollow. Nathaniel looked bored and I couldn't even blame him. I'd also rather be anywhere else but here if I could.

After we exchanged our vows, the priest declared us husband and wife and asked us to seal it with a kiss. Nathaniel raised an eyebrow and I blushed. He stepped forward, hesitated, then gently kissed my forehead, his lips barely touching my skin.

And just like that, I was married. To a stranger.

Applause and whistles filled the room as we walked down the aisle together. I glanced to the side and saw my dad, arms crossed, watching silently. His face gave nothing away.

My mother sat beside him, her face a mirror of his. I thought back to our conversation in the dressing room. I don't know why, but a part of me had really believed we could have a heart-to-heart. That maybe, just maybe, she would see how scared I was and save me from all this.

But she hadn't.

I quickly brushed away a tear slipping down my cheek, hoping no one noticed. Outside, Nathaniel and I were met with a flood of smiling faces, guests congratulating us and wishing us well in our new marriage.

I couldn't even fake a smile. And with the buzz in the air and everyone's happy spirits, I doubted anyone noticed just how unhappy the bride looked.

I let out a tired sigh as I sank into the leather seat of the car that was finally taking us home. Well, not my home, Nathaniel's.

The wedding reception had dragged on far longer than necessary. People kept coming up to congratulate us, most of them strangers, offering warm wishes and a happy marriage. If only they knew it was temporary, one year and it would all be over.

Before we left the reception venue I'd spoken to my mum briefly. She told me she was proud of me and that she was glad I hadn't caused a scene. Not that it even crossed my mind to do that, I felt hopeless during the ceremony. And my thoughts were all over the place. I didn't know how I was supposed to be a wife to someone I barely knew. Marriage came with responsibilities I wasn't ready for. And pretending to be okay with that already felt exhausting.

I leaned back further into my seat and closed my eyes, trying to steady my breathing. The nerves hadn't left me since morning and I didn't think they'd be going away anytime soon.

"Your name is Ellen, right?"

My eyes snapped open at the sound of the voice beside me. I turned to meet curious green eyes watching me. He hadn't said a word to me all day and now he was asking for my name and getting it wrong.

"Elena." I corrected, giving him a pointed look.

He studied me for a moment, brows furrowed. "You look nothing like your sister."

That caught me off guard. "You know my sister?"

"Of course I do." he said, raising an eyebrow. "I was supposed to marry her, remember? We met once before she disappeared. Guess she wasn't a fan of the whole wedding idea either."

Right. That made two of us. Except she got out of this bizarre plan and I didn't.

The silence that followed was welcomed. My thoughts drifted to Eleanor, where she might be, what she was doing. A part of me was upset. Her escape had turned me into a replacement and had taken a year of my life. Now I was married to someone who wasn't even sure of my name until five seconds ago.

I hated everything about this. The urge to curl up and cry grew stronger with every passing minute.

Eventually, we pulled up to Nathaniel's house, a luxurious estate that made my modest apartment look like a shoe box. As we drove through the iron gates, the setting sun cast a warm glow over the manicured lawn. Everything looked polished and expensive. I could almost picture myself lounging on the grass with a book while I soaked up the sun. Or pretending I was in Greece with Kaylor, just relaxing and sipping cocktails with her.

A petite lady in a black-and-white uniform hurried down the steps as the driver parked the car in front of the house and killed the engine. As she got closer I realised she was an older woman, maybe in her early forties, with rosy cheeks and red hair that was barely contained by a loose scarf she had wrapped around it.

"Good evening, sir. It's good to have you back." she said her tone rushed as her brown eyes flickered to me with mild curiosity.

"It's good to be back, Velma." Nathaniel replied. "This is Ellen. She'll be staying here now, so please take her bags and show her to her room."

"Elena." I corrected again, offering her a small smile which only earned me a curt nod as she moved to retrieve my bags. I followed them into the house, trying not to gape at the glossy banisters, towering pillars and the grand chandelier that lit the foyer. There was also a sweeping staircase curved upward, leading to the floors upstairs.

I kept quiet as I absorbed my new surroundings. I wasn't great at adjusting to unfamiliar places, especially with unfamiliar people.

Velma led me upstairs to the last room at the end of a long hallway. I blinked in surprise at how pretty it was; creamy wallpaper, a king-sized bed, pendant lights in each corner and large windows framed by elegant curtains. I noticed a dresser beside a wide vanity mirror that stood against one wall. Upon closer inspection I realised it was empty. For me that was a relief, because it meant this wasn't Nathaniel's room and I could have it all to myself.

"The bathroom is over there, ma'am." Velma said, gesturing to a door near the vanity. "You can take a shower and come down for dinner when you're ready. Or I can bring it up to you."

I studied her carefully. She wasn't unfriendly, but her tone felt rushed, like she had somewhere else to be. Or maybe she was just nervous and I certainly didn't want to be a bother on my first day here.

"I think I'll skip dinner tonight, I'm pretty full already," I said honestly. Despite the nerves, I'd made sure to eat well at the wedding reception. It was my wedding day, after all.

"Are you sure, ma'am? I can prepare anything you like."

I smiled and shook my head, reaching down to remove my heels. "I'm sure. I'll just shower and call it a night. It's been a really long day."

Velma hesitated, then gave me a tight smile and without a single word left the room.

I let out a heavy sigh as I eyed the large, inviting bed in the middle of the room. Guess it was time to curl into a ball and have a good cry session. But first, I needed to get out of this wedding dress.

I stepped into the bathroom and flicked on the light. The tiles were cool beneath my feet as I stood in front of the mirror and looked at my reflection. Tired eyes, smudged makeup and a wedding gown that looked droopy from the long day.

I reached behind me to undo the buttons, fingers fumbling with the lacy fabric. As the dress slipped off my shoulders and pooled around my feet, I felt the first tear slide down my cheek.

I didn't bother wiping it away.