Bought For His Legacy

Liora's POV.

"This marriage will save everything Liora. For once, don't be selfish and think about your father."

My stepmother's words echoed at the back of my mind as I clutched the bouquet tighter, my lips trembling and my heart pounding against my chest while the priest read out the vows.

This was not how I had imagined my life. I wanted to be happy, my wedding was supposed to be filled with happiness and laughter because it was everything I had ever dreamed of since Helena, my stepmother and her daughter Camille walked into our lives.

I bit down hard on my lower lip to stop the burning tears rapidly pooling at the bottom of my eyes as I stole a glance at my father's frail body, barely positioned upright in his wheelchair. His eyes were vacant, fixed on nothing and I was certain he probably didn't even know where he was or what was going on around him.

A sharp pain cut through my chest, suffocating me to a point where I was almost gasping for air. He was not always like that, he used to be so full of life when Mom was here but after she died and he married another woman, things changed.

For some reason, he spent more time in his study, he was never there to see how horribly Helena and her daughter treated me, and whenever he saw it, she always had an explanation to make him believe I was the problem.

My father and I became strangers and out of the blue, his health deteriorated drastically, our world turned upside down overnight and now... I was getting married to a stranger in my stepsister's place to save him and everything he had worked for.

A handful of people were present, Helena, Camille and Sebastian's parents.

The man standing before me was Sebastian Carvers, an award winning and successful CEO of his father's company. He was nothing like what the blogs described, he was not the warm, accommodating and nice billionaire they portrayed him to be.

Behind my veil, I could see his rigid posture, the way his muscles flexed underneath his suit like he was ready to punch a hole in the wall. Every part of him was cold and nothing about him was warm and inviting.

"You may kiss the bride." The priest declared and my entire body stiffened as my soon-to-be husband took a step closer in his custom made suit that clung to every part of his body in the most sophisticated manner.

His scent filled my nostrils, wrapping around my senses as his body brushed against mine just as he reached out to lift the veil.

No! This was not happening!

My breath caught in my throat the moment he tossed the lace back over my head, my eyes shot up to meet his and for a brief second, the entire world froze.

A jittery sensation shot through me as his sharp green eyes sucked me in. His well defined jawline, tousled dark brown hair that fell across his face and his thin lips that were pressed together tightly, like he was running out of patience.

His face was breathtakingly handsome. I had always assumed his looks were a bit exaggerated by the media but staring at him now, I knew the pictures I had seen on the internet were nothing compared to how good he looked.

He didn't move, didn't say a word, he simply stared at me with some sort of look in his eyes. Those beautiful green eyes held mine with such intensity that sent a weird sensation through me.

Suddenly, the priest cleared his throat and his eyes snapped shut, by the time he opened them again, there was nothing but a cold, empty gaze.

Slowly, he pressed his lips against mine, a brief lifeless kiss that barely even lasted a second before he pulled away and turned his back on me.

Whatever the priest said next didn't matter, none of it mattered anymore because he was no longer present, his eyes were fixed on the woman that had just walked in in a white short dress.

The way he stared at her... the longing in his eyes as his eyes followed her every step... who was she?

I felt a hot wave of panic shoot out from deep inside of me.

What was I doing?

I was getting married to a complete stranger. A man who clearly wanted to be somewhere else.

The rest of the ceremony was a blur and by the time it was all over, Sebastian was nowhere in sight.

I stood on the stone steps of the chapel awkwardly, my eyes searching through the handful of people present but he wasn't there.

"Find your own way home." A gruff voice spoke up behind me and before I could turn around, Sebastian stepped out from behind me, his eyes glued to his phone as a sleek black car pulled up in front of the chapel.

He pulled open the door and my eyes landed on the woman in the short white dress from earlier on seated inside with a wide smile on her face.

She was beautiful with long dark hair and the moment he got in, she leaned over and kissed him. A real passionate kiss with her hands cradling his jaw.

The air turned to ice in my lungs. I stood frozen in my wedding dress that now felt like a ridiculous costume.

The door slammed shut behind him and the car sped off.

The back of my eyes stung as all eyes turned towards me but I clenched my fists tightly by my side, forcing back the tears as the humiliation washed over me.

A familiar, sickly-sweet perfume filled my nostrils just as Camille, my stepsister appeared beside me, looping her arm through mine with a wide grin on her face,

"Happy married life Liora," she chuckled, mockery dripping from her voice.

She leaned closer to me, her lips brushing against my ear as her voice dropped down to a whisper,

"Though your husband already started it with another woman."

Liora's POV.

I could still hear Camille's laughter ringing in my ears as the tears rolled down my cheeks, slipping into the crack of my lips and filling my mouth with that salty taste as I stared aimlessly at the dark clouds that had gathered in the sky.

My husband had just kissed another woman right in front of me without even a glance in my direction and drove off with her without a word.

Was this really going to be my life?

Camille and Helena had already scarred me enough, was marriage not supposed to be my happily ever after?

"Mrs Carvers." A gentle voice snapped me out of my thoughts and I glanced up to find a young man dressed sharply standing before me.

I had been so lost in thought that I didn't noticed him or the car parked behind him.

"Mr Reginald sent me to take you home." He said as he pulled open the door for me.

Mr Reginald was Sebastian's father, the same man that had insisted on this wedding. I didn't say a word, I simply slid into the back seat and we drove off.

I wrapped my arms around myself as the car sped past most part of the city, wishing everything was just a nightmare I was eventually going to wake up from. Soon, the car pulled up in front of a huge mansion and my throat went dry.

I knew the Carvers were rich but I just never imagined they would be this rich. The mansion was big enough to be a museum and the lavish fountain in front of it gave it an even more expensive appearance.

A maid opened the door and her eyes swept over me,

"Mr Sebastian is not home, I will show you to your room." She said as she spun around and headed inside the house.

She led me up a grand staircase and down a long, quiet hallway. She opened a door to a room so big my entire bedroom back at home could fit inside it twice. It was beautiful, designed with soft colors and expensive furniture.

"This is your room." She added before walking out and closing the door gently behind her.

My room. Not our room.

A wave of relief washed over me with such force that it made my knees weak. I was so relieved to hear that I wouldn't have to share a room with him. Not tonight. Hopefully, not ever.

I wouldn't have to pretend I wasn't terrified by the mere thought of him.

I collapsed on the king sized bed, my body trembling lightly from everything that had happened. It was all happening so fast that I barely had time to adjust to the changes.

The hours flew by but there was no sign of Sebastian.

The maid said he wasn't home, but where could he have gone to on his wedding night?

At first, I wasn't exactly worried, the thought was just a small knot in my stomach that kept me awake since this house still felt so unfamiliar and uncomfortable but then, some weird ideas began to creep into my mind.

Was he with... her? The woman from the car?

The thought made me sick, not like I cared what he was doing but it just didn't sit right with me.

When the bed side clock struck 2am, I felt a chill race down my spine. What if something had happened? What if he'd been in an accident?

I was probably just overthinking things and maybe needed some sleep so I rolled out of bed and slipped off the wedding dress. I found a robe in the dresser and put it on.

A little after 3am, I heard the sound of a car pulling up in the driveway. My heart leapt into my throat at the sound of the door slamming shut.

I heard his footsteps on the stairs, and the sound of him fumbling with his door as he muttered curses under his breath. His room was right across the hall from mine and as I stood behind my door, watching him through the small crack I had created, my mind raced.

I had no idea what I was thinking when I stepped outside and began to walk towards his half open door after he stumbled inside. The heavy smell of whiskey and cigar filled the air, a clear hint that he was drunk.

This was bad... I had no idea what I was doing but I tiptoed down the hallway and paused at his doorway.

His entire room came into view. He had his back to me, standing by his bed as he yanked off his shirt. My breath hitched at the sight of his broad muscles shifting under smooth skin in the dim light of his room.

His pants hung loosely on his waist, revealing way too much that made my lips part in both shock and something else entirely.

A strange, hot flutter rushed through my stomach. I'd never seen a man like this before. He was...

I swallowed hard.

He must have heard me gasp or felt my presence because he spun around. His eyes, dark and wild, landed on me. My entire body lit up like it was on fire under his gaze.

"What are you doing here?" He growled, his voice low, rough and oddly intoxicating.

I flinched, unsure of what to say, "I... I heard you come in. I was... I thought... maybe we could... talk? I mean since we're..." I stammered heavily.

He crossed the room in two long strides. Before I could move, his hand shot out and grabbed my upper arm. He pulled me past the door, slammed it shut behind me so hard it shook on its hinges before he slammed me against it, his body caging me in.

"Let me make one thing perfectly clear," he snarled, his face inches away from mine, his breath warm against my face as his eyes bore into mine, "you're not my wife. Not in any way that matters. You have no right to be in my room."

He was too close... too close that my skin was brushing against his bare chest.

"Your place is where I put you, which is in that room across the hall. You will stay there and if you know what's good for you, you'll stay out of my way."

My throat burned and tears sprung to my eyes due to the sharp pain his tight grip on my wrist was inflicting and because of how harsh his voice was.

"I was... I was just trying to-"

"I don't care what you were trying to do!" He yelled, cutting me off, "I don't want you here and if I had my way, I'll have you thrown out right now. Do you understand?"

My chest heaved heavily but I managed to nod while my entire body trembled.

His eyes suddenly dropped down to my chest and his face twisted in disgust. My entire body stiffened when I glanced down to realize my robe was half open and a provocative amount of cleavage was right in his face.

His lips curved into a sneer, "you're not even my type." He spat.

"You will never be my type." His jaw was clenched tightly.

"No, I..." I tried to speak, to explain that he had it all wrong. I had no idea my robe was like that, I had no intention of seducing him but before I could speak, he pulled open the door and shoved me out of the room, roughly.

"Know your place." He hissed and he slammed the door shut in my face.

I stumbled around, almost falling face flat on the floor. My arm was throbbing at the exact spot where he'd grabbed me. My heart was pounding with each step I took.

As soon as I was inside my room, I crumbled to the floor, panicking as my chest heaved heavily.

I can't be married to someone like him! I need to get out of this!

"Oh My God, what have I done?" I cried out, burying my face in my pillow as the sobs shook my entire body.

Liora's POV.

I cried throughout the night and the next morning, my eyes were swollen and red, my entire body sore but the maid insisted I come down for breakfast.

After last night, I assumed I would be eating alone but he was seated at the head of the long table when I walked into the dining room. He was scrolling through his phone, a cup of coffee in front of him.

He looked perfectly put together, not one strand out of place, like the man from last night had been a nightmare.

He didn't look up or utter a word as I took my seat.

I barely touched my food, unable to swallow anything. The silence that settled over us was so thick, thick enough for someone to choke on.

"There are some papers you need to sign," he suddenly spoke up, his eyes still glued to his phone, "I'll have someone bring it up to your room."

"Okay." I whispered softly,

And that was it, he stood up and walked out without a single glance in my direction.

Later that day, the maid brought a document to my room and after going through what was our marriage agreement, I signed.

The days flew by, he was never home and I was mostly alone in the giant house. No one came around to visit and it didn't matter how many times I tried to call my father, none of his lines, not even Helena's, was connecting.

I decided to pay them a visit but Sebastian's guards wouldn't let me past the door. According to them, he had instructed them not to let me out of the house without his permission.

That was absurd. I was married to him, not his prisoner but there was no one to complain to because he wasn't even home.

After two weeks, he returned and I made up my mind that I was going to confront him about it.

Gathering enough courage, I walked down to his room and just as I lifted my clenched fist to knock on the door, it suddenly opened and a familiar face came into view.

Standing right there in front of me, with nothing but a thin see through night dress that left almost nothing to the imagination and her hair messy like she'd just gotten out of bed was the woman from the car.

I froze, my eyes holding hers. She looked surprised at first but her expression shifted into something else as a smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

"Well... hello. You must be the wife." She looked me over with some sort of look on her face as she scoffed out loud, "I'm Vivivenne, Sebastian's fiancée."

Fiancée?

She held up her hand immediately, flashing the huge diamond ring on her finger.

"I didn't think I would see you so soon though, given how you've been hiding in your room like the good little wife that you are." She laughed, a spiteful sound that didn't light up her eyes. "Don't get too comfortable, this is a temporary situation. Sebastian loves me. He's just stuck with you... for now."

I was too stunned to speak.

Just then, Sebastian stepped out from behind her in a crisp black suit, ready for work and without a word, she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him passionately on the lips right in front of me.

My heart twisted painfully at the sight.

I shouldn't care about him and his mistress. He was free to do whatever he liked as long as he left me alone, I was only here to tell him I wasn't his prisoner and demand to freely exit the house whenever I choose.

But standing there, watching his lips lock on hers like I meant nothing to the both of them hurt more than I ever imagined.

She pulled away from him with a smug look on her face and his eyes drifted to me, cold and void. He didn't explain, didn't apologize, he just looked right through me like I wasn't even there.

"We're having dinner with my parents tonight," he said, his voice flat, "I'll send a car by 6pm."

He turned and walked down the hall, leaving me standing there with his mistress who was still grinning from ear to ear.

For the rest of the day, I remained in my room until the maids walked in to get me ready. At exactly 6pm, a car pulled up in front of the house.

The driver stopped by at his office to pick him up and the ride was silent, he was staring out the window and so was I. His parents house was just as grand as his, they greeted us at the door and led us straight to the table that was overflowing with food.

"So tell me Liora, how are you settling in?" Reginald asked, his attention totally on me.

"Fine, thank you." I lied, pushing my food around my plate.

"That's good. Well, I want you to know that I've kept my own end of the deal. Your father has been admitted to the best hospital in the country and now that we're family, I intend to clear all his company's bills." He added and my eyes shot up instantly.

That was what I'd been waiting to hear.

This was the real reason I had agreed to this wedding. Saving my father and the company Helena and her daughter had run into bankruptcy was what mattered to me.

Even if it meant being married to someone like Sebastian.

Dad had spent years building that company with Mom, but after Helena took over due to his health, she ruined everything. The company's finances crumbled and I had to work countless part time jobs to finish college.

We couldn't even afford Dad's medical bills so when Reginald, an old friend of Dad offered to sort everything out if one of us married his son, Sebastian, Helena and Camille had jumped on the offer.

But he suddenly changed his mind, everything had been arranged for Camille to wed Sebastian but Reginald suddenly insisted that he wanted me not Camille.

At first, I thought Camille would oppose, she had always wanted to marry a billionaire so there was no way she was going to step aside but to my surprise, she did.

She let me marry Sebastian and I had no choice because it was the only way to save my father from dying and protecting the company he had worked so hard for.

"Thank you." I breathed, my eyes glistening with tears.

"It's nothing," he waved a hand, dismissively, "to make it all easier, I think it's best if Sebastian here takes over the reins of the company completely. You, your stepmother and sister shouldn't have to bother with such heavy business matters."

Those words struck a nerve and I shot him a look.

"No." I called out sharply, the word coming out stronger than I had expected, "I appreciate your support and concern but I'll take charge of the company myself."

I was done letting others ruin it. I was going to handle it this time.

Sebastian suddenly let out a short, harsh laugh, startling me.

"Do you have any idea what it takes to run a company? It's not a walk in the park."

"It's my father's company," I responded, my voice surprisingly steady, "It's my responsibility."

Sebastian opened his mouth to argue but stopped himself before the words slipped past his lips. He stared at me, his eyes studying me with some sort of amused look on his face.

"Let her try Sebastian," Reginald added with sarcasm, as if he was certain I was going to fail at it even before I started.

Back at the house, I went straight to my room but hours later, my stomach began to growl aggressively. I had barely touched my food at the dinner table so I needed to get something to eat.

I slipped out of my room quietly and headed downstairs. I was sure everyone was fast asleep but when I walked past the living room, I heard a weird sound, almost like a moan coming from inside.

Light spilled from the slightly open door of the living room and I thought maybe a maid was still awake so I pushed open the door and a gasp slipped from me at the sight of Vivienne bouncing on Sebastian's thighs.

His shirt was off, her head was thrown back, soft moans slipping past her lips as she clung onto his shoulders, her nails digging into his flesh.

"Yessss. You do it so gooodddd." She cried out and my throat tightened.

I stumbled backwards, gasping for air as the back of my eyes stung with hot tears rushing to the surface.

Vivienne's eyes shot up and our eyes locked almost immediately. Her lips stretched into a smile as her moans grew louder, mocking me as the tears rolled down my cheeks.

Why was I bothered? Why was I crying?

I fled up the stairs, the image etched into my memory, my heart hammering against my ribs as I slammed the door shut behind me.

I yanked my suitcase from the closet and began throwing my clothes into it, my hands shaking.

I couldn't do this. I couldn't live in this house.

"...think about your father."

Those words drifted into my mind and I stopped. If I left now, the company would go under, Dad would never get the transplant he desperately needed and all this would be for nothing.

I swallowed hard, a new idea crawling into my mind and twisting into something else.

I didn't need to run, I just needed a plan.

First, I let them clear the debts and the hospital bills, then, I would gradually take control of Dad's company and make it strong again. And when it was safe enough for me to stand on my own, I would walk away and build a good life for myself and Dad.

I... I would divorce Sebastian Carvers.