Alicia Anderson stared at the letter in her hand.
Her fingers tightened as the words blurred together.
"An arranged marriage…" she whispered.
Across from her, her father, Richard, sat in silence. His face looked older than she remembered. Tired. Defeated.
"This is the only way," he said quietly. "Our company is collapsing."
Alicia's heart pounded. "So I'm the solution?"
"You're the only one who can save it."
The room felt smaller. Colder.
She had dreams. Big ones. She wanted to win awards. Build something of her own. Not… this.
"Who is he?" she asked.
Richard hesitated. "Michael Alejandro."
The name alone sent a chill down her spine.
Everyone knew him.
Powerful. Untouchable. Feared.
A man who didn't believe in love.
Alicia let out a slow breath. "And he agreed to this?"
"Yes."
Of course he did. Men like him didn't marry for love. They married for control.
"I don't have a choice, do I?"
Ricjard looked away.
That was answer enough.
Miles away, in a glass-walled office high above the city, Michael Alejandro stood with his back turned.
The skyline reflected in his dark eyes.
"A marriage?" he said sharply.
Behind him, his assistant, Daniel Reyes, stood carefully. "It's beneficial, sir. Their company merges well with yours."
Michael let out a cold laugh. "Call it what it is—a transaction."
He had built everything on discipline. On control. On never letting emotions interfere.
And now this.
"A wife is unnecessary," Michael continued. "And inconvenient."
Daniel hesitated. "Her name is Alicia Anderson."
Michael's expression didn't change. "Irrelevant."
"To her, it won't be," Daniel said quietly.
For a brief second, something flickered in Michael's eyes. Annoyance. Maybe something deeper.
Then it was gone.
"Make the terms clear," Michael said coldly. "This marriage is for business only."
"No emotional involvement?" Daniel confirmed.
"None."
"No expectations?"
"None."
Michael turned, his gaze sharp and distant. "And no closeness."
He had spent years building walls around his heart.
He had no intention of letting anyone tear them down.
The room smelled of fresh roses. Soft music played in the background.
It should have felt like a dream.
But to Alicia, it felt like a goodbye.
She stood in front of the mirror, her wedding dress flowing around her like a cage.
Behind her, her best friend, Sophie Carter, adjusted the veil with gentle hands.
"You look beautiful," Sophie whispered.
Alicia forced a small smile. "I don't feel beautiful."
Sophie's eyes softened. "You don't have to do this."
"Yes, I do," Alicia said quietly. "If I don't… my father loses everything."
"And what about you?"
Alicia's reflection stared back at her.
"I already am."
Her voice was steady, but her heart was breaking.
Sophie stepped closer, holding her hand. "You're stronger than this, Alicia. Don't let him take that away from you."
Alicia nodded slowly.
"I won't."
Because if she had to marry a man who didn't love her…
Then, she would learn how to survive without his love.
Even if it destroyed her piece by piece.