After dumped, I married a billionaire

Leona Carpenter was finally about to walk down the aisle to marry Michael Hansen.

The majestic swell of the wedding march flooded the venue, and Leona, gliding in her billowing white gown, moved gracefully down the aisle toward Michael, who stood waiting for her at the altar. He looked sharp in a crisp white suit, golden gilded light wrapping around him soft as a kiss, highlighting that same easy, charming demeanor she’d fallen head over heels for the first day they met.

Three years. They’d weathered a hundred storms together to get here, and finally, the dream she’d clung to for so long was seconds from coming true. The only dark cloud hanging over the day? Her family didn’t approve. They weren’t even here to give their blessing.

When Michael stepped forward to take her hand and offer her the bouquet, Leona’s eyes glistened, hot tears of joy pricking at the corners.

“Michael, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? To love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, and be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?” The priest asked, his gaze warm and soft as it rested on the couple before him.

Leona swallowed down the fluttering chaos in her chest and fixed her eyes on Michael, bright with hope, dying to hear him say yes.

But something shifted in Michael’s face. His expression went dark, empty, completely blank. He hesitated. The words died in his throat before he could even get them out.

That’s when it happened…

“Michael, oh my god, it’s terrible!” Remy Hansen came bursting through the doors, her face streaked with messy tears, cutting Michael off mid-silence. She choked on her sobs, broken and gasping, “Aila, she…”

A cold, clawing unease coiled tight in Leona’s chest. Tension carved sharp lines into her face, and instinctively, she clutched Michael’s hand harder.

Leona knew better than anyone how much Aila Ellis meant to Michael. She was the one that got away. The impossible love he’d never gotten over.

Years back, when the Hansen family hit rock bottom, Aila chose a full ride to study abroad over their relationship. Michael was broken, too proud to beg her to stay, so he cut her off cold. That’s when he turned to Leona.

But just a month ago? Aila showed back up out of the blue.

Michael’s face shifted so fast it was like a switch flipped. His voice, tight and sharp with urgency, cut through the hush that had fallen over the room, “What happened to Aila?”

“She’s hurt bad, the bleeding won’t stop! The doctors say she might not make it!” Remy sobbed.

The second the words left her mouth, Michael wrenched his hand free of Leona’s grip and bolted for the door.

“You can’t leave!” Leona lunged after him, her trembling fingers locking tight around his wrist, desperation pouring off every inch of her. She held his gaze, begging, “Michael, today’s our wedding. Are you really just going to walk out on me?”

The whispers of the guests, their judgmental stares, felt like a thousand tiny blades slicing into her heart. Tears burned at her lash line as she bowed her pride and begged him, “Michael, can’t we just finish the ceremony first? Please?”

“She got hit saving me from a car crash. I can’t just leave her to die.” Michael tried to yank his hand away, but Leona held on for dear life. His face hardened, and his voice came out cold as ice, “Leona, you know this marriage was just a deal between us. Just do your job as Mrs. Hansen. My private life is none of your damn business.”

Leona’s pupils shrank. She stared at Michael’s cold, set face, disbelief washing over her whole body. Shock slowly melted into bitter, cutting irony.

A wry, broken smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. She whispered, thick with sorrow, “So… all of this was just a deal to you?”