Chapter 3

Anna sat by the roadside, surrounded by the soothing sounds of raindrops hitting the pavement. The cool air enveloped her, but it brought no comfort. She felt lost and alone, her heart heavy with the weight of Harry's betrayal. Taxis splashed by, their headlights casting a dim glow on the wet road.

The thought of her wedding, scheduled for tomorrow, filled her with dread. How could she have been so blind? The memories of Harry's words and actions replayed in her mind, and she felt a wave of anger wash over her.

"I thought Harry loved me," she whispered, her voice cracking. "After everything I did for him, this is how he pays me back? How could he do this to me?"

Her anger boiled over, and she shouted at the top of her lungs,

"I hate you, Harry! I hate you!" The sound of her own voice was a release, but it brought no solace.

As she sat there, a flyer caught her eye. A handsome stranger smiled back at her, his eyes sparkling in the dim light. Anna picked it up, her fingers tracing the contours of his face.

“Handsome," she murmured, reading the words on the flyer. Maybe, just maybe, this stranger could be a distraction from her pain.

*******

After a fruitless search for a taxi, Anna wandered the streets, desperate for a safe space to rest. But she could not find any. She had to walk back home

Mr. Perry entered Anna's room, carrying her wedding dress and a concerned expression. He gently placed the dress on her bed,

A wave of worry washed over him, as he saw his daughter lying down on the floor. Her hair was unkempt, and her shoes were close to the bed wet and dirty, she entered her room through the window and lay on the floor. Her eyes locked onto her father's worried face.

Mr. Perry's expression softened, and he took a step forward, concern etched on his face.

"Anna, why are you not sleeping yet?" he asked, his voice laced with worry and relief.

"I just needed some time to think, she answered softly.

"Alright, sweetheart. Tomorrow is your wedding. Don't cry, okay? Check out your wedding dress once you feel better. And let me know if you like it. You are going to be a billionaire's wife tomorrow." He said with a smile on his face and kissed her cheek before leaving her room

Anna wiped her tears and lay down on her bed with tears flowing down her cheeks.

***

Next day

"Anna wakes up at 6:00 already. Her dad called out her name.

"Anna, it's morning already"

"Alright, Dad". She answered.

She washed her face trying to compose herself, but the pain she was feeling in her heart was still raw and fresh.

She came downstairs to meet her dad and saw a woman standing close to him.

"She is the one that is going to get you ready for your wedding. Take her to your room so that she can get started". Mr. Perry said in a low voice.

The lady followed Anna to her room, and she started her work. About 20 minutes later She was done with Anna's makeup.

Anna wore her wedding dress, as they left the house and headed to the wedding halls. She kept looking at her phone hoping that Harry would call her and apologize. But her phone remains silent.

She was marrying a billionaire- a man she knew nothing about. As she stood on the altar, she knew there was no going back, and there was nothing she could do to escape the wedding.

As she gazed at the stranger in front of her, a spark of recognition ignited. She remembered his face – the same man she had seen on the flyer last night. His chiseled features and warm, brown eyes had left an impression, and now, standing before her, he seemed even more captivating. Tall and handsome, he exuded a quiet confidence that drew her in.

For a moment, Anna was lost in his gaze, her thoughts drifting away from the chaos of her life. The sound of the priest ringing the bell shattered the spell, drawing her attention back to the present.

Do you, Anna, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?" He asked.

For some moment her mind was blank. She looked over at her dad. Who gave her a smile, a silent plea for her to say yes.

Tears welled up in Anna's eyes as she recalled the tender moments she shared with her mum. Memories of warm laughter, gentle touches, and soothing words flooded her mind. She remembered the struggles they faced together and the sacrifices she made for her mother's well-being.

At this moment, Anna felt a surge of determination and love. She steeled herself, knowing that this difficult decision was the only way she could save her mum, and give her the life she deserved. The thought filled her with a mix of sadness and resolve, but she was ready to face whatever lay ahead.

She took a deep breath as she turned to face Jackson, her husband-to-be. He looked at Anna with a small smile at the corner of his lips.

"Yes", she answered with her voice barely above a whisper.

Jackson was asked the same question and he replied with YES

“You may now kiss your bride”

Jackson pulled her close for a kiss.

She settled into the car with Jackson on their way to his mansion. The car was filled with silence

Anna was nervous in her seat.

Jackson's gaze turned to Anna, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in her appearance. His expression hardened, and his voice was laced with a hint of disappointment.

"You're not as beautiful as your father describes," he said, the words cutting deep.

Anna's face burned with anger, but she stood her ground, her voice steady.

"Then why didn't you cancel the wedding when you saw me?" she demanded, her eyes flashing with indignation.

Jackson raised his glass to his lips, taking a slow sip of his drink. He didn't meet her gaze, instead turning up the music, the sound filling the awkward silence between them. The melody seemed to mock her, and Anna felt a surge of frustration at his indifference. She waited for an explanation, but none came.

>>>>>>

As Anna stepped into Jackson's mansion, she felt like she had entered a different world. The grandeur of the interior took her breath away, and she couldn't help but gawk at the opulence surrounding her.

The high ceilings, adorned with glittering chandeliers, seemed to touch the sky, while the intricate molding and towering marble columns added to the sense of luxury.

As she looked around, Anna's mind struggled to process that this was going to be her new home. The sheer scale and beauty of the structure left her speechless.

Jackson called out to one of his maids, who approached Anna with a warm smile. The maid took Anna's hand, leading her through the sprawling mansion to her new room.

Anna sat on the plush bed, she gazed around her spacious room, taking in the elegant furnishings and lavish decor.

"Wow, this is so beautiful," she thought to herself, still in awe of her new surroundings. The room seemed to be fit for a queen, and Anna couldn't help but wonder what her life would be like living in such luxury.

She was about to take her bath when her phone started ringing, she checked her phone and it was a call from Harry, she picked up the call.

"How dare you call me? She asked in an angry tone.

"Baby calm down okay, I am coming to your room right now. He said in a calm tone before he hung up the call.

What does he mean, coming to my room

Anna was so confused, she was finding it hard to understand what he said. She went to the bathroom to take a quick shower.

She was about to remove her towel when the door to her room pushed open.