Olivia sat in front of the mirror, her reflection a stark contrast to how she felt inside. The white silk gown hugged her body, delicate lace tracing her collarbone and arms. It was beautiful, elegant, exactly what one would expect of a bride marrying into an empire like King Enterprises. But Olivia couldn't shake the suffocating dread settling deep in her chest. Today wasn't the fairytale wedding that she always dreamed about when she was growing up—it was the beginning of a life tethered to a man who didn't see her as anything more than a tool in his power play.
Her hair had been curled into soft waves, pinned back to reveal her face, and a veil rested gently over her head. She looked the part of a radiant bride, but her eyes betrayed her. They were dull, lifeless. She hardly recognized herself.
"Olivia, it's time," came the soft voice of her bridesmaid, her cousin Emily. She had been so supportive throughout this entire ordeal, but even she couldn't mask her unease today.
Olivia nodded, her stomach churning as she stood up. Her hands were trembling, but she clenched them into fists at her sides. She couldn't afford to show any weakness today, especially not in front of Nicholas.
She descended the grand staircase of the lavish mansion where the ceremony was taking place, the sound of her heels clicking against the marble floor echoing through the space. Her father was waiting for her with a smile on his face but she knew that behind that smile was anxiety and fear of the unknown.
As he led her down the aisle he looked at her lovingly and whispered in her ear, "You look beautiful Olivia. You mother would have been so happy to see you today". He was the only parent she had as her mother had died when she was eight. She squeezed his hand reassuring him silently.
She didn't recognize any of the guests all thanks to Nicholas who decided that the wedding guests should be as small as possible all of who were of high society, corporate giants, and family acquaintances. They turned to look at her as she walked down the aisle with her father. But Olivia barely noticed them. Her eyes were locked on the man waiting at the altar.
Nicholas King stood tall, his broad shoulders perfectly filling out his tailored tuxedo. His jaw was set, his blue eyes cold as they followed her every step. There was no hint of warmth, no love, just the same icy detachment he always carried. The very sight of him made her feel like a prisoner in her own life.
When she reached him, he offered his hand. Olivia hesitated for a second, her breath catching in her throat, before placing her hand in his. His grip was firm, almost possessive, and it sent a chill down her spine.
The officiant began to speak, but Olivia couldn't focus on the words. It all felt distant, like she was watching someone else's life play out in front of her. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. She had always imagined love and warmth on her wedding day, not a business transaction masquerading as a marriage.
"Do you, Olivia Douglas, take Nicholas King to be your lawfully wedded husband?" the officiant asked, his voice pulling her back to the moment.
Her throat tightened. She glanced up at Nicholas, his expression unreadable, as if he were daring her to say no. But she couldn't. Her father's business was on the line, and this was the price she had to pay.
"I do," she whispered, the words barely audible.
"And do you, Nicholas King, take Olivia Douglas to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do," Nicholas said without hesitation, his voice cold and matter-of-fact. There wasn't a trace of emotion in his tone.
"With the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Nicholas stepped forward, his hand cupping Olivia's chin with a confidence that made her skin crawl. He lowered his face to hers, his lips brushing hers in a kiss that was more of a claim than a gesture of affection. It was quick, clinical, and when it was over, Olivia felt as though something inside her had shifted irreversibly.
The applause from the guests was deafening, but to Olivia, it sounded distant. She was now Mrs. Nicholas King, tied to a man who only saw her as a means to an end. The weight of that reality settled heavily on her shoulders as Nicholas took her hand and led her out of the grand hall, their exit lined with smiling faces that had no idea of the tension simmering beneath the surface.
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The drive to Nicholas's mansion was silent. Olivia stared out the window, watching the world blur by as they sped through the city. Her heart was racing, but Nicholas seemed perfectly at ease, his fingers drumming idly on the steering wheel. She didn't want to think about how she parted ways with her father at the church. She had to be strong for him and most importantly for herself because she was the one in the middle of this mess.
"You'll get used to this," he said suddenly, his voice breaking the heavy silence.
"Get used to what?" Olivia asked, turning to look at him, confusion clouding her hazel eyes.
He smirked, his eyes not leaving the road. "Being Mrs. King. You'll find that it comes with... certain expectations."
Olivia clenched her fists in her lap, anger simmering beneath the surface. "I'm not some trophy you can parade around, Nicholas."
He glanced at her then, his expression unreadable. "No, you're not. But don't forget, Olivia—you agreed to this. You knew exactly what you were signing up for."
She turned away, biting her lip to keep from saying something she might regret. He was right—she had agreed to this, but that didn't make it any easier to swallow.
When they arrived at Nicholas's mansion, Olivia couldn't help but be struck by its grandeur. The sprawling estate was massive, surrounded by high walls and lush gardens that stretched as far as the eye could see. It was the kind of place most people only ever saw in magazines or on television.
The front doors opened before they could even knock, and a line of maids stood waiting in the grand foyer, their heads bowed respectfully as Nicholas led Olivia inside. It was clear that Nicholas was used to this level of service, but it made Olivia feel even more out of place.
"This is where you'll live now," Nicholas said as they walked through the opulent halls, his voice casual, as if he were discussing something as mundane as the weather. "The staff will take care of whatever you need."
Olivia looked around, feeling a strange sense of emptiness despite the luxury surrounding her. The mansion was beautiful, yes, but it was cold—just like Nicholas. It felt more like a gilded cage than a home.
Nicholas stopped in front of a set of double doors and pushed them open, revealing an enormous bedroom. The bed was massive, draped in expensive linens, and the entire room was decorated with an air of understated elegance. It was everything one would expect of a billionaire's home.
"This is your room," Nicholas said, gesturing toward the lavish space. "We won't be sharing a bed, not unless I decide otherwise."
The bluntness of his words hit her like a slap to the face. Olivia's heart clenched, but she kept her expression neutral. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing how much his arrogance hurt her.
"I'll manage," she replied coldly.
Nicholas's lips twitched into something resembling a smirk. "Good. I have a meeting to attend, so make yourself at home. We'll talk more later."
Without another word, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving Olivia standing in the center of the luxurious space, feeling more alone than she had ever felt before.
The door clicked shut behind him, and Olivia sank onto the edge of the bed, her hands shaking. This was her life now—trapped in a loveless marriage with a man who saw her as nothing more than a pawn. But as much as the situation terrified her, Olivia couldn't shake the flicker of defiance rising within her.
She decided to shower and head straight to bed. She wsnf in the mood to talk to anyone this night. After she came out of the shower she heard a light knock on the door.
"Who's there??", she lazily asked.
"Evening ma'am, I was sent to come ask you what you will like for dinner".
"Must be one of the maids", Olivia thought.
"I'm not hungry. Goodnight", she said curtly. She heard footsteps withdraw, sighing, she lay down on the bed.
She might be Mrs. King now, but that didn't mean she would let Nicholas control her. No, she would find a way to survive this, even if it meant playing his game and biding her time.
Because in the end, she wasn't just going to be another casualty in Nicholas King's life.
She was going to fight.