Billionaire's Forced Bride: From Duty to Desire

The bodyguard, clad in black, spoke with a cold, detached tone as he glanced at his walkie-talkie. "Sir, we've found her."

Penelope Vilehart, bound in handcuffs and dragged along, trembled, holding her breath. What is happening?

Tears threatened to spill, but no sound escaped her lips.

'Who is this “Sir” they keep mentioning?' she wondered. She was just a university student.

Less than half an hour ago, she had been walking down the street when a group of men in black suits suddenly blindfolded and restrained her. No matter how loudly she screamed, no one seemed to notice. She racked her brain, unable to imagine what she could have done to anger someone so powerful.

Then they pushed her into a room. She stumbled, fell, and hit the ground hard. The silence that followed pressed against her like a heavy weight.

Cautiously, she peeled the black cloth from her eyes. The sudden light made her squint. All she could see were polished leather shoes standing less than a meter away. She lifted her gaze slowly, and froze.

A tall, imposing man loomed over her. His features radiated strength. His face was sharply chiseled, unnervingly handsome, almost otherworldly. His perfectly tailored frame carried an air of nobility and authority, as if he were a king from a distant realm.

"Get up," he commanded.

The sheer force behind his words made Penelope flinch. She scrambled to her feet. "Who are you?"

"Ajax Grimwald."

The name hit her like a thunderbolt. Her mind raced to place it. Then realization struck like a wave. Her mouth fell open.

He was one of the top ten wealthiest men in Fiaris, the capital of Solara.

Ajax’s eyes were as cold as winter wind, locking onto hers with a flicker of disdain. "The time has come for you to burn, Penelope."

"I-I don’t know you! Why am I here?" Her voice cracked under the weight of his presence.

His gaze sharpened, hawk-like. "Valeria Fetter is my fiancée."

"V-Valeria..." Penelope’s jaw dropped. "So it’s you..."

"Thanks to you, that heiress successfully escaped." Ajax’s expression remained unreadable, his voice flat and icy.

The words froze her in place. She sucked in a sharp breath as understanding dawned. She had been captured because of that escape.

"I-I was just shopping with Valeria that day," she stammered, desperation creeping into her voice. "When she suggested we swap clothes, I had no idea she was planning to run! This has nothing to do with me—"

Before she could finish, a letter was tossed at her feet. Panicked, she bent down and unfolded it. As soon as her eyes landed on the handwriting, her face drained of color.

Valeria had thrown her under the bus.

The letter claimed they were the best of friends, that Penelope had helped plan the escape, and that Valeria would come back for her once everything settled.

"This can’t be! Mr. Grimwald, I really don’t know anything!" she cried.

Ajax’s expression hardened. His voice cut like ice. "Where is she?"

"I don’t know!" Penelope’s hands shook as she clutched the envelope, retreating a step. She had to get away. His eyes radiated such coldness, such danger. He was terrifying.

Suddenly, Ajax closed the distance, gripping the back of her neck and forcing her to face him. His icy gaze was inches from hers. "I’ll ask you one last time. Where is she?"

The space between them was suffocating.

Penelope had never been this close to such a man. Her heart pounded violently, threatening to leap from her chest.