The Billionaire’s Wedding Trap - Chapter 5: Chapter 5

My mind went numb as I sat beside Cain in the lawyer's office, watching him pore over my father's will. The air felt thick with tension as the lawyer cleared his throat.
"Mr. Macmillan has left the Spanish estate and twenty million dollars to his wife," the lawyer announced.
Disgust twisted in my gut as my stepmother squealed with delight, throwing her arms around Aliya. I barely listened as the rest of the assets were listed—none of it mattered. Money couldn't bring my father back.
"And the King Corporation goes to his only daughter, Elle Blackwood."
I gave a stiff nod. Of course he'd leave the company to me. It was always the plan.
"Wait." Cain's voice cut through the room.
I turned to him, confused, as he pulled out an envelope and handed it to the lawyer.
"This is the agreement Elle signed when we married, transferring company ownership to me upon her father's death."
My stomach dropped. I shot to my feet and snatched the paper from the lawyer's hands, scanning it in disbelief.
"I never signed this!"
Cain smirked. "You don't remember, darling. You were so in love, you didn't even read what you were signing." His tone dripped with false sweetness. "But don't worry—what's mine is yours."
My hands shook as I stared at the signature at the bottom. It looked like mine. A year ago, he'd handed me stacks of papers—wedding documents, he'd said. I'd been too lovestruck to question it.
Now it all made sense. This was their endgame—to leave me with nothing.
My mind flashed back to my wedding day. James, the man I'd loved, had vanished without a word. Cain had swooped in, and my stepmother had pushed me to marry him immediately. I'd been too heartbroken to wonder why James had abandoned me.
But now? Nothing added up.
The car ride home was silent, my thoughts spiraling. When Cain dropped me off, he pressed a kiss to my forehead and made some excuse about work. But I knew the truth—he was going to Aliya.
The second he left, I stormed into his closet and yanked open the forbidden box. Inside were dozens of photos of Aliya—childhood pictures, candid shots. Cain had taken every one.
Then I saw it.
At the bottom of the box was the news photo of James—the one from our supposed wedding day. The image that had destroyed me.
Except… it was fake. Badly photoshopped.
My breath hitched. Had Cain planted that photo to tear me away from James? But why hadn't James come for me? I'd never reached out—Cain had convinced me to "let go of the past."
I staggered back, my head spinning—until I spotted something in the drawer.
Pill bottles. My father's name was on them, but these weren't his usual medication.
I grabbed them and bolted to the hospital, shoving them at the nurse who'd treated him.
"What is this?"
She frowned. "These look like his prescription bottles, but the pills…" Her face paled. "These would've spiked his blood pressure. Made him sicker."
My vision blurred. Had Cain poisoned my father?
I stumbled outside, my entire world crumbling. Enough. I was done.
I hurled the pills—along with my phone and credit cards—into the nearest trash can. I had to disappear.
Cain's calls blew up my phone all day, demanding I come "support" him with the shareholders. But I was already gone.
The nurse fished the ringing phone from the trash.
"Elle? I've been calling all day!" Cain's voice was frantic. "I need you here. The shareholders expect to meet the new CEO—"
"Mr. Blackwood," the nurse cut in coldly. "Your wife is gone. She found out about the pills."
Silence.
Then—click.