Marriage Is Not a Game

Sebastian was taken aback by Alexander’s unusually dramatic reaction.

A faint, uncharacteristic warmth softened Alexander’s typically icy gaze. "My wife chose this outfit. Do you have an issue with that?"

Instantly intrigued, Sebastian leaned forward, his eyes lighting up. "Wait… you mean Evelyn? Well, well. I didn't realize things were progressing so quickly between you two. She's already picking out your clothes?"

He paused, a thought striking him, and a mischievous grin spread across his face. "Hold on… I saw you in a different suit this morning. Don't tell me you changed because I interrupted… something?"

He immediately feigned deep remorse, offering a stream of exaggerated apologies. "My sincerest apologies for potentially ruining a perfect moment!"

Alexander’s expression darkened, his voice sharp. "Enough. Stop inventing scenarios. Nothing happened."

Having been friends for years, Sebastian was completely unfazed by the harsh tone. He simply smirked. "Maybe not yet. But the night is young."

He took a deliberate sip of his whiskey. "You only agreed to this marriage to make your grandmother happy, right? To give her peace of mind."

He raised an eyebrow, giving Alexander a knowing look. "Eleanor always worried you were too isolated. She wanted you to find someone, build a life, experience real happiness. Honestly? Evelyn seems like a good fit for you."

Alexander had lost his mother when he was very young. After his father remarried, his stepmother, a vicious woman who saw him as an obstacle, had orchestrated a car accident that nearly claimed his life and his ability to walk.

To survive, he had pretended the injuries had left him permanently disabled, allowing his enemies to underestimate him.

It was a necessary deception. Without it, he might not be alive.

For years, the only person in the Blackwood family who genuinely cared for him was his grandmother, Eleanor, though her power to protect him was limited.

That was why, upon reaching adulthood, he had secretly built Aethelgard Industries from nothing.

As the company grew into a global powerhouse, he gained the strength to leave the Blackwood estate. But he could never abandon Eleanor, his one true anchor.

She had long wished for him to find a kind, dependable partner.

Initially, he had refused every suggestion.

He didn't trust women.

They might feign sympathy for his past, but none would willingly tie themselves to a man they believed was both powerless and crippled.

This year, however, Eleanor's health had declined sharply. The doctors' prognosis was grim; her time was short.

To grant her final wish, he had finally consented to marry—hoping she could see him settled before she passed.

Fate, it seemed, had a different plan. His intended bride fled, and through a twist of events, he found himself married to Evelyn instead.

He sat in silence, lost in these thoughts.

Sebastian watched him and sighed. "Stop overcomplicating it. Just try to get closer to her. See what happens. And hey, once you have a child, Eleanor can truly rest easy. It's logical, isn't it?"

Alexander had considered this, but his resolve was firm. "I married to fulfill my grandmother's wish, yes. But I will not treat this union as a transaction."

His tone grew gravely serious. "Whether Evelyn desired this or not, marriage is not a game. My wife deserves to know who I truly am and accept that. Anything less is meaningless."

Marrying A Secret Billionaire: To Happiness Ever After