Chapter 6
–
The Arranged Marriage
Rachel’s Pov
As soon as I stepped inside the grand Blake mansion, the scent of fresh roses and polished wood filled my senses.
My grandparents, John and Linda Blake, led me into the lavish living room, their faces warm but tinged with hesitation.
“Rachel, my dear, are you sure about this?” My grandmother’s voice was gentle but firm.
“I’ve made up my mind,” I said without hesitation. “I want what’s mine, and if marrying this man is the price I have to pay, then so be it.”
Grandfather sighed, rubbing his temples. “We just want you to be prepared. Xavier… he wasn’t always like this.”
I frowned. “Like what?”
“He was once a powerful man,” Grandfather continued. “He had everything–money, influence, the respect of the entire business world. But three years ago, his mother was killed in an accident, and he…” He paused as if unsure how to say it.
Grandmother took over. “He lost the ability to walk… and his mind was never the same. He acts like a child now, Rachel. He barely speaks, barely interacts. Some say he’s completely broken.”
I sat back, absorbing their words. A crippled man. An invalid. A former business mogul reduced to nothing.
“Are you saying he’s… mentally unstable?” I asked carefully.
“He hasn’t spoken in years. He shrieks and babbles like a child,” Grandmother admitted, exchanging a glance with Grandfather. “We know this isn’t what you expected.”
A moment of silence stretched between us. A lesser woman might have backed out. But I wasn’t a lesser woman.
“I don’t care,” I said firmly. “If marrying him means I take over the company, then I’ll do it.”
Relief flooded their faces, though worry still lingered in their eyes.
“You’ll become the official owner of Blake Enterprises once you’re married,” Grandfather confirmed. “But we won’t rush you. You’ll meet him tomorrow.”
I nodded. “That’s fine.”
That night, I dined like royalty.
The maids served me dishes I couldn’t even pronounce, and the wine was smoother than anything I’d ever tasted.
After a long soak in the jacuzzi, I slipped into a silk nightdress and settled into my bed, feeling a kind of luxury I had never known before.
For the first time in years, I felt free. Powerful. Untouchable.
Smirking, I grabbed my phone and snapped a picture of my wine glass against the city
He Broke Me First, Now I’m The Queen of His Ruins
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I posted it on my feed with the caption: Living my best life.
Not even five minutes later, a notification popped up.
Michael: Where are you?
My smirk disappeared.
Pathetic. The same man who threw me aside like trash now wanted to know where I was?
I deleted his comment and restricted his profile. Not long after, a call notification flashed
on my screen–Michael, calling me through Facebook.
I blocked him.
Then, for the first time in a long time, I slept like a queen.
The next morning, I was awakened by the soft knock of a maid.
“Good morning, Miss Blake,” she said with a bow. “We’ve prepared your breakfast.”
I stretched lazily, feeling the silk sheets beneath my fingertips. Life had certainly changed overnight.
“Bring it in,” I ordered.
The tray was filled with fresh fruit, pancakes, and imported tea. Every bite tasted like wealth.
After breakfast, I bathed with oils that left my skin feeling softer than ever.
Then I dressed in a white silk blouse and high–waisted trousers, opting for simple elegance.
When I finally made my way downstairs, my grandparents were already waiting.
“Morning, dear,” Grandmother greeted.
“Morning,” I replied.
Grandfather gestured to the driver. “Shall we?”
The drive was smooth, but an uneasy sensation settled in my stomach.
“Who exactly is Xavier Crawford?” I asked.
My grandparents exchanged another hesitant look.
“He’s Michael’s half–brother,” Grandfather finally admitted.
My breath caught. “Michael’s what?”
“His mother was the mistress of Michael’s father,” Grandmother explained. “Xavier was never truly accepted by the Crawfords, but he was their most brilliant son… until the accident.”
I clenched my jaw. How ironic. The man I was about to marry was connected to Michael in ways I hadn’t expected.
The car finally pulled up to a large estate, just as grand as the Blake mansion.
A butler greeted us at the entrance and led us into an elegant sitting room.
Chapter 6 – The Arranged Mamage.
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I clenched my jaw. How ironic. The man I was about to marry was connected to Michael in
ways I hadn’t expected.
The car finally pulled up to a large estate, just as grand as the Blake mansion.
A butler greeted us at the entrance and led us into an elegant sitting room.
“We’re here to see Xavier,” Grandfather said.
A moment later, the sound of wheels rolling across the marble floor filled the room.
I turned to see a man being wheeled out by a caretaker.
Xavier Crawford.
His black hair was slightly overgrown, his sharp jawline shadowed with stubble. He was handsome–undeniably so–but his eyes… his eyes were blank, staring vacantly at nothing in particular.
Then, suddenly, he let out a high–pitched shriek.
I stiffened.
He curled his fingers like a child, rocking slightly in his wheelchair.
This… was the man I was supposed to marry?
I swallowed hard, for the first time feeling uncertainty creeping in.
Maybe I had been too confident.
Maybe I had just made the biggest mistake of my life.
