The Tycoon Proposed At My Wedding

The soft glow from the bedroom lights cast a cozy warmth as the bathroom water shut off. Ana Spencer stepped out, fresh from the shower, her heart a tangled mess of anticipation and nerves.

Catching sight of the broad-shouldered man perched on the bed's edge, she shyly dropped her gaze and offered a soft smile, her face glowing with the bliss of someone head over heels in love. Tonight, she would finally be with her fiancé, Jalen Ryan.

"I'm out of the shower, Jalen," she said, her smile hesitant as she drew near.

But in an instant, Jalen spun around, slamming her onto the bed, his hand tightening around her throat, his eyes burning with contempt. "You think you can manipulate me?" he snapped.

"Jalen... what are you talking about? I don't get it!" Ana stammered, frozen with terror.

Jalen let out a mocking laugh. "Keep playing the innocent act! You think pulling these dirty tricks would make me want you? If you're that cheap, fine—I'll play along."

If it weren't for his father breathing down his neck, he wouldn't have come back at all. The image of Elodie—his real love—stuck in a hospital bed made his blood boil toward Ana. If it weren't for Ana, Elodie wouldn't be lying there.

Still in her nightgown, Ana was dragged and shoved into Jalen's car. At first, she had no clue what was going on, but it didn’t take long for her to realize something was seriously wrong.

Ana had never known her mother. Her father and Jalen’s father had been army buddies way back. When her father passed, he left Ana in his friend's care—the very reason she ended up engaged to Jalen.

But Jalen only had eyes for Elodie. For seven years, Ana had given him her all, and never once had she won his heart.

Just before the wedding, Jalen planned to run off with Elodie. But on the way to the airport, Elodie got into a car wreck and had been in the hospital ever since.

Fed up with the lack of progress between Ana and Jalen, Jalen's father arranged a Thanksgiving dinner, secretly lacing the food with some concoction designed to push them together.

The effects were kicking in fast, leaving both of them miserable.

By the time the car stopped, Ana was almost out of her mind, clinging to Jalen. Then he hurled her out of the car like she was nothing.

"Jalen, I feel awful!"

"You brought this on yourself!" he sneered, grabbing her chin. "Did you really think some cheap potion would get me into bed with you? Since you're so desperate, go ahead—anyone who wants you can have you."

He dumped Ana at the mouth of an alley. She clutched his coat, begging. "Jalen, please don't leave me. I swear, it wasn't me!"

Her pleas fell on deaf ears. Jalen shoved her off, climbed into his Bentley, and drove away without a backward glance.

Ana crumpled to the ground, trembling. The streets around her were lined with bars, and she didn't need a vivid imagination to picture the kind of people roaming around.

"Hey there, gorgeous. All alone? Let’s have a little fun."

Men started closing in, their intentions plain as day. Ana dug her nails into her palm, the sting keeping her tethered to reality.

"Get away from me! Leave me alone!" She grabbed a stick from the curb, swinging it to fend off the men who seemed like villains straight out of a nightmare.

Sprinting toward a nearby streetlight, Ana tripped and fell, the men still hot on her heels. Desperate, she grabbed a car door to pull herself up—and it opened. Gritting her teeth, she scrambled inside.

The men eventually backed off, and Ana breathed a sigh of relief. But her discomfort was only getting worse, tears prickling her eyes as she bit down on her hand.

Jalen...

Her head was swimming, and she collapsed onto the back seat. Whatever she leaned against felt strange—firm but giving, cool and weirdly comforting. She moaned softly, burrowing closer for comfort.

"Ah..."

Desmond Spencer's sharp eyes flew open. A little buzzed from a business dinner, he'd been resting while waiting for his assistant to drive him home. Instead, he found an unexpected guest curled right up against him.

He flicked on the car’s interior light, revealing a woman in pajamas nuzzled against him in the most unbelievable scenario.

Desmond frowned, nudging her gently away. Ana, lost in her daze, mumbled a protest and shifted right back against him.

"Who sent you?" he demanded, his tone serious.

Ana, mistaking his voice for Jalen's, clung to him. "Jalen, I knew you'd come back for me. It wasn't me, I swear! I've loved you for seven years—please, just tell me what to do to get another chance?"

Tears streamed down her face as she buried herself in his arms.

"You've got the wrong guy! Look at me—really look."

Ana squinted, but all she could see was Jalen. She snuggled against his chest, her skin soft, eyes glistening with an irresistible allure.

"You have to be Jalen—my future husband. I feel so awful, please help me..." she pleaded, sobbing into him.

Her boldness got to Desmond. Every time he tried to pull away, she just held on tighter, practically throwing herself at him.

Desmond, a man of iron will, felt his defenses crack. In a moment of weakness, he flipped their positions.

"You asked for this..."

***

The harsh sunlight dragged her awake. Ana slowly opened her eyes to an unfamiliar hotel room. Her heart plummeted, and she sat up, memories crashing down like a thunderstorm.

Last night, Jalen had abandoned her on the street. Chased by strangers, she'd stumbled into a car, and then...

She thought...

Ana’s eyes burned red as she clutched the sheets, feeling like daggers were twisting in her heart. Jalen had been so heartless, leaving her there. The marks on her body told her all she needed to know, and hot tears jerked her into painful awareness.

She let out a bitter laugh, numb as she climbed out of bed and reached for some clothes.

So Jalen had finally gotten what he wanted. Seven years of devotion, ended like this—so cruelly. Ana’s heart went cold as the truth settled in: she and Jalen were never meant to be.