The CEO's Contractual Wife

Chapter 86

Olivia

“The car is here!” Ariana called from the living room.

My heart jumped into my throat. This was it. No turning back.

The drive to the Carter estate passed in a blur of nerves and champagne. The sprawling property had been transformed for the occasion, with white roses and delicate fairy lights adorning the entrance and garden paths.

“Wow,” Emilia breathed as we pulled up to the private entrance. “This is like a fairytale.”

It was beautiful, I had to admit. Elegant and understated, exactly as I would have chosen if this had been real.

We were escorted to a luxurious suite where I could wait until the ceremony. Alexander had arranged every detail, from the chilled champagne to the fresh flowers matching my bouquet.

“Nervous?” Emilia asked, helping me with a final touch–up to my makeup.

“A little,” I admitted. “It’s all happening so fast.”

“When it’s right, it’s right,” she said, echoing the line Alexander and I had rehearsed for our families. “And you two are definitely right.”

A knock at the door interrupted us. My father entered, looking handsome in his new suit, another gift from Alexander.

“There’s my girl,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “You look beautiful, Olivia.”

Thanks, Dad.” I hugged him carefully, mindful of my dress. “How are you feeling?”

doctor Alexander found did wonders. I’ll be dancing at your wedding without

me. At least that part wasn’t a lie; Alexander had

time,” the wedding planner announced, poking her head into the

offered his arm. “Ready,

breath and nodded,

planned, or rather, as Alexander had planned and I had approved. White chairs arranged in neat rows faced an elegant flower arch where Alexander waited. A string quartet played

eyes turned to me as the music changed. Dad squeezed my arm reassuringly as we began

impossibly handsome in his custom tuxedo. His eyes locked with mine, something unreadable in their depths. For a moment,

above us. All I

to be married?” the

1/3

my hand in Alexander’s.

closed around mine, warm and steady. “You look incredible,” he

you,” I replied, surprised by

exchanged vows we’d written together, beautiful promises that sounded sincere enough to convince everyone present but vague enough that we weren’t actually lying. The ring Alexander slid onto my

earlier that week.

husband and wife,” the officiant declared. “You may kiss

leaned in. We’d kissed before, of course, quick pecks for the benefit

to cup my face, and I found myself leaning into him, my free hand resting on his chest. The kiss deepened for a moment,

us. Alexander smiled, a genuine smile that reached his eyes, and squeezed

announced, “I present to

the sea of smiling faces. My family, his family, colleagues, and friends all believed

aisle, Alexander leaned close.

name sent