The Crippled Billionaire's Bride

Sapphire’s POV

“I do,” I whispered, just as a tear slipped down my cheek. The words left my lips before I could stop them.

I stood at the altar, bouquet in hand, like any other bride on her wedding day. I wore a designer gown worth a whole lot more than my entire net worth, my hair had been twisted into an elegant updo, the kind only celebrity stylists could pull off and around my neck rested a diamond necklace that once belonged to Darenell’s grandmother.

It looked like a fairytale.

But I was dying inside.

Standing across from me was Darenell Evans, late twenties, obscenely rich, devastatingly handsome, and wheelchair-bound since an accident a few years back. A tech mogul. A ruthless investor. He was also the only man who could save my family.

He didn’t smile. I didn’t smile either.

The priest declared us husband and wife. Cameras clicked softly in the distance as I turned to look at my family.

My dad gave me a weak smile, trying to look enthusiastic and my mum? She was in tears, acting like this marriage was out of love. My clueless younger brother, Damien, clapped away and smiled so brightly at me that I gave him one back even though I'd rather soak my pillows with tears.

And then it hit me: I was no longer Sapphire Grace. I was Sapphire Evans, wife to a man I didn’t love… and who didn’t love me either.

---

Flashback – Two Weeks Ago

“No! Leave our house now before I call the cops on you!” I screamed, standing in front of the entrance of my home.

Three men in black suits and dark shades pushed past me and stormed into the living room with large bags, grabbing anything remotely valuable. My mother cried into her hands. My father sat frozen, his face pale. My little brother clung to her, terrified.

I chased after the man carrying my mother’s wedding china. “Stop! That’s not even worth—!”

“Your father owes us money,” one of them said flatly, shoving me aside like I weighed nothing. “He didn’t pay it back on time. This is business, sweetheart. He signed the deal. Ask him.”

My body went still. “Dad?” My voice cracked.

He didn’t speak. Just looked at me, eyes glistening with guilt.

And in that second, I knew it was true.

“Is this really happening?” I whispered. “Why didn’t you tell me? Where the hell did all the money go?!”

He didn’t answer.

That’s when the front door opened again and he wheeled himself in.

Darenell Evans.

Dark hair, those intense brown eyes and the most beautiful face known to man. His suit was tailored to perfection. His presence sucked the air from the room. I had only seen this man on TV so what was he doing in my house?

“What the hell are you doing here?” I snapped before I could think.

He didn’t flinch. “I’m here to fix your father’s mistake… for a price.”

My father stood up at that. “Mr. Evans, please—”

“Shut up,” I hissed at him. “Fix it? What do you mean, fix it?”

Darenell wheeled closer, expression unreadable. “Your father invested company profits into a friend’s startup. That friend ran. The company tanked. He begged me for a bailout loan. I gave it to him. And he defaulted. He used the rest of the money for… personal expenses.”

I stared at my dad. “You used my college fund?”

Silence.

“You were supposed to pay my tuition next month!”

“I—I-I was going to get it back—”

“With what?! You mortgaged the house, you took loans from strangers, you even pawned Mom’s jewellery! Jesus, Dad!”

My mother sobbed harder.

Darenell cut in again. “I’ll call off my men. You’ll keep your home. Your father’s debt? Gone. In exchange…” He looked at me. “You marry me.”

The world stopped turning.

“What?” I blinked.

He didn’t repeat himself.

“I’m not a damn pawn.”

“No,” he said calmly. “But you don't really have a choice, do you?"

---

Present Day

The car ride back to Darenell’s estate was silent. Not that he noticed. He’d been on a call the moment we left the chapel, talking about mergers and projections while I stared out the tinted window.

His estate was massive. A glass and concrete fortress nestled in the hills. It gave off a full and dark vibe just like him.

When we arrived, he didn’t wait for me. His butler wheeled him inside while I was left standing in my wedding dress, feeling more like a hostage than a bride.

Dinner was awkward. He didn’t touch his wine. I didn’t touch my food.

“Eat,” he finally said.

“I’m not hungry.”

“You will be late. You’ll need your strength.”

My brows furrowed. “What the hell does that mean?”

He gave me a look I couldn’t read. “You’ll find out.”

It wasn’t long before I was led to the master bedroom. Our bedroom.

The room was too perfect. Dim lighting, rose petals on the bed, and champagne chilling in a bucket. My stomach twisted.

I turned to him, crossing my arms. “So what now? You expect me to sleep with you on the first night?”

He gave a cold smile. “That’s what usually happens when you get married.”

“Then I guess tonight will be an exception.”

I turned toward the closet, trying to put distance between us, but the sound behind me made me freeze.

His wheelchair rolled… and then stopped.

I turned.

And watched in disbelief as Darenell Evans, my supposedly crippled husband, stood up from his wheelchair like it was the easiest thing in the world.

“What the f—?”

He took a step forward. Another.

I stumbled back.

“You—You can walk?”

“Yes.”

“You’ve been lying this whole time?!”

“I never said I couldn’t. You assumed.”

He kept moving toward me until I was backed against the wall. He placed a hand beside my head, caging me in.

“I don’t like being touched by strangers,” I snapped.

“Then get used to me. I'm no longer a stranger, am I?"

He tilted my chin up. “You didn’t just save your family, Sapphire. You sold yourself to the devil. And now you belong to me.”

“You’re a bastard.”

“I’ve been called worse.”

His lips hovered near mine, but didn’t touch. Not yet. Instead, he whispered, “One more thing, wife. Next time you plan to insult me… try to remember who paid for that pretty dress.”

And then he kissed me.

I tried to push him away but he didn't stop. I began to feel lightheaded from his kiss, and soon, I was kissing him back.

His hand grabbed the front of my dress and pulled it, ripping the gown into two.

"Why the hell would you do that?" I pushed him away and tried to cover my chest with both hands. I was forced to put on a lingerie that covered barely anything and I wasn't going to let him see me naked.

He walked towards me like a predator, and grabbed my hand, yanking it back harshly and the gown pooled at my feet.

He grabbed my breasts in his hands and then brought his head down to kiss me again, and he wasn't any gentler this time.

He raised me up from my feet and I wrapped my legs around him.

He was hard and that made me whimper into his mouth.

I didn't know how long we kissed for or how I got to the bed but all I knew was that I was on the bed, looking up at him as he stared down at me.

He unbuckled his trousers, not bothering to undress me and pulled my panties to the side.

"Please... Please be gentle. I haven't done this before." I said in a small tone but he wasn't paying attention. He roughly grabbed my thigh pulling my core to his face and thrusting his tongue inside me.

I let out a pleasure-filled scream as he sucked and fucked me with his tongue. It felt so good and I couldn't help but moan his name.

I slowly felt him tracing his finger around my entrance and then he thrust it in.

"Oh-- yes, please..." I groaned as he increased his pace. It felt better than I ever would have imagined.

He pulled away all of a sudden, leaving me feeling empty.

He then positioned himself at my entrance and in one swift motion, he was inside me.