His Forced Bride
Ainsley
He married her because he had no choice. She tried to love him, even knowing his heart belonged to someone else.
At twenty-four, Alina Volkov is forced into an arranged marriage with Dmitri Sokolov, a powerful twenty-eight-year-old CEO whose family demands that he finally settle down and produce an heir.
But from the very first day of their marriage, Alina realizes she will never be the woman Dmitri truly wants. His heart still belongs to his first love, Viktoriya Morozova. He openly brings Viktoriya into their mansion, treats her like she is the real lady of the house, and leaves his legal wife to endure the pain in silence.
What Dmitri doesn't know is that the woman he loves has never loved him back. Together with her secret lover, Viktoriya has been manipulating him from the beginning, plotting to steal his company, his fortune, and destroy everything he has built.
As betrayal, lies, and hidden truths begin to unfold, Dmitri is forced to face the consequences of the choices he made. But when he finally realizes who truly stood by his side all along... will it already be too late to win back the heart of the wife he never chose?
A heart-wrenching story of arranged marriage, betrayal, slow-burn romance, second chances, family drama, and a love that blossoms when everything else falls apart.
CHAPTER 1
ALINA'S POV :
I stood silently before the grand mirror as a team of makeup artists applied the finishing touches to my face.
The white wedding gown draped over my body was breathtaking. It had been crafted by one of Russia's most renowned designers. Every crystal sewn into the fabric shimmered beneath the lights, as if trying to convince the world that I was the happiest bride alive.
But the truth was...
I felt like a bird trapped inside a gilded cage.
"Miss Alina..." one of the stylists called softly. "You're ready."
I forced a faint smile. "Thank you."
When they finally left, I looked at my reflection once more.
Twenty-four years old. Daughter of the Volkov family.
And in just a few minutes...
I would become the wife of a man who didn't even know me. Not because either of us wanted this. But because our families had already decided our future.
I slowly closed my eyes. My father's words from a few weeks ago echoed inside my mind.
«"Alina, this isn't a request."»
«"The decision has already been made by both families."»
«"Dmitri Sokolov will become your husband."»
"Don't I even have the right to refuse?" I had asked, my voice trembling.
A long silence followed. Then came his cold reply.
«"No."»
Just one word.
One word that shattered what little freedom I had left.
I stopped fighting. Because no matter what... I could never bring myself to go against my family.
---
A few minutes later...
The door opened. My mother walked in with a gentle smile.
"My beautiful daughter..."
The tears I had been holding back finally escaped. "Mom..."
She wrapped her arms around me. "Even if this isn't what I wanted for you... I know you'll stay strong."
"Are you happy?" She didn't answer.
Her silence told me everything I needed to know. She wasn't happy either. But neither of us had a choice anymore.
---
As the massive cathedral doors slowly opened...
Every guest rose to their feet. The wedding march echoed through the hall.
I took one deep breath before taking my first step down the aisle.
Hundreds of eyes followed me. Business tycoons. Politicians. Influential figures.
They were all smiling. They all looked delighted.
While I...
I felt as though I was being buried alive with every step I took.
At the end of the aisle...
He was waiting.
Dmitri Sokolov. Twenty-eight years old. The youngest CEO of the Sokolov Group. Tall. Handsome. Perfect.
And yet...
His face remained completely emotionless. He never looked at me. He never smiled. He barely even blinked. As if this were nothing more than another business meeting. Not a wedding.
I stopped in front of him. Our eyes finally met. Cold. So unbearably cold. There wasn't even the slightest trace of happiness in his gaze.
---
The ceremony began. The priest looked at me. "Do you, Alina Volkov, take Dmitri Sokolov to be your lawful husband?"
I glanced at Dmitri. He didn't even bother to look my way. I inhaled slowly. "...I do."
Moments later, it was his turn. "Do you, Dmitri Sokolov..."
"I do."
Quick. Cold. Emotionless.As if those two words meant absolutely nothing.
---
When the ceremony ended... The entire cathedral erupted in applause.
"Congratulations!"
"You make the perfect couple!"
"You were made for each other!"
If only they knew...
The marriage they were celebrating... Contained not even the smallest trace of love.
---
DMITRI'S POV :
I didn't want to be here. If it weren't for my father... I would never have gotten married. Not to Alina. Not to anyone. There had only ever been one woman I truly loved.
Viktoriya.
Even now...
She was still the only one in my heart.
"Congratulations, Mr. Sokolov."
I simply gave a brief nod. A moment later, my father approached me. "Don't disgrace our family." I met his gaze with nothing but ice.
"This was your decision."
"Not mine." Without another word, I walked away.
I didn't even bother staying for the reception.
I left...
The moment I opened my car door... She was there. The woman I had never managed to forget. "Viktoriya..."
She smiled. "I missed you."
I didn't hesitate. I pulled her into my arms. Holding her tightly. As if letting go meant losing her all over again.
What I didn't know...
Was that from one of the grand reception hall windows...
A pair of eyes had witnessed everything.
And those eyes...
Slowly filled with tears.
---
ALINA'S POV :
I don't know why...
But something compelled me to look outside. And that's when I saw him. My husband. Holding another woman in his embrace. My grip on the wedding bouquet tightened.
I didn't even notice the white roses slipping from my hands...
One by one...
Until they scattered across the marble floor.
A guest hurried toward me. "Mrs. Sokolov? Are you alright?"
I forced myself to smile. "Yes... I'm fine."
But deep inside...
That was the exact moment I realized...
My life as Dmitri Sokolov's wife had become a living nightmare.
I stood silently before the grand mirror as a team of makeup artists applied the finishing touches to my face.
The white wedding gown draped over my body was breathtaking. It had been crafted by one of Russia's most renowned designers. Every crystal sewn into the fabric shimmered beneath the lights, as if trying to convince the world that I was the happiest bride alive.
But the truth was...
I felt like a bird trapped inside a gilded cage.
"Miss Alina..." one of the stylists called softly. "You're ready."
I forced a faint smile. "Thank you."
When they finally left, I looked at my reflection once more.
Twenty-four years old. Daughter of the Volkov family.
And in just a few minutes...
I would become the wife of a man who didn't even know me. Not because either of us wanted this. But because our families had already decided our future.
I slowly closed my eyes. My father's words from a few weeks ago echoed inside my mind.
«"Alina, this isn't a request."»
«"The decision has already been made by both families."»
«"Dmitri Sokolov will become your husband."»
"Don't I even have the right to refuse?" I had asked, my voice trembling.
A long silence followed. Then came his cold reply.
«"No."»
Just one word.
One word that shattered what little freedom I had left.
I stopped fighting. Because no matter what... I could never bring myself to go against my family.
---
A few minutes later...
The door opened. My mother walked in with a gentle smile.
"My beautiful daughter..."
The tears I had been holding back finally escaped. "Mom..."
She wrapped her arms around me. "Even if this isn't what I wanted for you... I know you'll stay strong."
"Are you happy?" She didn't answer.
Her silence told me everything I needed to know. She wasn't happy either. But neither of us had a choice anymore.
---
As the massive cathedral doors slowly opened...
Every guest rose to their feet. The wedding march echoed through the hall.
I took one deep breath before taking my first step down the aisle.
Hundreds of eyes followed me. Business tycoons. Politicians. Influential figures.
They were all smiling. They all looked delighted.
While I...
I felt as though I was being buried alive with every step I took.
At the end of the aisle...
He was waiting.
Dmitri Sokolov. Twenty-eight years old. The youngest CEO of the Sokolov Group. Tall. Handsome. Perfect.
And yet...
His face remained completely emotionless. He never looked at me. He never smiled. He barely even blinked. As if this were nothing more than another business meeting. Not a wedding.
I stopped in front of him. Our eyes finally met. Cold. So unbearably cold. There wasn't even the slightest trace of happiness in his gaze.
---
The ceremony began. The priest looked at me. "Do you, Alina Volkov, take Dmitri Sokolov to be your lawful husband?"
I glanced at Dmitri. He didn't even bother to look my way. I inhaled slowly. "...I do."
Moments later, it was his turn. "Do you, Dmitri Sokolov..."
"I do."
Quick. Cold. Emotionless.As if those two words meant absolutely nothing.
---
When the ceremony ended... The entire cathedral erupted in applause.
"Congratulations!"
"You make the perfect couple!"
"You were made for each other!"
If only they knew...
The marriage they were celebrating... Contained not even the smallest trace of love.
---
DMITRI'S POV :
I didn't want to be here. If it weren't for my father... I would never have gotten married. Not to Alina. Not to anyone. There had only ever been one woman I truly loved.
Viktoriya.
Even now...
She was still the only one in my heart.
"Congratulations, Mr. Sokolov."
I simply gave a brief nod. A moment later, my father approached me. "Don't disgrace our family." I met his gaze with nothing but ice.
"This was your decision."
"Not mine." Without another word, I walked away.
I didn't even bother staying for the reception.
I left...
The moment I opened my car door... She was there. The woman I had never managed to forget. "Viktoriya..."
She smiled. "I missed you."
I didn't hesitate. I pulled her into my arms. Holding her tightly. As if letting go meant losing her all over again.
What I didn't know...
Was that from one of the grand reception hall windows...
A pair of eyes had witnessed everything.
And those eyes...
Slowly filled with tears.
---
ALINA'S POV :
I don't know why...
But something compelled me to look outside. And that's when I saw him. My husband. Holding another woman in his embrace. My grip on the wedding bouquet tightened.
I didn't even notice the white roses slipping from my hands...
One by one...
Until they scattered across the marble floor.
A guest hurried toward me. "Mrs. Sokolov? Are you alright?"
I forced myself to smile. "Yes... I'm fine."
But deep inside...
That was the exact moment I realized...
My life as Dmitri Sokolov's wife had become a living nightmare.
Chapter 1
— CHAPTER 1 of 10