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 10 — ENDING
ALINA'S POV :
Six months had passed since Viktoriya, Roman, and Sergei were sent to prison.
Little by little, life at the Sokolov Group returned to normal.
Dmitri no longer spent every night working overtime. He was no longer the man who barely came home.
Now, he was always the first one looking for me.
"Alina?"
I turned toward the voice.
Dmitri stood at the entrance of the greenhouse, two cups of tea resting in his hands.
I smiled.
"You brought tea again."
He walked over.
"I beat Nanny Sofia to it this time."
I laughed.
"Your tea has gotten pretty good."
He scratched the back of his neck.
"Really?"
"More or less."
"'More or less?'"
"Yes."
He shook his head, laughing.
I couldn't help but notice...
He smiled much more often now.
Unlike before.
No longer distant.
No longer cold.
---
DMITRI'S POV :
I never imagined the greenhouse would become my favorite place.
Back then, my world revolved around the office.
Now, even five minutes with Alina felt like more than enough.
My eyes settled on her as she quietly watered the white roses—the same roses I had once given her.
It had started with a single potted flower.
Now, it had grown into an entire garden.
Just like my feelings.
What began as quiet admiration slowly blossomed into love.
---
ALINA'S POV :
"I wanted to ask you something."
I looked at Dmitri.
"You sound serious."
He nodded.
"I am."
He took a deep breath.
"Would you have dinner with me?"
I smiled.
"Is this a date?"
A faint blush colored his cheeks.
"If you'll let it be."
I laughed.
"I thought you said you were going to court me."
"I am."
I shook my head, smiling.
"You're so awkward."
"I'm trying."
Once again, we laughed together.
---
THIRD PERSON
Later that evening, Dmitri and Alina went out together as husband and wife for the very first time.
Not because of a business meeting.
Not because of obligation.
But because they genuinely wanted to be together.
They walked along the riverside, talking and laughing. With every step, they created the memories they should have shared long ago.
---
DMITRI'S POV :
After dinner, I brought her to the rooftop of one of our family's hotels.
The night was peaceful, and the city's lights stretched endlessly beneath us.
"It's beautiful..."
She whispered.
I smiled.
"There's something even more beautiful."
She turned to me.
Then I knelt.
Her eyes widened.
"W-What are you doing?"
I didn't take out an engagement ring.
Instead, I held out her wedding ring—the same ring she had never worn after our wedding because I had once told her...
"We don't have a relationship."
I held the ring tightly.
"It's been six months."
"And during those six months, you taught me how to love."
"You gave me a second chance."
"You showed me that true love isn't about finding a perfect person."
"It's about finding someone who chooses to stay."
Tears filled her eyes.
"Alina..."
"I can never erase the past."
"But I'll spend the rest of my life making up for every tear I caused you."
Slowly, I held the ring toward her.
"Will you let us start over?"
"As real husband and wife."
She cried quietly.
But this time, they weren't tears of pain.
They were tears of happiness.
Without a word, she extended her left hand.
I gently slipped the wedding ring onto her finger.
Then I slowly offered my hand.
"I won't hold your hand unless you want me to."
She smiled softly.
"Do you remember what you once told me?"
I nodded.
"I remember."
She smiled even wider.
"Then..."
"I'll be the one to hold yours."
For the very first time since they were married, it was Alina who reached for Dmitri's hand.
Firmly.
Warmly.
Wholeheartedly.
They were no longer holding hands because they had to.
They were holding hands because they had finally chosen each other.
---
ONE YEAR LATER
ALINA'S POV :
"Congratulations, Sir!"
"Congratulations, Ma'am!"
The employees greeted us cheerfully as we entered the lobby of the Sokolov Group.
I smiled.
Dmitri stood beside me, his fingers intertwined with mine.
He never let go anymore.
And I never wanted him to.
A moment later, Nanny Sofia hurried toward us.
Tears shimmered in her eyes.
"Ma'am..."
"Sir..."
"Congratulations."
I looked at Dmitri.
He smiled warmly.
"Go ahead."
I took a deep breath.
"I'm four months pregnant."
The entire lobby erupted with joyful cheers.
Nanny Sofia embraced me tightly, crying tears of happiness.
"At last..."
"The mansion will finally welcome a new life."
I looked at Dmitri.
He couldn't stop the tears from falling.
Gently, he placed his hand over my stomach.
"Thank you."
He whispered.
"For everything."
---
EPILOGUE
DMITRI'S POV :
Sometimes, I still think about the past.
About how I hurt the woman who had done nothing wrong.
About how I fought for the wrong person.
And how I nearly lost the one who was always meant for me.
But perhaps that's simply how life works.
Some people enter your life to break you.
Others arrive to put you back together again.
I looked toward the garden.
Alina was there, playing with our little daughter among the white roses.
The same roses that had once symbolized my apology had now become a symbol of our new beginning.
I walked toward them.
Alina looked up at me.
She smiled.
I smiled back.
Before I wrapped my arms around them, I finally spoke the words I had once been too afraid to say.
"I love you, Alina."
She smiled through her tears.
"I love you too, Dmitri."
And at last, the story of a marriage born from obligation came to an end.
A marriage that began without love...
But ended with a love they both chose to fight for.
---
THE END
Six months had passed since Viktoriya, Roman, and Sergei were sent to prison.
Little by little, life at the Sokolov Group returned to normal.
Dmitri no longer spent every night working overtime. He was no longer the man who barely came home.
Now, he was always the first one looking for me.
"Alina?"
I turned toward the voice.
Dmitri stood at the entrance of the greenhouse, two cups of tea resting in his hands.
I smiled.
"You brought tea again."
He walked over.
"I beat Nanny Sofia to it this time."
I laughed.
"Your tea has gotten pretty good."
He scratched the back of his neck.
"Really?"
"More or less."
"'More or less?'"
"Yes."
He shook his head, laughing.
I couldn't help but notice...
He smiled much more often now.
Unlike before.
No longer distant.
No longer cold.
---
DMITRI'S POV :
I never imagined the greenhouse would become my favorite place.
Back then, my world revolved around the office.
Now, even five minutes with Alina felt like more than enough.
My eyes settled on her as she quietly watered the white roses—the same roses I had once given her.
It had started with a single potted flower.
Now, it had grown into an entire garden.
Just like my feelings.
What began as quiet admiration slowly blossomed into love.
---
ALINA'S POV :
"I wanted to ask you something."
I looked at Dmitri.
"You sound serious."
He nodded.
"I am."
He took a deep breath.
"Would you have dinner with me?"
I smiled.
"Is this a date?"
A faint blush colored his cheeks.
"If you'll let it be."
I laughed.
"I thought you said you were going to court me."
"I am."
I shook my head, smiling.
"You're so awkward."
"I'm trying."
Once again, we laughed together.
---
THIRD PERSON
Later that evening, Dmitri and Alina went out together as husband and wife for the very first time.
Not because of a business meeting.
Not because of obligation.
But because they genuinely wanted to be together.
They walked along the riverside, talking and laughing. With every step, they created the memories they should have shared long ago.
---
DMITRI'S POV :
After dinner, I brought her to the rooftop of one of our family's hotels.
The night was peaceful, and the city's lights stretched endlessly beneath us.
"It's beautiful..."
She whispered.
I smiled.
"There's something even more beautiful."
She turned to me.
Then I knelt.
Her eyes widened.
"W-What are you doing?"
I didn't take out an engagement ring.
Instead, I held out her wedding ring—the same ring she had never worn after our wedding because I had once told her...
"We don't have a relationship."
I held the ring tightly.
"It's been six months."
"And during those six months, you taught me how to love."
"You gave me a second chance."
"You showed me that true love isn't about finding a perfect person."
"It's about finding someone who chooses to stay."
Tears filled her eyes.
"Alina..."
"I can never erase the past."
"But I'll spend the rest of my life making up for every tear I caused you."
Slowly, I held the ring toward her.
"Will you let us start over?"
"As real husband and wife."
She cried quietly.
But this time, they weren't tears of pain.
They were tears of happiness.
Without a word, she extended her left hand.
I gently slipped the wedding ring onto her finger.
Then I slowly offered my hand.
"I won't hold your hand unless you want me to."
She smiled softly.
"Do you remember what you once told me?"
I nodded.
"I remember."
She smiled even wider.
"Then..."
"I'll be the one to hold yours."
For the very first time since they were married, it was Alina who reached for Dmitri's hand.
Firmly.
Warmly.
Wholeheartedly.
They were no longer holding hands because they had to.
They were holding hands because they had finally chosen each other.
---
ONE YEAR LATER
ALINA'S POV :
"Congratulations, Sir!"
"Congratulations, Ma'am!"
The employees greeted us cheerfully as we entered the lobby of the Sokolov Group.
I smiled.
Dmitri stood beside me, his fingers intertwined with mine.
He never let go anymore.
And I never wanted him to.
A moment later, Nanny Sofia hurried toward us.
Tears shimmered in her eyes.
"Ma'am..."
"Sir..."
"Congratulations."
I looked at Dmitri.
He smiled warmly.
"Go ahead."
I took a deep breath.
"I'm four months pregnant."
The entire lobby erupted with joyful cheers.
Nanny Sofia embraced me tightly, crying tears of happiness.
"At last..."
"The mansion will finally welcome a new life."
I looked at Dmitri.
He couldn't stop the tears from falling.
Gently, he placed his hand over my stomach.
"Thank you."
He whispered.
"For everything."
---
EPILOGUE
DMITRI'S POV :
Sometimes, I still think about the past.
About how I hurt the woman who had done nothing wrong.
About how I fought for the wrong person.
And how I nearly lost the one who was always meant for me.
But perhaps that's simply how life works.
Some people enter your life to break you.
Others arrive to put you back together again.
I looked toward the garden.
Alina was there, playing with our little daughter among the white roses.
The same roses that had once symbolized my apology had now become a symbol of our new beginning.
I walked toward them.
Alina looked up at me.
She smiled.
I smiled back.
Before I wrapped my arms around them, I finally spoke the words I had once been too afraid to say.
"I love you, Alina."
She smiled through her tears.
"I love you too, Dmitri."
And at last, the story of a marriage born from obligation came to an end.
A marriage that began without love...
But ended with a love they both chose to fight for.
---
THE END
Chapter 10
— CHAPTER 10 — ENDING of 10