Married to the Blind Billionaire

Riley.

I took the last sip of my wine, enjoying the warmth as it slipped down my throat, the taste lingering in a pleasant, slightly bitter finish.

I was supposed to feel at ease now that dinner was over, but instead, something about the way Grayson was looking at me felt wrong, and I couldn't help but be bothered.

The corners of his mouth were tight, and his eyes didn't stop darting around the room as if searching for something—or maybe someone—more interesting than me.

I couldn't quite tell, and when I set my glass down, he leaned forward, elbows resting on the table, hands clasped in front of him in a way that felt almost... formal. So formal that I half-expected him to pull out a legal contract from under the table.

“Let's break up.”

I blinked, almost sure I hadn't heard him right. “I'm sorry, what did you say?” I asked, managing to let out a shaky laugh.

This had to be one of his pranks. Grayson was the type to tease, to play with words, and to try to make me guess what was real and what was just for fun.

But he didn't smile; hell, he didn't even flinch. He just sat there, looking at me like I was a stranger on the subway, and he was about to tell me to get off at the next stop.

“I'm serious, Riley. I think it's time we break up.”

I froze momentarily, trying to make sense of the words that had come out of his mouth.

“Grayson, you can't be serious,” I said. “We just celebrated three years together. You brought me here, to your family's restaurant, on our anniversary. Why would you do that if you were planning to break up with me?”

I forced another laugh, an ugly sound that even I didn't believe. I was hoping he'd laugh with me, or at the very least, let a smirk slip through.

I wanted to see that mischievous glint in his eyes, the one that said, “Gotcha!” But his face remained as still as a statue, and his mouth a straight line that was neither warm nor inviting.

He let out a heavy sigh, rubbing his forehead as though he was trying to ease his frustration. “Riley, come on. You have to know this isn't working anymore. We're just going through the motions at this point, so it's better if we end it now, before things get worse.”

“Before things get worse?” I repeated, feeling both angry and confused. “What are you even talking about, Gray? We're fine! We have our moments, but every couple does. You don't just throw away three years because of a few rough patches.”

“It's more than that,” he said, looking down at his hands. “I feel like we're stuck. We're not moving forward, and honestly, I don't think I see a future for us anymore.”

The words came out rehearsed like he'd been practicing this speech for days, weeks, maybe even months.

I wondered when he'd made the decision. Had he known this was coming last month when he'd surprised me with flowers, or had he just decided, right here, right now, that three years of us weren't worth holding onto?

I let out a bitter laugh before responding. “Just be honest with me, Gray. What's the real reason you're ending things so abruptly? You owe me that much.”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Riley, it doesn't matter. I just want us to end things simply and go our separate ways with no drama and no drawn-out explanations. Can't we just do that?”

I laughed again, feeling my anger rising. “Stop being such a coward, Grayson. You think I'm going to accept that? After three years, you owe me more than some vague excuse. I want to know the real reason. How long have you been planning this? And don't tell me it doesn't matter—because it does.”

His eyes flickered around the room as if checking to see if anyone was watching us, and a look of irritation crossed his face.

He leaned in before whispering harshly. “Keep your voice down, Riley. This is my parents' restaurant, and I'd rather you not embarrass me.”

I rolled my eyes. “Oh, don't worry, Gray. I wouldn't want to embarrass you in front of your precious family. God forbid anyone finds out that Grayson can't even be honest with his girlfriend.”

I leaned back, folding my arms, daring him to say more.

He groaned, rolling his eyes as if I were some nuisance he had to deal with. It was the same look he gave the waitstaff when they brought him the wrong order or when he was forced to wait in line at the airport.

That look of impatience mixed with entitlement, and it made my stomach twist with disgust.

“Fine,” he said, leaning forward and hissing through clenched teeth, “since you're so desperate to know the truth, here it is: I have to get married, and my family would never accept someone like you, who was adopted and doesn't even know where she comes from, as part of our family. Happy now?”

His response felt like a slap on the face, and I stared at him, my mind spinning as I tried to process what he'd just said.

Adopted? Someone like me?

My status, my background—it was something he'd known since the very beginning, and now, after three years, it was suddenly an issue?

“Someone like me,” I repeated. “Why is it suddenly a problem that I'm adopted, Gray? You've known that from the very beginning.”

My hands trembled, and I balled them into fists, pressing them into my lap to stop myself from doing something I'd regret.

He just sat there, his expression closed off and cold, like he was already a thousand miles away.

“I've met your family as well, and they've known I was adopted this whole time too. They knew I was the adopted daughter of the Morgan family, and your mother even said she was excited about the idea of us being together. She told me she couldn't believe she'd be in-laws with the Morgans.”

I remembered it clearly—how his mother had smiled and held my hands, like I was some long-lost treasure she'd stumbled on. She'd even joked about what a small world it was and how lucky Gray was to have found someone like me, and that night, I'd felt something close to belonging, as if I might actually have a place in his world.

Gray let out a dismissive scoff. “Just because they knew doesn't mean they wanted you as part of our family, Riley,” he said, shaking his head. “Look, they didn't think this would be serious, and they never saw it going anywhere.”

He paused, his gaze drifting away as if he couldn't even bear to look at me. “Now that it's time for me to get married, they want me with someone more... suitable. Someone with the right background, not someone who could very likely be the daughter of a nobody.”

“A nobody?” I whispered. “That's what you think I am? Just because I don't know where I come from? You've known for three years, Gray. You've known, and it was never an issue, but now, suddenly, it's a problem?”

He sighed, as if I were inconveniencing him by even asking. “Look, I was hoping we could end this on a friendly note, Riley. I didn't want it to be like this.”

He shrugged, his eyes meeting mine for a fleeting second before darting away. “But I guess that's not possible now. I just hope you can understand and accept the situation sooner rather than later.”

I couldn't muster a response, nor could I find a single word that would express the betrayal, the hurt, and the sheer devastation that was tearing me apart.

I just sat there, numb, staring at the man who had once meant everything to me, now reduced to a stranger.

“Get home safe,” he muttered, barely even glancing my way as he stood up and quickly walked away, like if he couldn't get away from me fast enough.

I watched him go and realized, with a strange detachment, that tears had started to stream down my face.

I took a shaky breath, trying to stop myself from crying, but the tears kept coming as the words, "someone like you," kept repeating in my head, over and over.

Riley.

I pulled into the long driveway of my family house, parked the car, and took a deep breath, trying to keep myself calm.

My eyes still hurt from crying, and I knew my face was probably a mess. I quickly wiped at my cheeks with my sleeve to remove any remnants of my tears, hoping I looked somewhat presentable.

I didn't want anyone to see me like this.

Thankfully, it was late enough that I assumed everyone would be in their rooms by now, so the plan was to slip upstairs to my own bedroom and fall apart in private.

I didn't want to explain what had happened and just wanted to be alone.

I opened the front door quietly, stepping inside the foyer, and tiptoed toward the staircase, hoping to make it to my room unseen, when a figure stepped out of nowhere, blocking my way.

It was one of the house servants, Nora, who had a polite and serious look on her face.

“Miss Riley,” she said calmly, “your mother has requested to see you in her room.”

I stared at her, the words taking a moment to register, and when they did, my heart sank.

The last thing I needed right now was a meeting with Claire Morgan. My mother's summons rarely meant anything good, especially when she insisted on seeing me in private.

The few times she'd called me to her room like this, it was to lecture me, to criticize some perceived flaw or failing, and tonight, I wasn't sure I had the strength to face her scrutiny.

“Can't it wait until tomorrow?” I asked. I knew it was unfair to snap at Nora since she was only a messenger, but I couldn't help it.

“I'm sorry, Miss Riley, but I'm only following instructions, and your mother was quite clear with hers,” she responded, indirectly trying to let me know that skipping the meeting wasn't an option.

I let out a long, tired sigh in response, knowing it was utterly useless to argue. My mother never gave an order she didn't expect to be obeyed immediately.

“Fine,” I muttered, waving the servant away. “I'll go.”

I felt like I was walking towards my own execution as I made my way down the hallway to my mother's room.

Now standing outside my mother's door, I took a deep breath before knocking, and as soon as my knuckles tapped the door, Claire called out. “Come in.”

I opened the door and stepped inside, bracing myself for whatever backhanded comment she might throw my way.

I couldn't remember the last time Claire Morgan had said anything kind to me, but there had been a time when things were different, though.

When Claire and Roman, my dad, adopted me at five, they'd been almost impossibly loving, and for three beautiful years, I was the center of their world.

They treated me like I was the best thing that had ever happened to them, showering me with love, and I'd felt safe and wanted. Then Claire got pregnant, and everything changed.

I still remember how thrilled I was when Evelyn was born. I'd felt so proud to have a baby sister, someone to look out for, and for a while, nothing seemed to change.

Claire and Roman still treated me kindly, though there was a subtle shift in how much attention they gave me. I noticed it, but I was too happy to care since I was just as in love with baby Evelyn as they were.

But as the years passed, the changes became even more obvious. Claire and Roman were a lot colder, and it had hurt, but I told myself it was just in my head. So I tried to ignore it and pretend that everything was as it had always been.

The real turning point came on my eighteenth birthday, fourteen years ago. I'd had a small argument with Evelyn—she was only eight at the time, and it was something petty, but it was enough to permanently ruin the bond Claire and I had.

That day, she pulled me aside, reminded me that I was adopted, and that I should be grateful they had taken me in and given me a life.

Ever since then, she had taken every opportunity to remind me that I wasn't really a part of their family, and she never missed a chance to emphasize that my life was a gift she had given me and a gift I should constantly feel indebted for.

“Close the door behind you,” Claire said, breaking me out of my thoughts.

I did as she asked, quietly shutting the door and turning to face her. She was seated in her armchair by the window with her back straight and her expression as unreadable as ever.

“Sit down,” she said, gesturing to the chair across from her, and I took a seat without question.

“You're back late,” she pointed out, her tone flat.

She didn't ask where I'd been, nor did she show any sign of concern. It was just a statement, an opening remark to whatever lecture she'd summoned me here for.

“Yes,” I replied, keeping my tone as neutral as possible.

She studied me for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly. “You've been crying,” she said.

I was a little taken aback that she noticed, but then again, she had always been quite observant. “It was a long day.”

She didn't react. “Why? Did something happen with Grayson?”

The fact that she mentioned his name so suddenly was another surprise, but I didn't dare to ask her why she was asking.

“He ended things,” I said simply, unwilling to share more than the bare minimum.

“Hmm,” she murmured, not a hint of surprise in her tone. “I suppose it was only a matter of time.”

“And what's that supposed to mean?” I questioned sharply.

She shrugged. “It's no secret that his family had higher expectations, and they weren't likely to let him settle down with someone like you, were they?”

I scoffed, the sound slipping out before I could stop it. Someone like me, she'd said, and it was almost laughable at this point.

Part of me wanted to snap back and tell her that I was done with her not-so-subtle reminders that I was and would always be an outsider, but I swallowed the words, biting my anger.

“Why did you call for me?” I asked.

Claire sighed and stood up, brushing imaginary dust off her skirt. She began to pace, a habit of hers, when she was working herself up to something.

“Now that you're no longer wasting your time with a man who never intended to marry you, we can move on to more productive matters,” she said, pausing to look at me. “It's time you marry into a family that will accept you.”

I frowned, taken aback. “What are you talking about?”

She flashed a smile that didn't reach her eyes. “We've received a marriage offer, Riley, and now that you're single, it's only logical that it goes to you. So instead of crying over spilled milk, you should be preparing to meet your future in-laws.”

“A marriage offer? I just told you about my breakup, and now you're already deciding my next relationship for me?” I let out a short, disbelieving laugh. “And why me? What about Evelyn? As far as I know, she's still single. So why not offer her up?”

“Oh, Evelyn is getting married soon,” she replied, as if I should have known. “So you're the one who'll marry into the family that's made the proposal.”

I blinked. “Evelyn is getting married?” I asked. “How? When? How come I'm only hearing about this now?”

She shrugged. “It doesn't matter. The point is, she's not available, which leaves you.”

“But why do you get to decide that?” I shot back. “Why do I have to marry someone I've never met just because you want me to?”

She raised an eyebrow, the smallest hint of a sneer tugging at her lips. “Don't try to be ungrateful, Riley. I'm doing you a favor here. This family is willing to overlook the fact that you're adopted, and they don't care about where you came from. They value the Morgan name, and they're willing to take you as you are. Do you really think you'd get an offer like this on your own?”

I clenched my fists. “A favor? Is that what you call this?” I scoffed. “Are you even considering the fact that I just got out of a long-term relationship? Are you even considering how I'm feeling right now, mom?”

She rolled her eyes, waving a hand dismissively. “You're making this far more dramatic than it needs to be, Riley. You should be thanking me for finding you a match with a family that's willing to accept you. I know you're still upset about Grayson, but you need to put that behind you. In two days, you'll be meeting your future husband's family, so cry all you want tonight, but after today, prepare yourself.”

“This isn't fair,” I whispered, even though I knew she wouldn't care.

She let out a sigh, crossing her arms. “Life isn't fair, Riley. You, of all people, should know that by now. You were given a place in this family, a chance to live a life most people could only dream of, and now is the time for you to do your duty as one of us. Don't make me regret taking you in.”