The Man Who Never Loved.

Chapter 1: A Marriage Without Choice

The cathedral shimmered beneath crystal chandeliers, its white roses arranged with flawless precision. Every seat was occupied by politicians, billionaires, and powerful families who had gathered to witness a marriage neither bride nor groom had chosen.

Then the grand doors opened.

Waytt Moretti stepped inside.

The atmosphere changed instantly.

Conversations stopped. Heads lowered. Even the guards standing along the aisle straightened instinctively. His reputation arrived before he did. At twenty-eight, Waytt ruled the city's underworld with absolute authority. Cold, ruthless, and untouchable, he was a man whose name alone made enemies surrender.

Dressed in a tailored black suit, he walked to the altar without sparing a glance for the crowd.

His silver-gray eyes remained emotionless.

Weeks before the wedding, he had ordered a complete investigation into the woman he was about to marry.

Kate.

Daughter of one of the country's richest businessmen.

Independent. Intelligent. Honest.

She worked in her father's company despite never needing the money. She spoke seven languages fluently, learned new skills with remarkable speed, and had a reputation for solving problems calmly. She knew how to defend herself, avoided unnecessary attention, and was respected by everyone who knew her.

Only one detail from the report had stayed in Waytt's mind.

Insomnia.

Some nights she didn't sleep at all, depending on sleeping pills simply to rest.

He never understood why that small fact bothered him.

The music changed.

Every eye turned toward the entrance.

Kate walked down the aisle in an elegant ivory satin gown that flowed behind her like liquid moonlight. A delicate white feather stole rested on her shoulders, while soft brown curls framed her graceful figure. She looked breathtaking.

Yet her expression remained calm.

She wasn't nervous.

She wasn't smiling.

Most importantly...

She never looked at him.

Not once.

She kept her gaze fixed ahead until she reached the altar.

The priest began the ceremony.

"Do you, Waytt Moretti, take Kate as your lawful wife?"

"I do."

His answer was immediate.

Strong.

Certain.

Then the priest turned toward her.

"Do you, Kate, take Waytt Moretti as your lawful husband?"

A brief silence lingered.

"I do."

Her voice was soft, polite, and emotionless.

The ceremony ended.

Applause echoed throughout the cathedral, but neither of them celebrated.

They stood together as strangers.

During the photographs, the photographer smiled nervously.

"Sir... please stand a little closer."

Waytt quietly placed one hand around Kate's waist.

She stiffened slightly.

For the first time, she turned toward him—

Only to look at his shoulder.

Not his face.

Not his eyes.

Waytt said nothing, though something unfamiliar settled inside him. Every person he had ever met feared looking into his eyes.

His own wife refused to acknowledge them.

The reception was no different.

As they entered the grand ballroom, every guest stood in respect. Businessmen lowered their heads. Guards waited silently for orders.

A waitress accidentally dropped a crystal glass, shattering it across the marble floor. Terror spread across her face as she looked toward Waytt, expecting punishment.

Instead, he calmly glanced at one of his guards.

"Clean it."

"Yes, Boss."

Nothing more.

Kate noticed.

He was cold.

Not cruel.

Later, she accepted a glass of sparkling water instead of wine. Without a word, Waytt slid the basket of warm bread closer to her.

She hesitated before quietly saying, "Thank you."

The first words she had spoken directly to him all day.

"You're welcome," he replied with a simple nod.

When the reception ended, rain poured outside.