Broke College Kid Ties the Knot with a 71-Year-Old Millionaire, Then Gets the Shock of His Life a Week Later…

His breath hitched when he noticed the last page, a marriage license. His name and Eleanor’s stared back at him, stark against the paper. It was dated weeks before the wedding, far earlier than he’d known.

On the desk lay an old leather-bound diary. Mark hesitated, then opened it. The entries were Eleanor’s, revealing a calculated plan to trap Mark in a marriage that would fulfill her ultimate goal to settle old scores.

I will take everything from him, just as his father did to me. He will be my pawn. Mark froze as the door creaked behind him.

Enjoying yourself? Eleanor’s voice was icy, cutting through the shadows like a blade. He spun around, guilt and fear writ large on his face. Eleanor, I. You thought you’d find answers here? She stepped into the room, her silhouette sharp against the dim light from the hall.

Curiosity killed the cat, Mark. What do you think you’re doing? His voice was low but firm. Why did you really marry me? Is this about my father? Is this some kind of revenge? Eleanor’s eyes hardened, her usual composed facade cracking.

It’s not your place to ask questions, Mark. Just do what you’re told, and you’ll leave this marriage better off than you started. Isn’t that enough for you? Mark’s fists clenched.

Enough. You’ve lied to me, manipulated me. This isn’t a marriage, it’s a trap.

Eleanor’s lips curled into a faint smile, one that didn’t reach her eyes. A trap, is it? Maybe you should have thought twice before signing those papers. She stepped closer, her tone venomous.

You may think you’re smart, Mark, but you’re just like your father, blind to the damage you cause until it’s too late. Mark glared at her, the weight of his father’s legacy crushing him anew. If you hated him so much, why take it out on me? I had nothing to do with what he did to your family.

Eleanor stared at him for a long moment, the silence stretching like a taut string. Finally, she turned on her heel. You’re in over your head, Mark.

Stay out of matters that don’t concern you. With that, she left the room, her footsteps fading down the hall. Later that night, Mark lay wide awake in bed, his mind racing.

Eleanor’s words haunted him, but so did the documents and diary. Why had she gone to such lengths to entangle him in her schemes? Was it really just about revenge? His thoughts were interrupted by the faint sound of Eleanor’s voice. He slipped out of bed and crept toward her study, pressing his ear against the door.

Make sure the transfer is complete, Eleanor said, her tone sharp and commanding. We can’t let him back out now. Time is running out.

Mark’s blood ran cold. Whatever was happening, he was in deeper than he’d ever imagined. Mark sat alone in the grand library, his mind a whirlpool of fear and confusion.

Eleanor’s cryptic words and the damning contents of the locked room made it clear. He was in over his head. The once imposing estate now felt like a gilded prison, its luxurious trappings concealing dark secrets.

That evening, Mark approached Mr. Harris, the estate’s head butler, a man whose calm demeanor suggested he’d seen and heard more than he let on. Mark, Mr. Harris, I need your help. Something isn’t right here.

The older man regarded him with a steady gaze, his hands clasped behind his back. Mr. Harris, I was wondering how long it would take before you came to me. Mark, you know something, don’t you? About Eleanor, about all of this.

Mr. Harris hesitated before speaking. You’re not the first young man to be drawn into Eleanor’s world, Mark. She’s clever, resourceful, and ruthless when it comes to her goals.

My advice? Watch your back. Mark’s chest tightened. Why are you still here if you know what she’s capable of? Mr. Harris’s expression softened, a flicker of regret passing across his face…