The Return of the Billionaire’s Wife

Elena’s phone hummed on the kitchen counter as she received a message from her best friend, Lily. “I'm sorry, Elena… but you need to see this.” Her heart dropped as she opened the message. It was a video. A video of her boyfriend, Jackie, with someone else. They were at a party. He was smiling while his arms were wrapped tightly around a woman. But it wasn't just any woman. It was Victoria– my sister. Her throat tightened and she felt the room spinning as she stared at the picture. This can't be happening. Not Jackie. Not with Victoria. She grabbed her car keys and rushed out the door. She headed straight for Jackie’s apartment. He opened the door and was surprised to see Elena standing at the door. “Babe, what are you doing here?” he asked, trying to pull her in a side hug but she declined. She could feel her blood boiling inside her. “Don't act like you don’t know, Jackie,” she spat. She pushed past him into the apartment. “How could you do this to me?” He acted dumb. “What are you talking about?” His face looked pale and whitish like he had been sleeping all day. She glanced at him and shook her head abruptly. She whipped out her phone, shoving the picture in his face. “This! You and Victoria! My sister, Jackie! How could you do this to me?” His eyes widened as he glanced at the picture. He tried to take a step forward but she backed away. “Please, I can explain__” “Explain? Explain what? That you've been sneaking around behind my back? With her of all people?” “It was a mistake,” he said, trying to hold her hand but she withdrew immediately. “It didn't mean anything, I swear. I was drunk, we were partying and I- I don't know what got over me.” he stuttered. “I don't care!” She yelled, brushing away the tears from her face. “I trusted you! I thought we had something real.” She took a seat close to her. She sobbed and couldn't process what was happening to her. Her boyfriend is dating her sister. Jackie took a step closer to her, maintaining a foot away from her. He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “Please, listen to me, babe.” “No, you listen!” she stood up angrily and walked towards him. “You know how much I've had to deal with. How my family treats me, how Victoria always gets everything! And you… you're just like them! You chose her, just like they did.” He groans angrily as he feels pain watching her expressing how disappointed she is about what she does. “Elena, I messed up. I know I did. But I love you, okay? I made a mistake, but it doesn't change how I feel about you.” She stared at him in anger. “How did you feel about me? If you loved me, you wouldn't have done this. You wouldn't have thrown everything away for a fling.” He reached out to touch her arm but she pulled away sharply. “Don't,” she whispered. “Don't touch me.” He dropped his hand looking defeated. “I'll fix this, Elena. I'll make it up to you. We can get past this.” She shook her head laughing bitterly. “You think we can just move on? Like this didn't happen? Like you didn't sleep with my sister?” “I'm sorry,” he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. There was silence for a minute. Elena felt a tear roll down her cheek but she quickly wiped it away. “Sorry won't fix this. Sorry won't take away the betrayal.” Jackie pleaded with her, holding onto her hand. “Please, don't do this. Don't throw us away.” she felt her heart shattered into several pieces. “You threw us away the moment you touched her.” For a moment, the room was silent. “I can't do this,” she said finally, trying to find her voice. “I can't forgive you. Not this time.” Elena felt like her heart was stabbed as she said those words. She tried to hold back her tears. He stepped toward her again, pleading to give him another chance. But No!. She has made up her mind and there's no going back. “Elena, please —” She turned toward the door and said before leaving the room, “It's over.” She didn't wait for him to respond. She walked out, slamming the food behind her. She felt tears strolling down her eyes. She couldn't hold it anymore. She had been betrayed by the two people she thought she could trust more— Jackie and Victoria. Her heart ached as she looked back at the gate before entering the car. They've succeeded in breaking her totally. She fumbled with the keys and collapsed into the driver’s seat. Her heart pounded in her chest, taking a shaky breath as tears blurred her vision. She just sat there for a moment, her hands were gripping the steering wheel tightly. She tried to scream but her voice was stuck. Just as she was about to start the engine, her phone buzzed. The screen was lit up with the name ‘Dad’. Her stomach churned as she thought about what he might be possibly calling her for. She answered, “What is it?” “Elena,” her father’s voice came through, “I need you to come home. Now!” “Why?” she snapped, wiping the tears from her face with her free hand. “There is something important we need to discuss,” he says, ignoring her question. “You will understand when you get here. And it's about your mother’s medical bills.” He knew how to trap Elena. He knows she loves her mother very much and would do anything to make her happy. She clenched her fists at the mention of her mom. “Dad, what's going on?” “We have found a way to save the company and sort your mother’s medical bill,” he continued. “But it requires something from you.” Her chest tightened and she asked, “What are you talking about?” “You’re getting married. To Richard Fernando. It was originally supposed to be Victoria, but she refused, and we don't have time to waste.” She froze and tried to process everything happening to her. Her breath was caught in her throat and she said, “Married? What the hell are you talking about?” “I've made a deal with Mr Fernando,” he continued. “His money is what's keeping this family afloat. The company, your mother’s hospital bills— it's all covered by him. But in exchange, he wants to marry into the family. And since your sister has declined, it falls on you.” She blinked in confusion. “You want me to marry some stranger? Just because Victoria doesn't want to? You— you can't be serious!” she snapped. “I am serious, Elena,” he muttered firmly. “This is non-negotiable. It's already been arranged.” She felt her blood boiling as she held the phone angrily. “You arranged this? You're just going to sell me off like some kind of pawn?” “Don't be dramatic,” her father said angrily. “This isn't about you. This is about the family, the business, and your mother’s health. We don't have time for your emotions right now.” She held the phone tighter, her knuckles were slowly turning white. She felt like the ground should swallow her so her pains could be gone. Her entire world was crumbling in the space of minutes. “You expect me to just— marry him? Some arrogant man everyone hates? And what about Victoria? She was supposed to marry him, not me!” Her father heaved a deep sigh at the other end. “Victoria has made her decision. And now, this is your responsibility. Come home, and we'll discuss the details.” She shook her head, tears welling in her eyes again. “I don't have a choice, do I?” Her father’s silence was all the answer she needed. Her voice cracked as she whispered, “You always choose her. She's your favorite. She gets to say no, and I get sacrificed. Like always.” “Elena,” he said matter-of-factly. “You're part of this family. And I have the final say on this. It's already decided. A done deal.” Tears blurred her vision as she hung up the phone. Her hands were trembling as she held onto the steering wheel like her life depended on it. She sat in the car, breathing heavily. The betrayal, the arranged marriage, her father’s coldness. She felt trapped. She had lost everything— her boyfriend, her trust in her family, and now her freedom. After what felt like hours, she wiped her tears. Her eyes were swollen and her heart still ached. She took a deep breath, pressed on the gas pedal, and went back home. She pulled into the driveway and she saw her father standing outside, waiting for her. She stepped out of the car. She felt her legs going sore all of a sudden. She walked toward him. “I'm here,” she let out, not sparing him a glance. Her father was not bothered by the pleasantries. He muttered, “You are marrying Richard Fernando. That's final.” She stared at him and she felt her heart pounding in her chest. “I'm your daughter, not some tool you can trade off to save the company.” “This isn't up for debate, Elena,” he continued. “Do you want to see your mother’s medical bills go unpaid? Do you want to see everything we've built fall apart?” “Why me?” she whispered, her voice was trembling. “Why not her?” “Because she refused, and I won't force her,” he replied simply. “But you'll force me?” she shot back. “You're strong enough to handle this,” he said, his eyes locked onto hers. “You've always been stronger than your sister. You can do what needs to be done.” She shook her head abruptly, tears welled up in her eyes. “One that could save this family. Now go inside. We'll discuss the wedding details in the morning.” She stood there for a moment, her whole body trembling. She felt helpless.