Bella POV
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Bella noticed something about her new husband very quickly. He had a lot of money. After the wedding, she suddenly had a private chauffeur, received invites to fancy parties, and promoted trips to world-renowned designers, all expense-paid stylists, and helps to attend to her every need. It was like she had been transported to an alternate universe, and a part of her liked it.
The worst part was the popularity. The first day after the wedding, her name was already over the news, bringing in both positive and negative reviews. Suddenly, everyone had an opinion about the sudden marriage, including those that he had never seen her before. Belle watched the news with horror as it zoomed in on her face and pieced out every little detail.
The press was moving to dig out her past, and she felt violated. Her initial plan was to keep her father in the dark about the sudden source of her wealth, but She didn't need anyone to tell her that it wouldn't work. As she stared on, unable to look away, She watched as people asked the inevitable question.
Why would a billionaire want to marry an unknown face, an ordinary cook?
Tears filled her eyes as people called her a gold digger. In Kansas, people didn't marry from another status for love. It was either blackmail, money, or power, and in her case, one had to be correct. If she was being honest, she too didn't know exactly why Austen married her. She could He liked her, but he was also with other women.
She shook her head and tried not to think about it. Bella didn't want to reach a stage where she began to truly see Austen as her husband. If there was one thing she was clear on about the marriage, it was that it wouldn't last long. Everyone assured her of that, including her new husband.
Their proposal video played on the screen. It was on the top floor of the Trevor Corporation, and Up until that moment, Bella didn't know exactly what had happened. All she remembered was saying yes. After that, the whole country tried to get in contact with her. Offers began to troop in, Ambassadorial deals became massive.
How did she land the most eligible bachelor in Kansas?
No idea.
How did she keep the relationship secret? What relationship?
What was the next plan as the wife of a billionaire? She was lost in her thoughts when Austen staggered quietly into the room, bringing with him the stench of alcohol as he fell into the couch.
She gasped and got off the couch, rushing forward to help him. She didn't miss the distinct smell of female perfume on his clothes.
His words rang in her head, and he quoted, Bella, you do realize this is not real, right? You can be with other men if you want.
Still, she felt a bit disrespected. If anyone had told Bella she would be married to a man who had no trouble with her sleeping with other men, she would have forbade it. She always imagined herself being swept away by a prince charming who had eyes for only her. Bella sighed, as she pulled off her drunk husband and clothes. It was such a large contrast.
Back off. I don't want you to touch me.
He slurred, weakly pushing away her hand and then suddenly grabbing it again.
Except you want to—he paused with a suggestive smile.
With a disgusted look, she folded her hands over his head and continued with her business. As his wife, taking care of his mess was part of the job description, and if he paid her for it too, she couldn't complain.
Yet it hurt that he was so far gone that he didn't even think twice about offering to spend the night inside her.
A bright red lipstick at the collar of his shirt caught Bella's attention, and she shook her head in dismay. She quickly learned from the internet how promiscuous Austen can be.
Her husband had never appeared with the same woman twice for any event, instead always showcasing a new candy on his arm.
Can I change that? She suddenly murmured to herself, a bit surprised at how badly she wanted to be the first to have a stable place by his side.
Maybe not the last, but still.
Soon, she managed to undress him enough to put him into the king-size bed in the master bedroom. The room he had never slept in since the wedding. As she cleared away his belongings, Bella recalled their wedding night. She certainly was not expecting anything to happen, not with a man who had probably slept with half of Kansas, but she also did not expect Austen to drop her off in the room and leave.
For the sake of the helps, we have to pretend to share this room. But I will be staying in the guest room opposite you; he promptly informed her, pointing to a door at one side of the huge room.
He drove off that night, not bothering to return till the next morning.
She shook her head, and looked at he reflection in the bedside mirror, willing herself not to cry at his nonchalant attitude
Her black hair, still packed in a ponytail, cascaded across her back, side bangs framing her face as they hid a huge forehead. It had been her go-to hair for the past seven years, and not even Marrying a billionaire was going to change that.
The diamond earrings Austen gifted her at the engagement party sat pretty on her ears, glittering brightly. She had no problem admitting that it was the nicest thing she had ever owned.
Bella sighed and continued to stare at herself.
Would she get past this? she asked herself.