Bella POV
>
Bella was in the spotlight as she walked swiftly from the lobby down the hallway of Kansas state
university city hospital with her bodyguard, with the intent to see her father who had just
recovered from surgery. Despite wearing dark shades, people at the hospital reception
recognized her and took pictures of her which made her feel awkward. She was only married to a
billionaire no big deal, right? Why were people making such a big fuss about it?
Her thought melted away as she gazed at her father's blooming face, she drew an ear-to-ear grin
and enveloped him in her warm embrace. "I'm so glad you are okay!"
Her father pecked the sweeping bangs on her forehead.
"I see you are now a celebrity. You've been all over the news for the past few days Bella."
She wasn't surprised by her father's concerns about the turn of things but how was she going to
explain to him that she was doing all of it to get a better life for herself and her dad?
"He's the love of my life Dad." her mouth twisted into a rictus.
"Well, I know love when I see one."
She held her breath for a moment and then exhaled. "I want you to know that I'd do anything in
this world to make sure you are healthy. Even if marrying a billionaire, even when the whole
world is against me."
"I just don't want you to suffer, all this fame, money, and lifestyle. Are you truly happy? Hope
you're not a slave to anyone."
Was she happy? Not exactly, was she satisfied? Yes. Was she a slave, technically yes. She
thought. But she'd rather be a slave to a hot billionaire than continue working for her former
employer. She could afford his medical bills, and pay up his loans. Nothing was worth more than
seeing her dad's face bloom.
"I am, Dad. you should be happy for me, for us. Things are finally turning around for good."
"I am happy snowflakes."
With a lump in her throat, she feigned a smile at her dad as she reminisced about how he gave
her the nickname when she was young and her mom was alive. The only time Bella was truly
happy was before her mother's demise. Which marked the beginning of the ill fortune for them.
Her dad became an alcoholic, and the constant drinking led to his accident and hospitalization.
The stacking loans to pay medical bills and his inability to work and earn had led her to step
down from School for a while and started working for the Thorns.
But at that moment, things had already begun to change. All she needed to do was to make a
huge sacrifice for just a year, that would not be too difficult, would it? She blinked repeatedly,
which sent back the tears gathered in her eyes.
After the emotional outburst with her dad, she adjusted herself and walked out of the hospital.
Dazed by the swarm of reporters and media waiting outside the driveway close to her car. They
besieged her as soon as they saw her.
"Is it true Mrs Trevor?"
"Can you confirm it?"
"Was your husband home last night?"
Bella's quizzical look conveyed her lack of knowledge about the question they had asked.
"You have no idea about your husband's movements Mrs Trevor?"
Her bodyguard quickly pushed and shoved them out of the way as she moved into the car.
"What are they talking about?" She hurriedly opened her phone and checked the internet.
"Pictures of just married billionaire, Austen Trevor with another woman in a hotel."
"USA's newly wedded millionaire bachelor accused of cheating."
"Click to see a picture of Austen Trevor's new side chick."
Bella suspired deeply. "Just great."
How did they get to be aware that she was at the hospital, then it made sense to her that she
wasn't in the spotlight, but instead in a pitiable state of affairs.
The loud beep of her phone ringing interrupted her absent stare at the windscreen. She glanced
at her phone to see Austen calling. She swiped right on the screen.
"Explain this right now!" She snarled.
"Bella I have nothing to explain to you. I'm sorry."
"So why are you calling then, the least you could have done was warn me before leaving the
house."
"I didn't know anyone saw me, I promise I wouldn't just risk putting you in this position like that."
"Huh huh"
"I need you to say nothing to the reporters Bella."
"Well you're too late, they already came."
"They did?"
"Yes of course."
"So what did you tell them?"
"Nothing."
"Oh brilliant. I will find a solution to this issue I promise okay?"
"Okay."
Immediately she got home she received a call from Gina Thorne, she stared indifferently at her
phone as it rang, and figured out their intention of calling. On second thought, she picked up the
call to prove to them that she was happy and unaffected by the rumor.
"Hey, Gina!"
"Turns out I was right after all." Gina let out a loud laugh.
"Right about what Gina?"
"I see you're comfortable calling out my name now, being a billionaire's unwanted wife will not
stop you from being the common lowlife cook that you are. Know your place, this advice will
come in handy." she sniggered.
"Thank you for your advice, but unfortunately for you, I'm no longer a worker see, I do not think
that advice will be of any use for me."
"Oh get off your high horse, everybody knows your husband doesn't want you. It's all over the
news. In a twinkle of an eye, you'd begging to come back here." Gina's mom snapped.
She sniffed quietly, tears threatening to spill out of her eyes, "I'm very happy with my husband
ma'am, the news is a hoax, a publicity stunt for blogs."
"We shall see then, Mrs. Trevor." she ended the call with a snicker
"I'm sorry Bella."
She looked up and saw the tall figure as he struggled to unknot the firm tie on his neck. Bella
understood quite well what the job description was but never thought about the downsides of it
which included the constant embarrassment and social media trends. She moved toward him.
"Let me help you with that." she gently loosened the tie knot. He kept staring at her tear-stained
face.
"What do you say we go on a trip to Maldives? Would that be enough to make this up to you?"
He gazed at her brown eyes as they widened in stupefaction.
She was not going to get carried away by his nice gestures, she knew deep down it was because
of the public and to die down the rumor. Not for her but for himself and his business.
"Don't get befuddled, say yes."
"I'm not, it's not like I have a choice, do I?"
"Of course you do Bella, I'm not doing this for myself, I'm doing this for you. You deserve a
vacation. I think I'm putting you through a lot." He plunged his hands into his pockets and smiled
wistfully.
"What if I say no?"
"Well," He gasped, "I cannot force you but think about it, it'd be good for everyone. Especially for
you."
How could she say no to someone who was paying her a huge amount of money to be his wife
and an opportunity to go on a fully sponsored vacation by the same person?
Bella counted herself lucky and wouldn't do anything to jeopardize her luck. He could have
married anyone else. It was Austen Trevor, nobody would say no to him.
"Fine, let's do this." She simpered, looking pleased with herself.
"But just to be on the same note, we need to appear happy okay?"
"Well. Of course. We are… a couple."
"It's just, you need to smile more often outside. This contract is for a year, which means we
cannot be separated before then, you understand what that means right?"
"I get it, would appreciate it though, if you made it easier so we'd not keep having to clean this
kind of mess all the time," she murmured under her breath.
"Do I sleep with you then?" He removed the shirt he had been trying to unbutton all through the
conversation.
"What? No!" her heart fluttered.
"Kidding." He sauntered into the next room.