LOGINShare
78 - Richard
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Billionaire's Perfect Bride 79 - Elena
I meandered my car into the garage, and got out, halting the minute I set my eyes on the front door. I exhaled, trying to gather the courage to walk in. All day, all I'd managed to think about at work was about Sarah's unexpected pregnancy and what exactly it meant for all of us. Now, more so than ever, I was racked with so much guilt. It consumed me, spreading its poison until I was left second-guessing every decision I had ever made.I'd never felt so selfish, so horrible. So totally broken.When I married Richard, I wondered if there would come a day that I'd regret it. At the time, I convinced myself that what I'd regret most would be the things I didn't do. I couldn't have been more wrong.Richard and Sarah were going to be a family, whether I liked it or not. They would share an unbreakable bond, and I would always be a third party. An unwanted one at that. Because of the decision I made, I was taking away an innocent child's chance to grow up with both of their parents as one u
Billionaire's Perfect Bride 80 - Elena
I couldn't stand it. I felt like a guest in my own home. Richard and I had put so much effort into redesigning this place, and for a while, that worked for us. It allowed us to feel like we got a fresh start. Yet now, everywhere I look, I saw Sarah.Within the span of just a few days, she'd invaded every aspect of the life that I'd tried to cut her out off. It was in her favorite mug laying in the sink, the new blanket on our sofa, and the countless baby magazines that were spread out through the house. It was almost as though she wanted to take every single opportunity she could get to remind me that she was having a child with my husband.I had barely spoken a word to her since she moved in, and much to my surprise, she hadn't tried to provoke me either. She'd stayed out of my way for the most part, shooting me sweetsmiles whenever our paths crossed.It just made me feel that much more awful. I wished she would lash out at me, so I could justify the hatred I felt toward her. The w
Billionaire's Perfect Bride 81 - Elena
“I still can't believe she's pregnant,” Talia said, her face marred with worry. “This can't be happening, can it?"I nodded and leaned back on her sofa. In the last couple of days, I found myself staying away from home more and more often. Richard was doing his best to reassure me, but his words fell flat when he hovered around Sarah constantly.Grandmother Willow was right. It only took him a few days to start worrying about her wellbeing, and I couldn't begrudge her that — not when I knew it wasn't about her, but rather about their child. It still didn't make it any easier to watch."Yep," I said, popping the P. “You're going to be an aunt soon. Congrats.”Talia frowned and tilted her head. “Yeah, you... too?"My eyes widened for a moment, and then I flinched. Talia looked away, speechless for once. There were no elaborate schemes, no jokes. Not this time. This wasn't a situation we could make light of."Grandma told me she'd let me go if I want to. She'll let us get a divorce. I gu
Billionaire's Perfect Bride 82 - Elena
"But you have," I snapped, my eyes burning with unshed tears. "You have, and I'm terrified you'll do it again. I barely survived it the first time, but it'll destroy me this time around, Richard. I can't do this again."He cupped my face with both hands and frowned. "What are you talking about?"“Grandmother Willow's 80th birthday bash,” I whispered. "I.. I came to your room at night. We'd both been drinking too much. but it didn't matter. The drinks were exactly what I needed to gather my courage. At that point, we'd been informally engaged. Your grandmother and my parents had both agreed on it, but you and I hadn't discussed it. We'd both just kind of been dancing around the subject, and you'd been treating me the same way you treated Talia, the way you'd always treated me, with playful kindness, and nothing more. I... I came to your room that night to ask what you thought of me and our engagement."He stared at me wide-eyed. “What?”I drew in a shaky breath and forced myself to fac
Billionaire's Perfect Bride 83 - Elena
I walked into the kitchen to find Sarah sitting by the breakfast bar, dark circles marring her beautiful face. She looked up at me, her eyes filled with defeat. She knew. There was no doubt in my mind that Richard confronted her about what she did five years ago.She huffed and looked away as she picked up her teacup, her hands trembling. I wished I had the energy to keep up the facade, but I didn't. After what Richard told me last night, I could barely stand to look at her. How was I supposed to allow her into my life, knowing how much she tookfrom me? "Why did you do it?" I asked, unable to keep the question buried.She looked up at me and gritted her teeth. “Do what?""That night... why did you sneak into Richard's room? Why did you pretend it was you he slept with?"She looked away and shook her head, avoiding my gaze. I'd never seen her at a loss for words, but she was today. It was clear that she thought she got away with her deception. Just how long had she gotten away with m
Billionaire's Perfect Bride 84 - Elena
I was barely thinking straight as I walked to our bedroom, tears streaming down my face andRichard on my heels.“Baby," Richard pleaded. “Please. Please trust that I'll fix this."I whirled around to face him. "How?" I screamed. “How will you fix this, Richard? Articles about us are all over the internet. It isn't as simple as suing just one single magazine, and even if we do, it's too late!"I walked into our wardrobe and yanked my clothes off the hangers, my movements erratic."Elena," Richard called in panic, his voice breaking. "What are you doing, Ponyo? You can't... don't do this. I beg of you, don't do this, Elena."I shook my head and grabbed my suitcase. "I'm not spending another moment in the same house as her. I've tried, Richard. For years, I've tried, sacrificing my damn soul to keep her happy in the process. I can't take much more.”He grabbed my shoulders and held onto me tightly, panic flashing through his eyes. "You're insane if you think I'll let you go."I shook my
Billionaire's Perfect Bride 85 - Elena
My heart felt heavy as the driver that picked me up parked in a large elevator. It started to rise, until the car was parked in the corner of my friends' living room.The passenger door opened, and my friend Alanna offered me her hand. Her arms instantly wrapped around me, enveloping me in a tight hug, and that one small human gesture was more than enough to make me fall apart. I burst into tears, loud, heart wrenching sobs escaping my throat as she led me to the sofa. “I didn't know where else to g-go,” I said to her.Alanna and I have been best friends ever since she walked into my boutique in search of a wedding gown. No one has ever understood our friendship, but it was one of the most genuine and closest I've got. Alanna was one of a kind, and right now, she was the one person that could give me the solace I needed, without judgement.“I'm going to kill him," she whispered.“Easy, Little Psycho," her husband, Silas, said.Silas handed me a handkerchief with a small ¥ embroidered
Billionaire's Perfect Bride 86 - Elena
I was absentminded as I took a bite of the breakfast Alanna made for me. I tried not to, but I ended up scrolling through my social media feeds all night, and I found nothing but hatred directed at me. Despite Richard's best attempts, screenshots of deleted content were making their rounds across all channels. We've made it into every single gossip magazine, and they were all scrambling to create timelines of Richard and Sarah's relationship.It came to no surprise to me when The Herald reported on Sarah's pregnancy, which only villainized me further. Now I was not just the woman standing in between two childhood sweethearts, I was also the evil stepmother-to-be.Watching my love for Richard being turned into a spectacle for everyone to witness was one of the hardest things I'd ever had to do. Photos I couldn't recall taking were being posted online, showcasing how we used to look at each other when Sarah and Richard were still dating. The media had everyone convinced that I'd been se
Latest chapter
Billionaire's Perfect Bride Epilogue - Richard
I slipped into my wife's dressing room and leaned back against the wall, taking a moment to just watch her. Her makeup artist was putting the final touches on her, and she looked fucking magnificent. Tonight, her long hair was loose and wild, spread all over her body, accentuating the blazing-white gown she was wearing.It was the same gown I watched her draw on Sarah's birthday. Seeing it on her tonight was surreal. Her creativity knew no bounds, and I couldn't be more proud of her.Her eyes lit up when she saw me, and I pushed off the wall. I grinned when she dismissed everyone in her room, no doubt reading the look in my eyes.“Richy," she said, smiling. I would never tire of the way she said my name. On her lips, it was simultaneously a prayer and a sin."Baby," I whispered. "You look far too fucking beautiful in this. I can't take this. I can already imagine what all your pervs will have to say about the photos of this book launch." She chuckled. “It's the last one, my love," she
Billionaire's Perfect Bride 90 - Richard
My heart was pounding wildly as I led Elena to the helicopter that was waiting for us. I had negotiated more multi-million dollar deals than I could count, and never before have I felt fear like I felt today.“Are you okay?" she asked as I buckled her in. “You're so quiet."I nodded, unable to suppress my nerves as I sat down next to her."Where are we going?" Elena asked through the headphones.I beamed at her. “You'll see.”I held her hand tightly as we flied toward the cabin where our story started. I knew that there was no point in pondering on what-ifs, but lately I couldn't help but wish things had played out differently.What if I'd drank a little less and actually remembered my night with Elena? Would we have been happily married years ago? We'd have made so many more memories together, and we'd both have saved each other from so much pain."Wow!" Elena pointed out the window, a huge smile on her face when she saw the hundreds of flowers spread across the lawn...She was so rid
Billionaire's Perfect Bride 89 - Elena
I walked through the home Richard and I built, my heart heavy. There was no trace of Sarah left, our cleaners ensured it. Yet I could still feel her here. I wondered if the scars she left would ever fade.I was trembling as I sat down on the sofa, still reeling from the news that was released about her. Countless affairs, and irrefutable proof that the child she was carrying was not Richard's.Climbing her way to the top like that...I never would have expected that. I couldn't wrap my mind around it. It was like I never really knew her at all, and it made me feel even worse for sacrificing so much for her.I felt like an idiot, and I was ashamed of my subservience. I catered to her all our lives, feeling guilty for having had the childhood she'd always wanted, when it was obvious that she lacked for nothing.She'd always had this way of making me feel inferior, and if not for Richard, I never would've been able to untangle myself from her web. I didn't even dare think about what would
Billionaire's Perfect Bride 88 - Richard
My heart felt heavy as I walked into the house I arranged for Sarah. I wished it hadn't come to this, because despite the rift between them, I knew Elena still loved Sarah. I wished I didn't stand at the center of their fallout. All I wanted to bring my wife was happiness, not torment. I knew Elena. I knew she was still hoping that Sarah would change, but the bitter truth was that she wouldn't."Richard," she called, smiling. That intimate and smug smile of hers irritated me a great deal. I may have been able to dispel many of the rumors she circulated, but I wasn't able to get rid of them entirely."Congratulations, " I said. "The doctor told me you're in the clear, and the baby is doing well. Looks like a change of scenery is exactly what you needed."She nodded. “Yeah. I love this place. It's much better than your place. We'll have to renovate that. It isn't child-friendly, and I hate the interior."I nodded as I sat down on the sofa, opposite her. “Yeah, we're not doing that. Elen
Billionaire's Perfect Bride 87 - Elena
I watched as Alanna joked around with Talia and Felicia, my heart full. Emerson, Ford, Brock, Talia and Felicia have been staying here with me, much to Alanna's delight and Silas's annoyance.Felicia and Talia have been taking turns sleeping next to me, ensuring I didn't get caught in a downward spiral caused by social media. Though truth be told, there wasn't much being shared anymore. Richard's plea worked, and people massively took down their posts. It sparked discussions about cyber bullying and the mental health of celebrities, but while that topic was on people's minds, so were we."Elena," Alanna called.I walked up to her, and she frowned as she pulled their security feed up on the TV. It showed Richard walking into the building, and my eyes widened.Silas groaned and gritted his teeth. "Well, well, well. If it isn't my least favorite Delmonte."Alanna and I stared at him wide-eyed as he called up the police and requested that Ares be taken off their property. He turned to me
Billionaire's Perfect Bride 86 - Elena
I was absentminded as I took a bite of the breakfast Alanna made for me. I tried not to, but I ended up scrolling through my social media feeds all night, and I found nothing but hatred directed at me. Despite Richard's best attempts, screenshots of deleted content were making their rounds across all channels. We've made it into every single gossip magazine, and they were all scrambling to create timelines of Richard and Sarah's relationship.It came to no surprise to me when The Herald reported on Sarah's pregnancy, which only villainized me further. Now I was not just the woman standing in between two childhood sweethearts, I was also the evil stepmother-to-be.Watching my love for Richard being turned into a spectacle for everyone to witness was one of the hardest things I'd ever had to do. Photos I couldn't recall taking were being posted online, showcasing how we used to look at each other when Sarah and Richard were still dating. The media had everyone convinced that I'd been se
Billionaire's Perfect Bride 85 - Elena
My heart felt heavy as the driver that picked me up parked in a large elevator. It started to rise, until the car was parked in the corner of my friends' living room.The passenger door opened, and my friend Alanna offered me her hand. Her arms instantly wrapped around me, enveloping me in a tight hug, and that one small human gesture was more than enough to make me fall apart. I burst into tears, loud, heart wrenching sobs escaping my throat as she led me to the sofa. “I didn't know where else to g-go,” I said to her.Alanna and I have been best friends ever since she walked into my boutique in search of a wedding gown. No one has ever understood our friendship, but it was one of the most genuine and closest I've got. Alanna was one of a kind, and right now, she was the one person that could give me the solace I needed, without judgement.“I'm going to kill him," she whispered.“Easy, Little Psycho," her husband, Silas, said.Silas handed me a handkerchief with a small ¥ embroidered
Billionaire's Perfect Bride 84 - Elena
I was barely thinking straight as I walked to our bedroom, tears streaming down my face andRichard on my heels.“Baby," Richard pleaded. “Please. Please trust that I'll fix this."I whirled around to face him. "How?" I screamed. “How will you fix this, Richard? Articles about us are all over the internet. It isn't as simple as suing just one single magazine, and even if we do, it's too late!"I walked into our wardrobe and yanked my clothes off the hangers, my movements erratic."Elena," Richard called in panic, his voice breaking. "What are you doing, Ponyo? You can't... don't do this. I beg of you, don't do this, Elena."I shook my head and grabbed my suitcase. "I'm not spending another moment in the same house as her. I've tried, Richard. For years, I've tried, sacrificing my damn soul to keep her happy in the process. I can't take much more.”He grabbed my shoulders and held onto me tightly, panic flashing through his eyes. "You're insane if you think I'll let you go."I shook my
Billionaire's Perfect Bride 83 - Elena
I walked into the kitchen to find Sarah sitting by the breakfast bar, dark circles marring her beautiful face. She looked up at me, her eyes filled with defeat. She knew. There was no doubt in my mind that Richard confronted her about what she did five years ago.She huffed and looked away as she picked up her teacup, her hands trembling. I wished I had the energy to keep up the facade, but I didn't. After what Richard told me last night, I could barely stand to look at her. How was I supposed to allow her into my life, knowing how much she tookfrom me? "Why did you do it?" I asked, unable to keep the question buried.She looked up at me and gritted her teeth. “Do what?""That night... why did you sneak into Richard's room? Why did you pretend it was you he slept with?"She looked away and shook her head, avoiding my gaze. I'd never seen her at a loss for words, but she was today. It was clear that she thought she got away with her deception. Just how long had she gotten away with m
