Share
Chapter Twenty-Three; Faces in the Dark
Related chapters
Married a Billionare as a Side Hustle Chapter One; Wedding Bells of Deceit 1
BRIANA'S POV As I stand at the altar, adorned in a gown that isn't mine, I can feel the weight of deception pressing down on me like a leaden veil. The soft strains of the wedding march fill the air, mingling with the whispers of the gathered guests. All eyes are fixed on me, but they do not see the real me - they see the illusion I've been forced to embody. I steal a glance at him, the man I am to marry, the heir to a wealthy dynasty. His chiseled features are a mask of composure, but I couldn’t deny the love that shone in his eyes. He looked at me like I was the most precious jewel, and the sincerity with which he smiled caused my heart to ache painfully for him. Does he know the truth, or is he too blinded by duty and love to see through the charade? My chest tightens with every step I take closer to him, knowing that this union is built on a foundation of lies. I am not the woman he was meant to marry. She fled, leaving behind a void that I, with my uncanny resemblance, have b
Married a Billionare as a Side Hustle Chapter Two; Wedding bells of Deceit 2
Finally, my shift comes to an end and I wave Mr Riley goodbye as I clock out, looking down at my watch as I hurry to my next job. But as I navigated the busy streets of Seattle I couldn’t shake off the unsettling feeling that washed over me. I felt like I was being watched, but each time I took a glance around me, I couldn’t spot anything or anyone suspicious lurking around me. It had been happening for the past few days now, and the feeling still lingered till now. “Bri! Oh my gosh! I’ve missed you!” I’m tackled into a hug the moment I step foot in the department store, rolling my eyes playfully as I let out a light chuckle. My coworker Sally was such an energetic soul, and it’s one of the reasons I don’t particularly hate this gig. “You saw me yesterday and the day before that.” I remind her, and Sally pulls back from the hug to give me a puppy-eyed look, her expressive brown eyes shining through the curtain of her dark fringe. “Well two hours a day is not enough time, and you’re n
Married a Billionare as a Side Hustle Chapter Three; Threats and Deals
“Pardon?” Did I hear her correctly or were my ears deceiving me? She answers me with a light chuckle, seemingly amused by my reaction. “I said I want you to marry my brother,” she repeats casually, picking up her wine glass and letting it rest between her fingers. I blinked once then twice, trying to make sense of her statement, but my brain could only come up with one response. What the hell? “I don’t quite understand what you mean Miss.” I start carefully, and she takes a small sip of her wine before setting it back on the table. My brows furrowed in confusion as she raised her hand slightly, and with a small flick of her fingers, a tall man emerged from the shadows, making my heart jump in my chest as I let out a shocked gasp. How long had he been standing there? I didn’t even sense his presence. He was adorned in a raven-black suit, his expression unreadable, and his features hard as stone. The only notable thing about him was the silver tint of his brown hair and the scar
Married a Billionare as a Side Hustle Chapter Four; A New Beginning
Present day... As we emerged from the chapel, the air was filled with the sweet scent of flowers and the sound of joyous applause. My heart fluttered with nervousness as I held onto the arm of the man who believed me to be someone else. The guests lined up, eager to offer their congratulations. I smiled and thanked each of them, trying to ignore the uneasy knot that tightened in my chest with every well-wish. “Oh, my darling daughter, you look absolutely gorgeous!” A short middle-aged woman says as she pulls me into a hug, and my smile twitches, threatening to fall as the word ‘daughter’ rings in my mind. I was not her daughter but a mere replacement, and she knew that very well. We both smiled at each other, under a mask of pretense as we acted like any daughter and mother would. It was almost sickening how she appeared unaffected by the thought of a stranger taking her daughter’s place, but it was no use understanding her state of mind. Her company would be in ruins if the scanda
Married a Billionare as a Side Hustle Chapter Five; What have I done?
As the last guest offered their congratulations, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the reception ahead. My new life as a bride who was not truly a bride had begun, and I could only hope that I could keep up the charade long enough to set things right. Finally, the day had come to an end, and as we settled into the plush seats of the limousine, my husband turned to me, his eyes shining with adoration. "You were stunning today, my love," he said, reaching for my hand. I pulled my default smile, my fingers trembling slightly in his grasp. "Thank you," I replied, my voice betraying none of the turmoil inside me. All I did all day was say thank you, the term slowly becoming a mantra. He leaned closer, his voice soft. "Is everything alright? You seem... distant." I bit my lip, trying to quell the rising panic. "I'm just overwhelmed," I lied. "It's been a long day." He nodded understandingly, but I could see the concern in his eyes. I turned away, staring out the window as we dr
Married a Billionare as a Side Hustle Chapter Six; Raging Emotions
“Anderson!” I hurried to his side, not caring if I soiled the pristine wedding dress as I kneeled before him, my hands reaching out to his face to calm him down. “Anderson!” my voice trembles with worry as my vision blurs with unshed tears as his face twists in pure agony. In a frenzy, I moved to get my phone as it was the only logical thing my mind could think of was to call for help, but before I shot up, I felt a pair of study hands wrap around me. My body moves in accordance with gravity as I stumble into his lap, my back pressing against his chest. I could feel the subtle beat of his stable heartbeat, and a lone tear slipped from my eyes as his grip on me grew comfortingly tighter “I’m fine,” he whispers sensually in my ear, resting his head on my shoulder as he peppers my skin with light kisses. “Don’t cry.” he cooed, his voice heavy with remorse and I did the exact opposite, biting down on my lower lip as I sobbed in pure relief. My shoulders quake as I burst into tears, drop
Married a Billionare as a Side Hustle Chapter Seven; A Sweet Surprise
The next morning, I was woken up by a sharp pain in my neck, and I let out a low groan as my eyes fluttered open. It was then I realized that I had slept in the same position as last night, crouched and folded, and now I was paying dearly for it. I was still in my wedding gown, and it was clear evidence that everything that had happened wasn’t just a dream, even after I had profusely wished it was. I let out a small yawn as I dragged myself to my feet, wincing slightly as another wave of pain twists the muscles in my lower back.I walk towards the mirror in the dresser, stopping midway to take a moment to admire the serene view of the breathtaking landscape behind the glass screen windows. It was the only feature of the room that I appreciated. The sun had yet to rise but the bright blue sky did well to take its place.I reach the mirror and gaze at my reflection, taking in the image of the face that had landed me in his position. I internally cringed at the sight of myself, my eyes
Married a Billionare as a Side Hustle Chapter Eight; I want you so much
THIRD PERSON POV “Come on pick up, pick up.” Briana frantically paced about her room, her brows furrowed in anxiousness as she continuously dialed Laura Shield's number. She looked over her shoulder with uneasiness, watching Celine silently arrange her luggage for the impromptu trip. Anderson had stepped out to finalize the arrangements, and he'd said they were scheduled to leave by noon. Leaving Briana little to no time to come up with a valid excuse to refuse. She was sure Anderson would get suspicious, because what newly wedded wife wouldn't jump at the thought of a lavish honeymoon. It was every woman's dream, but to Briana, it was nothing more than a nightmare. And finally, after a dozen solid attempts, she gets through to the enigmatic businesswoman. “What do you want? I'm sure I instructed you to call only during emergencies.”Came Laura's cold welcome, but Briana brushed it off and stopped pacing.She moves into the bathroom to avoid Celine from overhearing their conversa
Latest chapter
- Married a Billionare as a Side Hustle Chapter Twenty-Three; Faces in the Dark
- Married a Billionare as a Side Hustle Chapter Twenty-Two; Tales by the fireplace
- Married a Billionare as a Side Hustle Chapter Twenty-One; Shipwrecked Hearts and Midnight Whispers
- Married a Billionare as a Side Hustle Chapter Twenty; Caught in the Current
- Married a Billionare as a Side Hustle Chapter Nineteen; Drunken Confessions
- Married a Billionare as a Side Hustle Chapter Eighteen; La Paradis
- Married a Billionare as a Side Hustle Chapter Seventeen; Platonic Love
- Married a Billionare as a Side Hustle Chapter Sixteen; The Choice
- Married a Billionare as a Side Hustle Chapter Fifteen; Breakfast and Dance
