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Prologue
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2023-03-02 11:25:49Nicole took a deep breath as she stepped out of the grand doors of the church, her eyes scanning the sea of faces that awaited her. Her heart was racing, and her palms were slick with sweat as she began to make her way down the aisle. The wedding march played loudly from the speaker, drowning out the sound of her racing heartbeats.
She tried to focus on the faces of her family and friends, but her eyes kept drifting to the rows of celebrities and billionaires seated in the front rows. It was overwhelming, to say the least, to see so many important people gathered in one place just for her wedding day. The pressure was almost too much to bear.As she drew closer to the altar, her eyes met with those of her groom, the infamous billionaire playboy, Marcus. He looked dashing in his perfectly tailored suit and the look in his eyes as he watched her approach.As she reached where Marcus stood, she faced him, and her veil still covered her face. The priest began to speak. "Do you, Marcus Russell, take Nicole Zachary, to be your lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and in health, for rich and for poor, until death do you part?"Marcus smiled warmly at her, his eyes filled with love. "Yes, I do," he said, and there was a round of applause from the guests.Then it was Nicole's turn. "Do you, Miss Nicole Zachary, take Marcus Russell, to be your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, for rich and for poor, till death do you part?" the priest asked her.Nicole froze on the spot. So many things were going through her mind as she remembered how it all began….Related chapters
The Billionaire’s Bet Chapter 1
NICOLE"Nicole!" Someone yelled my name. I rolled on the bed lazily and sleepy. I was awake all night watching the art exhibition of Nancy Tires, a renowned artist. Sleepy, I heard the door bang.I groaned, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and sat up, wondering who could be so loud at this time of the morning. “Nicole, come out.” My eyes snapped open at the sound of the landlord's voice calling out for me to come out. Dread washed over me as I realized that he was here, and I had no choice but to face him. As a struggling artist, I couldn't afford to lose my apartment, so I had to find a way to make things work.I dragged myself out of bed and stumbled towards the door, my mind racing with thoughts of how to explain my situation to the landlord. I took a deep breath and opened the door. The landlord stood there, his arms crossed and a stern look on his face. He was a tall man with a thick mustache and piercing eyes that seemed to bore into her very soul.“Good morning, Mr.Trent," I g
Last Updated : 2023-03-02The Billionaire’s Bet Chapter 2
NICOLEI felt a rush of relief flood through me as I heard the man's words. As I looked up, I saw him for the first time, and I couldn't help but feel stunned by his good looks. He was tall, with chiseled features, and piercing blue eyes that seemed to look straight through me.Carmen didn't seem to like being called out on her behavior, and she glared at him. "What do you mean to leave her alone Marcus? She ruined my dress!" she protested.Marcus just shrugged nonchalantly. "Accidents happen, Carmen. And it's not like she did it on purpose. You should be more careful with your expensive clothes if you don't want them to get stained."I watched in awe as he handled the situation with ease, diffusing the tension in the air.“Excuse me?" she asked incredulously, glaring at Marcus. "Are you really taking her side now?"Marcus shook his head. "I'm not taking sides. I believe in justice. Besides, I'm just here to eat. I don't want to be involved in any kind of power struggle between women.
Last Updated : 2023-03-02The Billionaire’s Bet Chapter 3
NICOLE Working late into the night on my painting was one of the most fulfilling experiences I had in years. The thought of participating in an art exhibition for the first time since the middle school made me feel excited and nervous like a bride. It had been three days since Nina had informed me of the opportunity, and though I was exhausted beyond my limits, it was all worth it."You're finished," Nina's voice came from behind me."Hey, you're awake. Yeah, I'm done. I just need to leave it on the balcony to dry," I replied, standing behind my work."Oh my goodness, the painting is beautiful, as usual, Nicole," she gushed over my artwork."You always say that every time," I blushed."By the way, I finished the pencil art that someone had asked for," I pointed to the board where the art was pinned."Oh, you're such a sweetheart. You'll get the commission for sure," she said, walking over to the board to prepare it for framing.As soon as I arrived at my house, Mr. Trent, the landlor
Last Updated : 2023-03-02The Billionaire’s Bet Chapter 4
MARCUSNicole Zachary was stunning. I had already noticed her beauty the day we met at the diner, but today she looked even more striking. Whether it was the red dress, the red lip gloss, or the way the dress hugged her figure, I couldn't say.As she walked through the door, I felt fate was on my side. My friends had bet that I would never get married, but I was determined to prove them wrong. And there was only one person I had in mind: Nicole Zachary.I had done my research and paid for information on her. I knew she was a struggling artist in need of money, making her an easier target. Offering her a large sum of money would be all it would take to win her over. At least, that's what I believed - women are programmed to be drawn to money, or so the stereotype goes.I approached her, standing behind her with my head tilted. It was now or never.“Nicole Zachary," I said, and she turned to face me, her eyes widening in surprise and recognition as she locked her gaze onto my face."Mr
Last Updated : 2023-03-02The Billionaire’s Bet Chapter 5
NICOLEA contract marriage was not something I had ever imagined for myself. Love wasn't even on my bucket list. But here I was, considering a contract marriage with Marcus, a wealthy young man.As I sat on the couch, gazing out the window, I noticed the serene surroundings, and it looked like it was going to rain. I sent a text to Nina, telling her that I had made it home and that she could enjoy the after-party on her own.Memories flooded back to me, and tears began to stream down my face. Damian my younger brother had been born with a defective heart, and even at sixteen, his condition was still critical. He had undergone several surgeries, but none had been successful. He urgently needed a heart transplant, but finding a suitable donor had proven to be a challenge due to his rhesus factor. Also, my dad had suffered a work accident years ago, resulting in a perforated lung.These were some of the reasons why I had left home and moved to North Dakota - I wanted to work and raise
Last Updated : 2023-03-02The Billionaire’s Bet Chapter 6
NICOLE “A miracle has happened”. The words my mom uttered sounded like magic in my ears.“Where’s Damian right now?” I asked my mom who was still overjoyed."Damian is down the hallway. Hurry, you might be able to see him before he undergoes anesthesia," Mom urged me. Without wasting a moment, I sprinted down the corridor, determined to catch a glimpse of Damian before his surgery commenced."Hey, sis!" Damian called out as soon as he caught a glimpse of me through the glass window. Tears welled up in my eyes as I took in his sickly appearance; he was a mere shadow of his former self. I quickly wiped my tears and smiled back at him, giving him a reassuring wave.Just then, a kind-looking nurse approached me and handed me some protective gear.“You'll need to put this on before entering the OR," she said. I smiled gratefully at her and quickly donned the gear before entering the operating room.With a weak voice, Damian called out, "Sis." I immediately broke down in silen
Last Updated : 2023-03-10The Billionaire’s Bet Chapter 7
NICOLEWhat the hell was Marcus doing here?!The nurse seemed to have heard me and raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me, Miss Zachary?"I shook my head, realizing that I had spoken out loud. "Nothing, sorry. Where is he?""He's waiting for you in the lobby," she said and gestured towards the door.I nodded and got up from the chair. I quickly brushed my hair with my fingers and straightened my dress before heading out of the room.If there was anything I was anxious about, it was unnecessary attention. It would go round the whole world, that Marcus the son of a world class actress came to look for a regular girl. When I finally reached the lobby, I saw him leaning against a pillar in the hallway, his left leg crossed over his right, and his arms folded. Lord, he was a beautiful specimen to look upon. He looked at me and stood straight.“Hi, Love,” he said and waved at me. I looked back and pointed at myself.“Me?” I whispered and nodded, feeling a little flustered.I sighed and walked faste
Last Updated : 2023-03-14The Billionaire’s Bet Chapter 8
NICOLE"Damian is awake?" I asked, exchanging looks with Marcus. Without waiting for Nina to respond, I rushed towards the elevator.Together, we hurried down the hallways and arrived at Damian's room, where we saw a flurry of doctors and nurses rushing in.Damian was sitting up and flashing a smile at the nurses who were tending to him."Mr. Damian, are you feeling alright? Any discomfort or pain?" asked the neurosurgeon, to which Damian nodded in response."I'm doing okay, Doc. Just feeling a little dizzy, but overall I'm fine," Damian replied.“Damin," I called out as he turned to face me at the door, his eyes lighting up at the sight of me."Nicole," he replied, his voice full of warmth and affection.I wiped away the tears that were streaming down my face and walked towards him. He grabbed my hand and held it tightly."Sis," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "I've missed you so much, Sis," he continued, holding onto my hand even tighter.I turned towards the doctor and aske
Last Updated : 2023-03-24
Latest chapter
The Billionaire’s Bet Chapter 117
"Daddy! Daddy! How does it look?"My eyes shifted from the desk to the little princess In front of me, she was holding her canvas and her eyes were glittering with so much love and hope, I never thought I would melt at such beauty but ever since I met Nicole, things changed.I was amazed at her realistic creation painting, it was a plant growing from the earth and it looked like I was watching it happen live."It's…" I paused for a while, pulling her closer to me. Ellie's eyes dulled and so her posture slacked with her emotional change."You don't like it?" It was almost a whimper before I scoffed."Ellie, I love it! It's so beautiful I wasn't able to comprehend it. It's something your mom would have painted." I smiled at her and she set the canvas down before jumping on my lap, "she'll be proud.""Do you think she's going to come back?" The question always stung my heart, I didn't have the answer to it, I've always had a solution for every problem, except for this one."Yes, she will
The Billionaire’s Bet Chapter 116
NICOLE “If you think some superhero is going to swoop in and save your sorry asses, then you thought wrong," Mariella sneered, her voice dripping with contempt.We were holed up in an underground house, a safe haven turned into a grim prison. Ellie and I sat huddled on the floor, our hair disheveled, our clothes stained and torn.Mariella paced around the room like she owned the place, her hand confidently planted on her hips. She chewed her gum obnoxiously, the sound echoing through the tense air.“Now that I think about it," she said, her words laced with cruel calculation. "How much should I sell you both for? Let's leave the little girl out of it. You, my dear, are worth way more than her. You're a package deal, two for the price of one."I instinctively placed my hand on my belly, a protective gesture that seemed to amuse Mariella. She let out a mocking laugh as she observed my action."Aww, Marcus' little heir is in there, huh? Poor baby," she sneered, scrunching down to my lev
The Billionaire’s Bet Chapter 115
MARCUSI sat at the dimly lit bar, swirling the drink in my hand, my mind wandered to Vicky. She had been nothing but kind to me. I prayed she was still alive, hoping that fate had spared her from the clutches of the child trafficking ring. I felt responsible for her since she had no one else to help her.She had no family or friends and she looked to me like a brother.My concerns deepened as the realization struck that I hadn't heard from Nicole in days. The last time we spoke was when I called and she informed me that she now had the company of a little girl at home.I was happy with that. At least she won't be lonely and would have someone to talk to. Even if it was just a child.I tried calling her number a few times, but it was unreachable. The bar had started to empty out, leaving only a rowdy group of girls. From the moment I arrived, I could feel their eyes on me, but I did my best to ignore their glances.As the place grew practically deserted, I couldn't help but notice o
The Billionaire’s Bet Chapter 114
NICOLE The police were still trying to trace Mariella’s location, yet nothing has been found. It was as if she was no longer on planet earth.I was trying to finish up another of my paintings that I had started a few days back. I was hoping to go donate it at the orphanage. These past weeks I've grown accustomed to visiting the place. Marcus came in and peeped at my work, nodding his head in approval. “You’re almost done”I smiled, “Yes I am. It just needs some finishing touches”“I'm going to the police station to see how far they've gone with the investigation, I'll be back in a few days” he said, stroking my back.“Alright. Be good” I watched Marcus leave the room, his footsteps fading away as he made his way toe find Vicky.With a sigh, I turned my attention back to my painting.Hours passed, and my painting finally took its final form.I stepped back to admire it. It was a depiction of a serene meadow, with blooming flowers and a radiant sunset in the background.I prepared to l
The Billionaire’s Bet Chapter 113
MARCUSAll three of us sat at the dining table, the aroma of freshly cooked waffles and sausages filling the air. I had woken up early, determined to mend the strained atmosphere with a delicious breakfast. Nicole, however, was still giving me the silent treatment, her expression somber as she pushed her food around her plate.The tension was palpable, and I could feel my own discomfort growing with each passing second. It seemed like an eternity until Vicky decided to break the ice.“Nicole," Vicky spoke up, her voice soft but pleading. Nicole looked up, her eyes meeting Vicky's gentle gaze. "Yeah?""I understand that you might be upset, but please don't take it all out on Marcus. He was just trying to help me”Nicole let out a sigh and muttered, "Don't worry about it. We're cool." But her dismissive tone revealed that she wasn't cool at all. She finished eating in silence, abruptly standing up from the table and leaving me and Vicky behind.Vicky let out a disappointed sigh, her ta
The Billionaire’s Bet Chapter 112
MARCUSRight now me and Nicole were sitting next to each other, and Mia was sitting across from us at the station. There was this barricade thing separating us.Nicole, being her stubborn self, had insisted that we take care of Mia's kid. And I had no choice but to go along with it. What else could I do? Nicole can be pretty persuasive when she wants to be.“Thank you both so much for forgiving me and forgetting the past. I don’t know how else I can thank you, but I really appreciate your effort” Mia clasped her hands together. Her nose was a bit swollen due to her condition, she was probably in her third Trimester while Nicole was in her second.“It’s fine. We are more than happy to help” Nicole beamed at her.I nodded in agreement, offering a smile to Mia. "Absolutely, Mia. We understand that people make mistakes, and we believe in giving second chances."She reached out to touch her swollen belly. "This baby means the world to me. I promise I'll do whatever it takes to make thing
The Billionaire’s Bet Chapter 111
NICOLEShe did a double take. “Nicole? What a surprise. I didn't know you were coming” Well, I didn't know it was going to be your house too. I pressed my lips together, attempting to regain composure. "Lovely home," I managed to say, glancing around at the interior."You're already drenched from the rain. Come, let me change you into a comfortable outfit," she offered, guiding me towards her room located down the hallway.So Marcus had sneaked out of the house to come to visit Vicky. I was getting closer to the answer but I didn't like how it was headed.Her room was big and painted in lavender. A cozy armchair was placed near a bookshelf. Nearby, a small vanity table displayed a collection of antique perfume bottles, a hand mirror, and a hairbrush.“You can take your seat over there” she gestured to the armchair and walked into her walk-in closet. After a moment, she emerged with this loose fitting dress and handed it to me.“Here," she said, passing me the clothes. "Put these on
The Billionaire’s Bet Chapter 110
NICOLE “Ms. Nicole?" the little voice called out, unsure. I looked down and recognized Ellie, the little girl I had met at the art gallery previously.What was she doing out here alone?I grinned. "Hey, Ellie. We meet again. How are you?""I'm fine. I'm so happy to see you," she smiled brightly. That was when I noticed the frame she was holding, wrapped in brown paper."What are you doing here all by yourself?"She gestured to the frame she was holding. It was a wonder how she was able to carry it alone. "Oh, I came to donate this work of art.""Really? That's so thoughtful of you," I said, holding her hands in mine and helping her carry the painting. "Come on, let's go submit it, and after that, we can get some ice cream. How does that sound?""Perfect!" she cheered. Together, we walked to the front desk, and I assisted her in signing her name before we dropped off the painting.I was still surprised that a girl of her age could come all the way to the orphanage without a guardian.
The Billionaire’s Bet Chapter 109
NICOLE“What is he doing here?" I poked the window of my car as I saw my husband standing at the entrance of some strange house. His composure seemed anxious and though I was no detective, he looked like he was about to do something shady.A figure opened the door and it looked like it was wearing a robe. A woman? Was it Vicky??I tried to look closer but I couldn't see her face, his body language softened when she opened the door and she let him in.Marcus was with another woman."No, I can't be thinking like this." I relaxed my back in the chair as I rubbed my temples, there was no way he could be cheating, not after everything we have been through but why would he choose to hide this from me? What was the big deal that he couldn't tell me he needed to see someone at 2 am?Oh.Realization dawned on me and I kicked the ignition, I needed to get home,he could come out at any time and he was a better driver. I revved the engine and off I was. The road was free, everyone was at home
