The Daring Billionaire’s Wife by Lypstical

Dominic

My father's home office has only ever had a picture of him but ever since Charlotte was born, he's put up a few more and just of her and her precious smile. Each time I'm here, it's mostly business, except when I bring Charlotte over.

As he finally takes his seat on the other side of the desk, my first thought is that he wants to talk about business, as usual but with some small talk. "How's everything at home?" He keeps a blank expression as he leans back.

"Everything's great," I reply, not expecting him to linger on this conversation, but he surprises me.

"I want to talk about Charlotte." His face brightens up a little as he looks at her picture on the left side of his table. "She's so well spoken despite her young age. I've spent so much time with her and I see just how good of a job you've been doing, especially you. Vanessa has told me all about how you usually go the extra mile just for my granddaughter."

I chuckle and proudly say, "I'll do anything for my princess."

"I know you will. I wanted you to earn my trust again. That's why I've been watching you. With everything I've observed in the past few years, I've decided to give you back what you deserve."

"What?" I almost jump out of my seat but end up placing my hands on the table as I lean forward. "You're... giving it back to me?"

"Your mother wanted me to do it last year but I thought to myself that I should wait a bit longer and you've really proven yourself to me. I'm proud of you, son. I forgave you a long time ago. I just wanted to see how long you'd actually be there for your family and not once have you let them down, so here you go."

He slides an envelope across the desk and after I open it to check the document, my eyes grow wider as I read through it.

"This is a list of all the shares you're giving to me and it's much more than I thought it would be! What...what about Sophie and Jake?"

He gives me a half smile. "As a family business, we've expanded even more in just three years. That's why they also have more than enough and they were thrilled, maybe not as thrilled as you are. I could've easily monitored you during the first few weeks of your marriage, but I didn't want to invade your privacy and I trusted you. Just don't mess things up now. Actually, I believe you won't."

He rises to his feet and walks over to me, making me rise up and I embrace him a bit too strongly that he grunts.

"Sorry." I force a chuckle as I loosen up.

"I expected it."

"Dad, thank you so much for this."

He pats me on the back. "I'm glad to say you earned it."

On my way out, Frank calls and I don't let him speak as soon as I pick up.

"Guess who's the happiest man on earth right now?" I ask.

"Definitely not me because I'm stressed out about all these wedding plans!"

"That's why I'm here to help."

"Then why aren't you here right now?"

down and listen to

he gasps loudly. "Dude, you're one lucky

You

Now, get here and let's think about some suit

wait. I need

what I'm thinking?" He

to do

the car, I still can't stop thinking about it. It's like I can read it word for word in my mind. I can't wait to celebrate this good news with Vanessa. I could have told her over the phone, but I prefer telling her in person and

emerges with one of the officers accompanying her and as I look at her from head to toe, I instantly shake my head at what has become of her and the most obvious changes are her matted hair, chapped lips, and bruised arms and neck. Before she gets too close, I ask the officer behind me and I find out that

her scalp after a fight she started, I raise my eyebrows in disbelief at how

gets closer and tries to act cocky, I compare her to what she was like when she still believed she had the upper hand a few years ago. This is still a more tame version of her and I can't help but wonder who made her this way in this prison. Sitting down on the other side, she says, "I

with that shit. I'm not here because

"Not even a small part of you wanted to see

"Of course not."

eyes at me. "How could you say that when I was once someone

and it hasn't been the case

"But...you love me."

"Are you Vanessa?"

figure it out and as soon as she does, she sneers, shaking her

no way that bitch really took you away from me and completely stole your

before she was born. She's beautiful, strong and healthy. Her name is Charlotte." She exhales deeply.

to hurry up here so I

different? It's me." She points at

why I came

eyebrows with hope. "Am I getting a lighter

That's been left up to your

"Then what

getting everything I've ever wanted from my

no way that's true. He took that

remember the last time I came here, that was the one thing that gave you some satisfaction, that I lost out on what wanted the most by telling the truth. Look at me now. I have everything

"You really had people under your control working that hard to

the internet at the bottom of my feet. Whatever I say is final. Not even that gossip site stood a chance with all that money given to them. You can always just stand up right now and say it to everyone that you and I were once together, but who will believe you?

the table, but I swiftly lean back and get

to

"No! Please don't go!"

and you know, seeing you again after such

you still have feelings for me?"

hate you