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?"

and listen to

tell him, he gasps loudly. "Dude, you're

wrong. You know I earned

let's think about

to wait. I need to go somewhere.

what I'm thinking?"

to

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

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

incident of how her hair in the back was yanked from her scalp after a fight she started, I raise my eyebrows in disbelief at

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 still can't believe you finally came to

yourself with that shit. I'm not here because

a small part of you

"Of course not."

me. "How could you say that when I

me, just as you've put it and it hasn't been the case

"But...you love me."

"Are you Vanessa?"

takes her a few seconds to figure it out and as soon as she

way that bitch really took you away from me and completely

was born.

up here so

It's me." She points at herself

I came

her eyebrows with hope. "Am

scoff. "No. That's been left up to your

glares at me. "Then what

I've ever wanted

true. He took that away from you because you broke his

and I 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 I've ever wanted. You know, you had the perfect opportunity to expose everything, and you did when you posted

really had people under your

what I just said. I have 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? Well, that's all I came to say. Keep rotting in

reach for my hand across the table, but I swiftly lean back and get up from

to

"No! Please don't go!"

you again after such a long time

for me?"

hate you for everything