The Daring Billionaire’s Wife by Lypstical

Aileen

Oakbrook Village, the one place I thought I'd never return to but the one place I have to come to again.

Liam offered to bring me here but I declined. Even when I could use one of his cars, I still declined. It's still not the time to draw attention to myself, especially with what I'm here for.

The cab drives through the simple neighborhood and residents recognize me and wave, their bright smiles making me smile back because I know they're actually glad to see me. It's been a while.

As I get closer to the home I knew for most of my life, my heart starts racing. I'm about to face them again.

While I want to walk up to the door, it seems that the sound of the engine catches someone's attention from inside. The front door opens and Abigail steps out, dropping her head to the side in curiosity as she wonders who's in the cab. As soon as I step out, her jaw drops. "Mom! Dad! You have to see this!" she says with mockery, crossing her arms while standing by the front porch.

I step away from the cab, watching her look at me from head to toe as she shakes her head at the same clothes that I left in.

My adoptive parents soon step out of the house together, both of them scornfully looking at me.

"Look who finally decided to show up after three months of not talking to us."

"You're right about that, mom." Abigail scoffs.

I quietly approach them, their scornful expressions not affecting me at all.

"Stop right there. Don't you dare take another step until you're forgiven. My husband and I just can't forget how ungrateful you've been."

"Looks like life hasn't been so good to you, huh?" He chimes in. "Coming back in the same clothes you left in? I guess the world taught you a lesson. I'll think about forgiving you after you clean up in the backyard. Get the rake and get to work. I want everything flawless and-"

"Actually," I cut him off, "that's where you're wrong. I'm not here to ask for forgiveness.."

here for?" Abigail sneers. "Do you think

decision I ever made

at each other in

janitor at our local school, but it's

mother's mockery

soon," I say to

we don't want to wait. We want to see

here, but for most of my life, this was my home and no matter

head. "The nerve of you to still sound ungrateful even while saying that. How many times have we called and had our calls declined? How many times has my daughter sent you messages, begging

here to waste time, so I'll just say everything that I came here for. I went in

that," he says. "How did that work

at the wedding. You don't have to come if you don't

opportunity to see the person

into a smile, imagining their faces the day they

I say to them while holding out my

The card design is so classy that they all furrow their eyebrows. "This

to the wedding and you'll find out. I'm done here so I have to get going now. See you next weekend, if you decide to

heading

them call out to me, their words anything but heartwarming as they continue to call me ungrateful Don't they remember how much they made me suffer? It

but getting married to someone like Liam requires it. Cameras are already set up

meant

working with the bride.

and I can't