He Jilted Me At Altar, I Married A Billionaire

On my wedding day, my fiancé, Adrian Walker, shattered my dreams in front of everyone. At the altar, instead of slipping the wedding ring onto my finger, he dropped a bombshell. His ex-girlfriend, Sofia Mitchell, was carrying his baby. With all our guests watching, Adrian looked at me and said, "A child needs a real father. Once Sofia gets better, I'll divorce her and come back to marry you." Everyone believed I would wait for him. After all, I had spent 10 years loving Adrian. I had stayed by his side as he climbed from the forgotten illegitimate son of the Walker family to the future heir of their empire. But Adrian never knew that on the very night he called off our wedding, I said yes to Julian Carter and left for our honeymoon in Valenland. Six years later, I accompanied my husband to the charity gala celebrating the Bennett Foundation's 80th anniversary. Julian suddenly developed a high fever and was taken to the hospital by his private doctor. With no choice, he sent the family's car fleet to pick me up from the airport. I never imagined that the second I stepped out of the arrivals hall, I would come face to face with Adrian, the man I hadn't seen in six years. He stood in my way, acting as casually as if the past six years had never happened. "Six years is long enough. You should stop this childish act. Sofia's daughter is about to start elementary school. Come back. From now on, you'll handle her rides to school, her education, and everything else." ***** At the arrivals exit of Kingsley International Airport, I spotted Adrian immediately. Sofia was clinging to his arm, with several familiar faces from the past gathered behind them. They held up a pickup sign with my married name printed across it: Mrs. Carter. The instant Adrian caught sight of me, he froze. Sofia's friends, however, were quick to break into laughter. "Wait, isn't that Eileen? "Didn't she disappear from Empire City six years ago? "I heard the Bennett family went bankrupt a long time ago. Don't tell me she couldn't cut it overseas, heard Adrian was now in charge of the Walker Group, and came running back to him?" Their eyes traveled over me without the slightest attempt at subtlety. I had on a white cashmere sweater, loose trousers, and a pair of simple flats with no flashy logos. Julian hated seeing me in heels on long flights. This morning, he'd picked out my outfit himself and packed my medication, eye mask, and thermos, reminding me again and again to rest properly during the flight. I hadn't planned on making the rounds in Empire City this time. I only wanted to attend the foundation gala with him, settle the final piece of my grandmother's inheritance, then head back to Crownford City together. We'd already booked an appointment with a private doctor. If everything checked out, we'd officially start trying for a baby. Yet my silence was apparently enough for them to read it as shame and guilt. "Eileen, where are all your luxury brands? "Sofia was right. Without Adrian, you're nothing. "Six years ago, you were at least the Bennett family's heiress. Now, I doubt the Walker Group would even hire you as a regular employee." I met their stares calmly and said nothing. Years ago, whenever I knew I was going to see Adrian, I'd spend hours getting ready. I knew his favorite cologne, remembered which colors he hated, and even picked my dress to complement his tie. I once believed loving someone meant molding yourself into their ideal woman. Julian later taught me that when someone truly loved you, they never made you audition for your place in their life. Adrian's younger brother, Noah Walker, finally snapped. "That's enough!" Noah came over to me, his expression awkward. "Eileen, I'm glad you're back. Actually, Adrian has been looking for you all these years. He asked plenty of people to track you down." Adrian's face went rigid. "Noah." His voice was icy as he cut his brother off, casually turning the family ring around his finger. "Sofia's daughter starts school next month. Now that you're back, you'll handle her school runs and education." For a second, I wondered if I had heard him wrong. After six years apart, Adrian's first words to me weren't an apology or an explanation. He simply dumped his and Sofia's child in my lap as though that were perfectly reasonable. As though I were still the woman who would forgive him the second he gave me a look. I was about to respond when Sofia laughed. "Eileen, don't look so put out. You've been gone for six years. Who knows how you've been surviving overseas? With what you can do now, even if Adrian gave you a management position at the group, you might not last." She took a business card from her purse and extended it toward me. "But I'm willing to give you a chance. Take good care of my daughter, and Ade will help you. You can even stay at our estate. There's always a spare room in the servants' quarters." A fresh wave of laughter swept through the crowd. "See? Sofia even arranged somewhere for you to live. "With the Walker family willing to take you in, that's still better than roaming around overseas. "What are you waiting for? Thank Sofia." Adrian never said a word to stop them. Once the laughter finally faded, he spoke as though he were offering me a lifeline. "If the child gives you trouble, I'll deal with her. As long as you keep your head down and don't act out like you did six years ago, I won't let anyone give you a hard time." I looked at them all and couldn't help finding the whole scene ridiculous. Six years ago, Adrian had left me at the altar in front of hundreds of guests, taking his pregnant Sofia by the hand and walking out of the church. He hadn't merely ruined a wedding. His betrayal had made me the punchline of every conversation among Empire City's elite. Yet to him, it seemed like little more than a footnote. When Adrian realized I still wasn't agreeing, his brows drew together. "Eileen, how long are you going to carry this on? You walked away for six years over one wedding. You've paid more than enough for that choice. Now that you couldn't make it on your own out there and came back, taking a little hardship is the consequence of your own decisions." I didn't feel angry anymore. I was simply tired of him. Adrian had convinced himself that I had returned to Empire City waiting for him to swallow his pride and take me back. Unfortunately, he had read the situation completely wrong. After everything now, what did Adrian even mean to me?