The Billionaire's Proxy Bride

Chapter 2

Natalia's face contorted in anguish as she slumped against the train window, her eyes scrunched shut, and her brow furrowed in distress.

He wasn't a man anyone dared to defile. And she was just anybody, a bloody nobody at that.

Flabbergasted, she had refused, at first. She would rather spend the remaining tenure in prison, where she felt safe, than be with such a menacing and dangerous man. But it wasn't a matter of choice. It was either she did that or he would be forced to ensure she got life imprisonment this time.

She was still defiant until he threatened to make her family's life more miserable than it already was. He would do that. He doesn't look a man who would make empty threats.

Cowed and defeated, Natalia had meekly agreed to the marriage contract, signing the papers without a fuss, her resignation palpable. She hadn't even bothered to read the fine print, exhausted and demoralized. But he had taken great pleasure in reciting the terms aloud, his voice dripping with triumph and satisfaction. She had to do this. She wouldn't bear to see any other innocent person paying for a crime they didn't commit.

Her chest heaved with ragged breaths, and her hands clenched into fists as she struggled to contain her emotions. Their wedding was scheduled for two weeks. She didn't even know how to break the news to Kevin, yet.

He would be in deep anguish just as she was. Guess it's karma. They had broken up a marriage before it got the chance to even begin, and theirs was about to get broken.

As the train pulled into the station, Natalia's bitter smile faltered, and tears continued to stream down her cheeks. She wiped them away with a trembling hand, the motion a futile attempt to erase the pain.

Nostalgia washed over her as she stepped out of the train, the familiar sights and sounds enveloping her like a bittersweet embrace. The station was a just a mile away from Kevin's house, a place she would have never seen again, if she had adamantly refused his proposal.

She hastened to Kevin's house, only to find it occupied by a stranger. The old homeowner greeted her, her expression sympathetic at Natalia's haggard appearance. She informed her that Kevin had packed off a couple of years ago. Consumed by an overwhelming desire to see him again, Natalia hailed a cab and headed to his new address. She had obtained it from the homeowner.

As she stepped out of the cab and gazed up at the building, her jaw dropped. Her eyes widened in awe at the luxurious apartment complex towering above her. The opulent decor and stunning views spoke of Kevin's success, and a swell of pride filled her chest. She realized that her sacrifice had not been in vain. She didn't regret her decision.

With a sense of joy and anticipation, Natalia made her way inside, her heart overflowing with love and excitement. She knocked on the door, and waited for Kevin's response. For a moment, she had forgotten the sorrow that had driven her here. Her heart filled with the thrill of reunion.

She gleamed as she played his reaction in her head, imagining the shock and delight that would spread across his face when he saw her standing there.

With a sly smile, she straightened her shoulders, ready to make a memorable entrance. The door opened, and Natalia's eyes widened in disbelief as she took in the sight of a radiant pregnant woman before her.

"Natasha?" She said, her voice laced with a mix of confusion and disbelief.

The glowing happiness on Natasha's face before she opened the door drained almost immediately. "N.. Natalia?" She stammered.

Still in doubt, she bombarded her with questions, "Is this Kevin's house? Did you come to pay him a visit? Is he a friend to the father of your child?" earnestly hoping her assumptions were true.

Before Natasha would answer, a voice called out from inside.

"Darling, who's at the door?"

That voice was Kevin's, she would recognize his voice anywhere. She felt like she had been punched in the gut, her breath knocked out of her. Darling? No! This isn't true, this can't be happening to her!

The world around her seemed to spin, as she tried to make sense of what was going on.

"Darling, why aren't you--" The words died in his mouth as he stepped into the foyer to be met with the unbelievable sight of his ex-fiancee.

" Natalia?!" Kevin exclaimed in bewilderment as he instinctively wrapped his arms protectively around Natasha, shielding her from the sudden intrusion.

What in the world are you doing here?" he demanded with a hint of accusation. His eyes narrowed suspiciously as his mind raced to reconcile the fact that the woman he thought was still behind bars, serving time for his crimes, was now standing in his foyer, looking utterly out of place.

This wasn't the reception she had anticipated to receive. Recovering from the agonizing shock, she snapped back at his words," What in the world am I doing here? Is that what a man who is supposed to be in love with me should be asking?" She let out a scoff, today has been filled with awful surprises. "Shouldn't I be the one with the questions? Can you explain what the hell is going on here?"

"I...I can explain" Natasha whimpered, trying to dampen the sizzling situation.

"Explain?" Natalia's voice rose, her emotions simmering just below the surface. "Explain what? Why is my sister standing on the doorstep of the man I thought I was in love with? Why is she pregnant with his child?" Natalia's eyes flashed with hurt and anger, her words spilling out in a torrent of confusion and betrayal.

"Don't raise your voice! How can you be so inconsiderate? Can't you see she's with child?" Kevin raged, shoving Natasha inside with care.

He then turned to face Natalia." There's nothing to explain, okay? You have seen it for yourself. I have a life and a wife now. I've moved on. You should too."

"What do you mean you have moved on?" She went up to him, pulling him by his shirt. Tears uncontrollably escaped her eyes. "What do you mean by that? I sacrificed myself for you. I gave up everything for you! I even got disowned. I lost everything. My pride, my dignity, my family, my career, four years of my youth. Everything!" Her voice muffled by sobs. She scrunched her runny nose and continued, still clutching his shirt," I survived all her torture and pain, knowing I had a man who stood by me and loved me unconditionally..."

Kevin extracted her hands from his shirt and pushed her away. Natalia lost her balance and fell like a heap on the floor.

He let out a loud laugh, his eyes throwing daggers at her. "Unconditionally? You must be crazy and delusional to think I would have anything to do with you after your arrest. I am a successful businessman with a respectable reputation now. The possibility of marrying a woman with a criminal record is zero! I would never be caught dead doing so. And you being here is a taint to my reputation already! You're an ugly past I have put behind, and I oblige you to better stay that way!"

Natalia's voice got caught in her throat, as she listened to the vile words emitting from his mouth. She was beyond stunned, and she continued staring at him blankly. Her emotions spiraled in chaos.

" I see you're paralyzed now," he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "Security!" he barked, pressing a button on his phone. The security team arrived in no time, responding to Kevin's urgent summons. "Take this piece of trash out of here!" he ordered, gesturing dismissively at Natalia. "And if I find her anywhere near my property again, you will be fired on the spot, with immediate effect!" he threatened, his eyes blazing with anger and entitlement.

Natalia stood outside Kevin's house, the cold night air a harsh slap in the face after being so callously thrust out. She felt utterly wretched, her mind reeling from the shock and betrayal that threatened to consume her.

Amidst this turmoil, a spark of determination flared into life. Justice must be served, no matter the cost.

Kevin must pay for his own crimes. She will see to that. She was done paying for his crimes. She won't be the scapegoat anymore. She had been blinded by his charming facade, but now she saw him for the manipulative coward he truly was.

The ominous man, with his sinister intentions, was at least honest about his nature.

The devil she knew was indeed better than the angel she thought she had known.

Where does she go from here? She had asked the man to give her a week to recollect herself, hoping to spend a memorable week with Kevin. Her parent's house was out of the question. She was dead to them. She had few friends, well, that was until she got arrested.

As Natalia stood there, lost in thought, a sleek black Lamborghini suddenly screeched to a halt in front of her. The window glided down, revealing the ominous man she had just been thinking about, seated with poise at the backseat. Without even looking in her direction, his stern order caught the air: "Get in."

Without hesitation, Natalia opened the door and slid into the

passenger's seat.

"To the airport." he barked, his voice firm and authoritative.