MARRIED TO MY EX-BOYFRIEND FATHER

Jessica's POV Rain drenched my jacket while I waited outside Jade's penthouse, my heart pounding like a caged bird. Tears welled in my eyes, but I held them back, grasping onto the hope of gaining answers. What caused Jade to disappear on the day of our graduation? Why had he removed me from his life after years of commitments? My hand shook as I reached for the doorbell, the bitter taste of betrayal suffocating me. The door opened before I had a chance to push it. A blonde divinity stood there—defined cheekbones, green eyes, and a grin that sliced like crystal. La jalousie monta, brute et indésirable. Who was she, looking so self-satisfied in my boyfriend's house at midnight? “Who are you?” I inquired, my tone calm even with the turmoil inside. "Where is Jade?" She tossed her hair, her look oozing with contempt. “I’m Elise, the girlfriend of Jade." You're Jessica, correct? The former partner he's moved on. Her remarks were a calculated strike, intended to hurt. My breath caught. It seems like your input is incomplete. Could you please provide the full text you would like me to paraphrase? This is an error—” "Not an error." She obstructed the entrance, arms folded. “Jade spoke to me about you." Destitute, pitiable. "Go away." The term *ex* was like a knife to my heart. I tightened my jaw, unwilling to yield. "I am his girlfriend." Three years. “What are you referring to?” Elise's laughter was toxic. She displayed a diamond ring, its shine a mocking challenge. "We're in a committed relationship." He made a proposal last night. "Thus, collect your tears and leave." Involved? My sight became unclear, tears flowing. I spotted her top—Jade's, the one I had purchased for his birthday. The treachery gnawed at me, intense and profound. “How long have you both been a couple?” I pushed it out, my voice breaking. "Long enough to put you in the ground," she retorted. "He's occupied." Depart. "I'm staying put until I see him." My tone grew tough, driven by rebellion. Elise exhaled dramatically, showing her annoyance. "Okay, since I have sympathy for you." She pivoted, her voice overly saccharine. "Jade, my dear!" "Your needy ex has arrived." Jade emerged, wearing an apron, with the aroma of roasted herbs following him. He had never prepared a meal for me—not even once. Even worse, he drew Elise into a gradual, intentional kiss, his hands securing her right before my eyes. My heart broke, yet rage kept me on my feet. “Hi, Jessica,” he remarked, his voice casual, as if I were an outsider. "What is this regarding?" “Jade, what’s going on?” I moved ahead, my voice trembling with anger. "We need to have a conversation." Isolated. He chuckled, icy and sharp. "By yourself?" “State it in front of my fiancée.” “Engaged to be married?” The term burned. "You vowed to wed *me* once you graduate." "You promised you loved me!" Elise grinned, leaning against him. Jade rolled her shoulders. "Strategies evolve." I’m getting married to her. Five minutes, Jess. Leave. "Just five minutes?" I broke down, rage overwhelming my sadness. “I offered you my heart, my trust—my all!” "You are obligated to tell me the truth!" “Former girlfriend,” he amended, his gaze vacant. "You mean nothing, Jessica." My family would insult you. A poor, innocent girl pursuing my wealth.” His words stung, yet I would not give in. "You claimed you would stand up for us." “Was everything a deception?” "Is that a falsehood?" He scoffed. "You were simple, Jessica." "I sought a woman of stature, not a needy pretender." Tears flowed from my eyes, yet I raised my chin. "You're deceitful and a cowardly fraud." Elise's phone buzzed. She looked at it, her grin changing into a more sinister expression. She pushed the screen toward me—a picture of Jade and her, entwined in bed, dated eight months earlier. "He's been with me for almost a year, darling." "You were merely the extra." The reality struck with the force of a sledgehammer. Eight months? He had been unfaithful throughout much of our relationship, deceiving me while I envisioned our future. My knees shook, yet fury erupted, intense and strong. “You're both disgusting,” I said sharply, turning away as the door banged shut. The world shifted, yet I staggered to the curb, calling for a taxi. The driver's voice was a faint murmur as I sank into the backseat. "Rough night, huh?" "Drive," I whispered, my throat constricted. His unsettling gaze sent chills down my spine, but I was too shattered to mind, suffocating in Jade’s treachery. Fifteen minutes later, I collapsed onto my apartment’s worn couch, the subtle fragrance of rosemary from my dying plants a painful reminder of happier times. I picked up a bottle of wine, but my phone vibrated—Victor, my shady supervisor from the hotel where I worked part-time. With no employment opportunities and a shattered heart, I had run out of choices. I called him, my tone expressionless. “Victor, it’s me, Jessica.” "Prepared for my proposal?" His manner was slick, hunting. "I will begin working full-time once I graduate," I stated. "However, I am seeking a salary increase." “Completed,” he purred. "Stop by this evening." "We’ll discuss… specifics." I ended the call, feeling nauseous. I was not overcome. I’d fight my way through this. --- At the hotel, my best friend and fellow waitress, Sandra, welcomed me with a hug that mended my broken heart. Her kindness reassured me I wasn't by myself, yet my anxiety was heightened. “Jess, that dude at the VIP table has been looking at you,” she murmured, her eyes glinting with playfulness. I looked over briefly. A man in a fitted suit sat there, his dark hair and intense gray eyes emanating sheer strength. His presence was captivating, dominating the space, and his stare held me, assertive and unyielding. My heart raced, but I suppressed it. Men were tricksters. “Not my thing,” I replied, picking up a tray of champagne. Sandra smiled broadly. “He's a newcomer in the area." Solo. "And incredibly wealthy." “Great for him,” I retorted, my heart too wounded for playing. “Jess, hold on,” she said, her tone lowering. “He's the father of Jade.” My tray almost dropped. “What did you say?” “Damien Blackwood,” she affirmed. Wealthy executive leader. Jade's father. A blaze of retribution sparked. Did Jade really believe he could embarrass me? I would retaliate—forcefully. I tossed back a glass of champagne, the sting boosting my confidence, and walked confidently to Damien’s table. His gaze followed me, keen and discerning, igniting a risky excitement I couldn't overlook. “Evening,” I remarked, my tone steady even though my heart was pounding. "Do you require a refill?" Damien's lips twisted into a gradual, hunting grin. “Only if it accompanies your company.” His voice was smooth, infused with purpose. “Jessica,” I suggested, leaning in, my grin playful. "And what about you?" “Damien,” he stated, his eyes stripping away my barriers. “Come with me.” Before I had a chance to reply, Sandra hurried over, her complexion pale. She took hold of my arm, drawing me away. “Jess, check this out.” She thrust her phone toward me, a gossip site headline blaring: Jade Blackwood’s Hidden Vegas Wedding to Elise Thornton—Cemented with a Million-Dollar Deal! My heart ceased to beat. Jade hadn't only proposed—he'd wed Elise just hours before, in a strategic arrangement, while I was pleading at his doorstep. Humiliation overwhelmed me, tears stinging as the room whirled. However, I spotted it—a new headline: Damien Blackwood Pursues Wife in a High-Stakes Business Arrangement. I turned my gaze to Damien, who observed me with an inscrutable expression. Sandra murmured, “Jess, he’s proposing a marriage of convenience to safeguard his empire.” “And he is gazing at you.” My breath caught, fury and despair clashing. A marriage by contract with Jade’s father? It was madness—a possibility to eliminate Jade, or a snare that could ruin my life. As Damien lifted his glass and his gaze met mine, I sensed the gravity of a decision that might turn my life to dust.