My Husband was Secretly a Billionaire

*LEAH* “I don’t know what to do,” I murmured to myself as I stared at the cardboard box on the table in front of me. The box had my personal belongings from work in it. Anyone can tell I’d just been laid off from work. Tears welled up as I stared at the box. How could life have handpicked me and be this cruel to me? Edgar, my boss didn’t even wait to listen to my explanation before handing the letter to me. I was about to tell him that they called me at the hospital again because there was another emergency. Yes, another emergency! I knew he was tired of hearing this same excuse for months as to why I left work without notice. My mum had been admitted to the hospital for months now. She was diagnosed with a severe heart condition and it just keeps getting worse. I jerked back to reality when my phone buzzed in my pocket. It was a message from Jordan. Our relationship was almost the only thing working fine in my life. I hoped for relief as I read. But the text shattered my fleeting hope. Earlier, I asked Jordan if he could lend me some money to pay for mum’s surgery. The hospital had asked for a whooping sum of a hundred thousand dollars. Where was I supposed to get that kind of money? Jordan was all I had and I knew the money was only a penny to him, so I asked him to lend me. “Hey, babe. I’m sorry, but I don’t have the money. I have a lot of pressing things to settle…” I muttered the message to myself and my tears fell. How could Jordan say he didn’t have the money? His recent partnership with Emirates group meant he should be more than capable of helping. Emirates group was the top conglomerate in the country worth billions of dollars. A voice in my head reminded me not to feel entitled, but the disappointment was crushing. I sighed and called Jordan. I wanted to tell him that I had gotten laid off from work. I needed comfort. The phone rang almost for eternity until his voice finally broke through the silence, urgent and quick. “Babe! I’m busy in a meeting right now, I’ll call you later,” he blurted. And before I could respond, the line went dead. I dropped my phone on the table and sipped my drink, trying to wash away the salty taste of tears that had slipped into my mouth. “How am I supposed to get the money for mum’s surgery?” I whispered, my lips trembling as I cried silently. “I don’t want mama to die…” My last options were my brother, Gerald and my stepmom. But I know they wouldn’t even think twice before refusing. I’m so pathetic right now. Somehow, I found myself at the front of my late father’s company with my box clutched to my chest. I stood before the towering building. Gerald and my stepmom had taken over after Dad’s death. Apparently, when he died, he shared all he had between Gerald, my stepmom and stepsister, leaving me with nothing. I took a deep breath and walked inside. “Hello, I need to see Mr Gerald.” “Do you have an appointment for this time,” the receptionist asked. I rolled my eyes inwardly. I didn’t know I had to book an appointment to meet my brother at my late father’s company. “No, I don’t,” I replied politely. “I am his sister, you could just let him know his sister would like to see him.” Before I finished my sentence, she had already sized me up with her eyes dripping with mockery. I honestly didn’t blame her. If I was her I would doubt myself too. Considering how I was dressed and how I looked, I was not close to my brother’s level. “You… you can sit over there for now. I shall place a call to his office.” In no time, I was led to his office. The entire place looked even more luxurious than the last time I was here. “What do you want?!” Gerald shouted as soon as I walked into the office. He glared at me with so much disgust written all over his face. I wasn’t surprised, since he had always treated me like dirt, despite being his sister. I bit my lower lips slightly, trying to come up with the best way to ask him for the money for our mum’s surgery. “Have you forgotten how to speak?” Hannah, my stepmother asked coldly. “If you’re too dumb to comprehend, we were in the middle of an important discussion.” I bit my lower lips harder and finally said, “Good afternoon Gerald, I… I…” I stumbled on my words for a second but continued, “Please, I need your help.” The silence in the room was deafening. “The hospital said mum’s surgery would cost a hundred thousand dollars, and they need to do the surgery this week unfailingly-“ “So what?” Gerald interrupted me. “I was hoping you could lend me the money.” Before he could respond, I quickly added, “I promise to pay it back. I promise.” Suddenly, they both started laughing. What was funny? What was so funny about our dying mother who urgently needed to get a surgery? “Did you think I’d give you a dime?,” he said, creasing his brows into a frown. “Please Gerald. The doctor said that she needs to get the surgery done as soon as possible. I don’t want her to die, please-” “Get out!” he ordered and stood up to probably push me out himself. I knew it! I knew he wouldn’t help us. Ever since dad divorced mum, he and dad had both hated and abandoned her. I was the only one that still cared for her. That’s why they hated me too. I sniffed and swallowed, unable to control my tears as I pleaded. I hated this! but I didn’t have a choice -for mum’s sake. “Please, Gerald, she is your mum too…” Before I knew it, a hot resounding slap fell on my cheek. Ouch! It really hurt. “Get out!” he shouted. My cheeks started burning, and as tears rolled down, it stung. They are so evil! What has mum done to them to deserve this?! I looked over and saw the sly smirk on my stepmother’s face. Before I knew it, my legs started moving and I ran as fast as I could out of there. *** I walked through the front door of our house. I was finally home. I couldn’t stop thinking about how I could get the money for mum’s surgery and it made my head hurt. All I wanted to do was rest, but I was welcomed with loud moans and grunts. “Uhh yes! Yes baby!” Serena’s disgusting moans filled the house. This girl really has no sense of decency. I ignored and walked quietly, heading to my room. Suddenly, her next scream stopped me in my tracks. “Ohhh! f**k Jordan! I love you!” Did I just hear right? Did she just moan my fiancé’s name? “Yes, Jordan. Yess” Are they f*****g?! My eyes widened, and my heart began to race. I immediately ran to Serena’s room and pushed open the slightly ajar door. “What!” I almost screamed, but my palms quickly covered my mouth. A rollercoaster of emotions swirled within me as I froze. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Am I seeing things or are my fiancé and stepsister both naked under the sheets right now?! The most devastating part was that they continued like I wasn’t there. Didn’t they hear someone barge in? Were they that engrossed? “Oh my god! Jordan don’t stop! I’m about to come,” Serena screamed, her back arched as she dug her fingernails in Jordan’s back. Jordan collapsed on her and they were both sweating and panting. “What the f**k!” I whispered bitterly. I could feel my heart literally ripping apart. “What the f**k, Jordan!” “Oh my god! Leah you’re not supposed to be home by this time,” Jordan’s eyes shot open when he saw me. “How come you’re home… no no… I’m sorry Leah, it's not what you think.” He quickly collected his clothes and began to put it on, “I’m really sorry, love. I didn’t mean to-“ “Put your filthy d**k in my step sister?!” I cut him off immediately. Intense rage swirled within me that I felt like I was about to burst. Does my life only get worse? “How could you, Jordan?! We are engaged,” I blurted and turned to Serena who had a rather satisfied look on her face. She was clearly loving the show. “Leah, Please-“ Jordan rushed to my side. “Don’t you dare touch me,” I shouted before he could lay his filthy hands on me. My breath was coming in short and ragged from how much rage I was feeling. I reached for my engagement ring, pulled it out and slammed it on the floor. “I’m done!” With that, I turned around to leave. “I’m sorry Leah. I should have told you months ago that I couldn’t do this anymore…” What! “I love Serena now. In fact, she’s carrying my child…” A child? So this wasn’t even their first. They’ve been f*****g under my nose for months and I had no idea. How could he be so cruel? I slapped him hard across the cheek. “f**k you!” I screamed and stormed out. Gerald arrived just as I was leaving. I didn’t mind and kept walking. “I’ll pay for her surgery,” Gerald said. I immediately halted and turned around. “You said?” “I said I will pay for your mother’s surgery.” Oh! Thank God! Has the universe finally decided to have mercy on me? But why did he change his mind though? “Thank you so much,” I meant to say but Gerald was faster. “Before you thank me, you should know that this comes with a condition. I’m not going to just waste my money for no reason.” I waited patiently for him to say the condition. I will do anything for my mum’s surgery to be paid for. “You shall marry Vance Miller.” Uh! Vance Miller? My face contorted in disgust at the thought of the name. “Gerald, isn’t he the poor and wretched rumored ex-convict?” “And so?” My brother shot back with no emotions in his eyes. How could he ask me to marry such a man? Thinking about it made me feel cold and chills ran down my spine. How can I marry an ex-convict? What if he begins to abuse me in the marriage? Or even kill me? I clenched my fist tight. Can I, for once, get something good in life for free?? What am I going to do now? Marry Vance Miller? I pressed my trembling lips together and nodded before meeting Gerald’s eyes. “I… I will marry him.” “Good. The wedding is tomorrow,” he said and walked away. Tomorrow??