The Billionaire’s Contracted Bride

Chapter 3

For a few seconds, the room was silent after that shocking statement. Simultaneously, Joshua and Dimitri turned to the origin of the sound. Dimitri narrowed his eyes when he saw the foreign woman who had fainted earlier, currently standing in the doorway in pajamas and a bandage on her head.

Meanwhile, Joshua, the man, suddenly raised the corners of his lips in a subtle grin. Who knows what the man was thinking.

Without paying attention to the reactions of the two people in the room, the woman with determined steps walked to the center of the room, her gaze fixed on Dimitri. "I'll take his place. I'll marry you."

Dimitri leaned against the table; he tilted his head slightly. "Why?"

Suspicion lingered in Dimitri's mind. Why did this woman suddenly offer to marry him? Was today's series of events a scenario that this woman had set up to meet him? Remembering the many women who came to the house offering themselves as his wife, Dimitri hated cheap women and drove them away before they reached his gates.

Dimitri looked at the woman for a moment before turning his gaze to the window. "What's your name?"

"Belle, Isabelle Smith. Today, I was supposed to get married, but unfortunately, I caught my fiancé cheating on me. We fought until he hurt me." Belle chuckled darkly at the end of her words, making Dimitri turn his gaze back to her.

"Maybe now he's sending his men all over the city looking for me," she continued.

Dimitri's eyebrows rose slightly, his hands busy tapping his fingers rhythmically on the table.

"Joshua, go," Dimitri ordered Joshua, who was currently standing like a statue.

"Ah?" Joshua furrowed his brows. Did Dimitri just throw him out of this room? But why?

"Didn't you hear me?" Dimitri emphasized.

Joshua blinked a few times before nodding, confused by Dimitri's sudden order. Finally, he nodded as Dimitri gave him a cold look. "Okay, I'll go."

Dimitri approached Belle after Joshua disappeared behind the door. His sharp eyes met Belle's beautiful blue eyes.

Belle's statement just now managed to dispel some of Dimitri's suspicions.

Isabelle Smith? Dimitri had heard that name before—an actress, the daughter of the owner of a company on the verge of collapse. That explains why she looked so sad in her wedding dress; she had a failed marriage. What a poor woman....

"Are you really Isabelle? Could it be that you are trying to cheat—"

"Cheat? Do you think I have time to cheat you? Haven't you seen me on TV? If you don't believe me, you can check the internet to find my face!" Belle folded her arms and snorted. He couldn't believe he was being accused of being a fraud! She couldn't imagine any man not recognizing her in this country when so many men adored her for her beauty.

A grin appeared on Dimitri's lips. For the first time in his life, he was scolded by a stranger.

"I don't waste my time watching television and recognizing celebrities. It's natural that I don't recognize your face."

"So, do you accept my offer?" Belle asked, narrowing her eyes.

Belle didn't know this man at all, but he exuded a powerful aura that someone like Liam couldn't underestimate, at least this man should have power comparable to Liam or exceeding Liam. Belle clearly knew this man was not an ordinary person after seeing his palace-like residence, the noble class clothes he wore, and the luxurious watch on his wrist that Belle knew only a few were produced in the world.

"Are you willing to play this role?" The man asked with an emotionless face.

Belle nodded firmly. For five minutes, she stood there listening to their conversation, and during that time, Belle thought carefully, trying to make the right decision that would change her future. If she didn't marry him, Liam would certainly try to force her into marriage by any means necessary, and her father... he would search for her wherever she went and return her to Liam. This was the only way to prevent Liam and her father from bothering her; Belle wanted to be free from their grip.

Once again, Belle nodded. "I do. The condition is that you have to give me protection, and help me get revenge on my ex-fiancé, then I play the role of your wife."

***

Located in the middle of a plantation, Elysian Heights stands proudly with European-style architecture; the outside of the building is decorated with dome-shaped glass doors. Set among a 15-hectare estate, the mansion is equipped with various sports fields and three helipads. The magnificent building attracted Belle's attention from a distance; even the house of the richest person in this country that she had visited was not as magnificent as this one. This makes Belle a little curious about her grandfather Dimitri.

After 30 minutes of travel, Belle and Dimitri's car finally stopped right in front of the main door of the mansion, a guard hurriedly opened the car door.

When the door opened, Dimitri stepped out first, then graciously held out his hand to Belle.

Their eyes met for a few seconds, and Belle was confused as to what Dimitri was doing.

Feeling Belle just silently looking at his outstretched hand, Dimitri raised his eyebrows. “We will be playing the role of a romantic couple in public; you have to get used to that.”

Belle finally nodded in understanding, then took the man's outstretched hand.

The heavy wooden door creaked open as Dimitri entered. A spacious foyer decorated with marble floors and a gold-plated crystal chandelier on the ceiling greeted them.

A woman in her 50s who served as the butler approached them while bowing respectfully.

"Welcome back, young master," greeted the butler with authority. "Your grandfather is waiting for you in his study."

Dimitri greeted the butler with a nod, then, hands still linked, they walked through a long corridor decorated with paintings by world-famous painters, which Belle knew were worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Meanwhile, in a large room with a view of the plantation, the 74-year-old silver-haired man was busy flipping through the pages of a document with the PrestigeGlobal Enterprises logo on the cover. Not only on the cover, Samuel's proud logo is also beautifully engraved on the back of his desk, as a sign of the Vanderbilt family's success in the business world for several generations.

“Dad, you were discharged from the hospital the day after surgery. This worries the doctors, and to be honest, it worries me a lot too,” said the 40-year-old woman sitting across from him in a concerned tone.

Samuel Vanderbilt placed the documents in his hands on the table and looked at his daughter. "Eleanor, I can't wait to get back home. There are things here that need my attention."

Eleanor leaned forward with a snort. "Is it true? Or rather… you have someone you can't wait to meet?”

A happy smile appeared on Samuel's face. "Ah, you guessed right, I want to meet your son's girlfriend."

The door to the room creaking open distracted the two of them, a 37-year-old man who was Samuel's assistant appeared from behind the door and walked over to Samuel.

"Mr. Dimitri has arrived, accompanied by his girlfriend," the assistant reported with a bow.

Samuel leaned back in his chair, a happy smile on his face. "Very good, very good. Bring them in."

A few moments later, the door to the room opened again, Dimitri entered with Belle by his side.

Samuel looked satisfied seeing his grandson, while Mrs. Eleanor who was sitting watched the scene sarcastically.

Mrs. Eleanor couldn't hide her disapproval when observing the woman who came with her son. He just thought every woman who approached Dimitri just wanted his family's wealth.

"Dimitri, when will you understand? You must marry the woman I choose for you."

Samuel turned to Eleanor with twitching lips. "Eleanor, I don't mind who Dimitri marries, as long as he is happy with his choice."

"But, Dad—"

"That's enough, Eleanor. Wait for me on the third floor; we'll talk later." Samuel raised his voice a little. His daughter is very worried about the girl Dimitri will marry, and she only wants Dimitri to marry someone who makes him happy.

Eleanor rose from her seat, and Belle could feel the sharp gaze Dimitri's mother directed at her as she walked past. When he turned his gaze to Dimitri, the man seemed indifferent towards his mother. Is their relationship bad? Belle wondered.