Reluctant Billionaire's Bride

Meona sat in stillness, watching the night fade away, watching as darkness enveloped the clouds. Her thoughts were heavy with uncertainty and she wondered if it was her fate to be lonely and sad. First, it was her mum and now her Father laid on the sick bed with no hope of recovery. Meona Carter, is the daughter of Bill Carter’s first love whose love affair ended right before it got started. Bill Carter has always loved Meona's Mum but life had other plans for both Father and Daughter. Meona, lacking her mother's love and struggling to get that of her Father's grew to become a fierce and intelligent lady. Yet, within her father's house she was always treated like a servant. Her stepmother and stepsister Rian never miss an opportunity to humiliate her. In her father's house, she was treated like a slave, a servant and everyday she became the shadow of the daughter she could have been. Rian got all the benefits and Meona was left with nothing. The story began to change when Meona's Father fell ill, battling for his life and Liam Devlins became entwined with her fate. Liam Devlin, one of New York's Youngest and most sought after billionaires, had always lived under the shadow of his Father, Mr Devlin. His Father Mr Devlins has built a reputation he isn't willing to ruin anytime soon. The weight of the Devlin Family bore down on him and Liam was ready to do anything to protect it even if it meant hurting himself in the process. Back at the Carter's mansion, tension erupts in an argument as Rian and Meona get into a heated argument that sends their father to the hospital. You've never belonged here, Meona, Rina voice laced with venom. Get out now! We don't need you, you are just the daughter of a slut mother. Meona, fuelled with anger stormed towards furious Rina slapped her hard across her face. Don't you ever speak my mother's name again! You have no right. I have never complained about how you speak to me but don't ever try that with my mother's name! Meona firmly said while pointing a finger at Rian. I have the right, Meona! You are under my Father's roof and I can speak to you anyway I wish to. This is my father's house not yours! You are just an awful reminder of my Father's mistake. Yes, you are a mistake and you don't belong here you belong to the streets with the beggars. Meona feeling a sharp pain of hurt in her chest, her voice trembling with years of suppressed agony couldn't hold back. I've been treated more than a servant in this house. You and your mother have done nothing but to make sure my life is miserable. I am not my mother, why do you treat me like this?! You do not have to be your mother, but you are just like her, Rina replied coldly. Your type doesn't belong to Rich families neither do you deserve to share our name. You are a filthy rag lady undeserving of anything! Mr Carter has struggled from his bed, drawn by the sounds of their arguments, and managed to walk up to the sitting room where he finds Rina and Meona fighting. That's enough Rina, Mr Carter gasped while trying to catch his breath. Leave Meona alone, I have told you countless times that Meona is my first daughter and should be treated with dignity and respect. Why do you go ahead and disobey me? Rina opened her mouth to speak, when her mother's voice cut through the tension already settling in the Carter's Mansion. "There is only one daughter of this family and that is Rina Carter, her stepmother declared, stepping forward to hold Rina’s hand. ‘Anyone else here is just a parasite’ As Mr Carter was about to defend his daughter, he held his chest in agony and pain, struggling to breathe with a final desperate gasp, he collapsed to the floor. Father! Father! Meona screamed and rushed over to him trying to lift him. Rina stormed at Meona forcefully dragging Mr Carter out of her hands. Call the ambulance mom! Now! Rina shouted. This was the fourth episode Mr Carter was having in three months, he was diagnosed with a serious heart condition. The doctors offered a transplant and believed with a new heart, he could spend many more years. Mr Carter is the CEO of Steels Company, all his life he has worked to see Steel grow into the empire it has become today. But, government policies shifted around the globe and Steel was left struggling to stay afloat. Mr Devlin, a business mogul always had his eyes on steel, long before the government policies he had wanted to buy the major shares and become of the the top executives on board. Mr Carter wasn't ready to sell his family fortune to a stranger, he had imagined Meona leading the board of directors and making him proud. Mr Carter's left with no other choice approached Mr Devlin for financial assistance hoping to save steel. Mr Devlin, ever the shrewd businessman, knew Steel’s recovery was uncertain, but he offered a loan anyway, knowing it would bind the Carters to him. It was at that same moment that his health deteriorated and all the money went into paying his hospital bills. Neither do the Carter Family have enough money to pay for Mr Carter's hospital bill or help Steel rise back. It was a difficult time for the Carter's and fate had more installed for them. Back at the Carter's Mansion, the ambulance had already arrived, Mr Carter had been rushed to the hospital, Meona was sitting right next to him with tears streaming down her cheeks as she watched her Father breathe rise and descend sharply. She wasn't prepared to be left all alone for the second time, she needed her father right there. She needed him to be alive and strong, they still have memories to create, she couldn't bear the thought of him leaving this world or her facing the world without him. As if hearing her turmoil, Mr Carter's eyes fluttered open searching for Meona's. Deep within him he always regrets the fact Meona never got the respect she deserved as his first daughter from her stepmother and stepsister. He wanted to compensate for that, he wanted to give Meona the life she deserves but life in itself was playing a game on him. The last thing Mr Carter could remember was seeing the nurses rushing him into the ward. Liam Devlin has also just arrived at the Hill hospital to get his routine check up. Liam was always admired wherever he steps his foot in. He has always wanted to live like a simple life but that was just his thoughts and not others. Liam was stepping into the reception, his gray suit suit, his tie loosened for comfort. As he walked, Meona rushing to the emergency ward brushed past him. Their hands lightly touched, and turning to apologize, bot h their eyes locked in a gaze that seemed endless.