The Billionaire's Reluctant Wife

Star’s POV “Get out.” The word didn’t just hit me, it scattered something in me. I blinked, my heart beating forcefully against my chest as I stared at Rodriguez, hoping and praying that I had heard him wrong. “W-what?” My voice came out small and fragile… nothing like the strong woman I thought I was. Rodriguez didn’t even look guilty, he didn't even hesitate. “I said get out, Star. I’m done with this… with you.” Something inside me broke. And just like that, no warning, no explanation, no emotion. Everything was over. My fingers trembled at my sides as I forced out a laugh, one that sounded more like a sob. “You’re joking, right? Rodriguez, this isn’t funny,” “I’m not joking.” His voice was cold and emotionless, like I meant absolutely nothing to him. “I’ve met someone else.” Immediately, silence filled the air, the kind that suffocates you slowly. “…What?” “She understands me better,” he continued, already reaching for his phone as this conversation bored him. “She’s on my level.” On his level??? The words burned, forcing tears out of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall, not in front of him. Not when he was standing there like I was just some inconvenience he needed to get rid of. “After everything?” I whispered. “After all the years, Rodriguez?” He sighed, irritated. “Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.” My chest tightened painfully. “You’re throwing me away like I meant nothing!” “You’re overreacting.” That was it, that was the moment I realized that I had been loving a stranger. A total stranger who didn’t care. A stranger who never deserved me. “Fine,” I said, my voice breaking despite my efforts. “You know what? Fine!” I turned before he could see the tears finally spill, grabbing my bag with shaky hands. But just as I reached the door, his voice stopped me. “Oh, and Star?” I froze. “Close the door on your way out.” … That was the moment my heart truly broke. The music was too loud, and the lights were too bright, and I was too drunk to care. “Star! Slow down!” Phoebe’s voice barely cut through the chaos as I downed another shot, the burning liquid doing nothing to numb the ache in my chest. “Another!” I shouted, slamming the glass on the table. “Okay, that’s enough,” Phoebe said, grabbing my wrist. “You’ve had way too much—” “He left me, Phoebe!” I snapped, my voice cracking as tears blurred my vision. “Just like that! Like I was nothing!” Phoebe’s expression softened, but I didn’t want pity. I wanted to forget. “I just… I just want it to stop hurting,” I whispered. And alcohol was the only thing doing a decent job. “Come on,” Phoebe said gently. “Let’s go home.” “No.” I pulled away, shaking my head stubbornly. “I’m not going home, not tonight.” The home felt empty and cold, just like my heart. “I need air,” I muttered, stumbling slightly as I pushed through the crowd. “Star…wait!” But I was already gone. The night air hit my face, cool and sharp, but it didn’t clear my head the way I hoped. Everything was still spinning, everything was still hurting. I wrapped my arms around myself, breathing unevenly as tears streamed down my cheeks. Why wasn’t I enough? What did she have that I didn’t? “Careful.” A deep voice cut through my thoughts just as I nearly lost my balance. Strong hands caught me before I could hit the ground and for a moment, everything went still. My breath hitched as I looked up… and forgot how to breathe. He was tall, easily over six feet, with sharp, defined features and eyes that held a dangerous kind of calm. The kind that made your heart race without permission. “Easy,” he said again, his grip firm but not rough. I should have pulled away. I should have said thank you and left. But instead I just stared. And for the first time that night, my pain paused. “I’m fine,” I mumbled, though I clearly wasn’t. He raised a brow, clearly unconvinced. “You don’t look fine.” A bitter laugh escaped me. “Yeah? Well… looks can be deceiving.” Something flickered in his eyes, interest, maybe, or curiosity. “Rough night?” he asked. “You could say that.” I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself. “I just got dumped.” There, I said it out loud and somehow, it hurt even more. Instead of pity, he studied me for a moment before speaking. “Then maybe,” he said slowly, “you need a distraction.” My heart skipped at the word distraction. That’s exactly what I need, I needed something to make me forget. Even if just for one night. I should have said no, I should have walked away, but heartbreak does dangerous things to people. And at that moment, I didn’t care about the consequences. I met his gaze, my pulse racing as I whispered… “… Maybe I do.” That was the night I met Rick Hernando, the night everything changed, the night I made the biggest mistake of my life. Or should I say the night fate decided to rewrite my story. Rick's pov I hate parties and that’s the truth no one ever believes. People see the lights, the women, the drinks, the noise, and they assume I enjoy it. They think I belong here. But I don’t. I stood in a quiet corner of the VIP section, a glass of whiskey in my hand, watching people laugh like life was simple. Like nothing could ever go wrong, which was beginning to annoy me. “Sir, should I call the driver?” Charlotte asked beside me, her voice calm and professional as always. I didn’t look at her. “Not yet.” She nodded and stepped back, already used to my moods. I checked my watch, it’s 10:47 PM. I had already stayed longer than I planned. This whole thing was pointless. David had insisted I show up, something about “keeping appearances” and “business relationships.” I knew better. He liked crowded places like this, he liked attention. And I didn’t trust him, not after everything. My jaw tightened slightly as I took a slow sip of my drink. Parties remind me of things I try to forget; fake smiles, fake love, fake loyalty. I’ve seen it all before. My father, smiling in public like the perfect family man… only to become someone else behind closed doors. The woman I once thought I would marry… walking away like I meant nothing. People only stay when there’s something to gain. That’s how the world works, that’s how I learned to survive. “Rick!” I didn’t need to turn to know who it was. Becca. She walked toward me with that confident smile she always wore, like she already owned a place in my life. “I’ve been looking for you,” she said, placing a hand lightly on my arm and I gently removed it. “I didn’t ask you to.” Her smile stiffened for a second, but she quickly recovered. “You’re no fun tonight.” “I’m not here for fun.” She leaned closer. “Then why are you here?” Good question, I asked myself the same thing. “Work,” I replied shortly. Becca laughed softly. “You and your work. One day, you’ll realize that life is more than contracts and meetings.” I almost smiled, but not because I agreed, but because, if anything, contracts made more sense than people. At least contracts don’t pretend. “I’m leaving soon,” I said. “Already?” she frowned. “The night is just getting started.” “For you, maybe, not for me.” I handed my empty glass to a passing waiter and adjusted my suit. “I’ll see you later, Becca.” She didn’t like that answer, but I didn’t wait for her reaction. I turned and walked away. The music got louder as I moved through the crowd, bodies everywhere, laughter, drinks spilling, nothing real. I was halfway to the exit when I stopped. Something felt… off. I don’t know why. Maybe instinct or maybe habit, or maybe I just needed a reason to pause before stepping back into my usual quiet life. That was when I saw her. She pushed through the crowd like she didn’t care who was watching. Most women in places like this knew exactly what they were doing. She didn’t. Her eyes were red, like she had been crying, and her steps were uneven. And for some reason… I couldn’t look away. I told myself it didn’t matter, she didn’t matter. Just another stranger in a crowded room. But then she stumbled, and before I could think, I moved fast and by the time she reached the exit, I was already there. Just in time to catch her before she fell. “Careful.” The moment I touched her, something shifted. Something I didn’t expect, something I didn’t understand. She looked up at me… and for a second, everything else disappeared and it was just us. That was the moment I should have walked away. But I didn’t. And that decision… Changed everything.