The Billionaire’s secret lover

The sound of laughter filled the Hill family mansion on Victoria Island as soft music played quietly from the living room speakers. Warm golden lights reflected against the polished marble floors while servants moved around preparing dinner. Andrea Hill stood near the dining table, carefully arranging flowers inside a crystal vase. A gentle smile rested on her lips as she admired the beautiful white roses. “Perfect,” she whispered softly. At twenty-two, Andrea was known for her calm beauty and graceful personality. Her long dark hair fell over her shoulders neatly, and her hazel eyes carried warmth that made people naturally trust her. Unlike many rich daughters in Victoria Island, Andrea hated showing off wealth. She preferred peace, books, and spending time with the people she loved most — her parents. “Andrea!” her father’s cheerful voice echoed through the room. She turned quickly and smiled brightly. “Dad!” Mr. Hills opened his arms dramatically. “Come and hug your favorite person in the whole world.” Andrea laughed softly before walking into his embrace. “What about Mom?” she asked playfully. “That woman already owns my heart,” he whispered loudly. “Excuse me?” Mrs. Hills suddenly appeared from the staircase with narrowed eyes. The entire room burst into laughter. Andrea watched her parents lovingly tease each other, and warmth filled her chest. They were not perfect, but they loved deeply. That was enough for her. Mrs. Hills walked toward Andrea and gently touched her cheek. “You look tired, sweetheart. Have you been studying again?” Andrea sighed dramatically. “Final project stress.” “You need rest too,” her mother warned softly. Before Andrea could reply, another voice interrupted the peaceful moment. “Must this family always behave like characters in a romance movie?” Andrea’s smile faded slightly. Rebel Hills walked into the dining area elegantly, adjusting the expensive diamond bracelet around her wrist. Beside her was her daughter, Ella Hills, scrolling through her phone with complete disinterest. Andrea greeted politely. “Good evening, Stepmother.” Rebel nodded lazily. “Hmm.” Ella barely looked up. “Hi.” The atmosphere shifted immediately. Andrea’s father cleared his throat awkwardly. “Dinner is almost ready.” Rebel smiled sweetly at him, but Andrea noticed the coldness hidden underneath it. Rebel had married her father years ago after Andrea’s biological mother struggled with illness. Though Mrs. Hills later recovered and reconciled peacefully with the family, Rebel never truly accepted Andrea. Ella was even worse. Everything about Andrea irritated her. Her beauty. Her kindness. Her closeness to Mr. Hills. Even the servants loved Andrea more. “Dad,” Ella suddenly spoke while sitting down. “Can I use the blue Lamborghini tomorrow?” Mr. Hills frowned slightly. “You crashed the last car two weeks ago.” Ella rolled her eyes. “It was just a scratch.” “A scratch worth millions,” Andrea muttered quietly. Ella immediately glared at her. “Did you say something?” Andrea forced a small smile. “No.” Rebel crossed her legs elegantly. “Andrea, since you’re not doing anything important tomorrow, you should accompany me to the charity event.” Mrs. Hills immediately replied. “Andrea already has school responsibilities.” Rebel’s expression tightened for a second before she smiled again. “Of course. Education first.” Andrea noticed the hidden irritation in her voice. Dinner soon began, but the uncomfortable tension remained heavy in the room. Andrea tried focusing on her parents instead. Her father suddenly looked at her proudly. “Once Andrea graduates, I plan to hand some company responsibilities to her.” Ella almost dropped her fork. “What?” Rebel’s fake smile disappeared briefly. Mr. Hills continued calmly. “Andrea is intelligent and responsible. She deserves experience.” Ella laughed mockingly. “Andrea? Business?” “She’s smarter than you,” Mrs. Hills replied sharply. The dining table fell silent. Ella stood up angrily. “Mom, let’s go.” Rebel slowly rose from her chair. Before leaving, she looked directly at Andrea with eyes full of hidden hatred. “You should learn that life changes quickly.” Andrea felt uncomfortable immediately. Something about the way Rebel said those words made chills crawl down her spine. Hours later, the mansion became quiet. Rain clouds gathered outside the large windows as thunder rumbled faintly in the distance. Andrea sat inside her bedroom typing on her laptop while soft music played quietly nearby. Her phone buzzed suddenly. She glanced at the screen. Dad ❤️ Andrea smiled before answering immediately. “Dad?” Heavy breathing filled the line. “Pumpkin…” her father’s weak voice sounded distant. Andrea sat upright immediately. “Dad? What’s wrong?” Another unfamiliar voice interrupted. “Miss Andrea?” “Yes?” “This is River Valley Hospital.” Andrea’s heart stopped. “There has been an accident.” The world around her suddenly became silent. “What accident?” she whispered shakily. “Your parents were involved in a serious car crash.” Andrea’s hands began trembling violently. “No…” “We need you to come immediately.” The call ended. Andrea froze completely. Her breathing became uneven. Her mind refused to process the words. Accident. Hospital. Parents. “No…” she whispered again. Her phone slipped from her fingers and hit the floor loudly. Within seconds, she rushed out of her room. The hallway blurred around her as panic consumed her entire body. “Driver!” she screamed desperately while running downstairs. Servants rushed toward her in confusion. “Miss Andrea—” “To the hospital now!” Rain poured heavily outside as the car sped through the streets of Victoria Island. Andrea’s hands shook uncontrollably in her lap. Please be okay. Please. Please. Tears streamed silently down her face. The hospital building finally appeared ahead. Andrea jumped out before the car fully stopped. She ran through the entrance desperately. “River Valley emergency room?” she asked breathlessly. A nurse pointed down the hallway. Andrea sprinted forward. Then she saw them. Rebel. Ella. And several doctors standing silently outside a room. Andrea’s heartbeat slowed painfully. “No…” she whispered weakly. Rebel suddenly covered her mouth dramatically and pretended to cry. Andrea looked past them toward the hospital bed inside the room. White sheets covered two motionless bodies completely. Her knees almost gave out instantly. “No…” She walked forward slowly like someone trapped inside a nightmare. Her fingers trembled as she touched the edge of the white cloth. “Mom…?” No response. “Dad…?” Silence. Andrea pulled the sheet down slightly. The moment she saw her mother’s face, a broken scream escaped her lips. “No!” Doctors and nurses immediately rushed toward her. Andrea collapsed beside the hospital bed, sobbing uncontrollably. “This wasn’t supposed to happen!” she cried painfully. Her tears soaked the white sheets. “Mom please wake up…” Nothing. “Dad please don’t leave me…” Still nothing. Andrea’s entire world shattered in that moment. And standing behind her silently, Rebel slowly smiled. The storm outside grew even louder.