The Billionaire's Damned Secret
Joy Richards · Completed · 134.9k Words
Introduction
Thalia stared at Alexander Croft, the heir to the family she had always believed responsible for her parents' deaths.
"You want me to marry you? You actually think I'd agree to that?"
"Why not? You'll regain control of your family's wealth, and I'll have a partner who understands what it means to carry a family's legacy. You can't fight this battle alone."
Only days ago, Thalia had caught her husband, Brandon, in bed with her best friend. Betrayed and humiliated, she was forced to sign away her fortune, her shares, and control of her family's company.
Now Alexander, her family's greatest enemy, is offering her a way to take it all back.
Their marriage is supposed to be nothing more than a business deal. She needs Alexander's power to reclaim her inheritance, while he needs her to secure his position as CEO.
But living under the same roof changes everything.
The cold and ruthless Alexander becomes her strongest protector, and the man Thalia swore never to trust slowly becomes the only person she can rely on.
Then the secrets of her family's past begin to surface.
The Crofts may not be responsible for her family's deaths after all.
As old enemies close in and the truth threatens to destroy everything, Thalia must uncover who really destroyed her family before she loses the fortune, the company, and the man she has finally learned to love.
Chapter 1
Thalia's POV.
I stood outside the penthouse door, my keycard trembling between my fingers.
There was a gnawing feeling deep inside me, twisting and tightening, it was nauseating which was why I left the charity gala early and I only hope the feeling was good news for Brandon and me.
My husband, Brandon wasn't feeling well so he couldn't attend the gala with me. An unfamiliar silence enveloped, the minute I entered the house, no hum of activity, no vacuum running, and no dishes clinking. Just absolute silence, I know Brandon is resting but something just felt off.
Shaking off the unease I headed toward the kitchen and poured myself a cup of water, it should calm my nerves before I speak to Brandon so we could take a test together.
Then I heard it. Muffled voices, a soft moan, sounds I shouldn't be hearing in my home of all places.
I slowly ascended the staircase, the silk of my evening gown brushing against my skin.
The sounds became clearer with each step.
Intimate. Familiar. My heart pounded so hard I thought it might burst out of my chest.
I pushed the door open. There they were. My best friend, draped in nothing but my sheets, sprawled across my marital bed, lips locked with the man I promised my life to--Brandon.
"Thalia?" Bradon's voice echoed through the room and he shot up, but there was no remorse in his eyes. No shock. No regret. Only... annoyance. I stood there, my mind simply refused to process what I was seeing.
My husband. My best friend.
Betrayal wasn't supposed to feel this way, like I'd stepped into some batshit crazy dream I couldn't wake up from.
"You... you said you were going to the after-party," Brandon muttered, casually pulling on a discarded shirt, his face still bearing the same look of annoyance... like he hadn't just been caught cheating on me. "Why the hell are you back so soon?"
I opened my mouth but no words came out.
My mind was blank, I was struggling to piece together a logical thought, How? Why? Them?
Brandon's frustration grew as I stood there in silence.
"Thalia, say something," he growled. "It's not what you think."
Not what I think? A bitter laugh escaped my throat, and when I finally spoke, my voice trembled "Not what I think? You're screwing my best friend Brandon, What am I supposed to think?"
My best friend-- former best friend now wrapped herself awkwardly in the blanket, indifference plastered on her face.
"Thalia... I just..."
"I don't want to hear it," I spat, the words sharper than now, my blood boiled beneath my skin
I turned my attention to Brandon, my voice barely controlled. "How long?"
Brandon sighed, as if this whole thing was a nuisance, as if I was a nuisance. He ran a hand through his hair completely frustrated.
"It doesn't matter, this wasn't working anymore. We both know that Thalia!"
Know what? I blinked each word feeling like a punch to the gut. I squared my shoulders. This wasn't the time to break in front of them, they'd seen plenty of that.
"Know what? To know that you've been sneaking around with her? That this doesn't matter? We talked about kids last week for god's sake!!"
He didn't flinch. Didn't even care. Instead, he reached into the nightstand drawer and pulled out a brown envelope. "I'm done, Thalia," he said, handing me the envelope. "Here are the divorce papers. It's over."
I stared at the envelope, my hands numb. Divorce papers, the words sounded foreign, like they couldn't possibly be meant for me.
"You're leaving me?"
Brandon's face twisted into a smug smile. "Consider yourself lucky. You'll still have a small portion of your family's fortune."
My stomach lurched at fortune.
That's all this ever was to him. That's all I ever was to him, a wave of nausea hit me again and the bitter reality of his betrayal crushed me harder than I thought possible, three years down the drain...
"Brandon please, don't do this?" I whispered, fighting the dizziness that threatened to take me.
Brandon's smile widened, cold and calculating. "I bet you wish we would've had a prenup huh? You really should've read the fine print, sweetheart."
"You were always so foolish, Thalia," Bella said, now wearing an oversized shirt. "I even attempted to warn you but did you listen? No!!"
"Brandon could do no wrong, he loves me," Brandon said in a mocking tone.
I fisted the papers in my hands and swallowed my tears.
"Now look where it got you, no one could stand you, even your parents died and left you," Bella said, verbally stabbing me with a dagger.
"I wonder how you didn't see the signs, you were so blinded by my love that your senses left you," Brandon added.
"How typical of an orphan like you to give in to the first person who has ever shown you love, or at least pretended to," Bella said once again and I stood there my tears threatening to spill but I didn't let that happen.
"Sign the papers and get out of my house! Now Thalia! It's over!" Brandon yelled.
"No need to pack anything, you own nothing in this house, as for your clothes, they will be sent to you," Bella hissed, twirling her hair around her fingers.
"Brandon I could be pregnant," I whispered as my lips trembled.
"That's not possible, Thalia!, I had a vasectomy done six months after our wedding," He growled.
"There's nothing you can do now Thalia, you are out of tricks, just sign them and get out! Only I will bear Brandon's children!"
I was going to yell at them but I couldn't, I was done with them. I can't fight them over this anymore so I did the only logical thing my mind told me to do, I signed the papers.
"Pen?" I said to Brandon, Bella quickly tossed a pen to me.
"Finally Brandon!" She squealed, jumping into his arms and he snaked his hands around her waist.
My heart broke further as I watched their interaction. I threw the pen and paper at them and ran out of the room, not stopping till I reached my car and drove off.
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