MR BILLIONAIRE’S SUBSITUTE WIFE

It's scary trusting people, yet I trusted them— I trusted him.

And now, as I stormed down the aisle, gripping a fistful of my wedding gown, ignoring the murmurs that came from the small group of guests we’d invited, I realized two things.

One, I was nothing but an idiot.

Two, I was a two-bit fool who had spent five years loving a man who left me on our wedding day… to marry my best friend.

The priest hesitated mid sentence as I approached. Bella scoffed.

“What do you think you’re—“

Smack.

The sound of my palm meeting her face echoed through the room.

When Bryan and I got engaged, we agreed on something simple. Something intimate. I chose the ceremony here— at the house where my father had once married my mother.

My father was dead now. Murdered.

My mother? Barely clinging to life.

“Kayley—“

Smack.

This time, Bryan’s cheek caught the full force of my palm. Gasps erupted from the crowd.

Bryan opened his mouth to talk again and I slapped him, this one even harder.

“Have you lost your mind?” The brown-haired man hissed, staggering slightly. “How dare you?”

“No,” I said, my voice trembling, “How dare you?” My vision blurred with tears. My voice cracked with rage.“How could you betray me like this?”

I turned to Bella, grabbing her arms and yanking her towards me.

“And you?” I spat, “How could you stoop so low? You’re my cousin, my best friend!”

My voice broke as a lump formed in my throat.

“I considered you my own sister all these years and this is how you repay my love?”

“Best friend?” Bella scoffed, yanking her arm away. “I was never your friend to begin with so how can we be best friends?”

Her words hit me hard.

“And just because your dead father happened to be my mum’s brother doesn’t mean we’re family. You deranged orphan.”

Footsteps stormed behind me.

“Move away from my daughter you filthy bitch!”

I turned around just in time for a slap to throw me off balance.

“Aunt—”

“Shut up!” Gemma barked, “Not another word from you.”

Bella stepped forward and gave me a hard shove, forcing me to the ground.

“How dare you come here?” The older woman demanded. “Isn’t it enough that you’ve ruined your family? Why are you trying to ruin mine? Why do you want to destroy my daughter’s wedding?”

I stared up at Gemma in shock. Despite everything she made me go through all these years, I had considered her nothing less than my own mother.

“Daughter’s wedding?” I couldn’t believe my ears. “This was supposed to be my wedding!”

My knees wobbled as I scrambled to my feet.

“He is my groom and this is my house!” I said rightfully.

“Your house?” Bella chuckled behind me, “ Since when? You’re clearly mistaken, Kayley dear.”

“What do you mean since when?” My throat went dry, I looked at my aunt, then back at her.

“Bryan, haven’t you told the fool yet?”

“What are you guys talking about ?” My head started to spin. “Bryan? What... what are they talking about?”

Confusion swirled in eyes as I stared at my fiancé—ex fiancé.

“Will someone tell me what the fuck is going on?” I gritted, feeling like the biggest fool in the entire world.

“Relax, you’ll find out soon.” Bryan smirked. With a clap of his hands, a corporately dressed man walked up to us.

My brows furrowed the man handed me a document. One look at its content made my stomach drop.

“No…” My eyes widened in horror. With trembling hands, I flipped page after page, as reality sunk in and my world crumbled.

“This… This can’t be true.” I shook my head in denial, my eyes fixated at my signature at bottom. There was no way I lost everything. “This is a lie! It’s a—“

“You’ve already signed the power of attorney.” Gemma flashed me an evil smile. “This house, the company, deeds, the money and all of your property now belong to us.”

“And the best part?” Bella’s singsong voice came. She locked hands with Bryan and chuckled, “Bryan here helped us get it all. The papers we couldn’t get you to sign all these years, Bryan did it without breaking a sweat.”

I stumbled, clutching my chest as more tears blurred my vision.

“No…” I refused to believe it. “Bryan would never… He can’t.. Ha can’t to that to me.”

It was a lie. They were all lying to me.

My gaze fell on Bryan, expecting him to deny their allegations but he didn’t say a word. Instead, he pulled Bella closer.

“What? Don’t tell me you’re expecting me to deny the truth?”

“This can’t be true—“

“It’s as true as your stupid love for me, Kayley.” Bryan’s words almost knocked the air out of me.

“You signed everything. You’re left with nothing now.“

A tear rolled down my cheek.“You tricked me…“

“Because you were an idiot.” Bryan spat. “I can’t believe you’d think I’d love someone… something like you.” His nose scrunched up in disgust.

It felt as though a knife was shoved right through my heart. I found it hard to breath as I stared into his eyes. Those blue orbs which were once filled with nothing but love for me now held nothing but disdain.

That was when reality hit me hard.

I’ve lost everything.

My love, my money, my property, my company… everything. Everything was gone.

“What are you waiting around for Gemma’s voice filled my ears. “Take this piece of trash out of here this instant.”

I gasped as security dragged me away. Murmurs rang around me but no one stopped them.

My friends, family… everyone I cared about watched but no one stepped forward to help.

“Leave me!” I struggled to free myself, “Let go of me! Bryan! You can't let them do this to me, Bryan!”

They didn’t even wait for me to be thrown out before they resume the wedding. I whipped my head back right on time to see Bryan pulling Bella into a kiss. Horrified, I watched my best friend and lover seal their union before they disappeared from my sight completely.

I was thrown out of my home like some garbage and landed on the ground with a thud. The door slammed shut seconds after.

I scrambled to my feet and banged on the hard wood,“ I won’t let you do this to me! Open this door right no—“

The sound of my phone ringing interrupted me.

“Miss Hart?” A female voice rang from the other end the moment I answered.

“Yes?”

“I’m calling from St Richard’s hospital.”

At the mention of the hospital, my heart skipped a beat. A call from the hospital was always bad news.

And I was right.