The Daring Billionaire’s Wife by Lypstical

Dominic

I should be back inside, celebrating with everyone else but I can't even bring myself to do that as I'm still stuck on what Vanessa said up on that stage. It got to me so much that I had to leave and come to one of the hotel balconies.

Right beside me is Frank and he continues to just watch me. The silence between us makes me listen to the sound of my heart racing, something that hasn't returned to normal ever since Vanessa said she loves me on that stage with her eyes full of sincerity. "You know," I finally say to Frank while leaning over the railing. "I believed everything she said during her speech."

"I know you did and so did I. Why don't you just tell her how you feel?" Frank suggests.

I sigh heavily, letting go off the railing. "I'd love to do that, but I don't know how."

"Come on. It's not that difficult. You're Dominic Richards. You used to get every girl you wanted back when we were much younger. I've seen you do it so many times and it worked each time."

I narrow my eyes at him, shaking my head in disbelief at the comparison. "That was in the past. This is different."

"I know, but you have confirmation that Vanessa loves you."

"Part of me still thinks it's not enough that she just said it on that stage."

He scoffs. "Sometimes, I'm amazed by how clueless you can be. Considering how your relationship started, do you think she would actually walk up to you and tell you she loves you just like that? Don't you think she'd fear that you would reject her? I could always ask Mia."

"No. Don't even bother. I'm not that desperate."

"Then what will you do now? Will you pretend like you didn't hear any of that?"

"I don't know, maybe I'll just.."

I trail off when my phone suddenly rings and the caller ID makes my eyes widen.

"It's Patrick."

Frank moves closer. "What? After so long?"

I firmly nod then pick up his call.

"Hello?"

"It's been a while," Patrick says from the other end of the line.

"I was just about to say that. Why have you called now?"

"I get that you're busy right now but we need to talk in person about everything I didn't tell you before. It's now or never."

"I can't do that right now. The event is-"

"I know that the event is about to come to an end. I've been watching the live stream. I'm right outside in the alley. You don't have to meet me if you don't want to, but you'll only get this one chance to speak to me so you can learn everything that you need to know." The call abruptly ends and I look up at Frank with a heavy sigh. "How the hell am I supposed to do this right now? I've been waiting for a long time to find out how Patrick knew everything but I can't just leave Vanessa here and everyone else. The event is almost coming to an end. She just needs to give out those products and that will most likely be it, apart from the food, of course."

"Hey, I'll cover for you."

I pat him on the shoulder with a proud smile. "Thanks, man."

Quickly, I call Vanessa, the only one that I can tell that I'm leaving.

"Hello?" she says from the other end of the line and hearing her voice after what she said on that stage makes my heart skip a beat.

"Hey, are you okay?" I ask, composing myself.

"Uh...yes, I'm okay."

"That was a wonderful speech."

"Yes, it was. The food's amazing!" she says, as if to avoid the topic and I realize now isn't the time.

"Patrick is back and I'm going to see him right now."

"What?"

"Yes, just cover for me along with Frank until I'm back. I won't take too long since he's right outside."

After the call comes to an end, I look down at the caller ID, wondering when I could bring this up with Vanessa and ask her if she meant it. I don't see myself keeping this question inside, not after what happened on that stage.

-

Without my bodyguards following me, I make my way to the alley right on the side of the building and find Patrick casually dressed, calmly walking back and forth even after he sees me.

"That was fast," he says to me.

"You better make this quick because I need to go back and-"

"I know. I told you I watched the live stream. I'll be honest, I'm still stuck on Vanessa's speech up on that stage. I guess she really does love you."

Just like me, he seems to believe it, but I try not to focus on that.

"How about you tell me everything I need to know? It's the only reason I'm here."

He shakes his head with a smug expression. "When I first told you that I knew everything and you were sleeping with another woman, I never mentioned her name. You didn't even bother to ask who I was talking about. Why?" "There was no point of doing that because what difference was it going to make?"

"I could've been talking about anybody."

"Look, I don't care. Just get to the point. How did you know?"

"Carmella's my ex-wife.

"What?"

"Yes, she's the one who ruined my life. That's how I know everything about your relationship."

"No. That can't be right. Your ex wife's name is Angela."

He scoffs. "You really didn't know her. That's a fake identity she's been using."

Despite the realization, I twist my face in anger as something else comes to mind. "If you're her ex-husband, then it means you're the one who made her suffer during your marriage."

He rolls his eyes. "I guess you still think that way because that's what she told you. When I left Vanessa, it was because of Carmella. She had me wrapped around her finger. only saw her true colors after we got married. During some of our arguments, she hurled stuff at me without thinking about what would

hurt me or not."

He clenches his jaw and fists, pausing for a moment as he exhales deeply.

"I was hurt so many times with everything she did to me, but she always twisted everything to her advantage, going as far as faking her own injuries to make me look awful and everyone believed her just because she was that convincing."

I lower my head with a heavy sigh as I say, "I lost count of how many times she cried in my arms about the awful life she lived while married."

He smiles painfully, his voice cracking a little. "Not once did I ever hit her or anything like that. I never even locked her up but that's what everyone believes, including you. How did you fall for someone like that?"

Unable to give him an answer, I lean against the wall, closing my eyes as I try to process everything he's just said to me.

"After we got divorced, she took

everything from me and I was left

suffering and homeless. Not a day went by that I didn't drink and smoke to the point of passing out, just because she ruined my life. She was happy and moved on with you and I was watching her. I didn't know where I would even start, had nothing I could use against her and I always wondered what you saw in her. I'm guessing she was an angel to you."

"Until she wasn't," I say quietly, feeling like an idiot that I believed everything she ever said to me. It's not so difficult to believe Patrick as I know what she's capable of now. She went as far as lying about what happened to Billy at the orphanage and even played the victim.

"I went as far as watching her for a

long time and she never thought she'd see me again, so when she

Qu

did, she thought I came to ruin everything you two shared. I didn't even have to do that. She was alwaysparanoid just by seeing me around and I guess I took some delight in making her feel that way. It drove her mad to the point where she left this town. It's funny to me that you gave her security to protect her against me, but now you see that there was obviously no need for that."

With a deep sigh to process it all, I say, "Do you know where she is?"

"As payback, my goal has been to put her behind bars. I finally have evidence I can use against her but I can't find her just yet. She's done a good job this time at hiding. However, she's never been able to hide for so long. I always find her because she slips up one way or another."

"You sound obsessed."

"I'm not. I'm just still hurt by how much I ruined my life because of her and how she got away with everything she ever lied about, but not anymore. I'll make sure she pays for everything. If I hadn't gotten involved with her, Vanessa would be mine right now."

In my heart, I find it strange that I feel relieved about Vanessa not ending up with Patrick.

"It looks like I barely knew Carmella." I sigh in defeat, shutting my eyes as my mind drifts back to her.

"You didn't know my ex-wife at all. It's still crazy that she's always been Carmella to you. To me, the devil in human form is Angela Jenkins."

My eyes instantly shoot open. "What the fuck did you just say?" My heart begins to race at the name that I just heard in full.

"What is it?" he says to me.

"Shit!" I panic, running out of the alley and back to the hotel.

"What's going on?" Patrick asks, running beside me.

"Carmella's here!" I yell with sweaty hands as I call Frank but his phone just rings.

"What? How did you not-"

"Shut the fuck up!"

After I call Vanessa and it ends up being the same thing, I immediately realize she might already be in the middle of giving out the products, which is the worst thing that can happen right now.

My phone slips a few times before I dial one of my bodyguard's phone numbers and he soon picks up. I already fear that he won't be able to hear me as it's too loud.

"Hello, Sir?"

"Get my wife away from that table!"

"Hello?"

"Do your fucking job!" I yell as I push the front doors open myself despite the security in charge of it.

Patrick rushes in with me but I pay no attention at all as I only fear the worst for Vanessa.

Holding my breath as sweat begins to drip down my forehead, I sprint past my parents, who stood in the way so they could speak to me.

From a distance, I spot the long table with only two boxes left and two ladies in line, the blonde one at the back all dressed in black with some shades. I checked the list of the recipients several times and Angela Jenkins was the last one. My heart pounds hard in my chest knowing she's right in front of my wife.

"Vanessa!" I call out her name at the top of my lungs while still running to her and she looks over at me with confusion.

Just before I can yell for her to get away from the table, the hairs on my body stand erect in panic as Carmella swiftly exposes the small knife in her hand and slashes Vanessa's stomach.