My Forced Husband Is A Billionaire

's

The place looked as grand as ever, towering over the other luxury

te afternoon sun. The whole place smelled and looked beautiful, but there was no warm

xiled to a boarding school with nothing more than a silly explanation and a hurried

blank expressions, clearly not recognizing who I was. One

Miss, you

the house, his voice harsh and commanding.. "How da

never liked it when Uncle Bertram drew so much attention, but he always seemed to feel i

ate. "Uncle Bertram," I said, wrapping my arms a

he strength in his voice. "You're back, my de

into a faint sm

e was concern in his eyes, the kind that made me want to cry. But I couldn't. I had

tions down. "Dad always wanted me to

ll affected by all that had happened.. "Ava, you've done well. It's not easy

he living room, flipping through a magazine with one leg crossed on the other. It was

t and tried to smi

ssive. "Oh, you're back. Good. There's a lot o

atalia... get

face. Just the same indifference she always wore like a mask. "Is there a

mered, "I didn't kno

w. Help with the wedding preparations. The maids coul

the bitterness out of my voice.

disgust curling around the name. "He comes from an unfortunate

heard it before. And did she just say poor? That didn't sound right. Natalia w

aze. I wasn't planning on asking about this "poor" Liam. It di

ing orders at the maids, who scrambled to pack the dresses with care. Her back was to me, but I didn't care. I

d, a wide smile stret

r eyes raked over me as though I were some stray dog that had wandered in from the street. "

in eight years, and this was the reception I got? My chest tightened, but I forced

just sent you away for good. Unfortunate

keep myself from crying. Be strong Ava. "I heard you're gett

n love, Ava. Liam and I decided to tie the knot. W

me still couldn't believe Natalia would marry someone without money.

actly what I was thinking. "Thank you. Not lik

e bait, changing the sub

left him. The way you left him-crippled." She t

ungs. "How can you say that?

need to help the maids get everything ready. You're lucky I'm even letting you attend the engagement p

r behind me, "You've come back at the perfect time, Ava. You're going

t she meant, but the way she said it... it didn't feel ri

. He looked smaller, frailer than I remembered, his eyes empty and distant.

whispered. "This

rsation with Dad, I relucta

e busy all day, making sure I didn't have a single moment to rest. By the time I collapsed in

hushed voices outside my door. "Do you thi

voice replied. "But she

ng me wide awake, my mind racing with th

just stayed