Olivia Smith is the secret billionaire heiress that no one knows about. Disguising as a pauper with her mother's last name "Smith" instead of the popular family name, "Richards," she secretly helps the love of her life, Lucas Preston build his company from the scratch. And how does he repay her? With a heartbreaking betrayal and divorce. When Lucas eventually finds out his mistake in divorcing a billionaire heiress, he wants her love back by all means. But Olivia is now the hottest single lady in the city. And she doesn't want her ex husband back!
View MoreOLIVIA'S POV
The restaurant was brimming with conversation and the occasional clink of glasses. Soft jazz music played in the background, adding a classy outlook to the already sophisticated environment. I sat across from my elder brother, Ethan, who had just finished his third glass of wine and was now swirling the remnants around the glass.
“It’s been years, Olivia,” Ethan began, his tone laced with that familiar sarcasm he seemed to carry around.
“Years?” I stared at him and chuckled. “It’s not even been two months!”
“But I’ve missed my baby sis,” He whined on.
“And I’ve missed you too,” I admitted, a huge smile forming across my lips.
Ethan called a waiter who was passing and ordered another bottle of wine.
“So…Lucas?” He stared at me. “How is he doing?”
I sighed, setting my fork down on my half-eaten plate of pasta. My marriage with Lucas had been a bit shaky in recent weeks but I was not bothered. Lucas loved me but he had been very busy with business meetings recently.
“He’s fine,” I shrugged. “Making me happy as usual.”
Ethan scoffed and I chuckled.
“I hear he’s been spending a lot of time at the office lately,” Ethan pressed on.
“Lucas is working hard,” I grunted, refusing to let his words affect me. “He’s driven. You’ve met him—you know how much he loves me.”
“Love doesn’t pay the bills,” Ethan shot back, his eyes narrowing. “And I don’t believe for one second he loves you as much as he loves what you’ve done for him. You’re too good for him, Liv.”
“Spare me,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Not everything is about money, Ethan.”
Ethan smirked. His skepticism was evident. “Not everything, no. But don’t pretend it doesn’t matter. You’re a Richards, for crying out loud. We’re bloody rich but here you are, hiding behind mother’s maiden name ‘Smith’ and struggling like some… nobody.”
I flinched at his words but forced myself to stay calm.
“I’m not hiding,” I muttered. “I chose to be with Lucas because I believe in him. I don’t need the family fortune or the name to define me.”
Ethan leaned back in his chair, letting out a low chuckle. “You’re unbelievable. Always trying to be noble.” He gestured around the restaurant. “Meanwhile, he’s probably at work, smiling with all the ladies in there.’”
“You’re impossible,” I grunted. “Lucas is thoughtful and romantic—something you wouldn’t understand.”
“Romantic?” Ethan scoffed. “What’s the most romantic thing he’s done for you?”
I opened my mouth to defend him, but my phone buzzed on the table. I glanced at the screen, and a smile immediately spread across my face.
“What?” Ethan asked, his eyes darting over to my phone.
I turned the phone toward him, showing him the text:
Romantic dinner at home tonight. Can’t wait to see you. Love you.
“See?” I said triumphantly. “Lucas isn’t what you think. He plans things like this all the time.”
Ethan rolled his eyes.
“A text message. Wow, that’s very impressive.”
I frowned and rose up from the table, grabbing my purse.
“You can mock all you want, but I’m going home to my husband. Enjoy your lonely steak dinner.”
“You’re seriously leaving?” he asked, looking genuinely disappointed. “I haven’t seen you in months, Liv. Stay a little longer.”
“I will next time, I promise,” I muttered. “But tonight is important.”
Ethan sighed, and rose to his feet as well. “Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you when this perfect little dream of yours comes crashing down.”
“It won’t,” I said. “Goodbye, Ethan.”
The drive home was quiet, the city lights blurring as I navigated the familiar streets. Lucas’s text had filled me with excitement, and I couldn’t wait to see what he’d planned. It wasn’t often he went out of his way to do something romantic, and I appreciated the gesture more than I could put into words.
When I pulled into the driveway of our modest house, the lights inside were dim. A smile tugged at my lips as I imagined candles flickering on the dining table, the soft scent of flowers filling the air, maybe even some music playing in the background.
But as I stepped inside, the house was eerily silent. There were no candles, no flowers, no music. Instead, the first thing I noticed was a jacket tossed carelessly over the back of the couch—a woman’s jacket.
I frowned, setting my purse down on the entryway table.
“Lucas?” I called out, my voice echoing slightly in the stillness.
There was no response.
I stepped further into the house, and it was then that I noticed the trail of clothes scattered across the floor. A blouse, a pair of heels, and then… a black lace bra.
My stomach tightened, an overwhelming sense of dread creeping over me.
No. This couldn’t be what it looked like. There had to be an explanation.
I followed the trail up the stairs, my heart pounding louder with every step. The closer I got to our bedroom, the more I heard—a faint giggle, a soft murmur of voices. My breath caught in my throat as I reached the door.
My hands trembled as I pushed it open.
The sight before me was like a slap in the face. Lucas was in our bed, his shirt half undone, his hair tousled. Next to him was a blonde woman, her body wrapped in the sheets I had picked out with so much care.
“Olivia,” Lucas said, his tone disturbingly casual, as if my arrival was nothing more than an inconvenience.
The woman turned to me, her lips curling into a smug smile before she nestled closer to him.
I froze, as the sight of his betrayal crashed down on me like a wave. My voice caught in my throat as I tried to form words, to make sense of the scene before me. But there was nothing to say. No explanation. No justification.
And in that moment, my world shattered.
Lucas's POV The balcony was a refuge of silence, the cool night air brushing against my skin as I leaned against the railing, a glass of bourbon clutched in my hand, its amber glow catching the starlight above. My heart thudded, a heavy, relentless beat, my chest aching with the weight of the chaos that had consumed my life. My eyes stinging with unshed tears as I stared at the stars, their distant light a cruel mockery of the darkness closing in around me. My hands trembled, the liquor sloshing slightly, my heart racing with the fear that I was running out of time, that Austin was onto me, that the life I’d fought to protect for Lily was slipping through my fingers. The weight of my mistakes—marrying Amelia, letting Olivia go, trusting the wrong people—pressed against my chest, my tears threatening as I took a sip, the burn of the bourbon a faint echo of the fire in my soul.A sharp buzz from my phone jolted me, my heart leaping, my hands fumbling as I set the glass down, my ey
Olivia's POV The café’s warmth lingered in my chest as I stepped back into my office, the scent of coffee and fresh bread clinging to my clothes, a faint comfort against the unease that had settled like a stone in my heart. My phone buzzed, jolting my heart, my hands fumbling as I grabbed it, my eyes scanning the screen, my chest tightening as I read Austin’s text: “Can’t pick you up tonight, Liv. Driver’s coming instead.” My heart sank as I stared at the words, their curtness a sharp contrast to his usual warmth. My hands trembled, my chest heaving with the fear that our argument about Lucas was driving a wedge between us, my throat tightening with the regret of not addressing it better, of not convincing him I was on his side. I typed a quick reply—“Okay, see you at home”— my heart aching with the hope that we could fix this, that his coldness was temporary, that our love would pull us through.The day dragged on, through meetings and emails, my hands fidgeting with pens, my ey
Olivia's POV The restaurant was a haven of elegance, its chandeliers casting a soft, golden glow over crisp white tablecloths, the air rich with the aroma of truffle and roasted herbs. My hands rested lightly on the table, my fingers tracing the edge of my wine glass, my chest swelling with a love so deep it made my throat tighten. The clink of cutlery and soft murmur of other diners faded into the background, my focus solely on Austin—his easy laugh, the way his eyes crinkled. My chest ached with gratitude.We ate in companionable bliss, my heart racing with delight as I savored the creamy risotto, its flavors bursting on my tongue. “This is amazing,” I said, my voice soft, my eyes twinkling, my heart pounding with happiness. “You always know how to make a night special, Austin.” My throat tightened, my hands reaching for his across the table.He grinned, his fingers squeezing mine, his voice playful, his eyes glinting with mischief. “Only the best for you, Liv,” he said, his
Olivia's POV The morning sun spilled through the tall windows of my office, bathing the room in a warm, golden glow that felt at odds with the restless churn in my chest. I settled into my chair, my heart thudding with a familiar mix of determination and unease, my hands trembling slightly as I reached for the stack of forwarded mail on my desk. The hum of the office was a comforting backdrop—phones ringing softly, the murmur of conversations, the clack of keyboards—but it couldn’t quiet the undercurrent of doubt that had lingered since Tuscany. My hands moved mechanically, my heart racing as I opened one email after another, my mind half-focused on work, half-lost in thoughts of Austin’s smile, his steady presence, the future we were building.One email stopped me cold, my heart lurching, my breath catching as I scanned the sender’s address—anonymous, no name, just a string of numbers and letters. My throat burned, my hands trembling as I opened it, my eyes narrowing at the word
Lucas's POV The office was a suffocating cage, the dim light from the desk lamp casting jagged shadows across the walls, mirroring the chaos tearing through my mind. My heart pounded like a war drum, a relentless beat of panic and regret, my hands trembling as I gripped my phone, the blank screen a cruel taunt that I’d blocked and deleted Olivia’s number months ago, a desperate act to sever the tie that still knotted my chest. My throat burned, my eyes stinging with tears as I thought of her with Austin, blissfully unaware of his darkness—his role in Marcus’s death, the buried attempted murder charge, the chilling possibility that he did everything to get close to Olivia My chest ached, a deep, gnawing pain, my breath uneven as I racked my brain for her number, my fingers fumbling over the keypad, my heart racing with the urgent need to warn her.Hours dragged on, each minute a torment, my heart thudding, my hands shaking as I tried number after number, each digit a guess, a desp
Lucas's POV My eyes stung with unshed tears, my chest aching with the thought of Olivia starting a family with Austin, a life I’d let slip away, a pain that cut deeper than I’d expected. The air was heavy with my confessions, my voice raw as I poured out my desperation, my thoughts of divorce, of escape, of clearing my name.A sharp buzz from my phone jolted me, my heart leaping, my breath catching, my hands fumbling as I grabbed it, the screen flashing my private investigator’s name—Tom. My throat tightened, my eyes darting to James, my voice low but urgent. “It’s Tom,” I said, my words rushed, my heart racing with a mix of hope and dread, my chest heaving with the possibility of answers. “I need to take this. Hang on.” James nodded, his eyes narrowing, his hands resting on his knees, his concern a quiet force that steadied me as I answered, my voice sharp. “Tom, you got something?”“I’m outside,” Tom said, his tone clipped, his urgency a spark that ignited my nerves. “Got n
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