MY UNWANTED WIFE IS THE BEST

Chapter One

~THE DESIGNER'S SECRET

>Kate’s POV

The soft hum of my sewing machine filled my small studio for a while.

And when I was done, I stared down at the dress that I had poured my soul into as I ran my fingers over the delicate fabric. 

This was the final piece of my latest collection. It was complete.

This was it. 

My breakthrough. 

This was my chance to prove to the world—and to my family—that I was more than just a backup plan.

My phone buzzed. I reached for it without thinking as I opened the phone. It was a message notification.

I opened it.

My best friend Kalis had texted me a link. I opened it, my breath hitching in my throat as I read the headline flashing across the screen.

“BILLIONAIRE HEIR, PIERRE DELACROIX IS SET TO MARRY DESIGNER KATE BEAUMONT – AN UNCANNY UNION OF POWER AND PRESTIGE.”

For a moment I was just speechless. My fingers tightened around the device. 

The words blurred as tears came to my heart but his name still stood out, bold and cruel. 

Pierre Delacroix.

It triggered memories of that night from six months ago. 

I remembered him, his warm breath against my skin. I recalled his lips on mine, urgent and demanding. There was the way his fingers had traced my body, the tips going over my stomach, sending beautiful electrifying shivers down my spine.

I could still feel the weight of his body on mine as he had taken me, his cock filling me in my momemg of desperation. I remembered every stroke of him in my core, every hard thrust as he had brought me indescribable pleasure.

It was a shame, the way that I slipped out in the morning before he could rouse from slumber and leaving behind nothing but rumpled sheets and the lingering scent of regret.

He would not remember me.

He did not know who I was then. And he would not know now.

The door to my studio swung open and someone stepped it.

Cyra.

My elder sister. 

Her gaze fell on the dress before me and her eyes glittered with something that was dark and cruel. 

"Is that your last piece?" She asked me as she came up to me. 

I said nothing to her.

"I think this should be my size." She attempted to reach out and touched the fabric but I stopped her. 

"Hands off Cyra!"

She looked up at me and chuckled. "Fine, I will leave your creation."

My phone buzzed again and her eyes landed on the screen where the screaming headline was on display. “Oh, I can see that you already received the news,” she drawled as she took a step forward, her designer heels clicking against the floor. 

I took the time to scan her. She was in a short blue dress that wrapped snuggly around her tiny waist and wide hips. It was pretty though.

She always dressed like someone from a magazine cover. And today was no different. The sequence dress shone alongside her platinum blonde hair that was sleek and perfect.

I straightened my back. “What are you doing here?”

She smirked and moved to my drawing table. She picked up one of my unfinished sketches. “You should be thanking me. After all, I convinced Mother and Father that you were the better choice.”

A chill spread through my veins as I eyed her. “The better choice? I decided to marry him Cyra.”

She tossed the paper aside and crossed her arms. “Oh don't act naive. You know that I was their first option, of course. And when I refused, they settled for you.”

"Cyra you-"

"Look Kate, I keep telling you, stay in your place. You are disposable."

The weight of her words pressed against my chest. Disposable? That was actually what I was to them, my family. I was a replacement, an afterthought.

They had adopted me after their second daughter had died from a fatal accident. My adopted mother always mentioned that I was the poor orphaned gurl who reminded her of her royal daughter.

I swallowed hard. “You enjoy this, don't you?”

“Probably.” She shrugged as she inspected her perfectly manicured nails. "But mostly because I can not marry that blind disabled fool."

Anger simmered beneath my skin at the unwarranted insult, but I forced myself to remain calm. “Go away Cyra. It is not his fault.”

“He is still less of a man.” She smiled, tilting her head. “Hoe can he appreciate my beauty?”

I turned away because tears were burning at the back of my eyes. But I would not let her see me break. 

Not now. Not ever.

Her phone rang and she reached into her purse for it. Something slipped out from the purse but she did not see it. She took the call, going to one corner of the room. 

I reached for the folded document as it had fluttered to the floor, just near my feet. I opened it and began to skim through it.

It had my name and my grandfather’s name on it. It seemed to be some sort of will. But before I could read further, Crya snatched it from my grasp, cursing under her breath.

My heart pounded. “What is that?” I demanded as she folded it and placed it back in her purse.

Her expression darkened at my a question. “Something that is none of your business Kate.”

My stomach twisted as my gaze snapped to hers. “But it says-”

“Forget that you saw it!” She pressed her lips into a thin line. “You need to learn to stay out of things that do not concern you, Kate.”

But it did concern me. 

And I would not forget.

I watched as she turned and stomped away, slamming the door behind her. But she was not my prior concern.

Another text message came. I opened it. It was from Pierre.

"Remember Dinner." That was all he had said, just like the time when I had first met him six days ago. 

I had been surprised at first, to see him. I had heard about his accident but I never knew it was that bad.

His left eye which was once sharp and piercing, was now covered with a black eye patch. The right side of his handsome face bore the faint scars of his experience.

I instantly recognized him as the man from that night, six months ago.

I went back to the conversation that we had.

"My parents have arranged this marriage. I am just playing along. What are your thoughts? I would respect your decision."

"Will you cage me?" I had asked. He had lifted his brows at me.

"Are you an animal?" His question had made me laugh.

"Of course no!"

"Then?" I had fidgeted in my seat.

"I desire freedom," was all I said. "I want to do able to be independent. Will you stop me?"

"Are you planning on cheating with other men?" I had face palmed. Did he always think the worse?

"No! I meant career wise." He nodded at my explanation.

"This marriage was planned to uphold my family's reputation. You are free to do anything that you want and also ask me for anything, as long as it does not damage that reputation. Well that is if you will marry me."

"I will."

"It is settled then."

My stupid phone buzzing dragged me back to reality. It was the alarm that I had set. I needed to meet the Delacroix family.

Later that night as I watched movie on my laptop in the quiet of my apartment, my phone buzzed.

I checked and it was an email.

There was no sender name or subject. I had just a single attachment.

I tapped it open and my breath hitched dangerously.

It was a photo, of Pierre.

It was from the night of his attack.

The camera has captured his body sprawled on the cold pavement, his face bloodied and his shirt torn.

And there in the background...

I sucked in a sharp breath.

It was me, standing in the shadows.