Married to my Ex's Billionaire Father

I was supposed to become Mrs. Ethan Bennett in forty-three minutes.

Instead, I stood outside the bridal suite listening to my fiancé have sex with my best friend.

For several seconds, my mind refused to understand the sounds behind the closed door.

A breathless laugh.

A man's low murmur.

Then a woman's voice.

"Stop. You're going to ruin my makeup."

My fingers tightened around my bouquet.

No.

There had to be another explanation.

The hotel was packed with people preparing for the wedding. Bridesmaids, photographers, florists, makeup artists, and hotel staff filled the floor.

Someone had entered the wrong room.

Because Ethan was downstairs.

He was supposed to be downstairs.

Waiting for me.

I reached for the door handle.

Then I heard his voice.

"Vanessa."

My hand froze.

I knew that voice. I had fallen asleep listening to it for four years. I had heard it whisper promises against my skin. I had heard it tell me he loved me.

Now he was saying my best friend's name in a way no man should say another woman's name forty-three minutes before his wedding.

Vanessa laughed softly.

"You should go."

"I have time."

"You're getting married in less than an hour."

Then Ethan laughed.

"So?"

Something inside me cracked.

I pushed the door open.

Vanessa screamed.

Ethan spun around.

My maid of honor sat on the dressing table with her red bridesmaid dress pushed around her waist. Her hair was a mess, and the lipstick I had helped her choose yesterday was smeared across her mouth.

Ethan stood between her legs.

His white shirt hung open.

Her lipstick stained his neck.

"Maya."

He stepped away from her.

Vanessa scrambled off the table and pulled down her dress.

"Maya, please."

"How long?"

Neither answered.

I looked at Vanessa.

"How long have you been sleeping with him?"

Her face crumpled.

"We never wanted you to find out like this."

A laugh escaped me.

"Find out like this?"

"Maya, please listen."

"How long?"

Vanessa looked at Ethan.

That tiny glance told me everything.

They had lied together.

Protected each other.

While I planned my wedding.

"Six months," Ethan said.

The room tilted.

Six months.

I remembered cake tastings Ethan missed because of emergency meetings. Weekends Vanessa cancelled because she was supposedly sick. Nights Ethan came home late.

Vanessa had sat beside me while I tried on wedding dresses.

She had cried when I found this one.

Then twenty minutes ago, she had zipped me into it.

"Why?" I asked.

Ethan started buttoning his shirt.

"Maya, this is complicated."

"No. You slept with my best friend."

Vanessa flinched.

I turned to her.

"You zipped me into my wedding gown after sleeping with my fiancé?"

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I love him."

Three words.

Simple.

Cruel.

I looked at Ethan.

"Do you love her?"

"Maya, we shouldn't do this right now."

"When would you prefer? Before or after I marry you?"

His jaw tightened.

"People are waiting downstairs."

I stared at him.

"You still expect me to marry you?"

"We have almost four hundred guests downstairs. My father flew investors in from three countries. The press is outside."

He finished buttoning his shirt.

"We'll deal with this after the ceremony."

"Deal with what?"

He gestured between Vanessa and himself.

"This."

My chest tightened.

"You've been sleeping with her for six months, and you're worried I'll make a scene?"

"You knew what marrying into my family meant."

"What does your family have to do with you cheating?"

"Everything."

His voice changed.

"This marriage is bigger than whatever you're feeling right now."

Whatever I was feeling.

Four years reduced to whatever I was feeling.

"My family accepted you because I wanted you," Ethan continued. "Don't confuse acceptance with belonging."

The words hit harder than finding him with Vanessa.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Women spend their entire lives trying to marry into families like mine."

He stepped closer.

"You walked into this world with nothing, Maya. If you walk out today, you'll leave with exactly what you came with."

Nothing.

Vanessa looked away.

I stared at the man I had planned to spend my life with.

Then I removed my engagement ring.

Ethan's expression changed.

"Maya."

I placed the diamond beside Vanessa's purse.

"There."

I looked at her.

"Now she gets the ring too."

I turned toward the door.

"Maya, don't be stupid."

I stopped.

"If you walk through that door," Ethan said, "this wedding is over."

I looked over my shoulder.

"That is generally what happens when the bride refuses to marry the groom."

His face hardened.

"You'll regret this."

My lips trembled, but I smiled.

"No, Ethan. You will."

I walked out.

The corridor blurred around me as I hurried away.

I turned a corner too quickly and collided with someone.

Two strong hands caught my arms before I fell.

"Careful."

I froze.

Slowly, I looked up.

Dark eyes met mine.

Damon Bennett.

Ethan's father.

His gaze moved from my wedding dress to my face.

"Maya?"

I couldn't speak.

His eyes narrowed.

"Why are you crying?"

A door slammed behind me.

"Maya!"

Ethan.

Damon looked past me as his son approached with Vanessa following behind him.

His expression hardened.

"What did he do?"

I wiped the tear from my cheek.

"Ask your son why my maid of honor was half naked in his arms forty-three minutes before our wedding."

Silence.

Ethan's face lost its color.

"Dad, this isn't what you think."

Damon turned toward him.

The look on his face made Ethan stop walking.

"Tell me she's lying."