My Dad's Best Friend Is My Husband

The morning sun streamed through the big windows of Whitmore Villa, but it did not warm up.

Her fingers gripped the tray of unopened coffee she'd brewed almost an hour ago and her legs were shaking with fear, terror, and agitation as Aurora Whitmore stood in awe outside her father's study.

There was a lot of yelling and screaming going on inside.

"Forty-eight hours, Richard.

A stranger's voice.

Cold.

Unforgiving.

If it is not transferred by Friday, your assets will be taken, we're not responsible for what comes after.

Aurora's heartbeat quickened.

Her father never protested anybody.

Never.

She slowly pushed the study door open.

"Dad?"

Silence.

It was suddenly very quiet in the room.

Richard Whitmore was no proud businessman at all like she had come to admire. His sharp-tucked suit was rumpled, his silver hair mussed, and his face was a year older.

Three men in fancy black suits turned their heads towards her.

One of them smiled.

It wasn't a friendly smile.

This is your daughter, isn't it?

Richard immediately stood.

"Aurora, go upstairs."

She frowned.

"What's going on?"

"Now."

Her ears were jangled by the honesty in his voice.

This was the first time her father had ever talked to her like this.

One of the men chuckled.

"She's beautiful."

Richard's fist smacked down on the desk.

"Get out."

Amused glances were exchanged, then a thick brown envelope was set down on the table by one of the men.

You'll get two days.

"If you fail..."

He eyeballed Aurora.

"Other ways, we'll get it."

What she heard in those words gave her a shiver.

The three men left.

The front door slammed shut.

Then Richard sat down in his chair.

Aurora came running toward him.

"Dad!"

She knelt down by his side.

"What is happening?"

He put his hands over his face.

For a few long seconds....

He couldn't speak.

Finally...

"It's over."

Her heart skipped.

"What do you mean?"

"They took everything."

"What?"

"Our company."

"Our investments."

"Our properties."

"They're gone."

Aurora stared at him.

"No..."

"It can't be."

Richard laughed bitterly.

"It can."

I put my faith in a wrong person.

The first thing my business partner did before he left for overseas was to run off with all the accounts.

"He forged documents."

"Transferred company funds."

"Used my signature."

I was being blamed!

Aurora's head was spinning.

Everything...

Gone?

They were already in business before she was born.

It was constructed by her grandfather.

Her father had made it his own.

How could it vanish over night?

"There has to be a way."

Slowly, Richard shook his head.

The debt is more than three billion dollars.

Her lips parted.

Three...

Billion?

It did not sound real!

This was an amount of money she'd never seen before.

Richard looked away.

I'm to blame for your mom.

"I failed you."

Auroras eyes filled with tears and her vision blurred.

"No."

"You didn't."

"We'll fix this."

"We always do."

Richard smiled sadly.

"You still think that there is a solution to every problem."

She clutched his shaking hand.

"For I was taught to you."

But before he could respond...

His phone rang.

The silence filled the room.

Richard was gazing at the screen.

His expression changed.

Aurora saw the name.

**Alexander Kingsley.**

The oldest friend of her father.

The billionaire to be admired by everyone.

The guy she had known since she was a little girl.

Richard was hesitant to reply.

"...Alex."

Aurora was unable to hear the other person's voice.

However she saw her father's face change.

"...You already know?"

Silence.

Richard closed his eyes.

"No."

I have no choice but to do this.

Another pause.

Aurora frowned.

Her dad looked her direction.

His face went as white as a sheet of paper.

"What?"

He whispered.

"...No."

Absolutely not.

The more Aurora studied it, the more interested she became.

Richard rose and went to the window.

I would never want to ask her to do that.

Another silence.

Then...

Slowly he lowered his shoulders.

It was as though he had lost all his strength.

Finally...

He spoke.

"I'll talk to her."

He ended the call.

Aurora stepped closer.

What did Uncle Alex say to them?

Richard remained silent.

"Dad?"

He turned around.

His eyes were filled with guilt.

"There..."

"May be one way to save us.

Hope lit a fire in her heart.

"What is it?"

He opened his mouth and grumbled.

Closed it again.

Then whispered the words that would change her life forever.

Alexander is ready to pay all of his debts.

Aurora was almost crying in relief.

I knew that he would help me!

Richard didn't smile.

Instead...

He seemed as if he had been sentenced to death.

"If there's one thing, it's that."

Aurora's smile was slowly disappearing.

"What condition?"

Richard couldn't bring himself to meet her eyes.

"He said..."

His voice broke.

". he'll pay off all of the money that we owe."

"...as long as you are willing to take him for your husband.

Aurora's mind went blank.

Things seemed to halt around her.

Best friend of her father?

The man was almost twice her age?

The man she'd called Uncle Alex for all her life?

No...

That wasn't possible.

There must have been some misunderstanding.

Her lips trembled.

What. did you just say?