The Billionaire’s Secret I Uncovered

“Oh! My God, Dennis!

Right before her eyes, her whole world looked like it was crumbling.

Audrey stood at the entrance of the room in her flowing gray gown, in total disbelief at what she had just walked into.

“You’re cheating on me!?” she fired, staring at the young man in his early thirties lying beside a woman. His scattered brown hair and well-trimmed beard were drenched in sweat as he tried to pull the blanket over his naked body, a nonchalant look written all over his face.

“What are you doing here?” he fired back at Audrey, who stood staring at him as though she had just seen a ghost.

“What am I doing in my fiancé’s house?” Audrey asked, unable to believe her ears.

Is this what she gets for walking into the house of the man she was supposed to start planning a wedding with, only to find him on top of another woman in the middle of an intimate sexual activity?

“What are you doing here? I can’t remember you telling me you were coming over, so what are you doing in my house?” Dennis asked, giving her a visible frown.

“I called you several times, but you weren’t taking my calls. I decided to come over so we could conclude on the exact date you will be going to meet my parents. But I can see you have more important things…” She swallowed hard, trying to steady the lump that had formed in her throat. “To do,” she whispered, her voice breaking beneath the weight of the words.

Her eyes reddened as tears gathered at the corners, blurring everything in front of her.

How could she explain that the man she had loved with everything in her for the past three years was in bed with another woman, yet had the audacity to question her for coming to the house that would soon become hers, too, without permission? Without any remorse or guilt for what she had just walked into.

“After three years?” Audrey asked after wiping away the tears that had escaped her eyes, watching the man she could have sworn was the most faithful man on earth behave as though nothing had happened.

“Dress up and get out,” Dennis said, finally breaking the heavy silence that had settled over the room. He turned to the thick, light-caramel-skinned lady beside him and pointed toward the door, where Audrey still stood, struggling to hold back the tears streaming down her cheeks.

“This is how you treat me? After three years of giving my all to this relationship? After everything we have been through together? This is what I get?” she questioned, stepping further into the room as the lady hurriedly made her way out, almost tripping after picking up her belongings that were scattered all over the room.

“Nothing happened between us. My friend came to spend the night at my place. Why are you overreacting because of that?” Dennis asked, staring directly into her eyes.

“I’m over…reacting?” Audrey stuttered, struggling to comprehend what she had just heard. Her voice rose, anger evident across her face. “Dennis, are you trying to call me crazy?”

“What do you mean, your friend came to spend the night at your place and I’m overreacting because of that? Is that the explanation or should I say, justification you have for me walking in on you naked with another woman?”

“Audrey, please stop being dramatic. Nothing happened. It was just a harmless visit. I don’t know what you think you saw, but you’re wrong,” Dennis said, picking up the pair of shorts that lay discarded on the floor. He slipped them on as he made his way into the bathroom, leaving Audrey rooted to the spot, her mouth wide open as she stared after him in utter disbelief.

Not even an apology from him?

The least she expected was for him to get on his knees, pleading for forgiveness and blaming the devil for what had just happened. She never anticipated this level of nonchalance from him after what he had just done.

Typical of him. Never once had he taken accountability for his actions. Instead, he always found a way to shift the entire blame onto her, and somehow, she would end up apologizing for something she knew nothing about.

That was how she had overheard him telling someone over the phone that he was madly in love with them a few months ago. When she confronted him, he denied ever saying it and accused her of trying to manipulate him into agreeing to something he had never done. She eventually apologized profusely, convincing herself that she must have heard him wrongly.

She had always apologized repeatedly over issues that had never been her fault, and she had never once seen anything wrong with it until now. 

****

The door of the Mercedes opened, and Timmy stepped out in his well-ironed suit, which sat perfectly on his broad chest. His crisp white shirt was neatly tucked beneath the dark suit jacket, paired with a simple tie and polished leather shoes. A modest wristwatch rested against his wrist, adding a subtle touch of elegance to his appearance. His hair was neatly trimmed, completing his clean and professional look.

He closed the door gently behind him as he walked into the Bluebird Diner. The mixed aromas filled the room while a few customers sat on the high stools lined along the long counter.

“Hi, dear. Can I speak to Miss Audrey Bennett?” he asked the lady seated at a corner, who was working on a computer.

“She’s not available at the moment, sir,” the lady said gently, looking up at the young, well-dressed man standing right in front of her. “How can we help you, sir?” she asked.

“I came for her,” he said calmly. “When will she be back? Can I sit and wait for her?”

“She won’t be coming in today, sir. She took the day off,” the lady replied.

He gently pulled a card from the pocket of his jacket and held it out to her.

“Kindly tell her to give this number a call when she comes back to work,” he said, handing the card to her. She took it almost immediately.

“I sure will,” she replied.

Timmy gave her a slight nod before turning and walking out of the diner, leaving her watching through the glass door as he got into his car and drove away.

****

The bang on the bathroom door jolted Audrey out of her thoughts as Dennis walked back into the room.

“You know what?” she said, her voice calm but heavy with exhaustion. “I’m done.”

She took a slow breath, trying to gather the strength to say the words she had probably been too afraid to say for years.

“I’m done putting a man before myself. I’m done putting up with your silly-ass attitude.” Her voice trembled slightly. “I deserve more than this. I refuse to keep subjecting myself to this.”

She tried desperately to keep her voice steady as she spoke, but the words grew heavier with every breath. Her eyes slowly filled with tears, and before she could wipe them away, one slipped down her cheek. She quickly brushed it aside, refusing to let herself break down in front of him.

“Dennis, it’s over between us,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

With trembling fingers, she slowly pulled the ring from her finger and dropped it at his feet.

“I hope you meet someone who will treat you exactly the way you treated me,” she said before turning toward the door.

“You wanna throw away three years over a little issue? Don’t do that, babe. We’ll get past this,” Dennis said, moving toward her and reaching for her waist.

“Get your filthy hand off me!” Audrey fired back, her face contorted with disgust as she shoved his hand away.

“You call years of lies, manipulation, and cheating a little issue? You are unbelievable,” she said, walking hastily into the living room.

“You are not thinking of leaving me, are you?” Dennis asked, following closely behind her.

“No. I’m done thinking. I’m doing it…” Audrey said, but before she could finish, Dennis grabbed her wrist and yanked her around, pinning her against the wall.

His hand tightened around her neck.

“You think I’ll let you walk out on us just like that?” he demanded, his grip growing firmer as Audrey struggled beneath him.

“You are really a psycho, Dennis!” Audrey spat, struggling to catch her breath.