The PRETENTIOUS Billionaire Series

Chapter 1 “Happy graduation, my baby!” Naomi cheerfully greeted her daughter who had just graduated from kindergarten. The smile on her face was so wide, as if—despite it being only a kindergarten graduation—it felt like a huge achievement for a single mother like her. The child was standing on a wooden chair, her arms wrapped around Naomi’s neck. Naomi kissed her immediately and whispered, “Mommy has a surprise for you. Let’s go to the restaurant.” “Is Daddy there already?” Ileana asked with a wide grin, the sparkle in her eyes obvious. From her tone alone, it was clear how excited she was just at the mention of her father. Naomi’s smile almost faltered. Her daughter always spoke of her father. Whenever Naomi mentioned a surprise, Ileana would immediately think of him—as if her whole world revolved around that single word. That longing only grew stronger after Ileana found a photograph in Naomi’s old wallet when she was just six years old. Naomi never expected that Marco

Chapter 3A sharp elbow jab to her side snapped Naomi back to reality. She had been staring at the bouquet she was arranging—the one the bride would later carry.Naomi was now a wedding coordinator and a makeup artist. She worked with her best friend, Aliyah. When Marco died, Aliyah brought her to Manila, where Naomi rebuilt her life with her child. She studied makeup—only a vocational course—but still finished four years of study related to business. Aliyah did the same. Since Naomi’s parents had money, they gave her and her friend start-up capital for the business they planned together. Little by little, she was able to recover the investment, even earning a profit.It saddened her to think that she had to leave Ileana early today after the child’s graduation, but she had no choice. This was for her daughter’s future. Her parents were there anyway, and they promised to take her daughter to the mall.“Why are you staring so hard at the bouquet?” Aliyah teased, making Naomi shake her

Chapter 5Naomi could only stare at her daughter, Ileana, after putting her to sleep. Sleep refused to come to her. Before bedtime, Ileana’s favorite topic was always her father. She kept asking questions about Marco, and every answer Naomi gave was a lie. How long would she keep protecting that wretched man—good only at making a child, yet marrying another woman?“Billionaire, pfft!” she muttered irritably as she stepped down from Ileana’s bed.Sleep would not visit her tonight. Maybe she should not have allowed her parents to return to the hotel. She wished she had someone with her now. But perhaps it was better that only she and her daughter were there. Her parents might notice how scattered her thoughts were, as if her mind had suddenly grown wings.She could not erase the image she had seen earlier. She kept wondering if Marco and Marcus were truly the same person.She went to the kitchen and took a cup to make coffee. Tomorrow, she and Aliyah had to wake up early to prepare the

Chapter 7 OH GOD. Naomi’s worst fear had come true. She didn’t know how to explain the truth to Ileana. They were now face-to-face in her room. She couldn’t put her daughter to sleep. Ileana simply didn’t want to. “Sweetheart,” she said, “He is not your Daddy.” She sobbed as she told her for the countlessth time. “But he’s in the picture, Mom,” Ileana replied tearfully. “Why won’t he show me my dad? Don’t you love him anymore? Why doesn’t he know me? You said he was just at work.” The girl cried fully this time—something she hadn’t done before—but Naomi knew her daughter had only been holding back her tears and sobs. “Sweetheart…” Naomi said helplessly. She had nothing else to say. She had lied to protect her daughter’s feelings. She never saw this coming. “He doesn’t like us?” Ileana asked sadly, bitterness in her voice, but Naomi still couldn’t answer. “M-Mommy will find out if he’s really your Daddy. There are some things you won’t understand yet, but Mommy will find out t

Chapter 9 “I will not leave until you tell me the truth about why your daughter called me Daddy,” he declared, making Naomi freeze for a brief moment. She quickly recovered from her shock and sat across from him. “And who are you to demand anything?” she shot back sharply. Her head was heating up from his bold declaration. “I was just wondering. I don’t know how many people look like me for someone to mistake me for a father. The last time I remember, I was still single. But… I think… I think I know you?” Naomi tried to suppress her gasp. From his words, it seemed to confirm that this really was Marco, but she was still bewildered that he didn’t recognize her. “I am not your enemy, Naomi,” he said, and to her shock, he grabbed her hand. She tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let go. “Rather than turning your back on me, why not enlighten me? If I am your child’s father, let me be a father to her.” Naomi felt a sudden jolt of pain in her heart. Everything was about Ileana now.