Billionaire's Bride

Truth

Asher couldn’t begin to describe the happiness he felt at seeing the genuine smile on his wife’s face. After everything they had been through, his mission to bring back that smile was finally accomplished. He hadn't expected it to happen so easily, but now that it had, one thing was certain: that smile needed to stay. It could never leave her face again.

But today, he had to confront her about her past. As much as he wanted to delay the conversation, knowing it would upset her, he knew it was now or never. With a sigh, he changed into a comfortable blue shirt and trousers, preparing himself for the difficult conversation ahead. His thoughts raced as he considered how she might react, silently praying that he would stay calm and not let his frustration boil over.

He heard her approaching footsteps, his breath quickening as she entered the room. She wore a simple blue dress that reached her knees, her red-brown hair cascading over her shoulders. Her smile lit up her face, but the sight of her took his breath away, and his chest tightened with emotion. Instinctively, he rubbed it with his hand.

“Are you alright, Asher?” Janette asked, concern etched in her voice as she noticed his discomfort.

“Y-yeah, it’s just dust,” he lied, his heart warming at her worried expression. She examined him for a moment, and once she was satisfied he was fine, she smiled again, a smile so infectious that he couldn’t help but smile back.

"Sorry, Jane. I’m going to make you cry," he whispered under his breath as he stood to pull out a chair for her.

"Thanks," she mumbled, settling into the seat. She looked stunning, more beautiful than ever, and his stomach twisted with anxiety as he prayed that everything would go smoothly.

“My pleasure, sweetheart,” he whispered with a half-smile. He was grateful for his normally reserved nature because she hadn’t picked up on his nervousness. As they sat down to eat, he served her food and champagne, all the while rehearsing his words in his head.

“Janette,” he finally said, breaking the comfortable silence.

“Hm?” She responded, taking her last bite of meatloaf.

“Now that we’ve decided to give this marriage a real chance, I think it’s time we share our pasts with each other.” His fingers were crossed under the table, dreading her reaction.

Janette froze for a moment, clearly shocked by his request, but she tried to hide it. She wiped her mouth with a tissue and replied, “Honestly, Asher, there’s not much to tell. I lived a pretty boring life with the same routine, day after day.”

Asher smirked, knowing she wasn’t being entirely honest. Without a word, he pulled out the heart-shaped pendant she had once asked him to keep safe, the one with photos of Eric’s parents. Her eyes widened the moment she saw it, and in her surprise, she choked on her food, coughing uncontrollably.

He quickly stood, offering her a glass of water and gently rubbing her back. “Are you alright?” he asked, his voice full of concern.

She nodded, but the panic in her eyes was unmistakable. She had no idea how to explain the truth to him, and every time she opened her mouth to speak, the words failed her. Robert Stark’s warnings echoed in her mind, but Asher’s steady gaze made it clear he wasn’t going to let this go.

"Why do you keep these photos of your uncle and aunt so close to your heart?" he asked, his tone soft but firm. "Shouldn’t it be your parents’ place?"

Her fists clenched under the table, nerves overtaking her. She had never expected the locket to get her into such deep trouble, and now she was trapped. How could she explain something so complicated, so dangerous?

"Moreover," Asher continued, "I saw Eric giving you that pendant. He doesn't seem to have the same relationship with his other cousins that he has with you."

Because he’s not my cousin, she wanted to scream, but her voice wouldn’t cooperate.

“S-see, Asher… it’s n-none of your concern,” she stammered, her defenses kicking in.

Asher leaned forward, his voice gentle but resolute. “I’m your husband, Jane. I know you’re going through something difficult, and it’s my duty to help you out of it.”

Her eyes welled with tears. No one had ever said anything so kind to her before, and it was overwhelming. She quickly wiped her eyes, trying to hold herself together.

“We’re safe here,” he reassured her. “This hotel is secure, and no one loyal to Stark will know what you’ve told me.”

His words pressed on her, encouraging her to spill the truth. The tears finally fell, and Asher handed her a tissue. After a deep sigh, she decided it was time to say something.

“Asher, I can’t tell you everything because, honestly, I don’t know everything myself. My life has become a tangled mess that even I can’t fully explain.”

“But it’s true that I didn’t grow up with Robert Stark’s other children or even with Eric. For as long as I can remember, I believed that Glenda and George Cameron were my parents.”

She paused, gathering her thoughts before continuing. “It wasn’t until my graduation day that I learned Robert Stark is my biological father. He threatened my brother Tom’s career and my parents’ safety to force me into this marriage.”

Her confession was only half the truth, and she knew it. She couldn’t bring herself to tell him everything—not yet. Asher gazed at her with sympathy, and the look in his eyes made her want to cry even more.

“Did Eric ever tell you anything about your past?” he asked, hope flickering in his eyes.

Janette shook her head, unwilling to reveal the full story. Instead, she shifted the conversation. “Why did you marry me, Asher? What did you offer in return to get Robert to agree?”

He raised an eyebrow at her sudden change of topic. “Why are you answering my question with another question?” he countered. “And I already told you—I needed someone to show the world I’m not a bachelor anymore.”

Janette couldn’t help but wonder how he even knew she existed in the first place. But instead of pressing the issue, she sighed, turning her gaze toward the city beyond the windows.

“Asher, I’m not in the right headspace to dig up the past right now,” she muttered.

He nodded in understanding, though she could still feel his eyes on her.

To lighten the mood, she broke the silence. “Tell me, the day Stark announced our marriage—was that really the first time you saw me?”

Asher smiled, shaking his head. “No, it wasn’t. I first saw you during your second year of university. Remember Professor Norman, the young entrepreneur who stepped in for Professor James? That was me.”

Janette blinked, dumbfounded as the memory resurfaced. The young, nerdy professor from her university days was her future husband.

Asher chuckled at her expression. “Back then, I had to change my look to avoid being recognized. Norman Enterprises wasn’t as well-known then.”

He went on to explain how he later saw her picture at Eric’s father’s house, and how Robert Stark revealed she was his daughter. He admitted that he had been inexplicably drawn to her, and after that, marriage seemed inevitable.

Though she was touched by his honesty, Janette couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to his story than he was letting on. Asher's real motive, she feared, had more to do with revenge than love.