Billionaire's Bride

Rose betrayal

It had been three weeks since that heated exchange between Janette and Asher. Since then, Asher had done everything possible to avoid discussing her past. Instead, he focused on spending time with her—cycling by the beach, quiet lunches, and if nothing else, dinners just to share moments with her. These three weeks of companionship were some of the most precious days of his life, making him feel that taking this honeymoon trip was one of the best decisions he’d ever made.

Janette never brought up that night again, and though she occasionally smiled, Asher could tell she was doing her best to push the harsh realities out of her mind. He knew they couldn't continue at this slow pace forever. If things remained this way, it would take him ages to uncover Robert Stark's plot against him. Worse, he still didn’t know whether Janette was really Stark’s daughter or if she was Rose—his childhood friend. To settle his swirling doubts, as soon as they returned to Seattle, Asher called his brother-in-law, Xavier Eric Stark, and requested a meeting.

Standing tall in his tailored brown suit, hands in his pockets, Asher waited for his appointment with Eric. Composing himself outside the office, he glanced at his watch—two minutes until the meeting. The polished surroundings of Stark Enterprises felt cold and outdated to him, but this was his first time entering the building as Robert Stark’s son-in-law.

The receptionist smiled at his presence, informing him, “Mr. Stark is in his office.”

Nodding, Asher made his way toward Eric’s office. His bodyguards remained outside as he entered the room, catching sight of Eric casually toying with a paperweight at his desk.

“Nice to see you after so many months, brother,” Eric said, rising to greet him. He had always called Asher "brother" even before Asher married Janette. Their childhood friendship forged a bond that was hard to sever.

"You know why I'm here," Asher said, skipping the pleasantries. Eric smirked and gave a small nod.

"Some things never change," Eric replied, chuckling. “Still the same direct Asher Norman I’ve always known.”

Asher rolled his eyes. “Like your sister,” he said with a note of sarcasm.

Eric’s eyes gleamed with mischief, and Asher’s expression darkened.

“Wait. Since when do you treat Stark’s children like your own blood?” Asher asked with a confused look.

"Don't play dumb, brother. You know she’s not really his daughter." Eric’s voice grew serious. “She’s Rose. Our Rose.”

Asher felt the weight of those words, but he couldn’t believe them. “What makes you say that? You’re jumping to conclusions.”

Eric leaned forward. “Janette is not Robert Stark’s daughter,” he declared firmly.

Asher’s eyes widened. “What?”

“He never had a daughter. She’s my sister, Rose—our parents’ daughter.”

The revelation hit Asher like a punch to the gut. Memories of Jane’s sadness, the tears in her eyes, and her unresolved pain flashed through his mind. Could all of that have stemmed from this truth she didn’t even know herself?

“Eric, this could just be a coincidence. How can you be so sure?” Asher tried to rationalize, his mind racing.

“No, it’s not a coincidence,” Eric said gravely. “Remember that the police never found Rose’s body after the accident. And don’t forget, Robert Stark is the reason for everything that went wrong. He’s the one responsible for our parents' deaths.”

Asher’s jaw tightened. He remembered that horrible day—how everything changed in an instant. His fists clenched as the painful memories resurfaced.

“And maybe Stark kept her hidden all these years for this exact reason,” Eric continued, his voice barely a whisper. “To use her for his schemes.”

Asher’s thoughts turned to the life Janette had been forced to live—raised by strangers, kept from her true identity, manipulated. His heart ached for her. She didn’t deserve any of this.

“So, why did you let her marry me?” Asher asked, his voice low and filled with bitterness. “You knew my reasons.”

“I had no choice,” Eric admitted. “I couldn’t trust Robert Stark. If you hadn’t married her, he would have handed her off to some dangerous man. I suspect that’s why he kept her alive in the first place—to marry her off to the highest bidder.”

Asher felt a surge of anger but tried to calm himself. “We have to stop him, Eric. He’s ruined too many lives.”

“We will,” Eric said, placing a hand on Asher’s arm. “But first, you have to take care of my sister. Give your marriage a real chance.”

Asher gave him an incredulous look. “You know relationships and I don’t mix.”

“I said the same thing when I married Erie,” Eric replied with a knowing smile. “Now we can’t live without each other.”

Asher didn’t know what to say. He had always believed he could suppress his feelings, but his love for Janette had grown, despite the tangled mess their relationship was built on. Could they really survive the lies and deception?

“I know you care about her, Asher,” Eric said gently. “Don’t let this ruin what you could have.”

Asher stood, shaking hands with Eric before leaving. His mind was spinning, his emotions tangled. Jane is Rose. His sweet, broken wife had been through more than he ever imagined, and it all traced back to Robert Stark. Asher felt a burning desire for revenge, not just for himself but for Janette—Rose. She had suffered enough, and Stark would pay.

And soon.