Billionaire's Bride

Find a replacement

They had just settled down when the doorbell rang again. Janette reluctantly got up to see who the visitor was, but the moment she opened the door, she wished she hadn’t. Standing before her was her worst nightmare—the man who once claimed to be her father but never truly was, nor could ever be.

"Hello, daughter," Robert Stark mumbled in his gruff voice. A shiver ran through Janette, and she instinctively recoiled. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice laced with dread.

He smirked. "Still haven’t learned to respect your elders, I see."

"Who’s at the door, Jane?" Mr. Cameron’s voice called from behind. He came to check, but upon seeing Robert Stark, his face paled. "C-Come in, Mr. Stark," he stammered, clearly hesitant but feeling obligated to invite the man inside.

Robert entered with his entourage—several bodyguards and, trailing behind them, a young man in his late twenties. He was handsome in a navy-blue suit, his hand ruffling his brown hair, his golden watch glinting in the light. Any girl might fall for his charms, but not Janette. Her heart was already taken, even if it was now bruised.

"Come in, Mr. Frederick," Robert called, his voice commanding. As they entered the dining room, the light-hearted chatter and laughter that had filled the space came to an abrupt halt. The room suddenly felt much too small.

"It seems I’m the unwanted guest at your little gathering," Robert sneered. His eyes scanned the room, and Janette glared at the bodyguards, wondering why they were here.

"Well, since everyone close to Janette is present," Robert began, "I’ll get right to the point. Janette will be divorcing Mr. Norman in a few days, and as such, I’m transferring her responsibilities to Mr. Daniel Frederick."

Janette’s jaw dropped. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She shot Robert the ugliest glare she could muster. "Who said I’m divorcing Asher Norman? That will only happen over my dead body. And I don’t need anyone’s help. I’ve never been your responsibility, and I never will be."

Her defiance, however, had no effect on him. He smiled darkly. "Who said you have a choice? Guards."

In an instant, the bodyguards raised their guns, aiming them at her family. Janette’s heart clenched—Robert knew exactly how to hurt her.

"You’re a monster!" Ana cried out. "I’m sorry, Janette." Guilt washed over Ana as she realized how wrong she had been to judge Janette’s choices.

"You have no right to control her life," Ana spat, her anger rising. The bodyguards turned their weapons toward her, but Ana didn’t flinch.

"No, Ana," Janette said quickly, her voice steady. "So let me get this straight, Robert. You want me to divorce the man you forced me to marry and then marry someone else?"

Robert nodded, and Janette gave him a look of pure disgust. "That’s absurd. Asher will never sign those papers."

Robert let out a cold chuckle. "What makes you so sure of that?"

Her confidence faltered. "He loves me," she said softly, knowing in her heart that it was true, despite everything.

"Ah," Robert murmured. "Then why don’t you take a look at this?"

He gestured to his secretary, who quickly pulled out a laptop and set it on the table. As the screen lit up, Janette’s heart sank. There, in full display, was Asher kissing a stunning blonde woman—someone far more beautiful than Janette could ever imagine herself being.

"He’s already found your replacement," Robert taunted. "Maybe it’s time you did the same."

Janette’s mind went numb. The room around her seemed to fade as pain swelled inside her chest, suffocating her. Ana and Edward were speaking, but she couldn’t hear them. All she could see was Asher and that woman. The love she thought they shared was nothing more than a lie.

Robert’s voice cut through her haze. "So, what do you say?"

Janette felt the words leave her lips before she could stop herself. "I’m ready." Her family gasped in shock, but she pressed on. "But you have to leave them alone."

Robert’s smirk widened. "That’s my girl."

She wanted to punch him—wipe that smug expression off his face—but she felt too drained, too broken.

"Don’t make a rash decision, Mrs. Norman," Edward said, but Robert dismissed him with a sneer.

"You want me to leave them, but what if they manage to change your mind?" Robert challenged.

Janette saw his weakness then—he feared the strength of her love, of the people around her. "They won’t change my mind," she said firmly, trying to sound stronger than she felt.

Robert eyed her for a moment before nodding. "Very well. My driver will pick you up tomorrow." He motioned to his bodyguards, and they left as quickly as they had arrived.

The moment the door closed behind them, Janette bolted to her room, ignoring the concerned voices of her family. She locked the door and collapsed on the bed, the pain in her chest overwhelming.

Now she understood why Asher hadn’t contacted her. He had used her, just like everyone else had. He had taken her virginity, her heart, and left her with nothing. He had married her only to get revenge on Robert Stark. She felt sick, disgusted with herself, and all she wanted was to scrub away the memory of him—the man who had shattered her world.