Billionaire's Bride

Flashback

Asher never wanted to get married, and tying himself to his enemy’s daughter was the last thing he had in mind. But fate handed him a golden opportunity for revenge, a chance to settle the score for the miserable life and hardships he and his little brother had endured.

His first encounter with Janette was at a university ceremony where he was the chief guest. She stood at the entrance, her signature scowl etched on her face. Asher couldn't help but smile; the girl never seemed to smile.

“The weird faces she makes look cute,” a voice in his head mused.

He chuckled softly. If anyone had seen him then, they might have thought him delusional. Clearing his throat, he composed himself. The sight of her was captivating. Her brown hair seemed oddly familiar, but he couldn’t place where he’d seen it before. Perhaps she was a business colleague's daughter? He lost track of time, staring at her, until his bodyguard pulled him back to reality before she noticed.

Back at home, Janette’s green eyes haunted his thoughts all night. The next day, when he visited Robert Stark’s private bungalow for drinks, he was startled to see her painting. Curious, he asked Stark about her.

“That’s my daughter,” Stark revealed. Despite a pang of unease, Asher’s friend Hector suggested a strategy.

“If you’re interested in her, you could win her over by offering the hotel Stark took from us,” Hector proposed. After losing his mother and his father’s absence, the Miller family had been Asher and his brother’s support. Hector's advice was clear: marry Janette and humiliate Stark by repeatedly embarrassing his cherished daughter.

Asher recalled his conversation with Stark with a smirk. “So let’s get to the point, Stark. In exchange for your hotel, I want your daughter as my wife,” he had said, idly playing with the paperweight on his desk, expecting fear in Stark’s eyes. Instead, Stark remained surprisingly comfortable.

“I’ve been looking for a suitable groom for my daughter, and you’ve made it easy for me,” Stark replied with a grin.

“Does your daughter agree to this?” Asher asked, knowing Janette didn’t seem particularly eager about marriage.

“Who cares?” Stark said, revealing his indifference. Asher’s anger flared, but he managed to suppress it. Stark’s apparent satisfaction, knowing his daughter was marrying one of the wealthiest men, masked the reality: he was sending her into a personal hell.

“You just decide the date and venue, Mr. Stark. Your bride will be there,” Asher said, a cold smile forming on his lips. He was one step closer to his revenge.

“Goodbye, Mr. Stark. I’ll join you at your house tomorrow to discuss further,” Asher declared, inviting himself for dinner at his future father-in-law’s home. After all, no one would send their soon-to-be son-in-law away without a proper meal.

Stark welcomed him with enthusiasm. “I’ll be there at 9:00 pm sharp,” Asher confirmed before exiting the office.

Asher smirked to himself. “You’ll pay for your sins, Robert Stark. Watching your daughter’s tears will be your punishment. Welcome to hell, Janette Stark.”

Yet, a flicker of doubt crossed his mind. It wasn’t Janette who was responsible for his childhood misery; it was her father. He shrugged off the feeling. His father had once said, “Robert Stark is known for lavishing love on his children. Watching one of them suffer would be a fitting retribution for his past sins.”

Asher’s smirk returned. “I didn’t expect it to be this easy,” he replied, his father’s grin mirroring his own.