Billionaire's Bride

Don't need her

Mr. Parker and Asher exchanged glances, confusion clear on their faces. Their reactions were expected—it was a bizarre situation for everyone involved. Janette meeting Mr. Parker for the first time, while Ana had never once mentioned him during their five-year friendship, made everything even more surreal. Meanwhile, Ana stood there, staring at Janette with a dumbfounded expression.

"Wait, you two know each other?" Mr. Parker finally broke the silence, his voice filled with curiosity. Asher folded his arms across his chest, silently urging Janette to explain.

"Yeah, we used to be best friends," Ana responded before Janette could say anything. The words hit Janette like a punch to the gut. Used to be?

Friendship had always meant everything to Janette, especially her bond with Ana, which had been her sanctuary for so long. Their friendship had felt like a dream—one she never wanted to wake up from. They had shared everything with each other, except for the fact that Janette had recently discovered she wasn't Cameron's biological daughter. That secret was too dangerous to reveal, especially with Robert Stark’s strict orders to keep it hidden.

A dull ache formed in Janette’s chest. She felt her control slipping as dizziness washed over her. Before she could stumble, both Asher and Ana reached out, steadying her as they guided her to the nearest chair.

"How many times have I told you not to skip meals?" Ana whispered, her tone soft with concern as she handed Janette a glass of water. Janette took it and drank, trying to regain her composure, while Asher rubbed her back gently. Both men were trying to make sense of the unusual tension between the two women, completely oblivious to the tangled web of Janette’s life.

Fifteen minutes passed before Janette felt strong enough to sit up properly. "Are you okay?" Asher and Ana asked in unison. She nodded, but the truth was that physically she felt fine—it was the emotional turmoil that left her drained. Her head throbbed with the weight of everything that had happened.

"I think it would be best if we reschedule this meeting," Mr. Parker suggested, but Janette quickly reassured them that she was fine. With breakfast ordered and served, the silence at the table grew thick and uncomfortable after the waiter left.

"So, Ana, how do you and Mrs. Norman know each other?" Mr. Parker broke the silence again, his curiosity still lingering.

"It’s been five years, but we're not here to discuss my relationship with her, Edward," Ana said coldly, giving him a look that silenced any further questions on the matter.

Ana’s gaze shifted to Janette, her eyes sharp. "Mrs. Norman, how long have you known your husband? Long enough to not invite your ‘one and only best friend’ to your wedding?"

Janette could feel Asher tense beside her, clearly uncomfortable with the direction the conversation had taken. But she wasn’t in any state to delve into the painful memories of her past. When neither Janette nor Asher responded, Ana scoffed, rolling her eyes in frustration.

"Never mind," Ana muttered, crossing her arms and fixing Janette with a hurtful glare. It was clear that Ana felt betrayed, but Janette couldn’t help but think, She didn’t tell me about her engagement either. Why am I the only one being judged? Janette looked down, never imagining that their friendship would one day reach such a low point.

The awkward tension lingered in the room as Asher and Edward attempted to steer the conversation back to business. Ana, now uninterested, scrolled through her phone while Janette remained silent, lost in thought. Every time their eyes met, Ana would roll her eyes, making Janette feel even more alienated. The urge to cry built up inside her, but she refused to give in to the tears. Was our friendship really this fragile?

Janette stood up abruptly. "Excuse me," she said quietly, her voice barely steady. Asher asked if she needed help, but she waved him off, knowing his presence would only make things worse. Leaving her clutch on the table, she hurried toward the restroom.

As soon as the door closed behind her, the tears fell. "Why does this have to be so hard?" she whispered, her voice breaking as she sniffled. She wiped her tears quickly, knowing it wouldn’t take long for Asher to come looking for her. She splashed cold water on her face, uncaring that her makeup was ruined.

She never told me about her engagement, Janette thought bitterly. Every time I asked about her relationships, she’d deflect. I would’ve told her about Asher, but she never felt the need to share anything with me.

If Ana didn’t consider her a friend anymore, then Janette was done trying. She had no interest in being friends with someone who jumped to conclusions without hearing the full story. If I hurt her, she hurt me too, Janette consoled herself. She was the only one who could calm herself down in times like this. After a few deep breaths, she regained her composure. No one can hurt me if I don’t let them.

Determined to face Ana with confidence, Janette straightened her posture and left the restroom. She couldn’t afford to let anyone discover the truth about her—not Asher, not Ana, not anyone. If Asher found out she wasn’t Robert Stark’s daughter, she didn’t know what he would do, but she knew it wouldn’t end well for her or her family.

As she approached the table, Janette placed her hand on Asher’s shoulder, subtly flashing her wedding ring at Ana. Asher, ever the attentive husband, took her hand and kissed her knuckles, sending an involuntary blush to her cheeks. Despite everything, she couldn’t deny the butterflies that erupted in her stomach whenever he touched her. Why did his gaze make her feel so flustered? Why did his care for her bring her unexpected happiness?

But today, she had a different purpose. She was using him to prove a point. It wasn’t right, but if Asher married her to parade her around, then for today, she would do the same.

life ,so why can't she do that for today