Played By The Billionaire

The day I had long awaited had finally arrived. I couldn't wait to be pronounced as Elliot's wife.

"Miss, I am done," the makeup artist informed me, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I took the bouquet and made my way to the wedding hall, feeling excited that I was finally going to walk down the aisle.

As I stepped out of the waiting room, my friend Patricia ran up to me, panting.

Confused, I asked, "Patricia, what's wrong?"

She hesitated before replying, "Elliot isn't here. I have searched everywhere for him and tried calling him, but his phone isn't connecting."

My bouquet fell from my hands as my eyes widened at her words. There was no way Elliot would forget that today was our wedding day.

"Let's wait for him. Maybe he's stuck in traffic..." My voice trailed off as I tried not to break down.

He couldn't abandon me on what was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. Not after everything I had done for him and how I had anticipated this moment.

"Amy, it doesn't seem like it's just traffic. If it were, he would have called you," Patricia said, sounding realistic.

Without saying a word, I returned to the waiting room. I walked up to the table where my phone was placed. I wondered why I hadn't thought of this-maybe he had tried to call me.

I had been so focused on looking good that I had forgotten to call him, or maybe I hadn't bothered because I thought he was waiting for me.

Right in front of everyone.

"It can't be..."

My lips parted as a soft gasp escaped. My phone fell from my shaky hands as I tried not to believe what I had just seen.

I must be dreaming, right?

"Amy, what is it?" Patricia asked as she hurried up to me, picking up the phone from the ground.

As she read the message, which seemed like a goodbye from Elliot, a gasp tore out of her lips. She was equally surprised.

I couldn't believe this was how things were going to end between us. I thought he was the right man for me. I thought his promises to stay by my side forever and be the father of my kids were real.

But reality dawned on me. Maybe it had all been lies from the start. Maybe he never loved me. Maybe he was just trying to humiliate me in front of everyone present today.

It was supposed to be the grandest wedding in the city, but it ended up being...

"Amy! Amy!"

My friend's voice made me snap out of my thoughts. I raised my gaze to meet her eyes, tears streaming down my face as they washed away my mascara. "Patricia, what am I going to do? I thought he loved me! I foolishly gave him everything," I sobbed.

"What are you doing here? Aren't you done with the makeup?" Patricia's voice made me turn to face the makeup artist, who I thought had long gone.

The makeup artist bowed apologetically before leaving the waiting room.

"Amy, don't cry; you're going to ruin your beautiful face," she muttered before turning to face me. "Let's wait for him. Maybe he..."

"He's not coming. He said it's over between us," I whispered, my voice barely audible as tears cascaded down my face. "What am I going to do? Everyone's waiting for me-for us to be pronounced husband and wife!"

"It's going to be fine. I'm going to use another number to call him. Maybe it will connect," she informed me, trying to stop me from crying.

Even though I had ruined my life by trusting the wrong guy, I didn't want to ruin my family's reputation.

Patricia, this wedding must go on," I said, trying not to think of the shame I would bring upon my family if the news of my being abandoned by my fiancé got out.

I had already brought enough shame upon my family by blindly signing off my family's legacy to Elliot... Only to be betrayed!

In an instant, my broken heart was fueled by anger. The will to destroy Elliot and make him regret betraying me. After all, I was Amy Reynolds!

"But there can't be a wedding without the groom," she explained calmly.

"I'm going to find Elliot... We must get married today," I whimpered, more tears streaming down my face.

Patricia heaved a sigh before embracing me in a warm hug. Patting my back, she muttered, "Don't cry because of Elliot. That jerk doesn't deserve your tears."

Before I could speak, the sound of someone knocking on the door made me snap out of my thoughts.

"I'm going-"

"Don't worry. I'll go and check. Maybe it's Elliot." I walked up to the door, hoping it was him.

I turned the knob, my heart heavy as I opened the door. My heart sank with disappointment as my gaze met the person who had knocked.

It was Kai. Elliot's uncle.

"I heard what my nephew did. I'm sorry about that," his voice echoed, not sounding as if he had come here to console me.

Even though I didn't know how the news had reached him, I pretended to be fine by forcing myself to smile. "Oh, is Elliot running late?"

"You don't have to lie to me because I know Elliot isn't coming. I've searched everywhere for him but couldn't find him, leaving me with no option but to conclude that he disappeared," he informed me. "I can't allow Elliot to disgrace my family; that's why I'm here."

Wondering what he meant, I asked, my brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"Marry me. I'll get back everything you gave Elliot and make him regret betraying you while I save my family's reputation."

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. He sounded sincere and shameless at the same time. I couldn't believe he was asking to be a replacement for Elliot.