The Billionaire's Bride.

"Your grace, someone is calling you from the Philippines."

I looked up from my papers and stared at the woman bowing in front of me. My brow furrowed at her words as I took off my glasses and leaned back in my chair. I blinked, trying to process what I just heard.

Someone calling me from the Philippines?

A smile tugged at my lips, and I chuckled softly, glancing at Aria, my butler.

"What did he say?" I asked her.

It's a miracle he called me. I know he must have something to say or ask. Knowing that old hag, he wouldn't call without a reason. What could he need now, after ten years of silence since I decided to cut ties with his clan? I've built my name in the business industry here in Europe, standing on my own without asking for their help, not even a single peso.

"He wants you to go back to the Philippines, your grace," she calmly reported.

I couldn't help but raise my left eyebrow. Why? Why does he need my presence now, hmmm? Besides not knowing my current life in Europe, they think I'm just getting by. They underestimate me without knowing I've become more powerful than them. I have no plans to tell them my success; they'd just try to undermine me. That family is insecure. I shook my head and swiveled my chair to face the glass wall, looking out at the city.

"Really? Did he give you a reason why I need to go back to the Philippines?" I asked, still turned away.

Staring at the city calms me, reminding me of my journey to this pinnacle and my self-made title. I can't deny the struggle, especially since I'm not pure royalty. It was incredibly tough, but here I am, standing strong.

"No reason, your grace," she replied.

I signaled her to leave. After hearing the door open and close, I smiled. How about visiting them unannounced? They want me to go back home, after all.

HOME. My ass. That place is not my home. I'll never call it that. How could I, when they treated me like a slave?

"Well, let's see why he needs my presence," I whispered into the air.

***

"Don't forget to report to me if anything happens and update me on everything, Aria," I instructed Aria, who was bowing before me, with the rest of my staff behind her.

Today, I'm leaving for the Philippines. I'm still unsure why they need me. I know they must have a plan. They wouldn't notice me otherwise, right? After almost ten years of living far from them, my life has been peaceful. I can do what I want. I'm free like a bird. Over time, I've learned to stand alone and discovered who I truly am.

I now understand why God let me live in this cruel world: to know my worth and survive among devils in disguise. It's not easy, but I must survive.

Taking a deep breath, I looked around. From my large mansion, two big fountains, and extensive gardens to my staff ready to follow my orders, I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment for what I've built here in Europe. This is my kingdom, and I rule it with an iron will.

As I boarded the private jet to the Philippines, I couldn't shake the apprehension. Returning to a place I left, filled with memories of struggle and pain, was not something I had anticipated. But curiosity burned inside me. What could be so important that they needed me now?

The flight was long, and I spent it lost in thought, reminiscing about my journey from a powerless girl to a formidable woman. I had learned to navigate the treacherous waters of high society and had become a force to be reckoned with in the business world. No one would dare underestimate me again.

As the plane touched down in the Philippines, I felt a mixture of dread, anger, and a strange sense of nostalgia. I had come a long way, and I was determined not to let anyone, especially my family, diminish my accomplishments.

With firm resolve, I stepped off the plane and into the unknown, ready to face whatever awaited me in the land I once called home. But returning to the place I called home, I never knew it would turn into a reckless and unpredictable journey, one that would challenge me in ways I had never imagined.

Because I, Katharina Esmeralda Grimaldi, Duchess of Monaco and part of Société des Bains de Mer (SBM), found myself in an arranged marriage with a dangerously beautiful beast and cold-hearted billionaire, Rome Benjamin Azcárraga, CEO of Azcárraga Oceanic Shipping Lines Inc., one of the most prominent and largest shipping companies in Asia.