Falling In Love With My Billionaire Wife

As Marcel Sterling stepped into the bustling cafe and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sweet pastries filled his nostrils, he adjusted the strap of his worn leather bag slung over his chest while he looked at the different customers who were seated around tables made from fine wood and were sipping coffee as they spoke to their partners.

He sighed as he blamed himself for letting him allow his friends to force him to come to this place.

A former soldier who'd traded in his combat boots for scrubs, he'd found solace in the quieter, more predictable world of an obstetrics ward. But his work had caused long-lasting relationships to become a foreign concept to him. And that his friends, Leo and Peter, did not want. He wasn't one for blind dates, but his friends insisted that he needed someone outside the hospital-someone normal. Obviously that was impossible so they had set him up on this damn blind date.

He was beginning to get impatient while looking for this blind date when his eyes fell on a tall, slender woman that was seated next to a table close to the counter. She was on the phone, speaking in quiet but urgent tones, her posture stiff as though her conversation demanded every ounce of her attention. Something about her drew his gaze- it was her elegance...the poised way she held herself.

Not only that, her dress caught his attention.

White. It was an exact match to the color of outfit he had been told his blind date would wear.

His heart skipped a beat. Could this be her?

***

Anna Blackwood sat at a small corner table in the cafe, her fingers nervously drumming against the phone as her grandfather's voice echoed through the line.

"Anna, this is no longer a suggestion," her grandfather was saying. "The Blackwood name, our business...it's all at risk. And the only way to secure your future-and the future of the family-is to marry. Quickly. If you don't, I'll be forced to take matters into my own hands. And trust me, you don't want that."

Her grip tightened on the phone. It was the first time he'd made such threats. He had always been a man who believed in swift action, especially when it came to business, and he made no exceptions for her.

"I understand, Grandfather," she replied, forcing her voice to sound calm. Inside, she felt pressure mount in her chest.

"I'll figure it out, Grandfather. Don't worry," she added, even though she had no idea how.

Suddenly, the sound of the cafe door opening caught her attention. She looked up, her gaze drawn to a man stepping inside. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a black simple shirt and jeans trousers with a leather bag slung over his chest. He looked around the room, his eyes scanning the faces, as though searching for someone.

The man's gaze landed on her, and to her surprise, he smiled after some moments and walked straight toward her. It was the kind of smile that seemed genuine and warm ...and far too disarming.

"Hello, Isabella," he said and cleared his throat. "You look beautiful."

Anna froze in shock

***

Marcel had finally agreed that she had to be his blind date and as he approached her, was thanking his friends in his head because damn...she looked so lovely.

To his surprise, as he talked to her, her eyes widened in shock then became annoyed. Something in the sharp curve of her brow told him she wasn't pleased with the interruption.

She placed a hand on her phone, lowering it, but didn't speak immediately.

"I'm sorry," she finally replied, her words sounding clipped. "Do we know each other?"

He chuckled nervously as he tried to ease the tension that seemed to hang between them. "I'm Marcel. I'm here for the-uh, blind date."

A flash of surprise flickered in her gaze, but it was gone almost immediately and replaced with something far colder. "A blind date?" she repeated.

"Yes, I'm twenty-eight," he answered with a smile as he slid into a seat opposite her since she didn't offer one. "I used to be a soldier, but now I work as a gynecology nurse. Not much of a romantic, I guess... but you know, I try."

She stared at him for a moment, the edges of her lips twitching as she did so. Despite the coldness in her gaze, there was an air of curiosity about her. As if she found him interesting.

His smile grew even deeper. Being interesting was not an effect he had on a lot of ladies.

"Well, you've got the wrong person," she said, a short laugh escaping her lips. "I'm Anna Blackwood."

"Blackwood?" Marcel repeated, his confusion reflecting on his face.

Her sharp look made him realize that he had made a mistake and that he should know of the name instantly.

"I'm the heir to the Blackwood dynasty," she said as if the title was supposed to explain everything.

Marcel inclined his head as his fingers drummed against his bag.

The Blackwoods. He'd heard of them, of course. The wealthiest family in the country, with their fingers in everything from real estate to tech.

Christ. What had he just done?

He stood up immediately, his face reddening with embarrassment.

"God, I am so sorry" he said with a choked voice. "I... I guess I've made a mistake."

Anna's expression softened, but not by much. "Yes," she said flatly, "You have."

Becoming even more flustered, he mumbled, " I am so sorry to interrupt. You are wearing the same color of the dress of the person I am supposed to meet. Jeez."

Acute embarrassment stopped him from thinking of anything else to say. He turned and walked away, wishing that the grounds would open up and swallow him while cursing his friends at the same time.

***

Anna watched him go as an intriguing look appeared on her face.

For some reason, she liked his honesty and simplicity. Maybe it was because there weren't many like him where she came from.

"Hmm. Interesting conversation you had there."

She gasped as she turned to her phone and saw that the phone call had been on all this while.

"Grand-pa!" She said, exhaling in shock. "You have been listening all this while?"

"Uh-huh. You were unnecessarily impatient with the young man. I wonder why."

She rolled her eyes. She knew where he was driving at. "Oh Grandpa, please."

He continued anyway in a pondering tone. "And I wonder if there can be more from this interesting surprise."

At that, Anna could not say anymore because to her surprise, she too was wondering the same thing.

As Marcel walked toward the table where he was supposed to meet his blind date-he had called his friends to help confirm her- his stomach was still knotted from the bizarre encounter with Anna earlier.

What the hell had he gotten himself into? First, the strange mix-up with her, and now, he was about to sit down with another stranger who, according to his friends, was supposed to be the one.

The chair creaked as he sat while he adjusted the collar of his shirt and wished he'd just stayed at work.

This was supposed to be his shot at something more... normal but when he laid eyes on Isabella, the uneasy tug of doubt crawled back up his spine.

She was stunning, no doubt. Dark sleek hair, sharp cheekbones, and a look in her eyes that screamed confidence. But she looked like the kind of woman who didn't need a man in her life.

She barely glanced up from her phone to acknowledge him as he sat.

He tried to get her attention. "Isabella?"

She looked up then while her fingers flicked across her screen with a bored expression. Finally, she muttered, "You're late."

Thrown off by her bluntness, Marcel blinked. "Sorry, I had to make a quick stop at the-"

"No one cares," she interrupted, rolling her eyes and slamming her phone down on the table as she spoke. Her tone dripped with disdain. "It's a simple date, and you can't even manage to be on time."

He stiffened even as he tried to maintain his calm. "It won't happen again. I apologize."

Isabella rolled her eyes. "I'm sure you have got a thousand excuses, but let's get this over with. I don't have all day."

There was no mistaking the icy condescension in her voice. Marcel could feel his patience fraying, but he took a deep breath and focused on the task at hand. "So, what do you do?"

Her eyes flicked over him briefly as if she was trying to figure out if he was worth her time. "I don't know. Why don't you tell me? What exactly do you do again?"

His eyebrows shot up as he answered, "I'm an obstetrics nurse.

Isabella leaned back in her chair as her eyes gleamed with malicious amusement. "A soldier turned nurse? You really have no ambition, do you? Can't even make it as a doctor." She paused as she let the insult hang in the air. "How quaint."

The words stung but Marcel fought for calm. "I find it fulfilling."

"Oh, I'm sure you do," she retorted with an exaggerated sigh. "But seriously... what kind of man chooses a career like that? It's like you're just... a caretaker. Pathetic."

Before Marcel could respond, she suddenly grabbed her glass of water and without warning, splashed it across his shirt. He froze in shock as the cold water soaked through his clothes.

Isabella didn't even flinch at what she just did. "Maybe that will help wake you up."

She sneered and stood up. "I don't waste my time with men who have no respect for themselves. A nurse? How ridiculous. I'm leaving."

She didn't even give him a chance to speak. With a huff, she grabbed her purse and stormed off, leaving Marcel soaked and speechless.

Still processing what had just happened, Marcel sat there for a moment. Was that it? Was that what blind dates were all about?

He cursed his friends for the second time that evening.

Marcel wiped the water off his shirt and looked around. The cafe seemed so much quieter now-as if others were trying not to laugh too loudly.

He sighed, gathered his things, and made his way toward the door, but as he stepped outside, he was struck by something unusual.

It was the sound of low, harsh voices coming from the alley next to the cafe. Marcel glanced toward the entrance of the alleyway as his instincts kicked in. Something told him he had to check it out.

As he approached, he saw her-Anna Blackwood-standing near her car, her shoulders tight with fear.

A group of men had surrounded her. The situation didn't look good. The thugs were crowding her and leering at her, and one of them was getting too close for comfort.

Marcel's blood began to heat as anger rose in his chest.

"Hey!" he called out as he walked straight toward the group of men.

Surprised to see him, they turned. The thugs sized him up, and one of them grinned maliciously. "You got a problem, man?"

"I suggest you back off," Marcel said, his tone colder now as the military training in him rose to the surface. "Leave her alone."

They chuckled. "And what are you gonna do about it?" one of them asked, stepping forward. "You're outnumbered."

Marcel didn't hesitate. Without another word, he moved faster than they expected, grabbing the closest guy by the collar before tossing him aside with one fluid motion. The others lunged at him, but he was faster-he pushed one away with a powerful shove and knocked another to the ground with a swift kick to the chest.

The last thug hesitated as he realized that Marcel wasn't someone to mess with. But it was too late for him. Marcel rushed forward, grabbed him by the arm, and twisted it behind his back with enough force to make him yelp in pain.

"You want to keep going?" Marcel asked, his voice sounding deadly quiet. "Or are you done?"

The thug winced and nodded rapidly. "We're done! Just don't kill us, man."

Marcel let him go, watching as the group of men scrambled away and disappeared into the streets as quickly as they had come.

He turned back to Anna, who stood still, her face pale, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"Are you okay?" Marcel asked as he took a step toward her.

She nodded slowly. "I... I'm fine. Thank you."

Marcel watched her for a moment, noticing the tension still in her shoulders. She was trying to put on a brave face, but he could see through it. He wasn't sure why he felt so compelled to protect her, but he knew one thing-no one should be put in a situation like that... especially someone like her.

She cleared her throat and turned to him eyes holding a mix of gratitude and something he couldn't quite place. "I... owe you one."

Marcel waved it off. "It's no problem."

She hesitated and then said, "Well, I can offer you something in return. I can introduce you to a position at one of the top companies in town. You wouldn't have to keep working as a nurse anymore. Something more... fitting for someone like you."

Surprised by her offer, Marcel raised an eyebrow. "I appreciate it, but I'm happy with my job. I find it rewarding."

Anna blinked and then offered an almost imperceptible smile. "I see. Well, if you ever change your mind, I'll be happy to help."

She paused again and pulled out a thick envelope from her bag. "Take this then," she said, holding it out to him. "Consider it a token of my gratitude."

Marcel shook his head and held up a hand to decline. "I don't need money," he said firmly. "I did it because it was the right thing to do. Nothing more."

Anna studied him for a long moment as something in her eyes shifted. "You're an interesting man, Marcel."

She glanced at her car and then back at him. "I'll make sure my assistant looks into you," she added, almost as an afterthought. "I'm certain we can work something out."

Before Marcel could respond, she slipped into her car and the engine started with a low purr. As she pulled away, he watched her go while he was still uncertain about what had just transpired.

There was something about today that felt different. Something was changing even though he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

But as Marcel turned to head back home, he had no idea that the last thing he expected was already waiting for him-Isabella.

Marcel was wiping the last of the café's disaster from his shirt as he got to his street.

The day had been definitely strange - from mistaking a rich woman as his date to suffering craziness from a rude bitch and then saving the same rich woman. It was crazy.

Could the day get any stranger?

When he arrived at his house, he got the answer to that question-the sight of Isabella standing at his door stopped him in his tracks. She was wearing the same white dress and was tapping seriously at her phone.

What the hell is she doing here?

After the disaster of their earlier date, the last thing he expected was to see her again, especially not here at his door.

He coughed and Isabella looked at him with a raised brow, her eyes quickly flicking over his form. "You again?" she asked, her voice filled with disbelief. "What are you doing here?"

Marcel frowned; he was confused by both her presence and her question. "I could ask you the same thing."

Isabella eyed him. "I'm here for dinner. My mother said her friend invited me over." She rolled her eyes and smirked as her tone dripped of her signature disdain. "Now I understand why. Wow. I didn't know you were so desperate.."

Marcel blinked as he felt a wave of irritation build in his chest and mixed with his confusion. "Desperate?"

Isabella's smirk turned into a sneer as she continued regardless. "You thought inviting me to your mother's house would make me fall for you? I didn't think you were that pathetic, Marcel, but clearly, I underestimated you."

He stared at her as he was made speechless for a moment.

She actually thought he invited her?

He couldn't believe her guts.

"I didn't invite you," he said slowly as he tried to keep his frustration in check.

Isabella looked momentarily taken aback. "Excuse me?"

Before Marcel could respond, the door opened, and his mother appeared, her eyes, so like his own, sparkled as she smiled warmly at both of them. "Isabella! Marcel! Come in, come in. Dinner is almost ready."

Isabella's confusion quickly turned to a smug look as she glanced back at Marcel. "Of course, Mrs. Sterling. I'm so glad to be here."

Marcel followed them inside while he was still trying to piece together what was going on. His mother was clearly happy to see Isabella which showed that she was expecting her indeed. Still, the coincidence was something else.

As they sat down at the table, his mother began talking about her long friendship with Isabella's mother, reminiscing about old times. Meanwhile, Isabella sat with her chin held high while she glanced around, appraising the house like she owned it.

"So, Marcel," Isabella suddenly said, cutting off his mother mid-sentence. "You've been thinking about me, haven't you?"

Unsure of how to respond, Marcel blinked. "What?"

Isabella smirked as she leaned forward slightly towards him. "Why else would you go through all this trouble? A dinner with your mother? Really?"

Marcel's jaw clenched. "I didn't invite you here. My mother did."

The smugness on Isabella's face faltered for a moment before she quickly recovered. "Oh, please, Marcel. Don't try to play it cool. You've been staring at me since we sat down. It's obvious."

Marcel stared at her. Was she crazy? he wondered.

You've got it all wrong. I'm not interested in-"

She cut him off with a laugh. "Oh, come on. Let's not pretend. You think because I'm beautiful, I'm easy to impress? Sorry, darling, but it takes a lot more than this-" she gestured around the room dismissively, "-to win me over."

His mother's eyes widened. She was clearly shocked by the insult, but before she could say anything, Isabella turned her attention back to Marcel. "If you want a chance with me, Marcel, you're going to need to step up your game. A luxury car, expensive gifts... maybe then, I'll consider giving you a second date. Maybe."

Marcel felt the tension in the room rise even as his mother's face flushed with embarrassment. The audacity of Isabella's demands was beyond belief, and the way she spoke down to both him and his mother was infuriating. He took a deep breath as he tried to stay calm.

Wait till he tell his friends what they had caused. They would be kneeling to apologize to him.

"You don't get it, do you?" Marcel said finally. His voice was quiet but it carried a hard edge. "This isn't about impressing you. I didn't invite you, and I sure as hell don't owe you anything."

Isabella's smirk faded and was now replaced by a look of irritation. "You think you can talk to me like that? You're lucky someone like me is even sitting at the same table as you. A nurse?" She scoffed. "You're just a glorified servant. Do you really think someone of my caliber would ever seriously consider someone like you?"

Marcel's mother looked horrified at that statement. Her hand trembled slightly as she reached for her glass of water. "Isabella, I think you should-"

But before she could finish, the doorbell rang.

Marcel stood up quickly. He was grateful for the interruption because he was afraid he would do something he might regret if it didn't happen.

"I'll get it," he said, his voice tight with frustration. He moved toward the door eve. as his mind was still spinning from the onslaught of insults.

When he opened it, the last person he expected to see was standing on the other side.

Anna Blackwood.

Now dressed in casual black slacks and shirt, she looked as poised and confident as he had seen her at the cafe. Her sharp green eyes locked onto his the moment the door swung open. Beside her stood a woman who was behaving like an assistant and was holding a large, lavishly wrapped box.

His jaw dropped in shock as he stared at Anna.

"Good evening, Marcel," Anna said with a small, polite smile.

"I hope I'm not intruding, but I came to see you. I want to discuss something important with you."