I Married My Ex's Billionaire Uncle by Mistake

"Bang!"

Calista Monroe hit the ground hard from the sudden shove.

"Calista, today's Felicity's engagement with Lucas. If you dare mess this up, don't ever call me your mother again." Vivienne Howard glared at her, her tone icy and firm.

"So... it was you guys who locked me up?" Calista's voice trembled. She pushed herself off the floor, staring at her own mother in disbelief.

Today was supposed to be her engagement with Lucas Bennett. Just two hours ago, she had finished getting her makeup done when she was drugged and locked in a bathroom.

After a lengthy struggle to break free, she rushed to the venue, only to be dragged away by her mother before she could even step into the ceremony.

Now she finally realized-this whole thing was a setup. She'd been tricked by her own family.

The engagement wasn't hers. It was Felicity's. Everyone in Crownvale knew about Felicity Monroe and Lucas Bennett's wedding today-except Calista. She'd been completely in the dark, foolishly believing this was her big day.

"Your sister's had heart issues since she was little. She never took anything from you. You're the older one-shouldn't you give in to her? Besides, Lucas loves her. They're head over heels for each other. If you try to stir up trouble, pack your bags and leave the Monroe house," Vivienne snapped, her face cold and unforgiving.

Calista's eyes widened. "Are you serious, Mom? I've been with Lucas for years. How could he-"

"Calista, I'm sorry... I'm in love with Felicity," Lucas interrupted out of nowhere.

Calista spun around, and there he was-Lucas, walking in holding Felicity's hand.

They looked like the perfect couple, and the sight was like a slap to Calista's face.

"Sis... I wanted to tell you sooner, really. But you were so busy with your piano competition... We didn't want to distract you. Lucas and I have been together for a while now. I'm sorry," Felicity spoke softly, her hand gripping Lucas's like she needed support, eyes looking at Calista with fake pity.

"Sorry? If you had even a shred of guilt, you wouldn't have stolen Lucas from me."

"I didn't mean to... It's my fault, I was stupid, I shouldn't have fallen for him. This is all on me..."

Calista's sharp, biting words made Felicity's face twist in pain. She clutched her chest, breathing hard, then suddenly collapsed into Lucas's arms mid-sentence.

Lucas panicked when Felicity passed out, his expression both furious and anxious. Holding her with one arm, he turned and slapped Calista across the face without warning.

"You're unbelievably cruel, Calista! You knew about Felicity's heart condition and still went after her like that? Were you trying to kill her?"

"How did someone like you come from our family?" Vivienne yelled, her voice full of rage as she chased after Lucas. "If anything happens to Felicity, you'll pay for it!"

Tears streamed down Calista's cheeks as she watched her mom and Lucas walk away.

Felicity got everything because she was sick as a kid. Now she'd stolen her fiancé and was still playing the victim. And the worst part? Everyone bought it.

Calista clenched her fists, wiped her face, and turned on her heel, running out of the hotel.

Once inside her car, she pulled out her phone and made a call to her best friend.

"Hey. I need your help. Now."

Twenty minutes later.

Lumi Hale found Calista with her cheeks swollen and red, face twisted in fury, looking absolutely disheveled in a wrinkled evening dress. She gasped and asked,

"Cali, what happened? Weren't you supposed to be getting engaged to Lucas today? I was literally on my way there when you called me over."

"It's not my engagement with Lucas," Calista replied, her voice tight. "It's Felicity and Lucas's."

Lumi's eyes widened instantly.

"Wait, what? Felicity and Lucas?! Are you kidding me?"

Calista took a sip of her coffee, then calmly laid out the whole story.

Lumi exploded as soon as she heard the details. Slamming her hand on the table, she snapped, "Seriously? Just because she's got a heart condition, she thinks she can steal your fiancé and still have the nerve to ask you to support them? That's insane! I've seen some shameless people, but this takes the cake."

She stood up, fired up. "Girl, gimme a katana and I'll go full Kill Bill on those two clowns!"

Calista quickly stopped her, pulling her back by the arm.

"What's the point in going berserk now? Killing them would be too easy-it doesn't cut deep enough."

Lumi took a breath to calm down, eyes fixed on Calista, licking her dry lips. "Alright. So what's the plan then? Whatever it is, I'm right behind you."

Calista gave a slow smirk. "Lucas's dad-weirdly young looking, right? Since Felicity's obsessed with stealing everything I've got, I'll just beat her at her own game. I'll marry his dad. Just imagine-next time they see me, they'll have to call me 'Mom.'"

"Pfft!"

Lumi spat out her coffee-literally. But in the next second, she clutched Calista's arm, her eyes gleaming. "Okay, wait, I love that. Like, actually love it. I've seen Lucas's dad before. I don't know what kind of skincare sorcery he's into, but the man looks like he's Lucas's age-only hotter. And I mean, way hotter. Total glow-up from Lucas."

"Seriously? Good-looking and youthful?"

"Hang on-I got pictures." Lumi whipped out her phone. "I was at this party a month ago with my dad, and he pointed the guy out. I was so stunned I sneakily snapped a photo. Total heartthrob."

She handed the phone to Calista, who stared at the screen-and just like that, her eyes lit up like a million stars.

Damn, this dude... he's actually Lucas's dad? What the hell is he eating to stay that fine? That face is insane.

"He's hot, right?"

"I mean, just for that face alone, I'd do it. No regrets."

"I'm with you. Gimme a sec, I'll find out where he's at."

No time wasted-Lumi got to work contacting her people, digging up every detail about Lucas's father. In less than half an hour, she had him all mapped out.

"Once he's out cold, get him to the room I booked. Tonight's the night. Tomorrow, Lucas and Felicity better be saying 'Mom' real polite."

"Say less. All on me."

*****

9 PM. On the dot.

Calista stepped up to the door in a killer low-cut dress, keycard in hand. Lumi waited by the door, flashing her a mischievous grin. "Have fun in there."

Not shy at all, Calista laughed, chin up, waving Lumi off like she had this in the bag.

She opened the door, strutted straight toward the bed. The man was lying there, eyes shut, and up close? Damn, that face was unreal. Striking features with that arrogant charm-total knockout.

Seriously, this guy? Way out of Lucas's league. Ten out of ten, easy.

"You know, for a guy with a grown-ass son like Lucas, you're surprisingly easy on the eyes. Honestly, I'm kinda getting the short end of the stick here-but I'll let it slide. As long as those two kneel and call me 'Mom' one day, it's 100% worth it. And hey, you're not bad to look at, so I guess it evens out. Worst case? When you drop dead, just leave me half your fortune. Fair trade, right?"

After eyeing him up, Calista licked her lips and reached for his collar, all set to get things moving.

No time to waste-if that drug wore off, she'd be in trouble. Timing had to be tight to make this plan work.

She was deep in her thoughts when suddenly-bam-the guy's eyes flew open.

"Ah!" Calista jumped back, totally spooked.

"What are you trying to pull?"

Lancelot Bennett raised his brows, slowly sitting up, voice deep and rough as he stared at her.

Calista took an instinctive step back, panic flashing in her eyes.

Seriously, Lumi? Wasn't he supposed to be knocked out? Why did he look totally fine?

Whatever. No turning back now.

She clenched her jaw, shut her eyes tight, and threw herself straight at him.

Lancelot watched Calista throw herself at him with reckless determination, and a faint smirk curved his lips.

So she was the Monroe heiress? Well, now this was getting interesting.

He was supposed to meet with President Hepburn tonight-but who knew he'd get knocked out by some mystery gas instead?

This kind of bold stunt... yeah, this was a first even for him.

Seeing Calista throw herself over, Lancelot didn't resist at all. His arms reached out and wrapped smoothly around her slim waist.

That sudden wave of masculine heat and hormones instantly turned Calista's face scarlet.

Her heart skipped crazily, a heat rising through her whole body.

She was technically dating Lucas-but their relationship had been more PG than a drama on public TV. A few casual hand-holds, not even a kiss, let alone anything like... this.

So what came next between a man and a woman?

Right-clothes off.

Panicking and flustered, Calista took a deep breath, then yanked at Lancelot's shirt like her life depended on it, climbed on top of him, and started nipping like a puppy with no training.

As Calista fumbled around, Lancelot's eyes darkened, stormy and unreadable. He inhaled sharply, palms steadying her waist.

She continued kissing him clumsily, glancing up from under those misty eyes.

His look turned even more intense now-deep, blurry, heart-stopping.

In that moment, she reminded him so much of a little girl from long ago...

"Ahem... So, uh... what now?" Calista mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper. Her cheeks were flushed, her breathing uneven, and strands of sweat-damp hair clung stubbornly to her temples.

After half an hour of chaotic fumbling, her nerves were frayed and her pride all but abandoned.

She tried not to stare-but it was impossible. Lancelot's bare chest rose and fell steadily in the dim light, sculpted like something out of a dream. The heat radiating off his skin made the space between them feel even smaller.

He let out a low chuckle, the sound rough, indulgent, and far too dangerous for her already-frazzled state. Reaching out, he gently covered her eyes with one calloused palm, leaning in until his lips nearly brushed her ear.

"Sweetheart," he murmured, voice like silk over steel, "you just stirred up a storm you're not ready for."

He had been holding back-barely. The drug simmered in his veins, but he'd fought it with sheer willpower. Until now. Until she, trembling and bold, had practically climbed into his lap like a lit fuse begging to be ignited.

And so he stopped fighting.

In one smooth, deliberate motion, he shifted, rolling her beneath him. The air shifted with them. The half-spoken question on her lips was swallowed by his kiss-deep, slow-burning, and devastatingly assured.

Calista gasped against him, her eyes wide, stunned. She should have pulled away. Should have said something. But all she could do was cling to him, arms instinctively wrapping around his bare torso, her fingers grazing the firm lines of his back like she was afraid to let go.

Their bodies aligned-warm skin against warm skin-so close it made her dizzy.

His breath fanned across her cheek, his hand finding her waist with quiet possession. He didn't rush. He didn't need to.

Every movement was deliberate, like he had all the time in the world to unravel her, thread by thread.

Whatever had started between them-it was no longer a game.

The room was silent now, save for the whisper of breath and the soft rustle of sheets. A slow, dangerous heat smoldered in the space between them. Not quite fire. Not yet. But it was coming.

And neither of them was backing away.

*****

The next morning.

Calista clutched the blanket around her like armor, staring at the still-sleeping Lancelot on the bed, her pretty face locked in a pure "what-the-hell" expression.

Who told her it wouldn't hurt? She was going to find those people and personally flatten them.

This man was straight-up brutal. Zero gentleness last night, seriously.

But no, now wasn't the time to sulk over that.

After a deep breath, Calista snatched a nearby cup and splashed water right in Lancelot's face.

He jerked awake immediately.

Blinking slowly, his sharp, fox-like eyes narrowed slightly as they locked onto her face-still half-lidded but already tinged with cold amusement.

Calista flinched under the man's sharp, icy gaze, but she quickly straightened her neck and jabbed a finger at Lancelot, screaming,

"You animal! What the hell did you do to me last night?!"

Lancelot slowly reined in the pressure in his eyes and stood up unhurriedly. Pulling on his clothes with a casual grace, he grabbed another set and tossed them to Calista, voice low and rough,

"Put this on."

"Don't try to change the subject! What, you think you can get away with it just because we slept together? Think again. The world doesn't work like that."

His voice hit a nerve as Calista shivered slightly. With a cough and arms clutching her clothes, she scowled and barked back stubbornly,

"You're not gonna just walk away from this."

Standing right in front of her and looking down with obvious arrogance, Lancelot said coolly,

"From what I remember, you knocked me out, dragged me here, and jumped me. Should I be calling the cops on you for assault and emotional damage, lady?"

Calista's face turned an ugly shade of green.

This guy's supposed to be Lucas's dad since when is he such a jerk? Everything was going off-script.

Trying to keep calm, she clenched her fists and said stiffly,

"I've seen lowlifes, but you? You take the cake. Not only do you walk out after sleeping with me, you actually have the guts to blame me for it? Should I report you and let all of Crownvale know what a sleazebag you are?"

She jabbed a finger dangerously close to his face, her voice blasting his ears.

Lancelot's eyes shimmered with a teasing light.

"So, what do you suggest I do?"

"Marry me. You think you can just sleep with me and walk away? No way. I'm not one of those pushovers," Calista barked, not missing a beat.

"Alright." Lancelot didn't even blink before agreeing.

Calista froze on the spot.

She'd imagined dozens of scenarios-him refusing, her threatening to release fake footage, blackmailing him into saying yes. She was all set to go nuclear if needed.

But this guy... just agreed. That easy?

"You got your ID? Today's a weekday. Let's register now. You pick the date for the wedding," he added.

"It has to be the same day as Felicity and Lucas's. I'm still waiting for them to kneel and call me 'Mom' during the tea ceremony!"

The words blurted out of her before she could stop herself. The moment they did, she slapped a hand over her mouth in horror.

What the hell did she just say?

Lancelot acted like he hadn't heard the outburst at all. Still composed, he just said,

"Your call. Now get dressed-let's go get that marriage certificate."

"Okay, got it!"

Calista scrambled to throw on her clothes, sloppily buttoning her shirt as if afraid he'd suddenly change his mind. She immediately clung to him and dragged him toward the door.

Lancelot chuckled to himself watching her flustered pace.

This woman... really reminded him of someone.

Maybe that was why he went along with this madness.