My Broke Husband Is A Zillionaire?

"Uh... Honey, go on. I love you..."

"Honey, spread your legs a bit wider..."

The sounds of heavy breathing with the noise of bodies meeting echoed on. Outside the room, Katherine Morgan's hand, poised to push open the door, was suddenly still.

These two voices were like familiar tunes she could always recognize. One belonged to her boyfriend, Darrell Clark, and the other to her cousin, Isabel Morgan. And this was Darrell's apartment.

Katherine had come to talk about the wedding plans with Darrell today. She hadn't anticipated walking in on him being intimate with her cousin.

Biting her lower lip, Katherine fought to keep her rage in check. She aimed her camera at the small opening of the door, recording the scene as proof. Then, with force, she pushed the door, startling the two inside, who jumped apart at once.

"Ah!" Isabel screamed and hastily yanked the bed sheet to cover herself up.

Caught off guard by Katherine's appearance, Darrell was momentarily frozen. As realization dawned on him, he scrambled to retrieve his pants from the floor and put them on, cursing.

"Katherine, are you crazy? Why didn't you knock before barging in like that?"

"Ha-ha!" Katherine let out a mocking laugh, and her hands balled into fists. "Oh, Darrell, you're something else. You said you were busy with something to deal with-betraying me with my cousin as soon as my back is turned. If I hadn't caught you cheating today, how long were you planning to play me for a fool?"

Darrell just shrugged off her accusations without a shred of remorse. He looked Katherine up and down dismissively before sneering back at her.

"Katherine, do you think everything's my fault? I've dropped hints plenty of times, but you never wanted to sleep with me. You're as responsive as a block of wood. Anyone who ends up with you must be either senseless or unable to perform!"

With a pitiful expression, Isabel began to cry. "Katherine, please, let's just put this behind us..."

Isabel couldn't help but smile slyly at Katherine, feeling like a victorious champion, all while Darrell remained oblivious to her expression.

Katherine's anger consumed her, and she acted without thinking, storming forward to deliver a swift slap to Darrell's face.

"Bah, it's laughable how you're trying to shift the blame onto me. You two are truly made for each other."

Without waiting for a response, Katherine swiftly exited.

As Katherine stood outside the apartment, the chilly breeze brushed against her cheeks. It took quite some time for her anger to subside, but afterward, she felt down.

Her father had taken her stepmother to a different city for a doctor's visit. He had expressed his wish to see Katherine married soon before he left. Little did she know how harshly life would twist that hope. Marrying Darrell was out of the question now. But what was she to tell her parents?

Feeling downhearted and with no desire to return home, Katherine headed straight for a bar, seeking solace in alcohol.

Normally, she wasn't someone who could handle much alcohol, but tonight was an exception; she had quite a few drinks.

She lost count of the wine glasses, and her throat fell on fire. Yet, the alcohol had a way of numbing her mind, briefly helping her forget the pain.

Time slipped by unnoticed until a hint of awareness urged her it was time to leave. As she wobbled out, she unexpectedly collided with what felt like a wall of flesh.

"Ouch..." Instinctively, Katherine shielded her nose with her hand and peered at the mysterious "object" she had collided with.

Standing before her was a tall man with twinkling eyes and an attractive visage, his features slightly fuzzy from drink, his cheeks flushed a deep shade of red.

Esteban James, the man she bumped into, looked puzzled as he gazed at Katherine. His drunk state didn't allow for much thought as he extended the key card in his hand. "Did Grandma send you to help me? Can you lend a hand getting me up to the room upstairs?"

Katherine felt bewildered and grasped a hint of the man's meaning. In a hazy state, she complied with his instructions.

Amidst a sea of golden room numbers, it proved quite challenging for her to locate Esteban's room and assist him inside.

"Ah!"

Suddenly, she lost her balance, and the two tumbled onto the bed.

Moments later, Katherine found herself pinned beneath the man. Despite her efforts, she was unable to budge him.

In the morning, when Katherine's eyes fluttered open, she was greeted by the sight of a good-looking man.

The throbbing ache of her hangover served as a painful reminder of the events from the previous night.

She recalled catching her boyfriend in the act of betrayal, her attempt to wash away her sorrows with alcohol at a bar, and then bumping into a stranger...

A wave of paleness washed over Katherine's face. An unfamiliar ache in her body led her to fear that she might have engaged in regrettable actions with the man in front of her.

With these thoughts, a mix of shame and irritation surged through her. She intended to push the man off her and make a stealthy exit.

Nevertheless, her movement roused the man, and he emitted a stifled groan.

Looking displeased, Esteban propped himself up. His gaze locked with Katherine's, and he looked puzzled as he questioned, "Who are you?"

"I..." Katherine stuttered, a mix of apprehension and hesitation in her eyes.

Esteban's eyes started to scan her disheveled appearance from head to toe. Observing her disarrayed hair and clothing, he pieced something together, and his expression grew profoundly grim.

He remained clueless about the events of the previous night and how this woman ended up in his room. However, given her sudden presence in his suite, he couldn't help but suspect that she might be another woman who tried to get close to him.

However, he chose not to say anything further, sensing the woman's defensive stance.

He considered himself a responsible individual. Regardless of the circumstances that led to the woman being alone in the room with him all night, he felt compelled to make it up to her.

With this in mind, he pulled a bank card from his wallet and inquired, "So, tell me, how much will it take to settle this?"

"What?" Katherine exclaimed with wide-open eyes and unwavering determination. "Money isn't what I'm after. What kind of person do you take me for?"

"If it's not money you're after, then what do you want?" The moment he spoke, the room's door swung open forcefully from the outside.

An elegant old lady entered with an icy demeanor.

Startled by the unexpected arrival, Katherine felt a twinge of fear. Opting for silence, she decided to bide her time and look for a chance to slip away.

However, in the next moment, the old lady regarded Katherine with a furrowed brow. There was no opportunity for Katherine to slip away. She stood there uncomfortably, refraining from making a sound, and observed the old lady with caution.

Katherine had a faint sense of recognition when she looked at the old lady. "Mrs. James?"

Lainey James initially felt taken aback but then looked Katherine up and down. Gradually, memories of a thoughtful and kind little girl began to resurface as she recalled Katherine's features.

"Katherine? You're all grown up." Lainey's expression softened. But concern quickly furrowed her brow as she inquired, "Are you alright? Did he...?"

At the age of five, Katherine went missing and ended up in an orphanage. Lainey frequently volunteered at the orphanage and became acquainted with Katherine during her visits.

Afterward, Katherine's family found her, and she hadn't been in touch with Lainey since then. Meeting each other after all those years was quite a surprising twist of fate.

Without delay, Katherine reassured Lainey, "Mrs. James, please don't worry. Nothing happened between us!"

Lainey's tension eased, and she offered Katherine a comforting pat on the back, ensuring her, "It's good that you're fine. Just wait here a moment, Katherine. I need to have a word with my stubborn grandson."

Her grandson's unwillingness to marry had been a persistent concern for Lainey. She was dismayed he had vanished after drinking the previous night, relieved only by the fact that he had encountered Katherine and not some other woman, the outcome of which could have been much worse.

Lainey mulled over the situation. Katherine was a decent girl, one whom Lainey held in high regard. She was reluctant to resolve this mishap through less straightforward means.

Maintaining a girl's reputation remained crucial. Given that the rumors about the two of them sharing a room would be circulating negatively, it was wiser to have them stay together.

Lainey's demeanor shifted as she turned to face her grandson, her face stern. She scolded Esteban sharply. "Just look at the trouble you've caused! You've avoided marriage for years, and I've been fretting endlessly. And now here you are, sharing a room with a decent young woman. How could you behave so disgracefully?"

Having laid out the problem, Lainey deftly revealed her true intention, disguising it as a matter of honor.

"Given the circumstances, it's only right that you take responsibility. You ought to marry Katherine to protect her reputation."

Right after Lainey's declaration, Katherine and Esteban were both shocked.

"Grandma!"

Before Esteban could voice any objections to his grandmother's request, she stopped him.

"Don't bother with excuses. It's your duty as a man to accept the consequences. If Katherine agrees to marry you, head straight to the Civil Hall and get your marriage certificate."

Lainey's commanding presence left Esteban with no room to argue. Since he couldn't clear up the misunderstanding, he turned to Katherine with a look that carried the weight of the situation.

Feeling the intensity of his stare, Katherine felt the pressure mounting.

It dawned on her that the unfamiliar man was Lainey's grandson. What a coincidence!

Recalling her family's wishes for her to marry and settle down, Katherine considered the man before her. He was Lainey's grandson, likely a better choice than someone chosen randomly.

With resolve, she declared, "I'll follow your lead, Mrs. James."

-

Thirty minutes on, with Lainey at their side, Katherine and Esteban came out from the Civil Hall with their marriage certificate.

"Are you happy now?" Esteban wore a displeased expression on his face, clearly unhappy with the idea of the arranged marriage.

Lainey fixed a stern look on her grandson, retorting, "You should count yourself fortunate to be married to Katherine!"

That was when Katherine took the opportunity to observe her husband.

The man standing before her donned a sleek black suit, and his striking features appeared as though they had been meticulously sculpted by God. With a towering height of around 1.9 meters, he exuded an aura of dominance.

Maybe it was her intense scrutiny that caught his attention, for Esteban lifted his gaze to meet hers.

When their eyes locked, Katherine felt like a little girl caught in a misdeed, and she quickly averted her gaze in a whirl of embarrassment.

As Lainey observed the subtle interactions between the two, her approval of the marriage grew.

Just as she was about to introduce the two young individuals to each other, Katherine's phone rang.

It was her grandmother calling. Her expression changed slightly, and without a chance to say anything else, she rushed to the side to answer the call.

"Where on earth have you been? You're independent now, aren't you? You vanished for the entire night without returning home. Hurry back!"

The moment the call connected, Katherine's grandmother spewed a barrage of harsh words from the other end and then abruptly hung up, giving Katherine no opportunity to explain herself.

As the phone line went silent, Katherine couldn't hide her sigh of disappointment. She approached Lainey with a remorseful expression and said, "There's a family emergency, and I need to return home."

"Alright. If you need assistance, don't hesitate to ask Esteban."

Lainey showed understanding and suggested they exchange numbers.

After offering numerous apologies, Katherine hailed a taxi and departed.

Esteban openly conveyed his sarcasm and disdain towards Katherine.

"You're quite open-minded, allowing me to marry a random woman. You might end up in a sticky situation."

Lainey didn't take his words too seriously. "Back when she was just a little girl in the orphanage, she was exceptionally well-behaved and gentle. I'm confident I've made the right choice. You'll surely fall in love with her."

"That will never happen. I'll never grow to like her." Esteban's expression grew serious as he spoke with determination. "I've agreed to this marriage for your sake. If we haven't developed feelings for each other in one year, we should go our separate ways. Then, you won't meddle in my relationships anymore."

Lainey had faith in her ability to assess the situation. She didn't think Katherine and Esteban would divorce, so she readily agreed. "That's fine, but you must spend this year together and nurture your relationship. If I discover you're living separately, I won't let you off the hook. Also, be kind to her and offer your support when needed."

Esteban stayed quiet, his eyes reflecting his discontent.

Lainey brushed aside his discontent and turned her attention to something more pressing. She urged him, "I'm getting forgetful in my old age. I almost forgot to ask you to drive her back. I noticed she didn't seem well when she answered the phone earlier. It's best if you accompany her and check on her. Make sure nothing untoward happens."

Reluctantly bound by his grandmother's wishes, Esteban took down the address Katherine had left during their certificate registration and set off after her.