My billionaire ex-husband wants me back

GIANNA

~•~

After two years of marriage, I was used to waiting for my husband.

I just didn't know I would be waiting for him tonight as well. It was my birthday and I expected him to be home so we could celebrate together, but he wasn't.

My birthday was celebrated last night because today was a work day, but towards the end of the night, Brandon had gotten a call, which made him rush out of the party before it even ended. I didn't say anything about it because it could have been an emergency, but when I asked him about it this morning, he said it was nothing and left for work.

He hadn't been back since then.

I wasn't worried about him because coming home late was usual for him, but it was almost midnight and my birthday would soon be over.

I bit down on my bottom lip as I stared at the little cake I'd baked by myself earlier in the day. It was my birthday yet I was the one making the cake.

"Should I put the cake in the fridge?" Allison, our housekeeper, asked me. "It's humid and if it stays out for long, it's bound to get spoiled."

She was right. I'd made it in the morning and left it out for whenever he came back, but... "Let's wait a few minutes."

"Okay, ma'am."

I looked away from her so I wouldn't see the pity in her face. She lived with us so she knew everything in our marriage. The first time I saw Brandon was when I was in college and he attended an event for alumni. I had a crush on him since then, which was why when his father proposed an arranged marriage between us, I jumped at the opportunity.

I thought it would be the best thing ever to be married to the love of my life, but it seemed as though I was wrong. Brandon didn't love me back. He respected me and cared for me, but his heart wasn't mine. I had long ago given up on trying to win his heart. I just wanted to have a happy marriage and how could I have one when he was neglecting important days like the day I was born?

I liked watching the news but I didn't dare turn on the television because it would be filled with news about the party yesterday. They would all be gushing about how extravagant it was and the presents Brandon bought for me. Yes, they were expensive and rare, but they had nothing to do with my interests and it saddened me.

We had been living together for two years yet Brandon still didn't know the things I liked.

I watched the clock above the television and as it struck midnight, a single tear rolled down my cheek.

I dabbed it away quickly. I had no reason to cry. Maybe he was stuck at work and couldn't come. It happened at times. Besides, he had already celebrated with me last night.

Releasing a sigh, I looked outside the window one last time to see if his car would drive in. It didn't.

"Put it in the fridge," I instructed Allison before I climbed up the stairs and went into our room.

It took a while but I eventually drifted off to sleep.

I was awoken the next morning by shuffling. I opened my eyes slowly to see that Brandon had arrived and was in the middle of taking off his shirt.

"Good morning," I mumbled, hiding the fact that I was still bitter about yesterday.

"Morning." He walked toward me to place a kiss on my forehead. "Sorry for not coming back yesterday. How was your birthday?"

At least, he remembered, I told myself. "It was alright." I lied through my teeth. "I spent the day with Emily and Tyler."

"Oh." His expression fell, but he covered it up in a second. I knew that he didn't like how close Tyler and I were, but he couldn't say anything about it since he also had a girl best friend. I hated her with passion, but I kept it to myself as well.

"Where were you last night?" I changed the subject. "Work?"

"Yeah, but I'm taking the day off to spend with you since I couldn't make it back yesterday."

His words warmed my heart. It was times like this that I was happy I married him after all. He was very considerate and treated me the way he would treat someone he loved.

I stood up at once, making him chuckle. "I'll go and shower."

"It's still early, G. You can sleep some more."

I shook my head. I couldn't, not when he promised to spend the whole day with me. That had never happened before. Maybe he was trying to make our married life better. I didn't have any opposition to that. I was more than happy to spend time with him.

He watched me with a strained smile as I skipped into the bathroom.

I spent a lot of time in the shower, scrubbing, and exfoliating because I hoped the day would end with great sex. Brandon knew how to treat a woman right, in and out of bed. I was really lucky to be married to him.

By the time I finished getting ready, it was very much bright outside. It was past nine.

Brandon got ready as well and we went downstairs to have breakfast together. While we were eating, the doorbell rang. We stared at each other. None of us were expecting any guests.

"I'll go and check who is at the door." Allison offered and I nodded.

A minute later, Allison came back with Bernice, Brandon's younger sister. "Surprise!" She squeaked out. "It's past nine and you're not at work yet which means you are taking the day off. I've come to spend time with you."

Brandon glanced at me. "You came at the wrong time, Bernice. I have plans with my wife."

My cheeks heated up. I could never get used to Brandon calling me by that title since he didn't do it often. Bernice spared me a glance, almost sneering at me. "Oh, come on! You and 'your wife' have forever to spend time together. I can join you today. Gianna wouldn't mind."

I closed my eyes briefly. Bernice was the spawn of the devil. For some reason I couldn't fathom, she hated me and hated my marriage with her brother, so I hated her as well. She had tried to sabotage our relationship in the past by attempting to create scandals about me but it didn't work and she ended up being scolded by her father.

It had been two years and she still hadn't warmed up to me.

Without waiting for confirmation, she sat on the right side of her brother, opposite me. "I don't have any classes today and I'm bored. It has been a while since we hung out. I invited Bailey as well."

I blinked in surprise. "You invited who?"

"Bailey. Don't tell me you're still insecure about the relationship between her and my brother."

I gritted my teeth. "I'm not."

"Then it'll be fine!" She said with an evil smirk. I had the strongest urge to wipe that smirk from her face but I kept my cool.

She had ruined my day already. I didn't want to ruin my relationship with Brandon by fighting with his sister.

GIANNA

~•~

Brandon and I barely had time to spend together, but now, it was ruined by his bratty little sister and their supposed family friend, aka, Brandon's best friend, who was always a little too touchy with him.

I had hoped we could leave the house, but now, I was forced to stay in and have a pool day.

I looked flattering in the one piece I was wearing, but Bailey's two piece totally stole my shine. I knew I sounded bitter and jealous, but I had every reason to when I was sitting alone on the sun bed and Bailey was speaking with Brandon across from me.

Bernice was having fun by herself in the pool. It was obvious she hadn't come to hang out with her brother. She just wanted to bring Bailey near him.

I didn't know what kind of expression was on my face, but Brandon locked gazes with me and his eyes went wide. Eventually, he dismissed Bailey and walked toward me, but the pest trailed behind him.

"Oh, I almost forgot," Bailey said when they were within earshot. "The only reason I came today was because you forgot your wallet at my place two nights ago."

I blinked and Brandon halted, turning around immediately to face her.

She didn't let him speak though. "It's in my purse. I'll go get it."

As she disappeared from our sight, Brandon turned around slowly, assessing my face. I was seething, but I kept my emotions in check. Two nights ago was the night of my birthday party. He had gotten a call, and he'd left and didn't come back that night. I didn't think much of it, but I didn't think he would be with Bailey.

Then again, maybe there was a good reason for it. Maybe he merely visited and didn't spend the night at her place. Maybe I was still insecure about their friendship.

"You're not going to ask me what she means by that?" He asked carefully.

"You're going to tell me anyway. I trust you." It was true. I trusted him. I just didn't trust his best friend. As a woman, I could tell she had feelings for him. I didn't know if he couldn't tell, but he wasn't dumb.

He closed his eyes briefly, looking pained. He opened his mouth to speak, but Allison arrived with a tray containing a jar of orange juice. Brandon usually preferred wine on our pool days, but he quickly switched to orange juice when he realized I had a fear of drowning after getting drunk.

"Thanks." I took the tray from her and placed it on the side table. "You may leave."

She looked between the two of us, knowing damn well that something was wrong, but kept her mouth shut and left as told.

I sat up and poured the juice into a glass, taking a sip, still as calm as ever.

"Gianna..." he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Let's talk later, okay? When they're gone, I'll tell you what happens, I promise."

A gasp was heard behind us and I realized the bitch was back. "Are you two fighting? I'm sorry. I thought he had already told you about the night we spent together."

"Bailey!" Brandon scolded and she widened her eyes, trying to act innocent.

I knew that she did it on purpose, but it still did the job of hurting me. "Spent the night together?" I asked. I had tried to lie to myself that it was a mere visit. They were friends after all, but apparently not. "As in slept together?"

"You didn't tell her?"

"Bailey," He gritted out. "Shut the fuck up. One more word and I'll throw you out."

One more word? He couldn't even throw her out now? After all she had said, he was still tolerating her? Did he even feel bad about it? The thought of them having sex together left a bitter taste in my mouth and I felt like throwing up.

I closed my eyes briefly, took a deep breath, and stood up. "Excuse me."

"Gianna." Brandon held my arm, stopping me from walking away. "Let's talk about this later, please."

"We'll talk about it later. Excuse me for now."

Bailey rolled her eyes as though I was being dramatic and I had the strongest urge to pluck them out. She was acting as though she didn't just tell me she slept with my husband; as though it wasn't a big deal for my husband to cheat on me with her.

"Please, G, calm down."

"I'm calm. Let go of me while I still am."

He released my arm slowly and I started to walk away, but his sister's voice stopped me. "What's going on? Did she find out about you and Brandon?" Great. So everyone but me knew my husband had cheated on me.

"You told Bernice?" Brandon sounded incredulous.

"What? Am I not supposed to know?"

"Stay out of this, Bernice. I'm not joking."

Bernice scoffed, disregarding the words of the brother she idolized. "You guys are so dramatic. Why are you acting like it's the first time?"

I whipped around immediately. "It has happened before?"

"I can explain, G. It's not what you think, please."

I shook my head. I couldn't stay in that place any longer. I would actually throw up then. I heard Brandon calling my name as I walked away, but I pretended not to hear. I couldn't even look at him.

He said he could explain. How the hell could he salvage this?

GIANNA

~•~

His day off finally made sense. When he came back yesterday, all did was wash up and go straight to work without even having breakfast. He couldn't even look me in the eye.

He felt guilty and was trying to make it up to me by spending the day with me, as if that would solve anything.

I should have expected this. Brandon and Bailey had always been close and he was pressured into marrying me. Why did I think he would be loyal to me? I tried to be the best wife anyone could have, but... fuck.

I didn't want to cry. I knew he was going to come in soon and I didn't want him to see me crying. He was an asshole. He always told me not to worry about Bailey but he didn't just fuck her once.

As expected, the door to our room opened and he walked towards me. "They're gone."

I laughed bitterly. "Is their absence supposed to change the fact that you left my party, making me cover up for you, only to go and spend the night at your supposed best friend's house? And your sister, who absolutely hates my guts, knows about it, but I don't?"

"I didn't tell my sister. I didn't even think she knew."

"How does that make anything better, Brandon?" Tears gathered in my eyes. "Even if you don't love me, I expect you to have the littlest bit of respect for me as your wife! Do you know how fucking embarrassing it is for you to sleep with her and have her rub it in my face?"

In my matrimonial home at that. Bailey knew exactly what she was doing when she blurted it out. She did it to hurt me and it worked. Brandon allowed that. He couldn't even have his affair in private.

"I was going to tell you about it, but she beat me to it. I'm sorry. I had no intention of embarrassing you." I despised how calm he was about the whole thing. It made me feel like he didn't think it was a big deal for him to cheat on me. He was apologizing for everything but that. It made my chest hurt.

"Oh, but you are not sorry for sleeping with her?"

His eyes went wide at my words. "Of course, I am. I didn't do it on purpose, G."

"How do you have sex with someone unintentionally?" Men came up with a different excuse every day.

"Gianna..." he reached forward to hold my hands but I slapped it away. "I promised you honesty and loyalty during our vows. I wouldn't go against that on purpose. Just hear me out, please."

I stared at him warily. I was weak for him and he knew that. I didn't want him to use that to manipulate me into thinking he didn't do anything wrong. However, it would be wrong to conclude without hearing what he had to say. I looked away from him. His eyes were shining with sincerity and I didn't want that to draw me in. "Go on."

"When I got a call from Bailey that night, she sounded sad and broken. She made a comment about how tired she was of living and that alarmed me." I held back a scoff. We all knew how dramatic Bailey was. I didn't know why he still took her words seriously. "When I got there, she was drinking. I took a few glasses and blacked out. When I woke up, we were both naked on the bed. I didn't plan to sleep with her, G. It just happened and I hate myself for it."

I folded my arms across my chest. It was quite embarrassing but if what he was saying was true, I was glad he didn't have sex with her while he was sober, but then again, "Bernice said it's not the first time."

He inhaled deeply and pinched the bridge of his nose. "That was before we got married when we were still in college. It's the same situation. We blacked out and found ourselves naked."

My mouth fell open. That was even worse. I shook my head and stood up from the bed, walking away from him and pacing around the room. I was so stupid. The attraction was clearly there if they had slept with each other twice. "Why didn't you just marry her? Why did you marry me when you're so clearly attracted to each other? Was it to make a fool of me?"

"What? No, of course not. I don't like her."

"But you like fucking her? Make it make sense." I wiped away angry tears that were threatening to fall. This was so messed up. Was this explanation supposed to salvage our marriage? Despite how much I liked him, I still had a pride to protect. I couldn't be in a marriage where my husband was secretly in love with his best friend.

He shook his head. "I don't like fucking her. It just happened. I have no memories of them either. I promise, Gianna. I'm not trying to toy with you. Agreeing to our wedding meant agreeing to make you my wife and I'll always treat my wife with respect." As though it was a manipulation tactic, he tried to hold me again.

"Don't fucking touch me, Brandon." I spat out. "I promise this. I promise that. You keep making promises you can't keep. You promised she wasn't a threat to our marriage yet here we are."

"Gianna–"

I didn't let him explain. "What I'm hearing right now is that you two can't be trusted around alcohol. Whenever you're both drunk, your clothes come off? Is that what is going to happen every time you drink together?"

"I don't know how I can get you to forgive me, but I'm sorry. I'm never going to touch alcohol around her anymore if that's what it takes. It's never going to happen again, I swear on my life."

I glared at him.

"You're my wife, Gianna." He added. "You're the only one I want. Not Bailey. Not anyone else."

Hesitantly, he reached out to hold my hand again. When I allowed him, he pulled me forward and wrapped his hands around me.

"I'm sorry, babe. I'll prove myself to you and spend the rest of my life making it up to you." He pulled back slightly and leaned in to kiss me, reassuring me that he would never cheat on me again.

Maybe I was stupid. Maybe I was weak, but I thought it was better to end it there than to escalate it and separate. At least, I thought that was where it was going to end.