My ex-wife is a billionaire

All the members of Donald's family were seated in Donald's family house, which was one of the biggest villas in Newland. The old Donald's desire to see them left everyone worried and clueless. Each of them was immersed in their thoughts. Waiting patiently in the living room for the old man to come out.

Inside the room was a slim and fair-looking young girl named Lala. She sat at the far end of the room. She was intimidated by the gorgeous and classy members of the Donald family. Lala's timid and introverted nature was apparent to everyone in the household, including the maids, who were often more confident than her. Despite her intelligence and exceptional beauty, she still feels inadequate.

Soon after, old Donald was led into the living room by his favorite grandson, Lucas, a very handsome-looking young man. He was wearing a grey suit which looked familiar with his cold and icing grey eyes. His powerful arms carried the old man to a nearby comfortable couch and sat him down. Lucas has a wonderful gym-tone physique which shows off his powerful and dangerous allure. His mysterious charm and stoic demeanor were visible on his face when he confidently sat down beside the old man. He stretched out his long legs, adjusted his tie a little, and looked around the room. He lifted his upper lip a bit in a smile the moment his cold eye found Lala, who sat close to the exit door.

He knew she would be looking for him. The moment their eyes connected, Lala felt relieved and let out a sigh. However, she felt embarrassed and quickly took her gaze away from him. Lucas grinned and focused his attention on his grandfather. Nothing delights him more than the attention Lala always showered on him without expecting anything in return.

Before speaking, Old Donald cleared his throat. His doctor gave him a prognosis of only one week to live before passing away. That was why he called this urgent meeting. He wanted to see all his children, grandchildren, and his domestic workers

"I want to use this opportunity to thank every one of you here for your love and care for me since we became a family. You all know that I have a limited time in this life," Old Donald said.

He paused and looked at their faces before he continued.

"I called this meeting to read out my will before I die. I want my lawyer to read my last statement in front of everyone. To avoid any dispute when I am gone. Mr. Brighton, please read out the will," the old man whispered.

The lawyer straightened his tie. He began reading the will. The old man distributed his resources adequately, giving each family member a fair share of the family resources, including the maids.

However, at the end of the will, he did not mention any gift to Lala. Everyone was surprised because the old man loved Lala very much. How come Old Donald left nothing for Lala? They asked. Even the maids got a reasonable amount of money from Old Donald? They all wondered. Unfortunately, the old man released a bombshell that brought absolute silence to the room.

"Lucas, I want you to marry Lala before I die and that was the only way you can take my place in Donald's group"

"What!" Lucas exclaimed, looking harshly at Lala, who was now wishing for the ground to open and swallow her up.

"I can't do that, Grandpa. You all know that I am engaged to Dolly. I can't just leave her because I love her very much," Lucas lamented.

"You don't have a say in this. I will transfer everything to your name as soon as you sign the wedding certificate with Lala. If not then, I will be forced to hand over the company to someone else," the old man said without looking at anyone in the room.

His four children knew him well enough to argue with him. That was why none of them dared to defend Lucas. Instead, they cast their hateful gaze at Lala, who was no longer comfortable in her seat. How is this her fault? She never told the old man to say a thing like that. None of them cared to know how all these things affected her, too. Of course, she is not part of their family and should not be considered, however; she is also a victim.

"Are you ready to take the marital vow right now?" The old man's voice echoed through the room.

Lucas was not willing to give up all his efforts in Donald's group. He was not ready to suffer like his father when he refused to obey Old Donald in the past. Lucas's father refused to study business management against his father's wishes and studied medicine instead. This broke the old man's heart because he was his only son. He had hoped that someday he would take over from him. Old Donald then concealed his involvement in Donald's group, even though he was the only son of his four children.

Growing up, Lucas watched his aunt take up the position that rightfully belonged to his father in Donald's group.

He vowed to take everything back, but now his grandfather brought up marriage in his way. He can't allow that.

Seeing the tension in the room and the awkward position Lala was put in, Lucas said,

"I will marry Lala." his cold eyes stare intensely at Lala, who moves uncomfortably in her chair. Everyone in the room let out a cry of dismay, but that did not bother the old man or Lucas.

"Mr. Brighton, guide them to take the vows," old Donald said.

Lala was brought forward, and she took the marital vow with Lucas promising to love him till the end. The marriage certificate was signed. And Lala became Lucas's legal wife in the presence of everyone.

"One more thing. Lala, here is your wedding gift."

The old man said and gave her a brown envelope. Lala collected it and thanked the old man.

"Lastly. The mega estate has been entrusted to the rightful owner. No one in this family has the right over the estate, only the person I gave it to. So, I urge all of you to respect my wishes." He said and turned his gaze to Lucas.

"Lucas, this is the official document of Donald's group. They were all signed into your name. If you have any problems, contact Edward. He will put you through." Old Donald said. He tried to get up but slumped back in the chair.

"Grandpa"

Lucas, who was close to him, screamed, and others rushed toward them. They took the old man inside his room.

Unfortunately, old Donald died in the evening of the same day.

****

Lala was soaked with her sweat. She has been working since dawn and it is already 9 pm yet her work has not been done.

She had to finish serving the whole guest in the living room alone and also clean up the dishes when they were done. This has been her life ever since she got married to Lucas three years ago.

"Lala, hurry and serve the food. It's time already"

That was Nadia shouted through the kitchen door. She popped her head inside the hot kitchen as she spoke.

The heat emanating from the kitchen was more than she could endure and so she dared not step in.

"The food is not yet ready. Give me some minutes and it will be served." Lala said.

"What? What have you been doing all this while? You are such a lazy fool. I don't even know what my brother sees in you that made him marry you. Anyway, I can't blame him much if not that Grandpa made him promise to make you his wife. How could he descend so low to marry an orphan like you who was picked from the gutters?" Nadia sneered.

She can not stop reminding Lala of how she became part of Donald's family.

Lala's heart was filled with anger. She had been feeling unwell lately, but that did not stop her from performing her duties as a good wife, yet this is what she gets in return.

"If you needed the food to be served urgently, why didn't you come in and offer your help?" Lala, who had remained silent until now, expressed her contempt.

"How dare you talk back at me in that manner," Nadia yelled and stepped into the kitchen. She was furious because this was the first time Lala had raised her voice at her. She grabbed her long brown hair and shoved her to the wall.

Lala hit her head on the wall and fell to the ground. Nadia confronted her once more and delivered multiple forceful kicks to her stomach. Lala suddenly felt a hidden power and shoved Nadia aside.

She held the kitchen cabinets and pulled herself up. Nadia came to fight back but received a hot slap instead.

Lala has endured enough from Nadia and as it is now, she does not care anymore.

Lucas rushed into the kitchen immediately after he heard Nadia screaming.

"What happened to you, Nadia?" he asked.

Nadia sobbed and held her cheeks the moment she heard Lucas's voice

"Lala slapped me. I asked her why the food was not yet ready." She cried even more

"She did what?"

Lucas asked in annoyance

"Why did you lay your filthy hands on her?"

Lucas's chilling voice sounded in Lala's ears. Her eyes wetted up as she watched her husband defending his little sister, without even hearing from her.

He had never stood up for her since they got married three years ago, not even once, and now he stood before her to ask why she slapped his stupid sister, Nadia. Lala removed her apron and threw it on the floor before walking out of the kitchen.

However, Lucas caught her before she could get to the middle of the living room. He held her arms and pulled her back. A bone-chilling cry escaped from her lips which attracted the attention of the guests in the room as she struggled to get out of her husband's grip.

'Let me go' she screamed

"You don't walk out on me when I am still talking," Lucas said, pulling her closer to his arms so that the breath from his nose could fan her. His hands still clasped her. Lala couldn't talk. She was hurting, and she suddenly felt dazed.

"Please let me go," she muttered again as she fought back the tears that gathered in her eyes.

"Not so fast. If you dare do that again, I will skin you alive," He said and pushed her so hard that she hit her waist on the floor. Lala couldn't hold back the tears in her orifices. She allowed them to trickle down her cheeks and held her hurting waist. She felt a terrible pain around it.

None of the guests defended her. Many of them, particularly the women, believed that she had never been a good fit for Lucas, and spoke negatively about her.

"That's what you get when you don't know your class," one guest said

"Come on Lala, are you hurt? Oh dear, so sorry, but you are not suitable for Lucas and should be glad that he is tolerating you in this house. How dare you touch Nadia?" Molly, Nadia's friend, said. She loves to see Lala hurt. Most times, she will follow Nadia home just to cause her pain.

"Stop it, Molly, Lala is still a daughter-in-law of Donald's family and you don't have the right to speak in that manner to her. Come here, Lala, let me help you up," Dolly said. She gripped her hand.

However, Lala nudged her hand away and Dolly intentionally sat on the floor and pretended that Lala was the one who pushed her down.

"I was only trying to help you, and now you are hurting me. How could you be this rude?" Dolly whimpered.

Lala ignored her and slowly get up from the floor. She walked out of the room and went upstairs. Her waist hurt even more as she waddled out of the place. Lucas wanted to drag her back to apologize to Dolly but Dolly stopped him

"Let her be Lucas. I don't want to cause trouble for you and Lala. I was only trying to help her" She said looking at Lucas with the innocent eyes that always lure him to her. Lucas patted her back and went back to join the others.

Lucas's mood changed drastically and so was everyone in the room. In other to make the party lively again, Dolly put on music and ordered the waiters to share another round of drinks. The waiter served them wine Instead of the food, they were all waiting patiently to eat.

The guests were still dancing and drinking when Lala came out of her room, She was still in pain when she quietly left the house without saying anything to anyone. Some of the guests stopped for a while and watched her walk out of the living room.

Lala opened her eyes to see a handsome-looking man by her side. The man was extremely beautiful with a wonderful physique. His well-trimmed hair and his black suit gave him this powerful allure of power and confidence.

"Who are you? And Where am I?" Lala asked looking around her.

"You are in the hospital. You have gone for some days now" the man responded

"What do you mean I have been gone for some days," Lala asked feeling intimidated around him.

"I saw you laying down along the roadside three days ago and I have to bring you here." The man said.

" laying down at the road?"

Lala asked with surprise. She gradually remembers leaving the house and then she blanks out.

"Thank you so much for saving my life" she whispered.

"I will be right back," the man said and left the room.

Several years ago, Laura and her husband were working for old Donald. Laura was the housekeeper while her husband was the Gardner. Both were treated well by old Donald and his wife they were considered a family.

So many years later Laura became pregnant with their only child Lala after several years of delay. The pregnancy was a thing of joy for the couple, who have lost hope of having their own child. However, their joy was short-lived when Laura died during childbirth. This left Laura's husband to take care of his only child Lala alone.

However, the Donald family was always there for the father and daughter. It was when Lala was twelve years old that her beloved father died. She was left alone in this world without a father or mother. She became an orphan at that young age.

Fortunately, old Donald and his wife took care of her as their daughter and they raised her as their own. Lala went to the best school in Newland with other Donald's grandchildren. She was bright and intelligent. She grew up to become a very beautiful lady and old Donald couldn't risk marrying her off to another man. He was sure she will be a good asset to his family. He also noticed how she always loves to be close to his grandson Lucas.

At every Thanksgiving, Lala will bake a special cake only for Lucas. She will make sure to present a special gift for him on any special occasion or on any holiday they came visiting. Funny enough, Lala has never received anything in return.

Lala's unreplaceable affection toward Lucas earned and brought her the envy of all including Molly. Molly felt that Lala was stealing her best friend's brother away from her. She was in love with Lucas, but unfortunately, Lucas ended up marrying Lala.

Nadia had been a spoiled girl and she has a way of making people do what she wanted. However, when she did not succeed in making her brother Lucas reject Lala's gifts, she became angry.

She was more annoyed when Lucas married Lala instead of Molly her best friend. She then vows to make Lala's life miserable hence all her negative attitude toward her.

When old Donald was on his sick bed, he made Lucas promise to marry Lala. He also sees to it that they wedded before he passed on. Lucas was very fond of his grandfather and so he agreed to keep his last wish even though he was engaged to Dolly at the time.

Lucas felt empty the moment Lala left the house. He was sure that she was not okay. Lala has changed a bit in the past few days. He once saw her sitting down on the toilet floor the other day. Something in him was urging him to go and ask her what was wrong with her, but his pride and ego would not allow him, just as it does not allow him today when he saw how hurt she was.

He moved into his room and become even more restless. It has been three days since Lala left his house and no one seems to know where she was. Lucas is now blaming his ego for not letting him run after his wife the moment she left the room.

"Here you go," the strange man said to Lala before dropping a nylon bag on the table which was beside her bed.

Lala sat up more comfortably on the bed and took the nylon bag. She looked inside it and saw two plastic packs containing food and fruits with a bottle of cold orange juice, with bottled water.

"Thank you" she muttered.

"You have to take care of yourself and your baby. Whatever stressed you out three days ago should be avoided" he added.

"What? A baby" she murmured

"Don't tell me that you have no idea of your pregnancy "the man asked.

Lala was speechless, how can she be so careless? She was ashamed of herself.