Mysterious Husband Is a Billionaire

I was getting married today!

However, my newly wedded husband was dead.

Yep, you didn't hear me wrong. I would become a widow right after the wedding.

I knew, this sounded incredible.

But, it was true.

My biological father asked me to marry a dead man to protect his other daughter.

To understand how I got here, we need to go back a few years...

I had no parents, and was raised by my uncle since I could remember things.

A few months ago, the Smith family, wealthy in the city, suddenly found me.

They said that I was a Smith by blood. They also said that I had fallen into the wrong hand because of the fire in the hospital where I was born.

Like Cinderella, I became Miss Kelly Smith overnight.

However, this fact didn't change my life.

They told me my mother had died in that fire in the hospital.

My father soon got married with his current wife.

The girl, who had taken my place for years, was their beloved daughter.

I was a tool for the Smith family to play up to the Brown family.

So even on the day of the wedding, they didn't show up.

They sent a housekeeper over. The housekeeper gave me a golden velvet jewelry box and said, "Miss Kelly, this is a wedding gift from Mrs. Smith. Please take it!"

A necklace, which seemed to be of great value, was in the jewelry box. The pendant was an orchid gem with countless small diamonds around it. I didn't know much about jewelry, but this necklace looked expensive.

"Thank you."

I took the necklace and put it on my neck.

Perhaps, my father and stepmother loved me.

They just didn't know how to get along with me.

I was still in a daze when the car stopped at the gate of the Brown family.

The magnificent building was like a castle described in books. The driver led me into the house. I saw a large coffin in the living room. The coffin, made of obsidian, looked horrible against the light.

A white-haired old man greeted me.

He wore a black suit with a white flower pinned on his left lapel. I couldn't tell whether the expression on his face was happy or sad.

"Nice to meet you," I said hesitantly.

"Madam, you may call me Joey, the butler here. Please keep Master company tonight. Let him feel the joy of wedding."

After that, Joey raised his wrinkled hand and pressed hard on the corners of his eyes to wipe those, invisible tears.

I stood by the coffin and felt the situation ironic.

The butler couldn't shed a drop of tear for Carroll Brown.

However, he asked me, who had never met Carroll before today, to company him.

Did the Brown family really think that an outsider like me cared about Carroll more than them?

Many people looked at me when I walked into the house.

They heard Joey and then began a heated discussion.

"Is she the wife of the dead Mr. Carroll?"

"Watch your mouth. This is a posthumous marriage, but it doesn't mean she has to die with Mr. Carroll. She'll be Mrs. Brown anyway."

"The Brown family is so ridiculous. Mr. Carroll is dead, so what's the point of his getting married? I feel sorry for this girl!"

The discussion gradually turned in another direction, and the crowd began to speak evil of Carroll and felt sorry for me.

It seemed that Mr. Carroll was not popular.

None of these mourners were sad for his death.

Therefore, I thought that Mr. Carroll and I were of the same kind.

I couldn't help but look up at the portrait above the coffin, and my heart skipped a beat for this glance.

The man in the portrait was the most handsome one I had ever seen. He was more gorgeous than the superstars in Hollywood.

He had beautiful eyebrows, bright eyes, fair skin, and a deeply lined face.

However, his expression was a bit cold.

Nobody dared to get close to him for his intimidating aura.

"Ahem." Joey coughed softly.

Only then did the crowd shut up. They said the usual pleasantries and then left with some excuses.

Joey said to me with fake grief on his face, "Madam, I'll have to leave you now."

I looked at Joey in shock. "Will I be alone here?"

"Yes, you will have to stay alone here. Mr. Carroll owns this house, so the others can't come here at will. You will have to pray for Mr. Carroll here tonight."

Before I retorted, Joey had left.

I could change nothing.

Therefore, I sat near the coffin.

I didn't know how long had passed when my stomach began to rebel.

After one glance at the pitch-black coffin, I swallowed my saliva and then begged with my fingers crossed.

"Mr. Carroll, I'm starving! May I eat your pastries? You don't mind, do you?"

"I do."

A low male voice suddenly came from behind, so I quickly turned my head.

I saw a tall man in white shirt leaning against the door.

The man was undeniably handsome, with a roguish charm that seemed effortless. He had casually tucked the hem of his shirt into his pants, leaving three buttons undone, a style that added to his allure.

Then...

His face!

I looked at the man and then at the portrait.

The two faces were exactly the same!

"Ah!" Scared, I broke out in a cold sweat. My legs went limp, and I fell to the ground. I shouted, "Ghost!"

Ugh.

My mouth was fully stuffed by the pastry in the male hand, and then I was picked up like a chick.

"If you alert the bodyguards, I'll kill you."

The man gripped my neck and didn't let go of it until I nodded.

"You're warm."

I murmured because of the lingering warmth on my neck left by the man, "You... Are you a human?"

"Nonsense." Carroll shot a contemptuous glance at me and then crooked his finger at the man behind me. " Jason, open the coffin."

Jason came over and quickly pried open the coffin.

There was nothing inside the coffin.

I became slack jawed. Why was the coffin empty?

"How impatient they are!"

Carroll curled his lips, leaned over, and touched the black coffin. "Mr. Carroll has risen from the dead. What do you think of this headline tomorrow?"

He fixed his eyes on the coffin. His big hand returned to my neck since there was no response from me.

"Do you like to join my show?"

I felt oppression and couldn't think at all.

Show?

With the pastry in my mouth, I couldn't say anything. I sped up my chewing and then said, "Yes."

The sweetness melted in my mouth. The delicious pastry energized me, so I added, "Then your pastries will be mine."

Carroll loosened the grip on my neck, let go of me, and then asked in a cold voice, "Are you a gluttonous rat?"

"No, I'm human. A starving human."

I was thin and petite but didn't look like a rat, did I?

Carroll lifted my chin with his hand, which was bigger than my face. He looked at me carefully and then said, "Well, your face is pale. You look more like a ghost than me."

"I've been a bit underfed," I retorted, rolling my eyes at his teasing tone before stepping away and grabbing another pastry.

Then, I said with a sweet smile, "May I have another piece, Mr. Carroll? Your pastries are simply divine."

Silence pervaded in the room, and Jason held his breath as tension thickened the air.

I blinked my big eyes and looked at Carroll pleadingly. "Just one piece?"

He didn't die, so I thought that he didn't care about these offerings, did he?

After a while, Carroll shifted his sharp gaze away from me. "Do you know who I am?"

I nodded in a daze. "Carroll Brown."

After a second thought, I realized that it was inappropriate to call Carroll by name. Therefore, I added, "Mr. Carroll."

"Aren't you scared of me?" Carroll furrowed his eyebrows slightly, seeming intrigued by my lack of fear.

"No. You're not a ghost, so why should I?" I replied, feeling emboldened.

Instantly, a faint smile appeared on Carroll's face.

Carroll pointed to the offerings on the table and said, "Take these and come with me."

"Where are we going?" I asked, puzzled but unable to resist the lure of the delicious food.

I picked up two trays of offerings and slowly followed behind Carroll.

This villa was spacious.

The living room was bigger than the playground in my primary school in the countryside.

The decoration seemed simple, but every detail showed the taste of its owner.

I lived in the countryside, and this was the first time seeing such a luxurious house. Therefore, I couldn't help looking around.

After a muffled sound, I bumped into Carroll's back with an "Ah!"

"Like the house?"

Carroll helped steady the trays, which almost fell for the collision, in my hand and pulled me into the elevator.

I smiled awkwardly. "This is the kind of house I've only seen in books."

"Is this how the Smith family treats their own daughter?" Carroll asked, sounding more sarcastic toward the Smith family than toward me.

"Well..." I didn't know what to say for a while.

The elevator stopped on the third floor right then, so our conversation ended.

There was only one large bedroom on the third floor. Carroll pointed to a sofa beside the bed and said, "This is the bedroom. You can sleep here."

What a good surprise for me! I had slept in my uncle's warehouse, so a bedroom was something beyond my reach.

This would be the first time I spent my night in a bedroom.

Soon, I remembered what Joey had said.

Mr. Carroll was the owner of this villa.

Was this Carroll's bedroom?

Did Carroll want to sleep with me tonight?

I clutched my collar instinctively. "Well, you..."

Carroll shot one glance at my chest and then teased, "I'm not interested in a child."

"A child? Am I?"

I followed Carroll's gaze and looked down.

The loose T-shirt made me look like a child who had snuck into their parent's clothes.

Well, I did look like a child now.

"Mr. Carroll."

There came a knock on the door, and Jason's voice called out. Jason stood at the door with a food tray.

After a signal from Carroll, Jason placed the tray on a small table next to the sofa and then said respectfully, "The things you asked for, Mr. Carroll."

"Great." Carroll nodded and said to me, "You may eat now."

Carroll sounded cold, but I felt moved.

All the time, my aunt and grandma called me an illegitimate child.

In their opinion, it would be a waste of food to feed me.

According to their plan, I would marry the fool next door in the end.

What Carroll had said were the warmest words I had ever heard over the past nineteen years.

Carroll had led Jason to the door. I summoned up my courage and said, "Thank you."

Hearing this, Carroll paused, turned around, and asked me, "What did you say?"

"I said, thank you."

I raised my voice and said, "Thank you for your pastries and bedroom."

Carroll walked back to me and then asked with a frown, "Did the Smith family abuse you?"

"No. A mistake happened in the hospital after I was born. Therefore, I didn't grow up in the Smith family. If the Smith family didn't get me out of my village with 200 thousand dollars, I would marry the fool next door. A dead man is a better choice than a fool..."

I spoke my mind accidentally. When I came to my senses, I found that Carroll looked sullen.

Instantly, I shut up.

Carroll took a blanket from the bed and draped it over me. With a long look, he left the bedroom.

Looking at the empty room, I took one piece of cake and put it into my mouth.

It was so delicious.

I didn't know why Carroll got angry, but he was good to me anyway.

He had given me cakes and draped a blanket over me.

He even gave me a home!

With this thought in mind, I ate slowly.

Did I have a home?

It had nothing to do with the countryside or the Smith family.

I had a home where Carroll was.

I clutched the blanket around me and felt the warmth the blanket brought me.

It seemed not a bad idea to marry Carroll.

It was a long day for me, so I wrapped myself in the blanket and fell asleep on the sofa.

I found myself on the bed when I woke up.

Did Carroll carry me onto the bed?

Looking at the quilt above me, I was a bit touched.

I saw a few words in my palm when I put on my shoes. "Put on a good show."

I didn't feel touched anymore. That feeling disappeared in a second.

Only then did I remember the deal with Carroll about the pastry.

I don't know what to do next.

Alas, I would improvise.

There was a lot of noise downstairs.

What happened?

I didn't spend much time on this question. I found the elevator and quickly went downstairs.

The living room was in a mess.

The offerings and broken trays were scattered on the ground.

Well...

Did Mr. Carroll rise from death?

My mind was in a whirl.

Was this plot part of Carroll's show?

What was I supposed to do now?

Before I had an answer, Joey appeared with the well-dressed Old Madame Brown. "Madam, where have you been? What happened here? Did a robber break in?"

Joey reproached me.

"I..."

Before I finished my speech, Joey continued, "This is Old Madame Brown, Mr. Carroll's grandmother."

Old Madame Brown raised her chin slightly and squinted at me aloofly.

I greeted with a sweet smile. "Good morning, Old Madame Brown."

"Didn't you hear Joey?"

The shrill female voice reminded me of my grandmother, who was mean, in the countryside.

I quickly lowered my head and said nervously, "I... I don't know what happened. I fell asleep last night. Suddenly, I saw a man sitting up in the coffin, and he said he was my husband..."

I lied for the first time in my life.

I felt that my heart was at my throat.

I wasn't good at lying.

Moreover, this lie couldn't convince myself, so would these people buy my story?

As expected, Old Madame Brown, who held a walking stick, said in a cold voice, "Nonsense! He's dead. How could he sit up in the coffin? Come, send some people to find out the truth."

Right then, a man in an inky blue suit came over.

"Grandma, why is it messy?"

The man shared similar eyes and eyebrows with Carroll, but his aura wasn't so strong as Carroll's.

The aloof Old Madame Brown instantly turned benign. "It's all about Carroll. He even caused trouble at his funeral."

Nathan Brown was attentive to his grandmother. He helped her sit in a chair not far away and poured her a cup of tea.

Nathan seemed like a good grandson.

I restored the offerings scattered on the ground to their old places and then stood by the coffin as I had yesterday.

I just needed to play my role, no matter what would happen next.

"So, you're the girl from the Smith family?" Nathan said in a frivolous tone as he swaggered toward me.

I nodded. I hid half of my face behind my long hair to dodge the scrutiny from Nathan.

"Girl, you said that my brother sat up in the coffin. However, never have you seen my brother. Why did you say so?"

My mouth twitched at this question, but I soon calmed down.

"Apart from him, who would be in this coffin? Besides, there is a big photo of him, and I'm not blind."

Then, I pointed to the photo on the desk.

The photo was amazing because Carroll in it stared at me wherever I stood.

I thought that Nathan must feel so too.

Nathan looked in the direction I pointed to and then shivered with fear.

He looked back at me and asked, "You said that Carroll appeared in your dream. Did he say anything?"

Nathan picked up an apple from the offerings and put it into his mouth.

"Yes." I smiled sweetly and looked at the black-and-white photo on the wall with admiration. "He told me to lead a good life here. He said that this was my home. By the way, he carried me back to his bedroom to sleep yesterday."

This speech dumbfounded the crowd in the living room.

The dead silence lasted for about two seconds.

Old Madame Brown tapped on the floor hard with her walking stick twice. "Nonsense!"

Was it?

Carroll did say that this was my home.

With a sneer, Nathan picked up another apple to eat.

The offerings were mine!

I quickly snatched the apple from Nathan and put it back in its place. "Please show some respect to the dead, or Mr. Carroll may lecture you in the evening."

"How dare you curse me? Are you tired of living?"

Nathan was furious. He raised his hand to slap me.

A slap was nothing to me.

I got whipped by the rattan during my growing up.

However, I couldn't help but close my eyes.

"Mr. Nathan, she is your sister-in-law. Please show some respect!"

It was Jason's voice!

I opened my eyes and saw Nathan's hand in the air.

"Who do you think you are? How dare you tell me what to do?" Nathan looked down on Jason. "You are nobody in the Brown family."

Jason was calm. He raised his voice and said, "Mr. Nathan, I would like to remind you that I am the only witness in the world to prove that Mr. Carroll is dead."

"You..." Nathan was so angry that his face turned livid, looking ugly.

Jason didn't panic at all. He added with a smile, "No strangers appeared around the villa yesterday, so what Mrs. Carroll said is credible. Moreover, Mr. Carroll appeared in my dream and told me to take good care of his wife!"

"That's right! Last night was my wedding night with Mr. Carroll. I think he didn't want me to stay here alone. Therefore, he appeared in my dream and told me to take a good rest in his room." I echoed.

I let out a sigh. My husband wasn't that bad since he sent Jason to help me.

Otherwise, Old Madame Brown and Nathan would swallowed me alive.

Perhaps I exaggerated too much. Jason's smile froze.

After one glance at me, Jason wore his polite but distant smile and said, "Mr. Carroll loves his wife so much."

"He does. Mr. Carroll said yesterday that he needed more offerings. He preferred wine to the beverage. Moreover, he didn't want to be disturbed. It will be great if fewer mourners come."

The complaint seemed ridiculous, but I could seek benefits for myself, couldn't I?

With an awkward smile, Jason echoed. "Madam is right. Mr. Carroll did not like social interactions when he was alive."

Old Madame Brown looked sullen, so I quickly added, "Ma'am, don't you miss Mr. Carroll? If he appears in my dream tonight, I will tell him to visit you."

Hearing this, Old Madame Brown turned livid. Jason smoothed things over in time. "Old Madame Brown, you must be tired after a busy morning. Please leave this place to me."

A dozen strong men in black suits appeared before Old Madame Brown and Nathan opened their mouths.

Obviously, Jason tried to drive them out.

"Grandma, this place is terrible. Let's go home!"

Nathan pulled Old Madame Brown, who pulled a long face, away, and I didn't know whether they were scared.

Nathan gave me a threatening look before his departure.

I let out a long sigh and then relaxed. "Jason, please thank Mr. Carroll for me." I didn't stand upright anymore.

Jason said with a faint smile, "You'd better express your gratitude yourself. Mr. Carroll is waiting for you in the secret room."

The secret room? There was a secret room in this villa?

Carroll was still in this house . No wonder he appeared out of blue yesterday.

The Brown family didn't find Carroll during their preparation for such a grand funeral.

Were they fools? Or, it must be that Carroll hid well.

Without hesitation, I picked up two apples and followed Jason.

Jason led me past the mourning hall and stopped in a storeroom. The stuff inside the storeroom had one thing in common.

All of them had their trademarks on.

No family would use a new scrubber every day no matter how rich they were.

Therefore, the disguise here seemed careless.

"Madam, this way please." Jason pushed, and there came the light.

What a spacious study!

Carroll casually leaned against his swivel chair and looked at me with interest. "It seems you aren't satisfied with our wedding night. You want more passion, don't you?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the mourning hall on the computer screen. In other words, Carroll watched me in the mourning hall through the surveillance cameras all the time.

"Mr. Carroll, well, are you satisfied with my acting? May I take two apples as my reward?" I put the two apples beside my cheeks and looked at Carroll eagerly.