Return Of The Billionaire's Soulmate

"You're not a baby that I'll always have to put to bed after you're drunk," Marianne scolded Alexander-her childhood sweetheart, but he only smiled at her.

"I'm your baby, aren't I, Anne?" Alexander said with a playful smile. Despite his drunken state, she found him irresistibly charming, and his words made her heart race. Although he often said things like this when he was drunk, she couldn't quite get used to it. Maybe he wasn't aware of the effect he had on her. How would he react if he knew he was the guy she had always had her eyes on?

"No, you're not! Now, let's move to your room" Marianne stood up and went to help him. With his arm draped over her shoulder, she led him to his room. They had just gotten back from a party with their friends, and she had decided to take him home because he was drunk. Jake, his friend hadn't agreed to do it, so she volunteered.

As they got to his room, she pushed him onto the bed, momentarily forgetting he was holding onto her, causing her to fall directly on top of him. Marianne's breath caught, her eyes widened, and her heart raced quickly. She gulped, trying to overcome the temptation.

All her life, she had loved him, and it had always been him. She hated to remind herself of the painful truth-that Alexander would never see her as anything more than a friend. It hurt her deeply, but she didn't feel the need to force him to love her. After all, he valued her more than he did his girlfriends or exes. But still, she hoped that someday he'd see her more than just his bestfriend.

Trying to calm herself, she sat down beside him on the bed and began to help him remove his shirt. Even though she had done this before, tonight felt different, and she couldn't keep her desires in check. Perhaps it was because she had missed him-he had just returned to Silverton today after spending an entire month in Baltimore.

She swallowed hard as she helped him up and removed his shirt completely. Even in his drunken state, he looked cute. Her gaze lingered on his soft, inviting lips, and she struggled to control her impulses, but damn it! How long would she keep torturing herself like this? She desperately wanted to know what his lips tasted like. The temptation became too powerful to resist.

"I'm sorry, Alex. I'll just steal a brief kiss," she thought to herself. She brought her lips closer and gently pressed them against his in a soft kiss. Though she meant for it to be brief, she lost track of time and found herself kissing him longer than she intended.

She had a chance to stop this madness, or so she thought, but when he started kissing her back, she couldn't pull away. Perhaps she had been wrong-maybe Alexander had feelings for her but was hiding them because of their friendship, or maybe he was just acting this way because he was drunk. Despite knowing it was wrong because of his drunken state, she wanted to be greedy.

As he kissed her, she closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around his neck, kissing him back. Before she realized it, they were both naked with their clothes scattered randomly across the room.

The next morning, when Alexander's eyes fluttered open and he noticed a figure in his arms, he was surprised. At first, he thought Jake, his best friend, had spent the night at his place. But as he looked closer, he realized the figure didn't resemble a man at all. What had happened while he was drunk?

His gaze moved immediately to the person's face, and his eyes widened upon seeing that it was Marianne.

He stared down at himself and saw he was only in his underpant. Looking at the sleeping Marianne, he discovered she was also naked, which made his eyes widen even further. Memories of the previous night started flooding back. What had they done?

"Good morning, my...," Mrs. Skarsgard, Alexander's mom's words caught in her throat as she took in the scene. Marianne slowly opened her eyes and saw Mrs. Skarsgard staring at her with a smile. She glanced at Alexander, who was looking back at her with a questioning expression.

Marianne quickly looked at herself and, seeing she was naked, her eyes widened in shock. She hadn't expected their night to go beyond kissing. How had they ended up like this?

"My goodness! I had no idea you both had feelings for each other. What was I expecting, with how often you're together?" Mrs. Skarsgard smiled. She was very fond of Marianne and had always wished her son would take an interest in someone like her especially since they grew up together.

Alexander ruffled his hair, feeling a mix of emotions. "Love? It's a misunderstanding. Anne and I don't feel that way toward each other," he clarified.

"What? You sleep with someone and call it a misunderstanding? Marianne has never been intimate with anyone before; you're the first person she's ever slept with. How can you be so heartless?" she asked in disbelief.

"You know what? You both are getting married," she declared.

"What?" Alexander exclaimed in disbelief. Marianne's heart skipped a beat-this wasn't what she wanted, at least not yet. She was the only one who loved Alexander. He didn't love her, so marrying him would mean forcing him into a lifelong commitment with someone he didn't have romantic feelings for.

Mrs. Skarsgard grabbed her phone and called the Corelle family about the wedding. Frustrated, Alexander got out of bed, dressed quickly, and stormed out of the room. Marianne bit her lip, distressed. This wasn't what she wanted-how did it come to this? No, she needed to stop it.

"Mom, I don't think this is appropriate..."

"I know you like Alex, Marianne. I'm not sure about his feelings because he's unpredictable, but he clearly cares about you, given how he treats you. I'll ask the maids to prepare breakfast for you," Mrs. Skarsgard said with a smile before leaving the room. Marianne bit her lip harder this time.

This wasn't right, especially since Alexander already had a girlfriend.

Marianne took a deep breath as she sat beside her sister. Today was undeniably the happiest day of her life, as it was her dream to walk down the aisle with the man she loved. But at the same time, she was sad, unsure if the same was true for Alexander, her groom.

She was about to marry Alexander, who hadn't spoken to her for a week since the incident. He had been avoiding her completely, ignoring her messages and refusing to give her a chance to address the issue.

"You didn't tell me how it's possible that you're marrying Alex. Did something happen?" Winter asked, confusion on her face. Marianne sighed softly and bit her lip.

Marianne had intended to keep everything to herself, planning to tell Winter only when the time felt right, as she didn't want to add more worries to herself. Despite Winter's understanding nature, she was always curious about why her sister was suddenly marrying Alexander.

Winter couldn't understand why her sister was wasting her time secretly loving Alexander when there were other guys who would do anything for her. Marianne was a stunning girl with an amazing figure, and aside from being a genius, Winter saw nothing appealing about Alexander that would attract her sister. It puzzled her that they were getting married out of the blue.

The door to her dressing room opened, and Mrs. Skarsgard, Alexander's mother, along with Mrs. Corelle, Marianne's mother, entered. Marianne forced a smile upon seeing them. The families were close, and their parents were friends, so she and Alexander had grown up together, with him being four years older than she was.

"My daughter-in-law looks so pretty," Mrs. Skarsgard commented with a smile, admiring the elegant white wedding gown that fitted Marianne perfectly.

"I'll see you at the chapel," she added. After a brief hug, she left, and Mrs. Corelle smiled at her daughter, gently stroking her hair.

"Winter, could you give us a moment alone?" Mrs. Corelle asked. Winter hesitated but then nodded, offering a final reassuring smile to Marianne before leaving the room.

"Mom," Marianne whispered, tears gathering in her eyes. "I didn't mean for it to be like this, I swear... I really..." She couldn't finish her sentence as her mother hugged her closely.

"I know this is difficult, Marianne. But you made a mistake," her mother said softly as she pulled away from the hug.

"I had no idea it was going to end this way. I know I was greedy, Mom, but Alex won't talk to me or reply to my messages. He..." Her tears choked her, and she didn't care if she was ruining her makeup. She just couldn't control her emotions.

Mrs. Corelle sighed, unsure of what to say. Although her daughter hadn't explained everything, from her own perspective and what Mrs. Skarsgard had said, she could tell it was a misunderstanding. She knew about her daughter's feelings for Alexander, but she also knew that Alexander didn't have any romantic feelings toward her daughter. She felt the marriage was unfair to Alexander. However, with Mrs. Skarsgard's insistence that they marry, Mrs. Corelle felt powerless to act.

Mrs. Corelle was about to speak further when Winter walked in. Marianne quickly wiped her tears and forced a smile. Winter shook her head, knowing her sister well enough to see through the pretense.

"It's time," she said. Marianne took her mom's hand, who led her out of the room.

.......

Alexander sighed for the umpteenth time as he stood at the altar, waiting for his so-called bride. His face was a mask of indifference, revealing nothing of his emotions. It was clear he wasn't happy-how could he be? Why would he marry his best friend? And yes, he had been avoiding her.

After reviewing the CCTV footage of the venue where the party had taken place, it was clear that Marianne wasn't drunk that night. So, in one word, his best friend had done it on purpose, fully aware he had a girlfriend.

The chapel doors opened, drawing his attention. There stood his best friend, clad in a wedding dress. She was indeed beautiful, a fact he had always acknowledged, but beauty alone didn't equate to love.

As she walked down the aisle with her mother-her father having passed away years ago-Marianne glanced at Alexander. Though she hadn't seen him since the incident, it was his emotionless expression that stood out to her.

Marianne's smile was tight, causing Alexander to scoff and look away. It wasn't a grand wedding, and none of his friends knew he was getting married-not even Jake, his best friend, or Elena, his girlfriend. To him, Marianne was marrying a ghost of himself, not the real him.

Marianne took a deep breath as she reached the altar, standing face-to-face with Alexander, who closed the distance between them.

"So, are you happy now?" he asked. She shook her head vigorously.

"I can explain, Alex. It..."

"It was a mistake, I suppose," he interrupted with a forced smile. Marianne bit her lip, unable to respond.

"You weren't drunk, Marianne," he continued. She looked at him, tears glistening in her eyes. It was the first time he'd called her by her full name and not the usual 'Anne' he always used.

"Why do you want to ruin me? Why did you do it? What kind of friend are you?" he demanded through gritted teeth, though no one else heard them.

"I hope you're satisfied now," he said, his disbelief evident, as he took two steps away from her and signaled the priest to proceed.

Alexander wasn't here of his own will. He was forced into this by his mother, who had threatened to take her own life if he didn't comply.

The priest continued with the ceremony, reciting the vows and exchanging rings, finally pronouncing them husband and wife. As the moment for the kiss arrived, Alexander simply walked out of the chapel.

At least none of his friends were present, and no one knew about his marriage.

He left the hall despite his mother's calls, entered his car, and had the driver take him away to his destination.

*****

At 8 PM that evening, Marianne, accompanied by her sister Winter, arrived at the new mansion that Mrs. Skarsgard had gifted her and Alexander for their wedding. Marianne turned to Winter with a smile.

"I'll handle it from here. You should head home," Marianne said. Winter looked at her curiously, sensing that her sister wasn't being entirely forthright.

"You're not telling me anything," Winter said.

"I will, okay? You're the one who knows me best," Marianne replied with a smile.

"That's not true; Alex knows you better. But fine, I'll leave you to rest." Winter said, getting into the car Mrs. Skarsgard had arranged. She waved to Marianne as the car drove away.

Marianne took a deep breath and headed toward the house, only to be shocked by the sight of Alexander and his girlfriend, Elena, in a passionate kiss. Her heart sank as she watched them.

"Alex," she called, trying to keep her voice steady and her tears at bay. Why did this have to happen today of all days? At least he should have waited until tomorrow or the next day.

"Oh! Marianne, what a surprise," Elena said, noticing her. Marianne couldn't bring herself to respond. How could she admit that she was married to Alexander, Elena's boyfriend?

"Babe, I'll see you tomorrow, okay? I need to talk to Marianne," Alexander said, and Elena nodded understandingly. She knew how close Marianne and Alexander were and wasn't upset by the situation.

"Alright. Goodnight," Elena said, pecking Alexander on the lips before leaving the mansion.

Alexander then turned to Marianne. "You called me," he said, walking toward her.

"Is this about the kiss we were supposed to share at the altar? Do you want it now?" Alexander asked, pressing her against the wall as he tried to kiss her. Marianne resisted, pushing him away.

"Why? You weren't drunk that night and took advantage of me. Why back down now when this is what you wanted? Should we have sex again?" he demanded. Marianne freed herself and slapped him in response.

"Why won't you believe me when I say it was a mistake?" she shouted, tears streaming down her face.

Alexander smirked irritably. "A mistake? Or were you just trying to get a share of my late father's company? Isn't that what it looks like?" he said. Marianne's face fell at his words.

"What?" she exclaimed. Alexander knew she hated such insinuations. Although Marianne wasn't poor, her family was average, and she hated when people assumed she was with Alexander for his wealth.

"You call this a marriage?" Alexander scoffed. "If you don't want to hear more hurtful words, then stay away from me. Let's avoid each other," he added.

In tears, Marianne removed her wedding ring and threw it across the room.

"I didn't want this either. If you think I did it for your money, then I'm deeply disappointed in you, Alex. I thought you knew me, but it seems I've been the only one invested in this friendship. I'll stay away as you want, and I promise to keep myself hidden from you as much as possible." She said, turning to leave but pausing at the door.

"It's Marianne Corelle, not Skarsgard. Don't forget, I was never truly your wife. I'm sorry for ruining you," she said, her tears falling as she walked out of the house that night.

5 YEARS LATER.

Five years had passed since Marianne left Silverton on their wedding night. That night, after their misunderstanding, Alexander had thought it was mere words when she said she would do her best to hide from his sight, but it took him a while to realize she meant those words.

Only now could he grasp the gravity of the hurtful things he had said to her. He wouldn't blame his immaturity for his decisions back then.

In the years that followed, he had employed his influence as the head of San Diego's most prosperous conglomerate and used his extensive network to search for her. Yet, it was as if she had vanished from the earth, leaving no trace of her whereabouts.

A year after her disappearance, he relocated from Silverton to San Diego, seeking distance from his old life in hopes of continuing his search.

What he couldn't deny was that her disappearance had shattered him entirely. Winter, Marianne's younger sister, continued to harbor resentment towards him, blaming him for her sister's disappearance.

Even to this day, he had never stopped searching for her.

Alexander emerged from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair still damp from his shower, which made him look irresistibly hot.

Just then, his phone rang loudly. He moved to retrieve it from the bed, expecting it to be his secretary, whom he had tasked with finding Marianne. However, he was disappointed to see it was a call from Jake, his friend.

"Hey man, I'm heading to San Diego and staying the night at your hotel suite," Jake announced as soon as Alexander answered.

Before Alexander could respond, the doorbell rang. He went to answer it and found Jake standing there with a broad smile. Alexander pulled the phone away from his ear, staring at his friend in confusion.

"Why call me if you're already here?" Alexander asked, as Jake stepped inside, shrugging nonchalantly and dropping his luggage before taking a seat.

He had called earlier, intending to use Alexander's suite without realizing Alexander would be there, rather than at his mansion as usual.

"I thought you'd be at your mansion," Jake said, standing up from the couch and heading towards the kitchen. "Is there anything to eat?" he asked. Finding some noodles, he decided to help himself.

"Why are you here?" Alexander asked.

"Just needed a break," Jake replied. "Your mom's been hounding me to convince you to come back to Silverton."

"It's been five years, Alex. I'm not sure what's going on in your mind, but keeping your mother waiting isn't fair. She's all you have left," Jake said, eating the raw noodles.

"Once you've finished eating and rested, you should head out. I'll be going to the office soon," Alexander said, heading to his wardrobe to find something to wear.

"People say you've become distant and cold over the years. Is that true? Have you still not gotten in touch with Marianne?" Jake asked. The mention of Marianne's name made Alexander stop what he was doing.

"I heard you're responsible for her disappearance," Jake added.

"Who said that?"

"Winter. She claims you're responsible for her sister's disappearance," Jake replied, placing the pack of noodles on the counter.

"Let's be honest, Alex. Who are you trying to deceive? You married Marianne, and while I don't know the reasons behind it, I know you've had feelings for her since high school. If you truly loved her, why didn't you stay with her after the marriage?" Jake asked.

Alexander was left speechless as Jake's words hit home. It wasn't until a month after Marianne's disappearance that he realized he had feelings for her, and the guilt had been tormenting him ever since.

"If you think I'm wrong, then I won't interfere anymore since you are unwilling to face the truth," Jake said, rising from his seat.

"I'll head out after a shower. I promised Grandma I'd visit her, so she's probably waiting for me," he muttered, making his way to the bathroom.

*****

Jayson Williams left his room already dressed for work. As he entered the sitting room, the door flew open, and a little boy rushed in.

"Dad!" Emilio called out, running to Jayson, who lifted him up with a broad smile.

"My adorable Emilio," Jayson beamed.

"Where's your mom?" he asked, brushing a strand of Emilio's long black hair behind his ear.

"She'll be here soon," Emilio replied with a smile that belied his young age. He was just too smart for his age, and Jayson found that adorable. Just then, his mom walked in. Jayson smiled upon seeing her.

"Good morning," she greeted, walking over to him.

"Ready for the restaurant?" Jayson asked. She nodded.

"I'm heading to work now. I'll drop you off first," he said, glancing at Emilio still nestled in his arms.

"Want some ice cream, little one?" he asked.

"No, Jayson. It's too cold outside," Sienna replied.

"It'll be fine, Sienna. You don't need to worry about us. Right, Emilio?" Jayson asked, and Emilio nodded eagerly.

"You two," Sienna muttered, shaking her head in frustration as she headed out. Jayson followed with Emilio, chuckling quietly.

They got outside, entered the car, and the drive began.

A few minutes into the drive, Jayson arrived at the restaurant, and Sienna got out of the car with Emilio.

"It's important for a CEO not to be late. You should head to work now," Sienna said as Jayson attempted to leave the car too.

"Okay, honey. I'll see you this evening," Jayson replied with a wink and a smile before driving off. Sienna smiled as she walked into the restaurant.

She found the restaurant clean, which made her smile even more, knowing it was Jayson's doing. She didn't know what to do with him anymore. Despite countless requests for him to stop cleaning and insistence that she could handle it herself, he never listened.

Turning to her son with a warm smile, she asked, "Is there anything you'd like me to make for you? You barely ate your breakfast at home..."

Emilio shook his head. "I'm fine, Mom. Is there anything you need help with?"

Sienna carried him over to the kitchen area, set him down on a chair, and smiled. "Just watch me cook, alright? And if you fake being sick again tomorrow, I'll take you to the hospital," she said with a playful threat. Emilio pouted adorably; he was supposed to be at school but had pretended to be ill to skip it.

"But I'm letting it slide today so you can spend the whole day with me," Sienna said with a smile.

"I love you, Mom," Emilio said, returning her smile as he watched her do what she was great at-cooking.

******

At 5 p.m., Jake woke from his nap with a stretch. He had decided to rest after finishing his bath. Sitting up, he checked his phone and noticed the time, letting out a resigned sigh.

He knew his dad would likely scold him, but screw that!. He was 30, and was so done with all the boring lectures!

He got out of bed, grabbed one of the car keys from Alexander's room, and headed out.

He debated whether to go to his dad's company first or visit his grandma. After a moment of thought, he chose to visit his grandma first.

******

In his spacious office, which was nearly the size of an apartment, Alexander sat focused on his laptop.

He had always been deeply immersed in work, finding joy only when he was occupied with tasks.

Suddenly, his phone vibrated, drawing his attention. Leaning back in his swivel chair, he adjusted his glasses slightly and picked up his phone. He saw a message from Jake.

"I saw something really shocking while shopping for grandma," the message read. Alexander was curious about Jake's revelation when Jake's call came through. He answered promptly.

"Dude, I just saw a kid a few minutes ago," Jake began. Alexander sighed, wondering what kind of nonsense Jake was about to share.

"What about it?" he asked.

"He looks exactly like you," Jake revealed. Alexander rubbed his eyes in frustration and removed his glasses.

"So?" he replied.

"So, do you have a kid somewhere?" Jake asked.

"Don't be ridiculous," Alexander said, cutting the call. Just then, another message from Jake popped up on his phone. This time, it was a picture of the boy, and to Alexander's surprise, the child looked exactly like him.