Rich Girl In Rags; His Biggest Mistake

"Oh... Dennis, do-don't stop..." Cardi gripped the sheets beneath her and moaned as Dennis swept over her like a ball of fire.

She has been married for two years now, and she still experienced the same electrifying pleasure whenever her husband touched her. She encircled his powerful waist with her legs, relishing the orgasm that accompanied each stroke.

But just as she was about to reach her peak, everything stopped!...

Dennis abruptly pulled out, and a sudden emptiness swept over Cardi's belly.

He only did that when he was satisfied, but obviously he isn't-Cardi was sure he hadn't spilled any juice yet.

She quickly reached up, and touched his pectoral muscles, grazing it softly-wanting more, needing more. But he brushed her hand away.

Then came the words that shattered her world.

"I need a divorce," Dennis said, his voice cold and bitter.

Cardi froze.

His words had pierced through her chest like a blade, slicing her heart to tiny bits. "What?" she exclaimed, as she heard her own trembling voice.

"I need a divorce. Temporarily." His tone grew icier. "Mr. Greyson said if I marry his daughter, Andrea, the new office building contract will be mine-ours. Once I secure the deal and their wealth, I'll divorce her... and marry you again."

His words sounded like honey spiked with poison.

Douglas Greyson was Dennis' biggest client. His daughter, Andrea Greyson, six years younger than Cardi, had just graduated from college.

Dennis had often visited Mr. Greyson to strengthen business ties. That's when Andrea entered the picture-bubbly, young, and instantly taken by Dennis. Since then, Cardi had heard her name constantly, mentioned in Dennis's mouth like a poem he couldn't stop reciting.

Suspicious at first, Cardi had followed him on several visits to the Greysons, posing as his assistant. But Dennis never acted out of line. He remained strictly professional-cold even. She began to trust him again.

Now, this? A divorce proposal for a deal? Her heart dropped like a stone.

Her puzzled expression faded into stunned silence when she saw the notification that popped up on the news app on her phone screen:

"Dennis Blake, the city's most eligible bachelor and millionaire, broke the rumors that he had found the love of his life and spent eight hundreds of thousands of dollars to propose to her by booking the Empire State Building's exterior light show...."

"Damn you!" Cardi shouted, flinging a pillow at him. Her chest hurt as the betrayal cut deeper than she could have imagined.

"Why!! Why! Dennis?!" She yelled, "How are you an eligible bachelor? Are you fucking kidding me?!"

Her sobs became frequent, tears running down her naked skin.

"I trusted you! I trusted you!"

She cried, smashing her fists against his muscular chest. "What did I lack that made you replace me with a little girl? DENNIS!"

He brushed her off like a butterfly's wing, rising calmly to slip into his pants. His naked upper body still showed his seductive muscular figure, but his handsome face was covered with two tightly knitted eyebrows.

"Class. Standards. Reputation. Wealth," he said, tilting his head. "You have none. Only a woman who has all of those is fit to be called my wife."

Her heart shattered.

The one thing she swore she'd never do-marry a man driven by wealth-had become her reality.

He pulled out a pre-signed cheque and stuffed it into her hand.

"Take this. A hundred thousand dollars. It's all yours now."

That's all she meant to him? Her love, her youth, her sacrifices-reduced to a single cheque?

Cardi stared at it, took a breath, and... tore it to shreds.

She wiped the tears on her face with the back of her hand.

"That's your price, Dennis. Your stupid new found love and relationship are worth a hundred thousand dollars-not mine." Her tone was bolder and fierce.

Dennis scowled, losing his composure.

"You seem to forget your financial status, Cardi. I'm being generous. Your pride is meaningless."

He leaned forward.

"The class gap between us? You can't bridge it, even in the next twelve years. So what exactly are you proud of?"

He grabbed her chin roughly.

"You think tearing my cheque makes you powerful? Little rat."

He turned to leave. "Pathetic," he spat.

"Speaking of pathetic," Cardi said, her voice was completely steel now, "you'll find out soon."

She grabbed her phone. She was done hiding!

Two years of pretending, suppressing who she really was-over.

Dennis didn't know her. He didn't know a thing.

"What now? Calling the cops? Mommy?" Dennis scoffed. "Or maybe you're trying to call Mr. Greyson and ruin the deal? Don't you dare-"

But Cardi was already on the call.

"Okay, brother. Tell Grandma. Tell Father. Tell everyone-I'm coming home. I'm coming to reclaim my seat."

Dennis blinked.

**Grandma?**

What seat?

What the hell was she talking about?

He watched in confusion as Cardi began to freshen up, packing her things.

"So you have a grandma and you're busy tearing cheques?" he mocked. "What if she has a stroke-how'd you pay her bills?"

She ignored him.

"Sure, you won't beg me for another cheque? I get quite generous when I'm dealing with the needy... you could get lucky, Cardi." Dennis said coldly, a wicked smirk playing on his face.

Cardi zipped her briefcase.

"Don't think you'll be smiling for long, Dennis. You won't go unpunished for this."

"And who's going to punish me?" he chuckled, blowing smoke from the cigarette he had stuffed in his mouth.

Cardi didn't answer. Her silence was louder than rage. He didn't deserve the truth. Not yet.

She locked the briefcase, turned to the door, and gave him one last look.

"Don't come begging when you miss me. I'll never come back to you... Dennis Blake."

"Let's see how long the big talk lasts. I'll be here when you need another cheque."

He laid back smugly. To him, she was just another obstacle removed.

---

Cardi stormed down the stairs, her briefcase in one hand, the fire in her eyes brighter than ever. She was leaving Dennis Blake's life-for good.

But just as she reached the foot of the stairs, her stride was halted.

There she stood-SABRINA BLAKE. Dennis' mother. Poised like a vulture at the bottom step, arms crossed, expression smug.

Cardi's jaw clenched. She'd suspected Sabrina had been eavesdropping. That woman never missed a chance to inject herself into Cardi's misery.

"I'm leaving for good," Cardi said, her voice low and sharp. "I'm sure that sounds like music to your ears."

Sabrina smirked and tossed something at Cardi's chest. A small, familiar bottle hit her before landing in her hand.

"Here," Sabrina said with a snide smile. "I'm just making sure you don't come back claiming you 'forgot something.'"

Cardi stared down at the bottle-her pain reliever. The one she always kept by the nightstand. The one Sabrina had mocked her for.

Strangely, the insult also set her free, even though it hurt. Because she loved Dennis, she put up with Sabrina's cruelty for two years, smiling through backhanded remarks and turning the other cheek.

However, that is no longer the case!

Cardi's fingers clenched around the bottle. That same medication had numbed her headaches for the past two years-the ones caused by Sabrina herself.

She should've said something. Anything. But silence was the sharpest weapon now.

Without a word, Cardi turned and walked past the woman who had never seen her as worthy.

---

Outside, Cardi slid into a waiting taxi.

"Take me to Beverly Hills."

The driver looked at her through the mirror.

"Which mansion, ma'am?"

She exhaled. "The Belmont Mansion."

The driver's jaw dropped.

"Anything wrong?" she asked.

"No ma'am," he stammered. "I'm just... lucky to be driving a royalty home."

Sitting in the taxi, Cardi still felt heartbroken.

No matter how hard she tried to man-up, her heart was still bleeding from Dennis's betrayal. But she felt more fortunate that she recognized his true face before it was too late.

Her family had strongly opposed her being with Dennis. But at that time, she was immersed in Dennis' sweet words, believed in Dennis' so-called "ambition", and rejected the son of a friend introduced to her by her parents. As it turned out, she was really wrong.

She had rejected most suitors because they came for her based-on business ties and because of her family's wealth. That was why she had to fake her identity to find true love, and to the one whom she gave herself away to, now sees her as trash because he thinks she's a puppet leeching on his money.

Anyways! Cardi knows very well how to make him unsee the way he saw her.

"The Belmont mansion ma'am" The taxi driver said, interrupting her thoughts.

"Sure, thank you." she replied, paying him more than enough. The driver was happy and grateful to Cardi, He kept his head down, bowing to Cardi until she alighted the vehicle.

"It's been two years, sweetie," she said softly to herself, staring at the large gate in front of her.

"Nothing's changed," she smiled, breathing deeply. "I can still smell wealth in the air."

She pressed the bell, but before she could wait, the gate scanner recognized her face and the gates opened automatically.

"Oh my! It still recognizes me," she chuckled, stepping into THE GRAND BELMONT MANSION.

"Your Highness, you're back!" the gatekeeper said, bowing so deeply his forehead nearly touched the ground.

Seeing him made her remember the cheque Dennis had handed her. "Kirk, your salary is a hundred thousand dollars, right?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It used to be, ma'am, but it was increased to one hundred and fifty thousand because of my loyalty," Kirk explained proudly.

'What an ingrate Dennis is! Baiting me with peanuts not even up to Kirk's salary' Cardi hissed irritated.

"Henceforth Kirk, I'll double your salary to three hundred thousand dollars" Cardi added with a friendly smile, "You've served my family for over 23 years, I truly appreciate that."

Kirk, who was overwhelmed with joy, grabbed Cardi's luggage and kept bowing down all the way.

Cardi was staring at the entrance door to her father's mansion. She was contemplating, should she ring the doorbell or are they aware of her arrival?

Well! They were.

The mansion door splintered in half, revealing the grand hallway to the mansion's living room. Two maids stood by either side of the door, bowing down to Cardi as she made her entrance.

Cardi was anticipating the look on her mother's face when she saw her again, the disappointment on her father's face when she told him how she let herself be deceived by Dennis. Her sister, Diana! Her brother, Trevor! Aunt Caitlyn! Uncle Austin!... and her cousin... Drietty. She couldn't wait for it.

She stepped into the grand floor, accompanied by Kirk who carried her luggage. To her uttermost surprise, the whole Belmont's family were seated waiting for her-or so she thought! They weren't waiting for her; they were having a meeting and she just interrupted.

All eyes were on her... She paused waiting for the first reaction from her family.

No one reacted.

The sound of the ticking mansion clock really reminded Cardi she was home. The soft clicking sound of the workers' shoes as they walked up and down with their chores now sounded like a thunderstorm because of how dead quiet the room was. Even the fall of a pin may sound like a gunshot now.

It was quiet.

"Dad. I'm back" Cardi managed to speak, her voice echoing throughout the room.

"Welcome home... My Queen. You saved the day." Dillard Belmont, Cardi's father said, spreading his arms open for a hug.

Cardi was stunned. 'She saved the day? How? What was going on?' she asked herself, as she advanced, taking steps closer to her father.

Then the cornea of her eyes caught sight of it.... and at that moment, she understood.

Cardi freezed.

She tilted her head left to get a better view of it and her eyes widened at the sight of the emerald crest statue which laid flat on the wall like a canvas.

Her knees buckled till they hit the floor. Her palms met the floor too as her long hair cascaded all over her, blurring her face from the piercing eyes around her.

The Belmont's Emerald crest statue... it could only mean one thing!

"Grandmaaaaaaa!!" Cardi shouted at the top of her voice as she broke down in shudders.

"Stop creating a scene bitch. It's been 3 months since she died." a cold voice said.

That was Drietty.

Drietty is Cardi's cousin who always hated her. Their rivalry started from childhood and never ended.

"Cardi! Cardi!" Cardi's mum called out to her, her voice firm. "Get a hold of yourself, It's not time to cry, my girl. You know what the statue stands for, don't you? It's part of lady Miyani's will. You shouldn't be crying-you should be acting, Cardi!!"

Her mother's words shook her out of her grief. Of course, she knew what the statue meant-she understood very well.

Lady Miyani Belmont, her grandmother, had led the Belmonts ever since her husband died forty-six years ago. And now she is gone. A new head was needed.

The crest wasn't just a tribute-it was a declaration. The color represented which bloodline her fortune had been passed down to. Cardi's family was the EMERALD. Uncle Austin's was the BURGUNDY. Aunt Caitlyn's line was SCARLET.

The emerald on that statue meant one thing: **Lady Miyani had chosen Cardi's line.**

And now, someone from the Emerald line had to take the lead.

Her father had chosen her.

Even after everything, even after she ran away... he still saw her as worthy.

She slowly lifted her head and met his gaze. "Father...?" she whispered, overwhelmed.

"You know what it means right, Cardi?" her younger sister, Diana asked her, placing her hands on her shoulder as she helped her up. "You Cardi-you'll have the final say in every company under The Belmonts. You'll govern over fifty-eight companies across New York city, taking over from where Lady Miyani stopped"

She hugged Cardi gently. "Are you ready for this, Big sister?"

Cardi chuckled quietly, tears still lingering on her eyes. Images of her ex-husband, Dennis and his mother Sabrina, flashed through her mind, and she laughed a little louder.

"I've never been more ready, Diana." She said, whispering into her sister's ears.

Her reason for coming home was simple-to get her frozen wealth back so she could make Dennis eat back his words.

But now?

She had not just wealth.

She had power.

"If only you had told him you were a Belmont, he wouldn't have dared to even look at that Andrea girl twice," Diana, Cardi's younger sister, ranted.

"I know, Di," Cardi replied softly. "But I didn't want him to love me because of my wealth. I wanted something real."

Diana rolled her eyes. "Oh please! That kind of love doesn't exist on Earth. Maybe try Mars." They both laughed.

"So, how wealthy is Andrea's family now?" Diana asked.

"Wealthy? Don't tell me you've forgotten the Greysons. The man who used to be our gardener when we were little."

"Uhh... I can't remember."

"Come on, Di. The gardener with the two-year-old daughter. Drietty used to share her toys with her."

"Ohuu! That one? I remember now! But how did he become wealthy?"

"When he lost his wife, Lady Miyani gave him one of her companies so he could raise his daughter better," Cardi explained. "But don't ever call them wealthy. They're rats compared to us."

Diana shook her head. "So Dennis left you for her? The same girl Drietty shared toys with?"

Cardi nodded.

"Do you think Andrea or her dad recognized you?"

"No way. Andrea was too young to remember, and Mr. Greyson... Well, I've changed a lot. Puberty and all that. I doubt he knows who I am now."

"So what's your plan for Dennis? You're not letting him go scot-free, are you?"

"Of course not, Di. I'll make him come crawling back on his knees. I'm not a Belmont for nothing."

*Knock, knock!*

The door creaked open.

"Come in, Trevor. I know you've been eavesdropping," Diana said flatly.

"Welcome home, Cardi. I missed you so much," said Trevor, their younger brother, walking in with a big smile. He rushed to hug Cardi tightly.

"I missed you too, Trevor. And your special hugs," Cardi laughed.

"Congrats, Cardi," Trevor said, kissing her cheek. "By the way, I was listening in, and... I think I owe you an apology."

"An apology? For what?" Cardi asked, confused.

"I know Andrea Greyson. And Dennis lied to you. Her father didn't promise him any wealth."

Cardi's eyes widened. "What?"

Trevor nodded. "Dennis is leaving you for Andrea because she's about to become a billionaire. And a celebrity."

Diana blinked. "Wait... how do you know that?"

Trevor chuckled. "Come on, Di. I own the biggest music record label in America. Even though Cardi now technically has leverage as a co-owner." Trevor rolled his eyes.

"Oh please," Cardi smiled. "You built that label with your own hard work. I would never interfere."

"Thanks, Cardi. But... after this year's audition, Andrea won. She's getting wealthy and famous through my label. That's what Dennis is chasing."

"How much is she earning?" Cardi asked.

"Five million dollars a week. In royalties."

Diana scoffed. "Dennis is chasing her wallet, not her heart. Poor girl."

Trevor hesitated. "It's not too late. We haven't made the winner announcement public yet. We sent her the confirmation, but the official reveal is at this weekend's award concert."

"How big is the event?" Cardi asked, her tone firm.

"Huge. The stadium will be full, eight million seats are already booked. Billions watching live, plus tons of artists and press."

Cardi's eyes darkened. "Perfect. That's exactly where I'll teach them both a lesson."

Diana laughed so hard, her back fell on the bed. "It's so ironic. He dumped the legitimate owner of the company to chase the lowest-paid employee."

"I'm sorry for signing her, Cardi. Maybe if I hadn't, you and Dennis would still be together," Trevor said.

"No, Trevor. You helped me see the beast I fell for. Thank you."

She stood up, adjusted her suit pants, and grabbed her phone. "See you two later. I'm heading to the bank. I have some scores to settle."

---

After Cardi left, Trevor turned to Diana.

"Di, can I tell you something personal? Promise you won't tell Cardi?"

"Of course."

"Remember when I said I had a new girlfriend? The one you kept bugging me to reveal? It's Andrea Greyson."

"WHAT?!" Diana shouted.

"I know, I know... and now she wants to marry Dennis. She never even told me."

"Wait, were you both officially dating? Or did you just think you were?"

"We were official. I asked her out, and she said yes. We even... spent a night together."

"Trevor, ew! Wasn't it obvious she was just trying to impress you, so she could be signed."

"I didn't see it then. But now I'm wondering... why would she leave me for Dennis? She knows I'm richer. She knows I love her. Dennis is a broke divorcee twice her age. It makes no sense."

"So... Do you still love her?"

Trevor sighed. "Come on, Di. Love doesn't just disappear overnight. You know me. I'm not even into girls. She was the first. She took my virginity."

Diana looked him dead in the eye. "Did you take hers?"

Trevor hesitated. "No."

"NO?! And she's only 22? Something about her story isn't adding up."

"She said it was too painful to talk about. I believed her."

"Wake up, Trevor!" Diana pinched his cheeks, lightly. "You're a Belmont. Start acting like one. She played you. She doesn't deserve a drop of your tears."

Trevor wiped his eyes. "I see it now. I just didn't expect to be heartbroken like this."

Diana hugged him. "It's okay to feel hurt. It's okay to cry. But what's NOT okay is staying stuck. Own your pain. Then rise above it."

"Thanks, Di. I think I need a moment alone."

He walked out of the room. Diana watched him leave, then picked up her phone and dialed Cardi.

"What's up, Cardi? Come home soon... there are more scores to settle."