Ruined By The Billionaire's Love

Arabella POV

The clock on the bathroom wall ticks away like the seconds are trying to choke me. I can feel the weight of my pulse in my throat, every beat a reminder of what I'm about to face.

I hold my breath as the test sits there in front of me, the pale pink lines mocking me. The words on the box, pregnancy test seem foreign. Not real. As though they don't apply to me, like they belong to some other woman. Some woman who isn't standing here, shaking, watching her world about to split in two.

I glance down at the test, then at the floor. I don't want to see it. I don't want to know. I don't want to be here, doing this, feeling this. But I can't stop myself.

Why did I even get this test?

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Should I even go through with it? What if I'm not ready? What if he's not ready?

Everything about this moment feels wrong. The weight of it feels like it's closing in on me, suffocating me in a way I can't explain.

I force myself to focus. I stare at the tip of the test, watch the liquid soak into the lines. One... two... three... four... five... six... I count in my head, as if making it go slower could change the outcome.

But it won't.

My hands tremble, and I force myself to snap the cap back onto the test. I place it on the counter. My phone timer starts. Five minutes. That's all. Five minutes, and I'll know.

Five minutes and everything could change.

Five minutes and everything could stay the same.

My fingers itch to check it, but I can't. If I look, it'll be real. If I look, I'll know.

I stare at the clock instead, willing the seconds to slow down, to give me a little more time to breathe. But the universe doesn't care about what I want. It doesn't care about my fear or my uncertainty. It's just ticking away, taking me closer to the truth.

I close my eyes again. Squeeze them shut tight. Maybe if I pretend I don't care, it won't matter. Maybe it won't change anything. But deep down, I know that's a lie.

Five minutes.

I can feel it. The weight in my chest, like everything is too heavy. I finally open my eyes, not daring to look at the test. I glance at myself in the mirror instead.

The woman staring back at me looks... lost. I barely recognize her. There's fear, hope, doubt. So much doubt. She's hanging on by a thread, and that thread is unraveling with every second that passes.

What will happen if I'm pregnant? What if he doesn't want it? What if this was never meant to be?

I close my eyes again, squeezing the tears that are threatening to fall. But they're right there, at the edge, waiting. A lump rises in my throat, and I force myself to breathe through it.

The timer dings.

Five minutes.

I can't do this. I can't.

But I have to.

I look at the test, the pink lines.

There it is. Two lines. One solid. One faint.

My heart stops.

I'm pregnant.

I blink, my breath hitching. The reality of it is like a slap across the face. I stand there, frozen, staring at the test. I feel the flood of emotions rush in-elation, fear, joy, dread. It's all tangled up, and I can't separate one from the other.

I can't breathe.

But then it hits me. A laugh. A breathless, shaky laugh escapes me. I'm pregnant.

I should be jumping for joy, but instead, my chest tightens, and my smile fades.

What about him?

What about Richard?

This isn't just about me anymore. This is about us.

I grab the test, throw it into the trash, and rush out of the bathroom. My heart is hammering, and my hands are shaking. I can't wait to see him. I can't wait to tell him.

But there's a nagging voice in the back of my head, whispering that I should be afraid.

I hurry up the stairs, my feet pounding with each step, my breath coming faster. The house is quiet, too quiet. When I reach the door to his office, I stop, my hand on the doorknob. I'm almost there, almost ready to face whatever comes next.

But then I hear it.

"I love you, Eve."

It's Richard voice. Loud, clear.

Eve?

Who is Eve?

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My hand freezes, and my heart drops into my stomach. I can't move. I can't think. I stand there, paralyzed, as his voice continues. The laughter that follows sends a chill down my spine.

That laugh.

It's not for me.

I push open the door, and there he is. Richard, standing behind his desk, looking so... normal. So calm. As if the world hasn't just come crashing down around me.

Our eyes meet for a second. A brief flash of recognition. But he quickly looks away. Like nothing's wrong. Like nothing happened.

I want to scream. I want to shout. I want to demand answers. But instead, he beats me to it.

"I was just about to come find you," he says, like nothing is wrong. Like my world isn't about to come crashing down.

I don't know what to say. The words are stuck in my throat.

"Did you bring the papers?" he asks, not even glancing at me.

Papers? What papers?

"The divorce papers," he says, as if it's nothing. Like it's just a simple request, a casual question.

Divorce.

I freeze. The word hangs in the air like a death sentence. Divorce? What the hell is happening?

My heart races as I step back. "What?" I whisper, barely able to breathe. "Divorce? Why? What are you talking about?"

He doesn't flinch. He doesn't even seem surprised by my shock.

"My girlfriend, Eve," he says flatly, "she's back. Remember the agreement we made? Now that she's here, it's time for us to get a divorce. So I can marry her."

Eve.

The name crashes into me, a tidal wave of hurt and disbelief.

I take a step back, tears welling up in my eyes. My chest feels like it's caving in.

I want to say something. Anything. But the words won't come. I want to fight for us, for our marriage. For what I thought we had.

But I know it's no use.

I see it in his eyes. His mind is made up. There's no room for me here anymore.

Eve. She's the one. Not me.

I turn, not even bothering to say another word. I can't. I won't.

I leave the room, the weight of everything pressing down on me.

The tears come, hot and fast, and I don't try to stop them.

I thought I had a future with Richard. I thought we were building something.

But I was wrong.

And now, I have nothing

Richard's POV

The slap stings my cheeks, sending a wave of adrenaline down my spine.

Her eyes are bright with unshed tears. Tears that she is struggling to keep away which makes me wonder what she stands to gain from this.

"You...", she grits her teeth, struggling to let it all out. "You have no idea what you are doing, Richard. Go beg her!"

She turns back to move out but my voice stops her.

"No, mother. I won't."

The determination in my voice is strong. I am done doing what pleases her. It's time I do what pleases me.

Eve is the woman I love, not Arabel. I married Arabel because my mother insisted that I marry her. Arabel is a lovely woman, quiet and submissive. For three years since we got married, I have tried to love her.

But Eve occupies the larger part of my life. I don't want to be tagged an unfaithful husband just like how my father has been tagged. This is why I am letting her go.

Divorce is the best solution.

"You won't?" Her scream booms into my ears, jerking back to reality. A snort follows before she points a warning finger at me. "Richard, go beg that girl or you will have yourself to blame!"

"Why?!" My frustration bubbles over. "Why?"

I would say my curiosity is at its peak. I want to know why. Why does it have to be Arabel? Why do I have to do something against my wish? Why can't it be someone else?

A tear slips down her eyes, making something stir in me despite my determination not to be moved anymore by whatever she says or does.

The silence that falls between us is heavy with tension.

Finally, she looks up, the tears gone. Pointing towards the exit, she states firmly. "You can't divorce her. That girl is the reason for your existence. Your survival. She is the reason why you are still here, hale and hearty. So if you know what is good for you, find her!"

Despite the desire to say another loud NO, her words get to me, increasing my curiosity tenfold.

Without another word, she moves out leaving me standing in confusion.

I love Eve.

Arabel and I had an agreement. We would be married till Eve was back. Eve left because I got married to Arabel instead of her. I tried to explain the real reason for my actions but she didn't listen.

A year after we got married, she finally gave me the chance to explain myself. Out of anger, she applied for her doctorate degree in the UK and was gone for three years.

Now she is back and I won't lose her for the second time.

Suddenly, the memory of how she descends her mouth on mine comes rushing. That single kiss made me realize just how much I still loved her after all these years.

It made me realize she is the one I want to be with and not the woman I think I am gradually falling in love with.

It made me realize what I feel for Arabel isn't love. It's devotion. Lust. Pity.

And I reached a decision.

A divorce was the way out. The way to a new life. That was the only way I wouldn't hurt Arabel. Being with Eve while still married to Arabel would hurt her and my mother.

I love Eve and that is final.

Excitement rushes down my spine.

The deed is done. Arabel already has the divorce papers and I am sure she would have signed them already.

Without hesitation, I move out. Mother is gone already. I rush towards the garage ignoring my secretary's greeting.

Eve's place is just five minutes away from here. I got her that apartment five years ago just because I wanted her close to my office.

Now that she is back, I insist on having her close by too. Once we are married, she can sell it off.

As soon as I get to the garage, I signal to the driver not to get in. I open the car door myself and get in.

I won't let anything stop me now. Not my mother. Not some feeling of undeserved pity for Arabel. I can't break my promise to Eve for the second time.

I should tell her the good news. The good news about my divorce. That way, we can begin plans for our wedding.

If Mother doesn't support me now, Eve and I will get married in secret till she is over it.

Taking note of the time, I decide to spend just 30 minutes with Eve before coming back to the office. I have an appointment by 3 pm today and it's already 2 pm. I also need to visit my Hotel division before my next appointment.

When the car comes to a halt, I step down quickly and with hastened steps, I stride to the door and knock.

I wait for five seconds but there is no response. There is no sign of someone coming towards the door to answer it too.

I knock again, wishing I had come with my keys.

Still, there is no response.

Isn't she home? I ask inwardly as I fish my phone out to give her a call.

It rings loudly and I realize the phone is ringing from inside. Instinctively, I touch the doorknob to confirm if it's locked or not when it turns open and I smile.

I open the door to enter. The living room is empty but her phone is on the center table in the living room.

My eyes roam the entire place but no one is in sight. Thinking she must be in the bedroom having a nap, I find myself walking towards her bedroom.

Just before I can get close to the door, a sound stops me.

Not sound. This is definitely a moan.

Is she watching a porn movie? Where is that sound coming from?

I want to knock so she can stop the movie before I enter but something stops me again.

The moan is louder. And the voice is familiar.

The sound is coming from her.

Fear consumes me and a knot forms in my throat.

"Yes, Jake!" She moans out again and my confusion melts slowly into realization. Blood roars in my ears and my pulse pounds.

"Jake!" She screams out again, jerking me away from the reverie as I step forward with rage bubbling inside of me, pull the door open and enter to see a naked Eve in the arms of another man.

The sound of the door startles them both and she sees me. The man's back is to me but I am not curious to see his face.

The look on Eve's face isn't that of guilt but she steps away from him quickly, grabbing a shirt to cover herself.

I am about to turn away in disappointment when the man moves back and I see his face.

Jake Davenport.

My friend. so hard to ignore.

Richard's POV

My arms are trembling, shaking with the effort to keep myself from breaking down completely. I sniffle, hoping it will at least give me enough strength to get the hell out of here.

Lifting my head forcefully, I reach for the seatbelt, fasten it, and ignite the car engine. My hands are trembling so badly that I momentarily think of calling a cab to pick me up instead of driving myself. I fear I might end up driving into a pole due to this overwhelming shock. But I can't just stay here.

I pull out and drive off immediately. The longer I linger, the greater the risk of losing control. I might end up doing something reckless, like storming back into that apartment to punch Jake square in the face.

And not just that.

The thoughts of what I want to do to Eve are consuming me. I want to slap her across the face repeatedly until she begs me for forgiveness.

The thought of her betrayal brings me nothing but pain. To think I believed she was worth everything-she wasn't. She isn't.

This only proves that she was sleeping with Jake all along. His sudden reappearance a few days ago now makes sense. He probably returned because of her. Who knows if they've been together in London this entire time while I was here mistreating Arabel, even asking her for a divorce-all for someone who didn't deserve it?

I'm not even sure what hurts more-what I just saw or the cruel things I said to Arabel an hour ago about wanting a divorce.

I remember the hurt on her face. It was unmistakable. But I ignored it because, for once, I wanted to be selfish.

For my entire life, I've lived to make others happy. I studied business because my father wanted me to take over the family business.

I went to England to study because it was my mother's wish.

After graduating, I was forced to pursue my master's degree because I wasn't allowed to take over with just a BA degree.

When my father died, my mother became the sole decision-maker in my life. She was the one who introduced Arabella, saying she would be perfect as my wife.

At first, I resisted. I was already in a relationship with Eve and wanted no part of this arrangement. But when my mother cried and insisted on how sweet and perfect Arabel was, guilt consumed me.

It felt like she wasn't just choosing Arabel for me but also for herself, as a companion in her loneliness. I had seen Arabel a few times at our family home in Boston, and somehow, I gave in to my mother's demands.

I regretted that decision for a long time-all because of Eve.

I didn't know how to explain the situation to her. I didn't want to hurt her or tell her we were over. So, I told her everything. I explained that it was temporary-that Arabel would be gone in a year. But Eve chose to leave. She left for London to further her studies.

One year turned into two, then three. Now, Eve was back.

I thought it was finally time to let Arabel go.

The car suddenly jerks forward, snapping me out of my thoughts. I quickly pull over, resting my head on the steering wheel.

What am I supposed to do now? What do I say to my mother? To Arabel?

Tears threaten to spill, but I fight them back. I won't let Eve have that power over me. She isn't worth it. She's nothing but a cheat.

My heart is in turmoil, yet I manage to sit upright and restart the car. This time, I drive slowly toward home, my mind racing with thoughts of their betrayal and the excuses they might give.

Jake will likely pretend he didn't know about my relationship with Eve during my marriage, even though he was one of those who advised me to go through with the marriage in the first place.

He was the one who suggested I get a divorce after a year, and at the time, it sounded reasonable. But living through it was entirely different.

After I got married, I realized I was technically cheating on Arabel by still dating Eve. But I convinced myself it was okay because it was Eve I loved, not Arabel, and I was only in the marriage to please my mother.

Yesterday, Eve and I almost crossed a line. We came dangerously close to having sex, which was why I decided to speed up the divorce process.

Asking Arabel for a divorce was painful enough; I didn't want to add infidelity to my list of sins.

But now I can't stop wondering: How long has this been going on between them?

I try to push thoughts of Eve and Jake aside, focusing instead on Arabel. What will I say to her when I get home? I know I need to apologize, but what comes after that?

I don't want a divorce anymore, but how do I explain why?

I know how much Arabel adores me. She's sweet, kind, and understanding. I'm confident she won't hold a grudge. All I need to do is hug her and tell her I didn't mean what I said.

Maybe I'll tell her it was all a misunderstanding-a trick.

But guilt churns in my stomach. I'm selfish. I wanted to leave her for Eve, and now, after Eve's betrayal, I want to stay with Arabel.

As I approach home, I take deep breaths, clenching my fists to stop myself from venting my frustration on the steering wheel.

Once I park the car in the garage, I step out, feeling utterly drained. No matter how hard I try to push the image of Eve and Jake out of my mind, it keeps resurfacing, tormenting me.

I head to the door, my steps heavy with anger and regret. The butler opens the door, but I don't acknowledge him as I usually do.

Instead of going to my room, I head straight to Arabel's. I hesitate for a moment outside her door, guilt washing over me again.

I knock softly, expecting her to open immediately.

Nothing.

Is she crying?

I press my ear to the door, straining to hear, but there's only silence.

I knock again, louder this time. Still no response.

My panic grows as I push the door open and step inside.

Her room is eerily quiet, her closet wide open and completely empty.

My heart pounds as I rush to confirm what I'm seeing.

It's true-her things are gone.

My eyes fall on a document sitting on the bed-the divorce papers.

I grab it, flipping through until I see her signature.

As shock washes over me, a sheet of paper slips from the stack and lands on the floor.

I bend down to pick it up, and my breath catches as I read the two words scrawled across it:

"Thank you. Goodbye."