Secret Baby Of The Ruthless Billionaire

LISA'S POV:

I woke up feeling groggy, my head pounding. The sterile scent of the room filled my nose as I blinked, trying to remember where I was. The wedding room, I reminded myself, but something felt off. My body ached, and I felt weak as though the sickness that had overwhelmed me the day before was still holding me down.

Just as I was about to adjust myself on the bed, I heard something-voices coming from another room. One voice was light, teasing, feminine. Bella? Lisa blinked hard. No, it can't be. Why would my sister be here... in my wedding room? I shook my head, trying to dismiss the fog that clouded my thoughts. But the voices were real, and unmistakably familiar.

"Come on, Nathan, you know what you have to do," Bella's voice floated through the thin walls, light and playful. My heart skipped. Why would Nathan be in there with Bella? My stomach churned with unease.

I struggled to sit up, my hands trembling as I pushed myself off the bed. My limbs felt heavy, my vision blurred. Every step toward the door was a challenge, but I forced myself forward, clutching the bedpost for support. The voices grew clearer, and as I drew closer, the sinking feeling in my stomach grew worse.

"I'm not marrying her, Bella," Nathan's voice was firm, sharp even. "I've already told your dad. I won't go through with it."

I froze. My heart pounded so loudly I thought it might drown out the rest of the conversation, but I forced myself to listen.

"I'm going to humiliate her. She'll be a laughing stock. Everyone will know."

Nathan's cold, final tone cut deep, shattering something inside me. For a moment, I stood there, leaning against the doorframe, the betrayal too heavy to process all at once.

My breath came In shallow gasps, and I pressed my hand against my mouth, willing myself not to scream or cry. I wanted to burst into the room, to confront them both, to demand answers, but I was too weak-physically, emotionally. The betrayal weighed me down like a sickness all over again.

My knees wobbled as I turned away from the door. I had to get out, had to escape the room that now felt like a cage. I dragged myself toward the elevator, my legs barely carrying me forward. The world spun around me, every step felt like walking on glass.

The elevator was just ahead, but my vision was swimming. With each sway of my body, I feared I might collapse before reaching it. No, not here. Not in front of them. The thought of being found at their feet, broken, was unbearable.

As the elevator doors slid open, I stumbled forward, but before I could step inside, my body gave way. My knees buckled, and I reached out desperately, my fingertips brushing the cool metal as the doors closed in front of me. Through blurry eyes, I watched them seal.

I remained sprawled on the marbled floor, the coolness seeping through the thin fabric of my dress. My hair was a disheveled mess, strands sticking to my tear-streaked face. My eyes felt raw and puffy from crying. The only part of her body exposed was my slender, fair legs, perfectly proportioned and beautifully enticing, yet all I could feel was vulnerability.

The soft ding of the elevator snapped me from my spiraling thoughts. I was still sprawled across the cold marble floor, my hair a tangled mess, tears streaking my face. My eyes were swollen, puffy from crying. I felt small, broken. The only part of me that wasn't hidden by my oversized sweater were my legs, stretched out in front of me-slender, pale, and exposed. I knew how they must look, how perfect and enticing they appeared, but I didn't have the energy to care.

The door slid open, and a low, icy voice cut through the silence, sending a shiver down my spine. "Who are you?"

Startled, I scrambled to sit up, my heart racing as I looked up to find a tall, imposing figure stepping out of the elevator. He was wearing nothing but a bathrobe, slightly parted to reveal his broad, muscular chest. His dark, damp hair clung to his forehead, and his eyes... his eyes were cold, indifferent, like I was nothing more than a nuisance.

I froze, trying to gather myself, but his presence was overwhelming, suffocating. There was something about him that radiated power and dominance, and even though he wasn't speaking, I could feel the command in the air.

Before I could even think of a response, he stepped toward me, his movements smooth but deliberate. My breath caught in my throat. In one swift motion, he bent down and scooped me up as if I weighed nothing. Pain shot through me, and I couldn't help the small moan that escaped my lips.

He didn't flinch. His grip was firm but not gentle. His fingers pressed into my skin as he held me tightly against his chest. I tried to twist away, but I was too weak, too drained to resist. My mind was still spinning from the sheer shock of him, of this entire situation.

He tilted my chin up, forcing me to look into his eyes. They were piercing, emotionless, yet there was something lurking beneath the surface that I couldn't quite place. I couldn't breathe under his gaze. He didn't blink, didn't look away, just stared at me with a kind of intensity that made my heart pound in my chest. I sucked in a sharp breath.

Who was he? Why was he here? My mind raced as I realized that this apartment was no ordinary place. It was a top-tier luxury building in the heart of the city. Each floor was reserved for a single unit, an entire space for one resident. I'd heard that the higher you lived, the more prestigious you were. Even Nathan's family, as wealthy as they were, only had a mid-level unit.

So this man... was he from the top floor? The highest of them all?

My thoughts scrambled, but before I could make sense of them, he moved again, pulling me impossibly closer. I could feel the heat radiating from his body, even through the layers of his damp robe and my own thin clothing. My breath hitched as his hand tightened slightly on my waist, holding me against him like he didn't intend to let go.

I opened my mouth to speak, to tell him that I wasn't who he thought I was, that this was all some sort of mistake. But the words stuck in my throat, refusing to come out. His eyes never left mine, daring me to say something, to explain myself. I could feel the weight of his expectation, the pressure building as the silence stretched between us.

I was trembling, partly from fear, partly from something else I didn't want to acknowledge. He leaned in, his face so close now that I could feel his breath on my skin. My pulse quickened, a strange mix of panic and anticipation flooding through me. I needed to speak, to say anything to break whatever was happening between us, but before I could-

His lips crushed against mine.

LISA'S POV:

His lips hovered dangerously close to mine, the tension thick in the air, a strange mix of fear and confusion clouding my senses. My breath came in shallow gasps as I struggled to find words, any words, to stop this, but they wouldn't come. I was trapped, caught in the magnetic pull of his cold, commanding gaze, unable to tear myself away.

Then, as if sensing my hesitation, he pulled back, just enough to give me space to breathe but not enough to let me go. His grip on my waist loosened, and I felt his fingers trail down my side, sending an unwelcome shiver through me. My mind was racing, trying to make sense of what was happening, of who he was and why I was here, in his arms, with his eyes boring into me like I was some puzzle he wanted to solve.

Before I could piece together a single coherent thought, his voice sliced through the air again, that same low, icy tone that made my stomach clench. "You're not the person I was expecting," he said, his voice devoid of warmth, but there was a strange flicker in his eyes now, something almost... curious. "But you're here now."

I swallowed hard, my throat dry, the words stuck like lead in my mouth. I wanted to explain, to tell him this was all some sort of mistake, that I didn't belong here, that I didn't even know how I'd ended up in this building, let alone in his presence. But nothing came out. My mind was still reeling from the shock of it all.

He let out a low, almost imperceptible sigh and then, as if he'd made some decision, his hand left my waist and he took a step back, surveying me with those same cold, calculating eyes. For a second, I thought he was going to leave, that whatever he'd planned was over.

But then, he spoke again. "You look... desperate," he said, his voice softening slightly, though his words carried a weight that made my skin prickle. He took a step closer, not as aggressive this time, but purposeful. "What's your price?"

I blinked, not understanding at first, my brain slow to process what he was asking. "What?" I croaked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He looked me over, his gaze moving slowly from my legs, still exposed from where my oversized sweater had ridden up, to my face. "How much?" he repeated, his tone matter-of-fact, like he was discussing a business deal. "To spend the night with me."

I froze. My mind went blank, completely blank. Did I hear him right? Was he... offering to pay me to sleep with him? The room seemed to tilt for a moment, the walls closing in as the realization sunk in. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might burst out of my chest.

He must have seen the shock on my face because he took another step back, giving me space. "Six thousand dollars," he said, his voice smooth, calm, as if the amount was nothing to him. "For one night."

I stared at him, speechless. Six thousand dollars. The number echoed in my head, bouncing around like a taunt. My mind started to race again, faster this time, a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions crashing into each other. Who was this man? Why was he offering me this? And more importantly... why was I even considering it?

I'd never done anything like this before. Never even thought about it. But then again, everything was different now. My life had spiraled out of control. The heartbreak, the betrayal... Nathan. My chest tightened at the thought of him. We'd been together for over a year, but in all that time, I'd never given him everything. I'd never kissed him, never let it get too far. I always thought it was because I was saving myself for something more, something real. But now? Now it all felt like a cruel joke.

Nathan was gone. He'd left me. I wasn't good enough for him, wasn't what he wanted. He never said it outright, but I knew. I'd always known. That's why he was with her now, why he chose someone else. I was the one who'd been too careful, too cautious. And look where it got me.

I was alone.

I looked back at the man in front of me. His eyes were unreadable, cold, and distant, but he was offering me something. An escape, maybe? A way out of this pit of despair I'd been drowning in for weeks. Six thousand dollars. It wouldn't fix everything, but it would help. Maybe it would help me start over, help me move on from Nathan, from the life I thought I had.

But still... I hesitated. This wasn't me. I wasn't the kind of person who did things like this, who sold themselves for money. But then again, what kind of person was I now? I wasn't even sure anymore. Everything I thought I knew about myself had crumbled the moment Nathan walked out of my life. I was lost, broken, and maybe, just maybe, this was a way to reclaim some control. A way to feel something, anything, other than the crushing emptiness that had consumed me for so long.

My thoughts raced as I weighed the decision. I could walk away right now, leave this strange, intimidating man and his offer behind. Or I could stay. I could take the money, spend the night with him, and maybe for a brief moment, forget about all the pain, all the heartache that had been tearing me apart.

I took a deep breath, my hands trembling. My voice was barely audible when I finally spoke. "Six thousand dollars?" I repeated, still not quite believing what was happening.

He nodded, his expression unchanged. "Six thousand," he confirmed, as if it was no big deal, like he could easily double or triple the offer if he wanted to.

I looked down at my feet, trying to steady myself. I felt numb, detached, like I was floating outside my own body. And then, before I could stop myself, I whispered, "Okay."

It was done.

The room seemed to shift, the air growing heavier around me as the weight of my decision settled in. He didn't react right away. Instead, he took a step closer, closing the gap between us once more. His hand slid to the small of my back, pulling me gently but firmly toward him.

I was trembling, but I didn't resist. I couldn't. Something inside me had snapped, given way to a strange, dangerous sense of surrender. Maybe this was how it was supposed to be, I thought. Maybe this was the only way to let go of everything, to finally feel free.

His lips were close to mine again, closer than before, and this time, I didn't pull away.

LISA'S POV:

I woke up feeling an intense pain coursing through my body, my muscles sore and aching from the night before. The throbbing in my lower body was particularly sharp, and as I shifted under the sheets, the memories of last night began to creep back into my mind, each one sending a wave of nausea through me.

I turned my head slowly and saw him lying next to me, the man from last night. His broad chest rose and fell steadily with each breath, his dark hair still slightly damp from the shower he must've taken before falling asleep. He looked peaceful, almost serene, as if the events of last night hadn't impacted him at all. But for me... everything had changed.

The flashbacks came in fragments at first. His cold, detached offer. My hesitation. The pain of his touch, the pressure of his body against mine. I had been so numb last night, emotionally deadened by everything that had happened with Nathan. But now, in the pale morning light, I felt everything. The shame, the guilt, the disgust. It all hit me at once, and I could feel the tears welling up behind my eyes.

How could I have let this happen? How could I have sunk so low? The thought echoed in my head as I quietly slid out of the bed, trying not to wake him. My legs wobbled beneath me, sore and weak, as I bent down to pick up the gown I had discarded on the floor last night. I pulled it over my body quickly, my hands shaking as I did. I wanted to leave. I needed to get out of here before the reality of what I'd done consumed me whole.

As I moved toward the door, my eyes caught sight of a small envelope on the nightstand. I froze. The payment. I had almost forgotten about the money. For a moment, I stood there, staring at it, my mind racing. Six thousand dollars. It wasn't just a number anymore. It was a symbol of everything I'd given up, everything I'd allowed myself to become in one desperate, heartbroken moment.

I hesitated, my hands trembling as I reached for the envelope. It felt heavier than I expected. Much heavier. My breath hitched as I opened it, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn't want to look inside, didn't want to confirm what I already suspected, but my fingers acted on their own, pulling out the stack of bills. There was more than six thousand in there. Much more.

I stood there for what felt like an eternity, clutching the envelope, my thoughts a jumbled mess. Should I take it? Leave it? Every part of me screamed to throw it on the bed and walk away, but the other part-the part that was broken, the part that wanted to escape everything-was already calculating how this extra money could change things. It could help me get out, help me start over. Maybe it was a price I was willing to pay for a fresh start.

I glanced back at him, still fast asleep, oblivious to the storm raging inside me. It was almost six in the morning, the sky outside just starting to lighten, the day not fully broken yet. I had time. I could sneak out without him noticing, without having to face him again.

With trembling hands, I shoved the envelope into my bag. I hated myself for it, but I knew I was taking it. I had already crossed the line. What was the point in turning back now?

I made my way out of the room quietly, slipping into the hallway and pressing the button for the elevator. Each second felt like an hour as I waited, terrified that he might wake up and come after me. But the elevator doors finally slid open with a soft ding, and I stepped inside, relieved. I leaned back against the cool metal wall and exhaled slowly, my heart still pounding.

When the elevator doors opened again on the ground floor, I walked quickly through the lobby, avoiding eye contact with anyone who might be around. I felt disgusting, like everyone who saw me would know exactly what I'd done. I wanted to disappear, to erase last night from my memory. But no matter how fast I walked, I couldn't outrun the shame.

As I neared the reception desk, the receptionist glanced up at me. I froze, panic gripping me for a moment. She might have seen me coming in last night, or worse, she might know who I was with. I couldn't risk anyone asking questions.

"Excuse me," I said, my voice barely steady, "if anyone asks about me, just tell them I had a meeting, okay? I... I won't be coming back."

The receptionist gave me a curious look but nodded. "Of course, ma'am."

I hurried out of the building, each step quicker than the last as the day began to brighten around me. The air was still cool, the city not fully awake yet, but I didn't stop. I didn't look back. I needed to get out of here, away from everything. I reached Nathan's car, which I had the spare key for, and slipped inside, the leather seat cold against my skin.

Nathan. The thought of him made my chest tighten with a fresh wave of hurt. He was never going to marry me. He didn't love me. And after last night, I didn't even recognize the person I had become. I was no longer the woman who had waited for something real, something meaningful. I had shattered that part of myself.

I pulled out of the parking lot, my hands gripping the steering wheel tightly as I headed for the airport. I needed to leave, to disappear, to go somewhere far away where no one knew me. Somewhere I could start over.

When I arrived at the airport, the sun had fully risen, casting the sky in pale gold and pink hues. I parked the car in the long-term lot and made my way inside, buying a ticket for the first available flight to California. I didn't even care where I ended up; I just needed to be somewhere else.

The line was short, and before I knew it, I was seated on the plane, the hum of the engines lulling me into a strange, detached calm. I stared out the window, lost in my thoughts, until exhaustion finally took over and I drifted off to sleep.

I woke to the sound of the captain's voice announcing our descent into Los Angeles. My heart pounded in my chest again, but this time with a mix of anxiety and relief. I was here. A new city. A new life. I wasn't sure what I was going to do, but anything was better than what I had left behind.

As I stepped off the plane, I felt the warm California air wash over me. It felt different. Lighter, maybe. Like I could breathe again. I made my way through the terminal and out to the taxi stand, flagging down the first cab I saw.

The driver, an older man with kind eyes, looked at me through the rearview mirror as I slid into the back seat. "Where to?"

I hesitated, unsure of where I even wanted to go. "Anywhere but here," I said, my voice soft. "Where's the best place in California?"

He chuckled softly. "Well, you're in LA, so you're already in one of the best places."

I nodded but didn't feel the excitement I thought I would. I didn't want somewhere fun or lively. I wanted somewhere quiet, somewhere I could be alone. "Take me somewhere in California where no one goes for fun."

He raised an eyebrow but didn't ask questions. "Got it," he said, starting the car and pulling away from the curb.

As the city blurred past the windows, I leaned back in the seat, the weight of the envelope still heavy in my bag, and closed my eyes, trying to forget.