Secret Wife to a Disabled Billionaire

Emerald's Point of View

The small wound I got while preparing the basket for my husband was nothing compared to the pain that struck in my heart. I walked towards his hospital room, and as expected, a couple of his men were scattered around and guarding his door.

One of his security personnel looked at me from head to toe. "You're not a nurse or a doctor. Visitors are not allowed."

I bit my lower lip. I am not just a simple visitor but Jude's husband! Those are the lines I wanted to slap on them, but I couldn't. Our marriage is confidential; it should be kept a secret; otherwise, I'll be doomed if someone finds out!

"I am representing Campbell Daily and an employee under Campbells. They asked me to personally deliver this fruit basket for him. How can I not fulfill the task assigned to me by my bosses? Will you cover up for me instead if my boss vents out their anger?" I responded sternly. The guard I was speaking to slowly glanced to his right side.

One of them nodded his head and opened the door for me.

A dead silence crept inside the room. Jude was sitting on the bed, facing the other side of the room, buttoning up his white long sleeves. He picked up the coat that was hanging beside him, spun around, and faced me.

His cold, stoic face narrowed on my location. I nibbled my lower lip as I gripped my coat tightly.

"What are you doing here?" A cold, raspy voice filled the entire hospital room.

Unhurriedly, Jude's eyes fell down on my hand. Jude noticed the freshly cut, bandaged fingers on my hand. Feeling nervous, I hid my hand behind my back.

I directed my gaze toward the cut on his face. It's fresh and red. A day hasn't passed, and yet he's ready to go out. He's not listening to the doctor again!

"The doctor advised you to take at least two weeks off to rest, so-" I wasn't able to continue because he interrupted.

"Leave."

I didn't listen to what Jude was whining about. Instead, I placed the fruit basket on the side table and engaged in conversation.

"How can I just leave you here? I may have ulterior motives for coming here, but I am still your wife, Jude."

Jude stood up, holding on to the hospital bed as soon as he had enough strength to sit on his wheelchair. I held his hand, helping him to settle himself, but he simply brushed off my hands in a harsh manner.

For the second time around, I was hurt. He never accepted any help from me.

He scoffed. "Oh, God. We're only married on paper, Emerald. Quit acting like you're my real wife. For years, you've been trying like one!"

Jude may harbor animosity toward me for up to three years. He doesn't need to say yes to my parents in order to tie the knot and maintain the connection with our family; rather, he said yes.

With a heavy heart, I took out a brown envelope and put it on his side. His eyes lingered on it, and as soon as he saw what was inside, a small, cunning smirk crept onto his lips. The writing on it amused him.

"Let's get this done. I prepared our divorce papers, and all you need to do is sign. Three years in misery is enough!" I spat out with mixed emotions visible in my eyes.

My eyes widened when Jude tore all the papers apart and threw them away. I stumbled upon him, lost for words. All my emotions turn into disgust, anger, and sorrow.

I only want him to release me, give us freedom from this catastrophe that our parents tied us into. I don't want this marriage; neither does he, but he kept resisting!

"Bullshit. That's a sign of stupidity, Emerald. A pure crap." He uttered it in a stoic manner.

"I am tired, Jude! I am sick of this loveless marriage between us! I am tired of being a stand-in, a puppet to everyone, and being your substitute wife!" I burst out my lungs. I didn't mind if someone might hear us outside.

Tears streamed down my face, yet he remained nonchalant and cold. He showed no sign of empathy toward me, but his arrogance was evident.

"Lower your voice, or someone might hear you. Dare to speak again, and I'll make sure to screw your life over this time," he warned.

Jude maneuvered his wheelchair toward me while maintaining a safe distance of several meters.

"Emerald, you bear too much blame to consider your request. Do you think I'll grant you a divorce? No! Not only did you ruin my life, but your negligence and arrogant actions also earned me a lot of criticism!

I took all the blame when my sister ran away. Unforeseen circumstances prevented Phoebe from marrying Jude before the wedding. Many people eagerly anticipate their upcoming wedding, even branding it as the wedding of the year.

A day before the wedding, I decided to escape as well. I don't want to marry Jude in place of Phoebe, who vanished into thin air. However, Jude went after me and subsequently suffered an accident. He woke up bearing the heartbreaking news that he wasn't able to walk and was completely paralyzed.

Jude harbored a deep hatred toward me, and I took full responsibility for the events that transpired. I thought he would call the marriage off but rather proceed on marrying me. My mom wouldn't let me get off the hook easily knowing I am marrying a son of a future president of the country. Her greed for money and power is incomparable. I can't call her a mother, but I also can't hate her.

My mom loves power. It's the most important thing to her. She married Phoebe's father out of her thirst and greed for it. She even supported the idea of throwing me in a tiger's den in order to become the daughter-in-law of the future president of our country. How cruel, isn't she?

"We've been married for three years, and yet you still don't know me. I won't sign the divorce papers, Emerald. I took you as a stand-in and as a hostage. You will live with me for the rest of your life. I want you to experience hell in my hands!"

Indeed, I triggered his anger. The root of his anger kept lingering in his mind. There's no way I can erase it in his memory no matter what I do.

But I am so tired... I'm tired of being around him. I've endured enough hardships, but they pale in comparison to his. Well, maybe my mom was right; life might have been wonderful if I had been the one who died that day and not my brother. My sister might have lived a life she wanted if I had become deaf and not her, and our parents wouldn't have reached for Sanders' help if the accident did not happen.

Everything occurred because of me.

"Jude, I-"

Suddenly, a group of men rushed into his room. They opened the door and pushed me away from Jude, acting as if I were a predator who was trying to harm him.

"Take this woman away!" The head of his security team affirmed.

Several tears streamed down my face as I gazed at him, pleading with my eyes, but he showed no emotion when his men dragged me out of his room.

Unfair... But I think I deserve the hell I live in right now. I will die caged in this loveless marriage my parents put me through. Maybe this is the fate written for me, but I won't just sit back and do nothing.

Emerald's Point of View

I went to a well-known club to indulge in alcohol, regardless of the situation I was in. Jude made me lose my mind, giving me enough pain to endure until the moment I die.

In his eyes, I am merely a hostage to him, serving as a substitute bride to take my sister's place.

Despite my unwavering affection for him since we were young, it won't work anymore, and I still grasp on a man like him. I can no longer sacrifice my happiness for him. If I continue this marriage, then I don't have any respect and dignity left in me.

I was on the verge of finishing the last shot of whiskey in my hand when my friend unexpectedly grabbed it from me. Her eyebrows shot up, sitting beside me in front of the bar counter.

"Look at you, Emerald. You're too messy!" She snapped me back to reality.

Thea is the only friend I have. She's been with me since middle school, and I grew up with her. Thea has always been the person I could rely on in times of need. She's always there for me, and our friendship has been through ups and downs, yet up until now, we've been able to hold onto it.

However, no matter how close we are, there are still some things I can't share with anyone.

I scoffed. "That's how my life has been."

"Was it because of your husband again?"

It felt as though something had become lodged in the back of my throat. I couldn't make a sound, and the burning feeling deep inside my heart intensified when she brought up my husband again.

"What did this good-for-nothing husband of yours do?" She confirmed this, rolling her eyes, before placing an order for a margarita.

I sighed. "He's working and obviously not a good-for-nothing husband."

"Oh, come on! Don't try to defend him!"

Although Thea knew I had a husband, she didn't know who it was. I choose to keep it private from her, adhering to the rules they imposed. All family members should keep the matter confidential, and it should never come out.

"I couldn't stop admiring him despite his harsh words killing me," I affirmed in my low, weak, baritone voice.

Tears almost want to streak down my face. Now I'm crying again just because of him.

"What's the point of staying in a loveless marriage, then? Divorce him, girl!" Thea cheered, as if divorcing Jude was an effortless task.

I took a deep breath and sighed. I calmed myself first before drinking a new shot given to me. I should pay for everything. It's my fault.

Suddenly, Thea's phone rang. She said I should stay put, and she will come back after the call. I listened to her and remained in my seat. Regrettably, the alcohol I consumed started to negatively impact me. My head was spinning around, and I wanted to throw up.

When I look toward the bathroom and see a man standing there, the pain in my heart intensifies. The man's eyes narrowed sharply at my location. I tried to stand up, but I lost my balance. Thankfully, someone was there to catch me.

"Jude..." I murmured to myself. I can't believe Jude came here to see and soothe me. But was it really him?

Everything happened too fast. I was on the verge of tears when I went to the place where I saw him, only to find him no longer there. Why did he suddenly vanish? He moved too quickly!

My eyes wandered around. I looked for his traces, but I didn't find anything.

"Excuse me, have you seen someone standing here for so long?" I asked one of the girls, who was having fun at their table. I approached one of the girls as they were enjoying themselves at their table.

The girl chuckled. "Girl, you're just probably drunk. No one's standing here for a long time unless you're hallucinating."

I nibbled my lower lip. Am I really hallucinating?

Maybe she's right. I'm simply intoxicated, and I urgently need to go home. I know Jude won't come here and take me home; my delusions are fueling my dreams that he cares for me. A bitter smile crept on my lips. Why do I need to get my hopes high? I'm the only one who's hurting myself.

I feel disappointed and hurt. Why did I expect him here anyway? It doesn't even matter to him when the kidnapper kills me earlier.

Beaten by a surge of emotions, I decided to leave the place. I was looking down when I accidentally bumped into someone else. The alcohol I was holding spilled onto his shirt. I was about to burst out with what I felt when he apologized first using his familiar voice. As I raised my face, I was taken aback to see Carlos.

"I knew it was you," Carlos said, showing me a bright smile.

Carlos is my senior. In essence, I have a strong friendship with him back then. People tend to ship us but I respect him a lot and I don't intend to ruin our friendship. Regardless, among our friends, I'm the only girl he has treated right in our circle of friends. I believe he's now a successful medical practitioner. He's 6 feet tall. His broad shoulders caught my attention.

"I'm s-sorry, I didn't see you coming through..." I confirmed this while glancing at the tattered shirt he was wearing.

He chuckled and spoke. "Don't worry about it. It's nothing big."

"A-Ah, I'll just buy you a new one."

"In your case, I don't think you can still buy a new shirt for me. You're too drunk; how about we go out and buy me a coffee?"

I took his offer and came out with him. Carlos went behind me, and he became my shield as we crossed the vast crowd. He's holding my arm, while the other one is shielding my head for possible accidents. Fortunately, we exited the club without facing any injuries.

I can clearly see the mess I made with his shirt, and I feel terrible about it. Knowing that I'm with my high school crush makes me feel awkward.

"Are you sure coffee is enough for-"

He cut me off. "I don't mind."

Carlos was the one who bought it at the shop. He then handed me his jacket, patiently waiting for me outside while I sat on the bench. It's been years since we last saw each other, and I haven't heard from him since then.

Carlos came back with an Americano in his hands. A small smile crept on my lips when I took it from him. I noticed his eyes were twinkling. I smiled because of it. I drifted my eyes away from him and took a deep breath.

"I'm thrilled to see you again, Emerald. We lost contact after college." He affirmed in his normal tone.

"Yeah. I've been busy with life too. What about you? How have you been?"

He bobbed his head a little and spoke. "Well, I'm alright. I just passed the physician licensure exam, and I am now a licensed doctor."

I was amused by all the news I heard from him. He said he often sees me on the news, being the main anchor, but he doesn't have any chance to reach out because he's busy with his patients.

"You didn't change. You remain the same, attractive, and straightforward Emerald."

I chuckled and then sipped on my cup.

"Let's exchange contacts!" I stood up, wearing a bright smile. Fortunately, I got sober after a few sips of my coffee, and I don't feel like my head is spinning anymore.

Carlos took out his wallet. He was about to give me his calling card when my friend, Thea, pulled me away from Carlos.

"I'm sorry for my friend! She's drunk; I hope she didn't bother you enough. It wasn't her intention to spill her drinks on you!" Thea apologized, then grabbed my hand, ready to pull me away.

Oh, right! Thea doesn't know about Carlos' existence and being a close friend. Carlos and his family migrated abroad, studied there in highschool, and college. Later on, they chose to live there.

"Wait-"

Thea looks apologetic and ashamed. Before Carlos could still finish his words, Thea immediately pulled me away, but I was lucky enough to snatch his calling card from him.

Emerald's Point of View

I woke up with a headache, but I had a cup of coffee beside me. From the moment I opened my eyes, I knew I was at Thea's place. I quickly looked for my phone to find out when it had run out of power.

When Thea hopped onto the bed and smiled, I let out a deep sigh and stretched my body.

"Tell me what happened yesterday with that hot guy, Emerald!" Thea was giggling.

I hummed and hugged the pillow. I am currently at a loss for words, yet she is insisting that I wake up now that she has observed me awake.

I had no choice but to sit down on the bed with my eyes still closed.

"C'mon, tell me about him!"

Thea's eyes twinkled. Carlos is basically his type.

"He's a close friend in middle school. I was lucky I saw him at the club, but I ruined his top." I affirmed.

Thea suddenly bumped with my arms. His face was mixed with excitement, and she's clearly teasing me about him.

"He likes you!" She exclaimed. "You two are cute together!" she said. "Date him, girl! I feel like he adores you. Well, you know... girl's instincts? He may be hotter than your husband!" She chuckled.

I don't think so. Despite his cold and harsh treatments, I hold Jude in high regard.

I rolled my eyes and continued speaking. "I have a husband, Thea. Besides, it's already in the past. I simply regard him as a friend. Nothing more."

Thea's eyebrows arched up. "So? What's the point of staying in your loveless and one-sided marriage? Go find someone better, girl! Find someone who is prepared to sacrifice everything for you! She asserted, rolling her eyes at me while her hand was crossed over her chest.

"I hope that's something simple to do, Thea."

Suddenly, my phone made a sound. My phone was charging, and it opened automatically. Jude's name flashed on the screen, and when I scrolled through my notifications, I saw countless messages from him. He's been looking for me since last night, asking my whereabouts.

"Speaking of the devil," I said with a heavy heart, referring to my husband, Jude.

Thea tried to peek at my phone, but I didn't let her see a single piece of information about him. I took a deep breath and responded to his message, even just for once. A couple of seconds later, my phone rang. He's calling me now!

I stood up and went to her balcony. I closed the door, but I could see Thea watching me curiously as I spoke with him.

"You finally picked up your phone after long, unattended calls." He confirmed this coldly, his voice revealing a hint of successfully suppressed anger.

I scoffed. "What do you need?" I coldly affirmed.

"Come to my office. Now."

My jaw dropped when he hung up the phone call. The anger I have for him intensifies. I went back inside with a heavy heart. I informed Thea that I would be heading out to see my husband.

Fortunately, I have some clothes and other belongings in her condo, as I occasionally spend the night there.

I won't come to his office just because he said so; I want to tell him directly that I am not a dog he can order around just because he said so. However, my surprise was evident when I arrived at his doorstep.

I bit my lower lip; I didn't bother knocking. His secretary even attempted to barge into my office to prevent me from entering, but Jude instructed her to leave.

My eyebrows shot up. Before I could speak, Jude did. He threw countless pictures on his table, emphasizing my interaction with Carlos last night. He presented numerous candid shots, one of which featured Carlos shielding me from the crowd.

"Who's this jerk? Your another man?" He affirmed, challenging me for another argument.

My eyebrows shot up. Did he call me solely because of this situation? He had me follow!

"Don't tell me you got pissed when I was with another man rather than getting exasperated because someone threatened me?" I can't believe him.

His jaw moved. He was taken aback but spoke later on. Anger crept onto his face as he engaged in a robust argument with me.

"I can't believe you cheated, Emerald. I was so, so wrong about you."

For the second time around, I got hurt by him. I drank too much alcohol to forget about him, but it didn't work out.

"What do you even know about me, Jude? Nothing!" I defended myself. "Think whatever you want to think. I'll just waste my energy explaining to you. I know you won't listen anyway."

I was ready to leave. I was on the verge of opening the doorknob when I halted because of his words.

"You already have a husband, Emerald. Yet you cling to those men like a leech. Don't flaunt your desire for men in public!" He affirmed with a hint of disgust. "It's such a shame if everyone finds out you're my wife."

He spoke too much about my character without knowing what happened and refused to listen to the truth. He will only believe what he wants to believe.

"Carlos is my friend. Don't call him names when you haven't met him yet." I felt a surge of blood rising in my head. "For your information, I possess a strong sense of self-respect. I am aware of my boundaries, and I don't engage in flirtatious behavior as you have suggested."

He scoffed. "I don't see any reason why you won't flirt with anyone. Carlos is a better candidate. You even proposed a divorce... I don't buy your ridiculous reasoning, Emerald." Jude affirmed, provoking me even more. "Campbell Daily is nothing without the help of my company. Get your shit together, Emerald. Dare to commit mistakes again, and I'll make sure to make you retreat. I have the power to sever all ties with your family, leaving your parents with a lifelong hatred for you."

He can take everything in with just one glance. Not even his father can stop him. Jude totally became a new person ever since he got paralyzed. He doesn't listen to his father anymore, and he has become more ruthless than before.

I gripped my handbag tightly and left his office without a single goodbye. He thinks I was cheating, and Carlos is my other man. If I continue seeing him, then I'm afraid he will do something that will upset my parents!

For the second time around, I got hurt by his words. I went inside my car as tears looming in my eyes respectfully ran down my cheeks.