The Billionaire Forgot He Hated Me

Claire.

"Victor's in Amsterdam for two whole weeks," Bonnie said with a big grin as we moved through the crowded warehouse party. "No big brother watching us. We're finally free, Claire."

I smiled, but inside, I felt a rush of relief. Victor Cavendish was twenty-nine - ten years older than me and Bonnie, who were both nineteen. I had called him Uncle Victor for years, even though he wasn't related to me. He was much older, cold, and handsome in a way that made my stomach flip. Intense grey eyes, deep voice that makes me quiet whenever he is speaking. He hated me because he thought I was a bad influence on his sister. But no matter how much he glared at me or tried to keep us apart, I couldn't stop liking him. I've been crushing on Victor for years, but he saw me as trash.

Bonnie danced in front of me, laughing, her curls bouncing under the flashing lights. She looked so alive. She came from a wealthy family and a big house. I came from a small apartment with my dad, who worked tirelessly just to pay the bills and his medical stuff. But we had been best friends forever. She was like my sister.

She suddenly noticed something behind me and grinned. "Don't look back, but that guy by the speakers keeps staring at you. Mostly at your boobs." Before I could react, she cupped my breasts with both hands and gave them a little lift. "They look perfect in that dress. You should show them off more often. They're gorgeous."

"Bonnie!" I squealed, pushing her hands away fast. My face burned. The dress she had given me was too tight and revealing, and I felt uncomfortable, but she just laughed that bright, sassy laugh I loved.

We kept dancing until she spotted her boyfriend Sly at the DJ booth. Her eyes lit up. "There he is. My man. God, I'm so into him, Claire."

Later, we slipped into the quieter hallway near the restrooms. That's when we heard Sly's voice from a side room.

"...Bonnie's my golden ticket, man. I've been convincing her to go raw, and she finally agreed. We've been hooking up without condoms for a couple of weeks now. Victor Cavendish is loaded. If Bonnie gets pregnant, I'm set for life."

His friend laughed. "You really think she'll keep the baby?"

Sly sounded sure. "Yeah, I'm certain. She's crazy about me."

Bonnie's hand tightened hard on my arm. We stood there frozen. When the voices stopped, Bonnie pulled me away without a word. Her usual energy was gone.

We didn't sleep much that night. The next morning, we bought a pregnancy test. Bonnie did it in my bathroom. When she came out, her face was pale. She was really pregnant.

She sat on my bed and started crying quietly. "He planned this. Victor's going to be so disappointed. He still thinks I'm his innocent baby sister. He buys me everything I want so I won't need boys. He thinks I'm still a virgin, Claire. He has no idea who I really am."

It was true. Uncle Victor had no idea who his baby sister was and the kind of life she led. I had covered for her more times than I could count over the years. Small things, mostly. A missed curfew. A boy she wasn't supposed to be seeing. I told myself it was what best friends did.

I hugged her tight, my own heart breaking. "Why didn't you confront Sly last night? We just walked away."

Bonnie wiped her eyes. "There's no need. It's better he doesn't know that I'm pregnant. Especially since he's targeting my big brother for money. I don't want Victor mixed up in this mess."

We spent the rest of the day talking. The next morning, we went to a women's health clinic to know what her options were. I put my name on the paperwork like she asked. I sat with her while she cried and thought. In the end, she decided to keep the baby.

"I can't do it," she said softly as we left. "I'm keeping it."

I felt relieved. We got back in the car. Bonnie was driving, still emotional. Her phone rang. It was Victor. He had come back from Amsterdam early.

She put it on speaker. "Hey, big brother."

Victor's voice was sharp. "Bonnie, where are you? I'm home and you're not here?"

Bonnie's voice shook. "I'm... shopping with a friend."

"Don't lie to me." He snapped. "I checked your location, Bonnie. What the hell are you doing in that sketchy area? Are you with that slut Claire again?"

Those words hurt. I was still a virgin. I was a good girl. But Victor had always seen me as the bad influence.

Bonnie looked at me. I shook my head, but it was already too late.

She didn't hesitate. "I'm sorry for lying. It's Claire. She had to get an abortion. I'm just helping her as her friend."

Victor's voice got louder, and disappointed. "Abortion? Are you serious right now? I warned you so many times to stay away from Claire! That girl is going to ruin your life one day, Bonnie. I told you she's a bad influence. Get over here right now."

The call ended.

I stared at her, shocked. "Abortion?" I couldn't believe she would pin that on me too. "Victor already hates me. Why would you lie on me like that?"

Bonnie looked confused for a second, then her face fell. "Claire... I'm sorry. I panicked. I didn't mean to-"

I looked away, hurt beyond words. I had let Bonnie use my name as a cover so many times. I never complained. But this felt too far. It was worse because I have feelings for Victor and now he would think I had gotten an abortion? This isn't fair.

But then I looked at Bonnie. Her hands were shaking on the wheel. Her eyes were red from crying. She was already scared and going through so much. I swallowed my anger.

"It's fine," I said quietly. "Just... drive carefully, okay?"

Bonnie screamed, "Fuck!" Her hands shook harder on the wheel. "He's going to find out. He's going to be so disappointed!"

She hit the pedal, driving way too fast. I grabbed the seat. "Bonnie, slow down! Please!"

The tires squealed on the road. Headlights rushed toward us on the sharp turn.

Claire.

There was a collision. I heard glasses shattering. Then everything went black for a second.

When I opened my eyes, my head was pounding. I called 911 immediately. Then, I stumbled out of the wrecked car and ran to the driver's side.

"Bonnie!" I screamed, pulling her out as gently as I could. I dropped to the ground with her in my arms. There was blood everywhere on her dress and my hands. "Bonnie, wake up! Please!"

Her eyes fluttered open. She was breathing so shallowly. Her hand weakly grabbed mine.

"Claire..." she whispered. "Promise me. Victor can never know about the type of girl I was behind his back. Don't tell him about the pregnancy... or about Sly. No matter what happens. Please..."

Tears poured down my face. "You're going to be okay. The ambulance is coming. Just hold on. I love you, Bonnie. Stay with me-"

Her hand went limp. The sirens were getting closer, but they felt so far away.

...

At the hospital, everything moved too fast. Paramedics rushed Bonnie through the doors on a stretcher. I ran after them, crying and begging anyone who would listen.

"Please save her! She's my best friend. Please! She can't die!"

Doctors and nurses swarmed around her in the emergency room. I stood outside the glass, praying harder than I ever had. God, don't take her. Not Bonnie. I thought about Victor too - how destroyed he would be. He doted on her so much. He loved her more than anything. I had already called my dad and Victor.

Then, a doctor stepped out. His face was serious.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "We did everything we could. We lost her."

"No," I whispered. My legs felt weak. "That's not true. Bonnie can't be dead. She can't-"

Behind me, I heard heavy footsteps. A deep, broken voice.

"Where is she? Where's my sister?"

I turned. Victor stood there, eyes wild with fear. A nurse tried to stop him.

"Sir, you can't go in there-"

"That's my baby sister!" he roared, his voice cracking. "Get out of my way!"

The nurse stepped aside. Victor pushed past me and walked straight to the bed where Bonnie lay. He stopped suddenly. His face crumpled. For a long moment, he just stared at her still face, his hand hovering slowly over her cheek.

"Bonnie," he whispered. His voice was so low. "Bonnie, wake up."

She didn't move.

"Bonnie, this isn't funny. You know I hate when you play pranks like this."

My heart was breaking seeing Victor like this.

"Bonnie." His voice cracked. "Get up. right now. You can't be lying there like that. You can't be dead. Do you hear me?"

Tears were streaming down his face. I had never seen Victor cry. Not once in all the years I had known him. He was always so put together and mostly cold.

Now he was breaking in front of me.

He touched her hand, but then he jerked back.

"Why is she cold?" he asked, looking around the room like someone would have an answer. "Why is my sister so cold? She-

He stopped.

"Get up!" he screamed. "You can't leave me! You're all I have! You're all I have left! Get up, Bonnie! Get up and act like the stubborn brat you've always been! Tell me I'm being overprotective! Tell me something! Just-please-"

Victor stared at Bonnie's face. He touched her cheek.

Then he whispered something so soft I barely caught it. "I'm sorry, Bon. I should have been there. I should have protected you."

Then he stood up slowly. His legs almost gave out, but he caught himself.

He clawed at the collar of his shirt like he couldn't get enough air. I had never seen a man break like that. It was like watching someone's soul shatter in slow motion.

I was scared to go close to him, but my legs moved, and my voice was trembling. "Uncle Victor... I'm so sorry."

He spun around. His eyes - those intense grey eyes I had secretly loved for years - pierced straight into me. They were full of rage and pain.

"Why aren't you the one lying there dead?" he growled. "I told you to stay away from Bonnie. You killed her. You did this. I'm going to make you pay."

His voice rose, shaking with anger. "You dragged my sister to get an abortion and this happened!"

The words cut deep. I wanted to scream. I didn't get an abortion! It wasn't me! But I remembered Bonnie's last words. Her promise. Victor can't know.

All I could manage was, "Uncle Victor... It was an accident."

"I'm not your uncle!" he screamed, tears streaming down his face. He looked me up and down, his lip curling with disgust. "It should have been you. Not my baby sister."

There was a tightness in my heart like my heart was about to explode. My knees buckled, and I fell to the floor, sobbing. "Please forgive me..."

My dad rushed in then. He saw Bonnie's body, and his face went pale, but when he saw me alive, relief flooded his eyes. He was a quiet, peaceful man. He didn't say much. He just helped me up and put his arm around me.

"I'm truly sorry for your loss," Dad said softly to Victor.

Victor's voice was ice. "Take that worthless girl and get out."

...

A week later, I still couldn't eat properly. I just picked at my food. Dad kept encouraging me, telling me to take it one day at a time. I had told him the whole truth - everything about the pregnancy, the clinic, and Bonnie's last wish. He knew me better than anyone. He always reminded me I was a good girl.

Today was the funeral.

I dressed in black and went to church. There were only a few people there. Victor stood at the front in a black suit and dark shades. He looked completely broken.

The moment I tried to step inside, Victor turned. His voice was ice.

"Security. Throw her out."

Two men grabbed my arms and dragged me back. I stumbled on the steps, tears already falling. Dad caught me before I hit the ground.

The church doors closed. I could hear the priest beginning the service inside, his voice muffled and distant.

I stood on the church steps, staring at the closed door. The rain started to fall, cold and sharp against my skin. Dad put his arm around me and held an umbrella over my head. The small umbrella barely covered both of us. I was shivering, but I didn't move.

All I could hear was Victor's voice. Throw her out.

"He'll never forgive me," I whispered.

Claire.

"Claire, let's go home," Dad said softly.

I shook my head. "I won't go. It's Bonnie's funeral. How could I just leave?"

The rain soaked my black dress and ran down my face. Dad looked tired and sick, but he stayed right next to me.

"Even if it's outside in the rain, I'll wait. I have to be here for her."

Dad didn't argue. He just put his arm around me. "If you're staying, then I'm staying."

I smiled a little through the tears. He was always like that. We stood there shivering together.

When it was over, people started coming out. I saw Victor first. He looked broken in his black suit. Tyler walked next to him, holding an umbrella over his head. Victor took off his dark shades, and his eyes met mine. They were so cold it felt like they could shoot right through me. I stepped back.

Victor stopped. "What are you still doing here?"

Tyler put a hand on his arm. "Victor, calm down. Claire is grieving too. She lost her best friend."

Victor's voice was hard. "More like she killed her best friend."

I felt the ground opening up and dragging me under.

Tyler sighed. "Let's go."

They got into the car and drove off toward the cemetery. Dad looked at me. "Let's go home, sweetheart."

I shook my head. "No. I'm going to see my best friend go in the ground."

Dad nodded. We got into our old car and followed behind. We stood in a corner and watched as they lowered Bonnie into the earth. I cried when I watched them cover her with dirt. Victor stood there. He didn't move or cry. He just stood like he was numb. I watched until it was over.

...

Three months passed.

I still went to put flowers on Bonnie's grave every week. I would sit there for a while and talk to her. Tell her how much I missed her.

I couldn't stay away from Victor either. I knew the code to the front door because Bonnie had given it to me years ago. I had been sneaking in to check on him. I just couldn't stop. Because of my love and the guilt. I wondered why he never changed the code. He knew I had it.

I wanted to care for him, even if it was in secret. He had a housekeeper, Mrs. Smith, but I always did most of the things around the house and let her take credit for it.

One day I was in his bedroom, organizing his drawer. The room smelled like him. Clean and strong. I found a hospital report from Doctor Richard. I read it.

My hands started shaking.

Post-traumatic headaches. Severe anxiety. Insomnia. Stress-related hypertension. He was on medication for all of them.

When I looked in the drawer, there were pill bottles. Lots of them. Anxiety relief. Sleep aids. Painkillers.

I stared at them, and it dawned on me that Victor was suffering. He was suffering so much.

Tears fell down my face. "Victor will be okay," I whispered to myself. "He'll get through this."

I closed the drawer and went downstairs to the kitchen. Mrs. Smith was already there. She smiled when she saw me.

"Every evening," she said. "You come here and cook his dinner, and you don't even let him know."

I smiled. "It's the least I can do for him."

She shook her head. "If only Mr. Cavendish could see past his grief. He would see what a sweetheart you are. A woman who just wants to take care of him."

I looked down. "He hates me."

"He doesn't hate you. He's just lost. Grief can make people blind."

I didn't say more. I started making his favorite meal for dinner. I learned it from Bonnie. She told me all about his favorite foods. What he liked and what he didn't.

Mrs. Smith watched me. "He's noticed a difference, you know."

I stopped stirring. "What?"

"He's suspected that something is different with his dinner because it tastes better than his breakfast and lunch. He asked me about it."

"He said that?"

Mrs. Smith nodded. "He increased my salary and he compliments the meals a lot. He hardly compliments anything."

I felt something flutter in my chest. He liked my cooking. He doesn't know I made his dinner, but he actually liked it.

"That's why we need to be careful," Mrs. Smith said. "He's suspicious. If he catches you-"

"He won't catch me. I know his schedule. He comes home every evening at six. I'll be gone before then."

I finished the meal quickly and set the table. "I have to hurry. He'll be here in thirty minutes."

I grabbed my bag. I was almost at the door. "I hope the food stays hot," I said. "I want him to-"

Mrs. Smith's face went pale. She was looking behind me.

I turned.

Victor stood there. His face was so mean.

"So it's been you," he said.

He turned to Mrs. Smith. "How could you let her in my house? Cook my food? Touch my things? After everything I pay you?"

Mrs. Smith started apologizing. "Mr. Cavendish, I'm so sorry. She just wanted to help-"

Victor said, "You're fired. Get your things and leave."

"Please don't fire her. It was my idea. She didn't want to-"

Victor ignored me. He picked up the dishes on the table and dumped them in the bin. One by one. The food I had made with so much love and care. He threw it all away.

My heart broke into a million pieces.

He walked closer to me, and I could see the anger in his eyes. "I don't want to see you in my house again, do you understand?"

"I was just trying to make sure you were okay," I said.

"As what?" he asked. "My wife? My mother? If you need a man to latch on to so desperately, go marry one of your numerous boyfriends. I bet none of those men you flirt around with wants a trash like you."

The words stabbed my heart. I had no boyfriend. I never did. I only ever wanted him.

"I feel pity for the unlucky man that will eventually marry you. Your father did a terrible job raising you."

I slapped him. I didn't mean to, but I did. He had mentioned my father.

Victor's head turned. He touched his cheek, surprised. His hand clenched. He held himself back.

"You crossed a line," I said.

His face hardened. "Never do that again. Or else."

"Or else what will happen?" I was scared. But I was angry too. So angry. For the first time, I talked back at him. It took all the courage in the world. "You arrogant, pompous, and ungrateful jerk."