The Billionaire Heiress Game

*Michelle's POV

"Jared, where are you?" I asked getting out of bed.

Running into something in front of me, I groaned in pain as I bent down massaging my foot. Since I was blind, I couldn't master the layout of our bedroom no matter how hard I tried. My husband, Jared advised me to take it easy but I was beyond frustrated because I always had to ask for help for everything. I know my husband loved me however, I didn't like being a liability.

" Sarah," I said calling for my caretaker.

Hearing the sound of her running into the room, I took a deep breath trying to calm myself so I wouldn't get angry at her.

" Is there something you need, ma'am?" Sarah asked making me nod my head.

Stretching my hand out, I remained silent hoping that she would understand what I wanted. Sarah was a very good caretaker and she was one of the best in her field. She was one of the few people who understood my needs even without me saying a word.

" Do you want your cane? Here it is." Sarah said placing the stick in my hand immediately.

Heading to shower, I was happy because the bathroom was the one place that I was so sure I had mastered. I could easily reach for anything I wanted and I knew I had to be careful or I'd slip. Once I was done, I came out using my stick to get to the bed where I knew my clothes were going to be.

" Jared. Jared, is that you?" I asked happily after hearing the door open.

Walking out of the room quickly, I headed down the stairs holding onto the rails so I wouldn't fall. The moment I came down, I gasped as I suddenly bumped into my husband.

" Michelle, why are you rushing down the stairs? What if you fall?" Jared asked concerned making me smile.

" Why are you back home so soon? Is something wrong? Did anyone give you a hard time at work?" I asked knowing something was wrong the moment Jared didn't say anything.

Instead, he guided me over to the chair and helped me settle down after taking my cane. I began to feel anxious because I could sense that something was off with Jared. He was unusually quiet and the atmosphere just didn't feel right.

" Jared, I asked you a question. Did someone bully you at the company?" I asked once more.

" What will you do? You and I both come from a poor family, Michelle. Let's get divorced." Jared said making me stunned.

Hearing him stand up, I reached for his hand trying to stop him before I could leave. I really wanted to tell him the truth. That I was not as poor as he imagined me to be. Jared had done his best to take care of me and love me. That was why I had persuaded him to get a job at my company without letting him know it belonged to my family. It was all because of my grandfather's wish for me to find a husband without telling him of my background.

" We can make things work, Jared. I will find a way. Things are going to be alright." I said trying to stop him.

" How? You are blind and I no longer have a job. I won't be able to continue taking care of you. It's time that we go our separate ways. Here are the divorce papers. Sign it." Jared said dropping something on the table.

Although I couldn't see the papers in front of me, tears fell from my eyes as I realized that I was about to leave the man I loved so much. To me, nothing was more important than him. I had to tell him the truth.

" Jared, wait. I have something to tell you. Actually, I am a..." I paused stopping the moment I heard the doorbell ring.

Hearing Jared walk to the door, I sat down for minutes hoping that he would come back. The house was extremely silent but the only thing I could hear was the sound of rain droplets falling outside. A few minutes ticked by and Jared was still not yet back. Getting up from my seat, I stood up trying to go and look for him. I knew it was risky since I didn't have my walking stick but I was so worried that I didn't care at all.

" Jared," I called out as I made my first few steps walking even though I didn't know where I was heading.

Suddenly, I tripped over something falling hard against something. My head started spinning immediately making me close my eyes tightly as I groaned in pain. By the time I opened my eyes again, I gasped in shock as I saw a small light coming into view. Closing my eyes once again, I opened them shocked as I saw the view of my living room. I was super happy and stunned by the realization that I could see. All my life, I had been blind. My grandfather said my mother had given birth to me that way so the doctors said there was no way to fix my eyes.

" Oh my god. Oh my god, Jared." I said standing up happily as I went in search of Jared.

Walking towards the door, I looked around stunned that he wasn't there. I was sure I had heard him go to the door. Feeling anxious and worried, I stepped outside for the first time going to go look for my husband but there he was. Seeing him having sex with a strange woman in his car left me in disbelief and pain. Sobbing hard as I watched them, I couldn't believe that Jared had another woman. Plus she was also rich. I couldn't tell who she was because she was on top of him and her face was hidden. However, her car was super sleek and it was the latest model.

Heading back into the house, I closed the door crying as I finally understood why Jared wanted to divorce me. It wasn't because he had been bullied at the company or that he lost his job. It was because he had found another woman who could help him fulfill his dreams. Walking to the table, I reached for the divorce papers reading it. Jared had not tried to deceive me out of anything because he believed I was poor. Since he wanted a divorce, that was exactly what I did.

I divorced him.

*Four years later

Heading down from the helicopter, I watched as my four-year-old daughter jumped around excitedly after flying up in the air for the first time. Her beautiful curly brown hair was packed up on the top of her hair making her extremely cute as she jumped. She had a lot of energy for her age but I wasn't complaining.

" Can we go home now? That's the sixth time you are making us fly around. I think everyone is extremely tired, Jessica." I said smiling as I watched my daughter pout cutely in front of me.

" Fine. But can we stop to get ice cream first?" Jessica asked fumbling with her hands cutely as she stared at me.

She knew it was my weak point and she was right. My daughter was my weak point. She was the only reason I had survived for so long and why I had kept on being happy despite all that Jared did to me.

" What flavor do you want, sweetie?" I asked watching as a smile formed on Jessica's face.

" Mint chocolate!" She yelled excitedly making me laugh.

A few minutes later, we arrived at Jessica's favorite ice cream spot to get her favorite flavor. The line was a bit long but I didn't mind standing under the sun for my daughter. Once it was my turn, I took my eyes off Jessica to make my order. After placing it, I looked back gasping in shock as I realized Jessica was no longer where I had left her. Running out of the line to go look for her, I called her name several times anxiously as I searched the entire place for her but she was nowhere to be found.

" Is this your daughter, ma'am?" A voice called out to me making me pause.

Even before I laid eyes on the stranger, his voice struck a familiar chord deep within me. It was the same voice that had guided me through three long, sightless years when I was separated from my family. It was Jared's voice. When I turned to face him, I saw the shock in his eyes as he registered my presence. It was probably quite a surprise for him to see me again, especially now that I had regained my vision.

" Mommy!" Jessica shouted as she ran over to me wrapping her tiny arms around my legs.

Suddenly, our ride arrived gaining my attention. Watching several of my bodyguards come out of the cars, I could see how shocked Jared was at the sight. He was speechless. Looking at Jessica, I patted her head slowly.

" Sweetheart, can you go to the car and wait for Mummy? I want to thank this kind man for bringing you back to me." I lied watching as my daughter nodded her head leaving.

Once we were alone, Jared and I sat down in front of a restaurant near the ice cream shop. I could see Jared staring at me like I was some sort of alien and I knew he must be shocked.

" You remarried?" Jared asked making me burst out laughing the moment I heard it.

" Why are you asking? Is it because of the bodyguards you are seeing or is it because of another reason?" I asked clenching my hand anxiously as I hoped that he had not yet realized the truth.

" Michelle, it's been four years since we separated. Can't you forgive me now? I know that what I did to you was wrong but you have to know that I did it for your own good. You won't have been happy if we continued to stay together." Jared said making me scoff at him as I looked away.

He was still a damn good liar.

" Can you stop pretending now? My good? I know you had a mistress while we were married, Jared. I saw both of you the day you asked me to sign the divorce papers. Are you surprised? You must be thinking about why I didn't confront you then. Because I wanted to give you what you wanted. A divorce. I'll get going now." I said standing up and immediately put on my sunglasses as I headed to meet my daughter.

Driving away, I couldn't help but cry as I watched Jared through the window. He had been dressed in expensive clothes and looked extremely wealthy. It didn't seem like he had been suffering in the last four years and it pained me. For some reason, I wanted him to get punishment for what he did. Heading back home, I go straight to bed after putting Jessica in. I hoped never to see Jared again even if it was work-related.

But the next day didn't go as planned. I was hit with a subpoena at my office, and fury surged through me when I learned that Jared had filed for a DNA test on Jessica. Clenching my fist, I stormed out of my office and made my way to his company. To my shock, I discovered that Jared had become the President of the company by marrying his mistress. Ignoring all attempts to halt me, I marched into the building, determined to confront Jared.

" How dare you? Don't you have any shame?" I asked angrily walking up to Jared who was standing at the reception with some people.

Looking at their outfits, I could tell they were business associates of his which meant he was having a meeting. I knew he wouldn't want to be embarrassed.

" Michelle, please let's have this talk later," Jared begged walking up to me.

Slapping him hard across the face, I watched as Jared placed a hand on his cheek surprised. He couldn't do anything because we were in public and one wrong move from him would destroy his entire business.

" Now is not the time to discuss this. Please leave now. Security!" Jared shouted.

" Jessica is not your daughter." I lied standing boldly in hopes that he would believe me.

" She is not my daughter? Then who is her father?" Jared asked staring at me.

Looking around the room, I quickly scan the place searching for someone to take the fall for me. Knowing Jared, he wouldn't easily believe my claim unless someone stepped up as Jessica's father. Spotting a hand in a grey suit coming, I look at his entire outfit realizing he is the only one with the least expensive suit in the room.

" Him. That man is Jessica's father." I declared hoping that I didn't make the wrong choice.

The reception became silent causing me to wonder if I had made a mistake by picking the man I had chosen. Staring at the man whom I claimed was Jessica's father, my heart began to beat anxiously as I waited for his response. Would he deny it? My daughter's fate rested in his hands and I had no idea what to do. If Jared caught me lying, he could easily make a strong case against me and claim I was keeping him away from our daughter.

" Is that true, Mr. Grant?" Jared asked making me even more anxious.

" Of course not. How can Mr. Grant have a child from this woman? I have never met her in my life and I am his secretary." A man in a blue suit said defending his boss.

" How much do you think you know about this woman? Michelle Williams. Her grandfather is the richest man in the country. And, she is my woman. Yes, Jessica is my daughter." The stranger lied surprising everyone including me.

Watching him walk up to me, I looked down shocked as he wrapped his hand around my shoulders pulling me towards him as his lips touched mine in a kiss. Although it was gentle and soft, I couldn't help but tense up as my body instantly reacted to his. His kiss was different.

" Sweetheart, is this the man you told me about? Your... ex? Everything has been cleared up, right? Let's go." Grant said leading me out of the building before Jared could ask more questions.

Feeling shy as we left Jared's company, I looked away unable to look at the stranger who had just kissed me. Reaching for my card instead, I stretched out my hand hoping I could leave as soon as possible.

"Thank you for what you did back there. Here is my card and this is a check to thank you for helping me." I said stretching out my hand so he could take both.

" Do you think I don't have money? My assets may not be as much as yours, Ms. Williams but I can assure you that I have more than enough money to feed an entire city. Let's have dinner instead. You can pay." Grant said.

" I would love to but I have a daughter and she is all alone at home. I'm sorry but I would have to decline." I said apologizing as I shook my head stretching the card and the check forward.

" Then invite your daughter too. All three of us can have dinner together. I am super curious about how your daughter is. You love her so much that you are willing to make a stranger her father." Grant said.

" Grant, listen. This issue is complicated and I am so sorry I dragged you into it. I didn't know what to do." I explained sighing.

" Tristan. My name is Tristan Grant. I do not feel offended at all. I just want to have dinner with you. One dinner." Tristan Grant said trying to persuade me.

Glancing down at my watch, I couldn't help but nervously bite my lower lip as I struggled to come up with a polite way to decline his invitation. All I could think about was being alone with Jessica, but Tristan's insistence on having dinner together meant I couldn't simply walk away.

" One dinner then. I know a very good spot. Your car or mine?" I asked.

"I'll take mine. I meant it when I said I wanted to meet the little angel." Tristan said reaching for my hand to place a kiss on my hand before he left in his car.

A short while later, Jessica and I found ourselves reluctantly seated across from Tristan, who appeared oddly enthusiastic about joining us for dinner. The restaurant was awfully quiet with only a bit of classical music playing in the background. It was the perfect place to be since I didn't want any more drama and I was sure that Jared would never find me here. Just as I began to settle into the evening, my phone pierced the moment with an insistent ring. Glancing at the caller ID, I noticed a message from my lawyer. Nervously, I accessed the message, and as anticipated, it confirmed my fears - convincing Jared of Tristan's paternity would be an arduous task. Jared remained steadfast in his refusal to accept Tristan as Jessica's father.

I had no other option.

" Please wait," I said stopping Tristan just as he was about to leave.

Sending my daughter off with an excuse to talk to the waiter, Tristan and I were finally alone giving me time to talk to him.

" I need your help," I said handing my phone over to Tristan.

Watching Tristan read the message my lawyer sent me, I couldn't read his expression since he remained quiet. However, I had a feeling that he didn't like children as much as I had imagined.

" You want me to pretend to be your daughter's father again? For how long?" Tristan asked making me shrug my shoulders.

" I don't know. It won't be long. I just need you to convince Jared that Jessica is not his daughter. Only until he believes us. After that, we can go our separate ways." I pleaded hoping that he would help.

" I can't. I have a girlfriend. We are going to be married soon. I just wanted to help you out because it seemed you really love your daughter. You're different but I am sorry I can't be your daughter's father." Tristan said standing up.

" How much do you want? It's just for a while. Investment? I can make it happen. Whatever you want." I pleaded nervously as I stood up rubbing my two hands together.

" No amount of money can buy a father's love for his daughter, Michelle. I think it's time you understand that. I won't tell the truth to your husband but you should. Take Jessica back to her father and sort out whatever issue you have with him." Tristan said surprising me with his cold outburst before he left the restaurant.

Leaving the restaurant to catch up with Tristan, I was struck by the sight of another woman embracing him, her hands wrapped around his neck. I watched in disbelief as they shared laughter and conversation while his car pulled away. At that moment, my hope in Tristan was destroyed. I had hoped he was someone I could count on, but now I felt the sting of disappointment and regret.