The Billionaire's Fake Girlfriend

"You're like an angel today, honey. You look fabulous. No wonder Rick decided to marry you. I'm so happy for you." I smiled at what my mom said.

Yes, I'm getting married today. After being in a 8 years relationship with my boyfriend, we had now finally decided to get married. Eight years is way too long already. We have encountered many obstacles that we managed to surpass. We have spent so much time with each other so now we should take another step to seal our life with each other.

"Thank you, mom. I'm so blessed to have you as my parents. Thank you for supporting me all the way until now." I said. I felt teary eyed.

"My baby girl is now finally getting married. Time really fly so fast. It was as if yesterday you were just a baby sleeping in my arms, but now you're leaving us to have your own family to start." Dad said as tears started to fall in his eyes.

I tried so hard not to cry because it would ruin my makeup. Minutes from now my wedding will start and I'm done with everything including my hair and make up.

"Dad, stop crying. You'll ruin my makeup." I said as I tried to stop my tears from falling.

"I'm sorry, honey. I just can't stop myself. Who would have thought that you will be this beautiful today." He held my hand and pressed it gently. "You should always remember that no matter what happens, you will always be our baby girl. Even if you're gonna get married later and gonna have a life on your own."

I nodded to what he said. "Be a responsible and loving wife to your husband okay? Even though you know that we don't like him for you. But now that you're gonna marry him, we will try our best to consider him as a part of our family also." My mother said,

My parents really don't like Rick from the very start. Back when he was just courting me, my parents opposed having a relationship with him. They said that they don't trust him because they thought he'll just be a hindrance to my studies and he'll do no good for me.

But Rick still decided to pursue courting me and showed to my parents that what they thought of him is wrong and his intention towards me is pure and genuine. I was 18 years old back then while he was 19, that's why they were too overprotective of me.

But after a year of courting, I finally decided to be his girlfriend without my parents' approval. They were so mad at me for deciding such a thing without talking to them first. But I knew that they wouldn't let me so I didn't tell them. But after a month, they finally gave up but told me that they are still mad at me but couldn't do anything now since it already happened. After that, they just always tell me and remind me to not do anything else until we graduate.

Of course I knew what they meant by it. Well, I understand them if they had acted like that in the past. I was just an only child and the fact that I'm a girl.

"Of course, Mom, Dad. Don't worry about me. I'm not a baby anymore okay?" I said and they both nodded and looked at each other with sad eyes.

"Yeah, you're not a baby anymore but you are still our baby girl." Dad said and hugged me and I hugged him back.

After an emotional talk with my parents, they said that they'll be outside and called the organizer of our wedding to ask if everything is okay in the church.

I took my phone out of my bag and dialed Astrid's number, my best friend. I've been waiting for her for about an hour now but she still hasn't come here. Why did it took her too long to come?

After how many rings, she didn't answer and so I decided to call her once more hoping that she would pick it up this time, but again she didn't. "What's with this woman? Why isn't she picking up her phone?" I wondered.

I decided to just send her a message saying that she needs to hurry because she's my bride's maid.

Astrid and I have been best friends since highschool. Before I entered into a relationship with Rick, Astrid and I were inseparable. We're like glue stuck together. We considered ourselves not just best friends but also sisters.

After sending her a message, I took a deep breath. I'm so excited yet so nervous. I don't know what I should feel at the moment, it seems to be a mixed emotion. I think it's just normal for a soon to be married woman.

I then heard the bedroom door open and there I saw my cousin Viy. She's wearing a pink dress and she looks so lovely. I smiled at her as soon as her eyes laid on me.

"Hi, Viy. Have you seen Astrid outside?" I asked her but then she didn't answer me.

There's worry in her eyes which made me confused. "Hey, what's wrong? Something happened to you?" I asked her.

She shook her head and forced a smile. "No, it's nothing." She said,

"No, you can tell me." I answered.

I can see in her face that she's having two thoughts whether she'll tell me or not. She heaved out a deep sigh before looking at me. "Well, it's nothing big actually. It's just that I heard that something's going on with the church. I don't know exactly." She said,

My chest suddenly beats fast to what I heard. It felt weird hearing it because it makes me nervous and overthink.

"What is it?" I asked while holding out my breath.

"I don't know either. I just heard from Aunt Cecil when she was talking on the phone that there's a commotion in the church." She said, "But don't worry. I don't think it's a big problem though. I even heard Uncle Bun that they'll take care of it, " she explained.

I nodded to what she said but I'm still uneasy about it. What was the commotion about? Did something happen there?

Then my parents came in. The look on their eyes doesn't have a hint of worry so maybe the problem was already resolved. "We should go now. The wedding will start in 10 minutes." Mom said and assisted me with my dress.

"I'm gonna go now. I'll just head out first to the church. See you all there." Viy said before going outside first.

"I heard something come up in the church, what was it mom? Did something happen?" I asked.

I saw Mom and Dad look at each other before they look at me and shook their heads in chorus. "Of course no. There's nothing wrong." Mom answered. I can sense that the way she answered was a little bit defensive but I didn't mind it.

"How about Astrid mom? Have you seen her? I've been trying to call her since earlier but she won't answer."

"Maybe she's already in the church." She answered.

My parents assisted me until I sat inside the wedding car. Good thing is that the church is five minutes away from our house.

When we had finally reached the church, I got out of the car as my parents helped me. As soon as I stood in front of the church, I saw that the church door was already open and there I saw people coming in and out. It made me confused about what's happening.

"Mom, Dad?" I called my parents and they looked at me with sadness in their eyes. I suddenly felt that something's wrong.

I saw Rick's parents approaching us. They seemed to be tense. "Lauren, where's Rick? Did something happen between you two?" They asked.

"What? What do you mean where's Rick? Isn't he supposed to be inside now?" I asked. My heart was pounding fast.

"What? Rick isn't here and we've been calling him for almost two hours now!" Aunt Lucy- Rick's mother said. I was not able to answer her because I can't think straight.

"There must be a misunderstanding." I answered. I turned to face my mom. "Mom, can you give me my phone? I need to call Rick." My hands were trembling and my voice was already shaking.

Too many things were running out inside my mind. It's not like what I'm thinking is right? Rick wouldn't do it. Rick wouldn't leave me, not on our wedding day. He wouldn't do such a thing.

When mom handed me the phone, I took it and dialed Rick's phone number while my hands were shaking. I waited for him to answer the call but he didn't. That's when my tears started to fall one by one.

This isn't happening. Rick maybe had an important reason for him to not be here yet.

I tried calling him once more and that's when I felt relieved when he answered the call. "Rick, love. Where are you? People were asking why you're not here? Did something bad happen?" I asked worriedly.

He didn't answer back. "Love? Are you there?"

"I'm sorry." The two words he answered which made my world shattered into pieces.

"W-what?" My voice is shaking.

"It's not you, it's me. I don't wanna hurt you anymore. I don't want to hide what I'm feeling. I've tried so hard to stop it but I can't. I just can't." His voice sounded hurt and like pleading.

I closed my eyes as tears continued to fall. No, this isn't true.

I laughed nervously. "Come on, Love. Don't be like this. This isn't funny."

"Let's break this wedding. I can't marry you." He said and suddenly the call ended.

After the call ended, the phone on my hand slipped down and fell on the floor. My legs were shaking and after a minute I also fell on the ground.

I couldn't think properly. My mind was vague enough to think what was going on. I just cry and shout at the same time. People around us and inside the church were confused about what was happening.

It seems like everything was just some kind of a joke. I tried to stand up but the more I tried, the more I felt pain. The next thing I know is that I fell on the ground.

I slowly opened my eyes and felt a little bit dizzy. I don't see anything except for a white ceiling. I tried to look around but all I saw was blurry scenes.

My head is banging with headache and my whole body aches. I snapped my forehead when I suddenly felt pain.

I can hear people talking and whispering.

"Ughh!"I groaned.

Suddenly, I saw people coming in my direction. "Honey, are you okay? Something wrong?" It was my mom who asked.

She has a look of worry on her face. As I tried to look around, I saw my Dad and some of my cousins and friends.

"What's going on? What happened?" I asked and tried to sit down on the bed. "Why am I here?"

They look at each other with sad eyes. "I think we should leave for you to talk." Said by my Aunt who was behind my mother then she looked at me and smiled sadly. "I'm sorry for what happened Lauren. Don't worry, everything will be fine."

She said and turned around to leave. She was followed by some people to go out. As soon as they left, I turned to face my parents who looked worried and tense at the same time.

I don't exactly get at first why they are acting that way, but then sudden flashbacks appeared in my mind. A memory of me crying while on the floor as my parents help me.

I can see the faces of the people looking at me with pity and sadness. That's when I realized everything.

"No, no, no! It isn't true. It was just a bad dream. I know it didn't happen." I said.

"Honey, it's fine. It's fine." My dad went to sit on the bed as he tried to hug and comfort me.

I shook my head and struggled and tried to stand up but my legs didn't have the energy to carry me.

"No, Dad. Tell me I'm just dreaming. Tell me that everything was just a lie. This can't be happening Dad. Rick loves me so much. We love each other." I screamed.

Tears started to fall one by one on my cheeks. Pain struck my chest and I had difficulty breathing. I don't understand why this is happening. Everything was so perfect. Everything was planned by the both of us. But suddenly it was shuttered by an unknown reason. I can't accept this.

Even though my legs were trembling, I fought hard to get off the bed while my parents kept on stopping me. I should see Rick and ask for an explanation.

"Lauren, you have to stop. Something bad might happen to you." Mom said.

I shook my head. "No, Mom. I can't just stay here and do nothing. I need to see Rick. No, I must see him now."

"No, you won't see him." Dad said firmly.

I look at him with pain. "Not now Dad, please. I need to see him. I think he's just shocked and nervous." I said to him, He shook his head and held my hand.

"No. This is what your Mom and I have been telling you since the first time. We don't like that man for you. I knew that one day he'll do this to you but you won't listen to us. Now look at what happened. He left you on your own wedding day." He shouted angrily. Dad is fuming mad. His face was very red. He's close to crying.

I struggled hard when he held me in his arms. "No! No!" I shouted as I cried. "You're lying. You just don't wanna let me see him."

"Lauren, it's not that we don't want you to see him. You're Dad and I am just worried about you. What if you get hurt? What if you lost consciousness again? We can't bear to see that. Can't you not understand us?" Mom said.

I kneeled down in front of my parents. "Mom, Dad please. Let me go. I wanna see Rick. I want to talk to him please." I begged as I sobbed at the same time. "I'll go crazy if I can't see him. I wanna know the reason why, please. Just please, just this one. I beg you."

I saw that Mom was crying also. She messed her hair out of frustration then she looked at my Dad, after that she turned to face me. "Okay. But make sure you'll come back safe and sound. I'll have Viy come with you."

She said and helped me stand up. I hugged them tightly and thanked them both.

I ran outside and found Viy behind the door. She was already wearing jeans and a shirt. I also noticed that I'm still wearing the bridal gown.

"Viy." I called her name.

"I know. Come on. I'll take you to him." She said as she smiled sadly at me.

I was confused about what she meant when she said she'd take me to Rick. Does she know where he is?

I got inside Viy's car. As she drove off to I don't know where, I can't stop thinking. My mind was full of so many what ifs and why? What if he realizes that he doesn't love me anymore? Or what if he already found someone else.

I shook my head. No, it's impossible. We haven't even fought with a third party. We were so happy.

I looked outside the window and I noticed that the road was heading to seem familiar.

"We're heading to the Villa?" I asked Viy. She nodded her head.

The Villa was bought by Rick as a 6th year anniversary gift for the both of us. We've been staying there sometimes when we wanted to spend time with each other.

After almost half an hour, we finally arrived in the Villa. I hurriedly got off the car, took off my heels and carried my bridal gown to run inside.

When I was finally in front of the door, I took one deep breath before twisting the door knob twice and pushed it open. There I saw Rick who was sitting casually on the couch, reading a magazine and drinking a coffee like nothing happened.

"Rick. " I called his name and his eyes widened upon seeing me. He suddenly stood up from the couch.

I walked to his direction but I stopped when he called me by my name. "Lauren." For the past 8 years, he never called me by my name. He always calls me "love", but now. That's when I suddenly felt that something was really going on.

"What's wrong? What's with this sh*t? Why didn't you come to the church?" I asked as I caught my breath. Too many questions I wanna ask but I can't. They are all mixing up in my mind.

"Why are you here? Who brought you here? Didn't I tell you earlier that I won't marry you." He said and turned to walk away. I followed him until we were in front of the door of our bedroom.

"Don't answer my question with a question Rick. What's wrong with you?" I shouted. I can't seem to control my emotions now.

He turned to face me. "I told you, I won't marry you."

Tears fell in my eyes when I saw his eyes. I saw that there's no regret in it. He seemed so confident in what he was saying.

"In what reason? What was the reason Rick? Because I don't understand. We were fine. We're happy, but all of the sudden you're like this!" I asked and he looked away.

"It's just that I realized that I'm not yet ready." He simply answered.

I laughed mockingly at what he said. "We've been planning this marriage for almost 4 years."

He didn't answer and didn't even look me in the eyes. "Is there someone else?" I asked. "There isn't, right? I'm just overthinking." I said as I tried to look him in the eyes but he was trying to avoid it.

My shoulders fell down as soon as he looked at me. Pity, sadness, regret; that's what I saw in his eyes. "I'm sorry, I tried myself not to but I can't. I've been telling myself to stop but it won't listen to me." He explained.

I was confused. Everything became blurry all of the sudden. I wiped my eyes dry. "What do you mean? Tell me you're just joking. Tell me!" I shouted as if I couldn't take it anymore. I burst out crying and fell down on the floor.

Suddenly, I saw the bedroom door open and saw a pair of legs.

"Hon, have you seen my----," her sentences were cut off and I froze to my position when I saw who it was.

"Astrid?" I called her name and her eyes widened in shock.

She was just wearing a towel that was wrapped around her body. I looked at her and back to Rick, that's when I noticed that Rick was just wearing a boxer.

"Lauren." She called my name and was about to approach me but I stopped her.

I must've gone crazy for having a stupid thought. Astrid and Rick wouldn't do such a thing.

I managed to stand up even though my feet were trembling. "What are you doing here? What's the meaning of this?" I asked with confusion.

"Lauren, let me explain so---," Astrid was cut off by Rick.

"I love Astrid. She's the reason that I won't be able to marry you." Rick said and held Astrid's hand.

When I heard and saw what Rick did, my world shattered into pieces. I couldn't understand a thing.

But then a sudden thought appeared in my mind. "My best friend for almost 10 years and my boyfriend for 8 years had been cheating on me?"

"What's the meaning of this? Why are you here?" I asked dumfounded because of the situation.

"Lauren, I was just---" Astrid was about to come near me but I took a step backwards. Not wanting her come near me.

I saw Rick held her hand and pulled her closed. He intertwined his hand into hers, and my forehead curved as soon I saw it.

"Let's not hide it anymore, Astrid. She will still soon find out. There's no more hiding." Rick said to Astrid.

Astrid look at him. "No," she then turned to face me. "Lauren, this is not it. We didn't plan this. We didn't plan everything. It just happened." She explained but I couldn't understand a single thing.

"What the f*ck are you talking?" I confusedly asked. No matter how I try to understand it and process everything, there's nothing coming into my head.

I can feel my body trembling. My head is spinning but I'm trying hard to fight it. I don't wanna lost consciousness again, not now, not in front of them.

"Astrid and I are in a relationship." Rick frankly said.

I look at Astrid and I saw guilt in her eyes. I laughed mockingly. They must have been pulling out prank on me again.

"Come on, guys. This isn't funny anymore."

"You think this is some kind of a prank, a joke? No it isn't." Rick raised his voice at me and my eyes widen because of what he did.

I can't believe he shouted. Not even once he did after being in a relationship with me for 8 years. He never yelled, he never got mad. He always understands me, but now he is like a different person. It's like I'm talking to a complete stranger.

"Love," I called, hoping that he would apologized to me but he didn't.

The look on his eyes were very different, it has no trace of love, of care.

"I'm sorry if I didn't tell you sooner. I was planning on telling you the last time when we celebrated our 6th year anniversary, but Astrid stopped me because you were having a problem that time. She said it will hurt you more and you might not handle the pain so I didn't tell you. There's many times that I wanted to tell you but you're giving me reasons to hide it. You keep on doing things that will make me feel that I should not do it for the meantime," he said then look away.

I don't know but when he was telling me those things, I can feel his pain. Like he did really had a hard time hiding everything. And I'm such a fool for not noticing it. How did it come that for 8 years I haven't noticed it?

"When did it started?" The first question that came into my mind that I wanted to ask. If he tried telling me 2 years ago, does that mean he's been lying to me for almost 2 years? They've been cheating on me for 2 years?

"About 3 years ago." Astrid answered. "But I promised, Lauren. I didn't intended do it. It just happened." She said.

I laughed and closed my eyes as tears fell into my eyes.

When I opened my eyes I saw Astrid crying but I didn't feel any remorse, instead I felt anger and hatred. "You didn't intend to do it but yet you lasted for 3 years? Are fucking joking me? How could you do this to me! I considered you more than a friend. You were like a family to me and this is all what you will repair me after everything? How dare you!" I yelled and the next thing I did shocked the both of them.

*SLAPS*

I slapped Astrid hard on the cheeks, I felt that my hand were in pain. She was taken aback because of what I did. She must have not been expecting that I would do such thing. Rick hurriedly went by her side and comforted her.

He look at me with anger. "What the hell is wrong with you!" He yelled.

I laughed hard. I laughed hard like a crazy woman. "I've been trying to make our relationship perfect. I had given you everything. I even fought for you with my parents and this is what I get?" I yelled angrily said and look at Astrid who was crying while being comforted by Rick.

"Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!" I screamed and messed my hair like I'm going crazy.

He hugged her like he don't want her to be hurt again. He hugged her because he's afraid that I might do anything again to her. Pain struck my chest seeing them. And I thought that it should've been me whom he is comforting and protecting with. It should have been me who's in his arms right now.

"And that's the reason that I don't wanna marry you anymore!" He yelled. "You think it's just you who's trying to make our relationship better and perfect? It's not just you. I'm tired of understanding you and your family! No matter how I try to be a good partner for you but your parents still doesn't see me as one. They look at me and treat me as one so hard to understand them, to understand about you. How about me? Don't I deserve to be understood just even once?"

"You should have told me," my voice lowered down as I look at him.

He laughed. "You think I didn't? I told you many times. So fucking many times but you didn't listen. Not even once."

"Then it's not my fault then. That doesn't mean that you have the right to cheat. And to give the fact that it was Astrid. How could you? How can you sleep at night knowing that one day you'll be caught and this will happened." I said.

"No! It is your fault. Astrid didn't do anything wrong. I should even thank her for making me feel worth to be love and not to be question. She was there whenever I feel down. She was there I feel that I am no longer feel appreciated by you. She helped me realized my worth in which you couldn't do to me. I felt that she's pure and genuine,"

"And I am not?" I cut him off.

He shook his head. "It's not it. But she made it different. She made me do things that I couldn't do with you because you keep on complaining. You keep on telling me that it's not worth to do."

"That's bullshit!"

"If that's what you want to believe then it's your decision."

I look at Astrid who was besides Rick sobbing. "Cheating is a choice Astrid. It's not something that you didn't expect to happened. Don't fucking tell me your reason that you didn't intend it to do because you have a choice of not doing it."

"I did, Lauren. God knows how much I stopped myself. God knows how I tried so hard to not fall for him. But no matter how I try, the harder I fell." She explained while sobbing.

"F*CK your reasons! It's totally unacceptable!" I yelled. "You should have tried harder. You should have thought of me."

"You don't understand what I feel, Lauren. That's why you can say that so easily. You don't know how it felt because it was me who's always understanding you. You never ever understand me. You never asked me how I felt." She said and cried hard.

Rick held her in his arms. "And because of that you did this? Do you hear yourself? Did you know what you two have done?"

"You couldn't blamed us, Lauren." Rick answered. "It was you and you along who did this. It's not us. We are not the problem here."

I look at them with disgust, anger and regret. I didn't know that this day would come. Never I had ever imagine that they will do this, that they will stab me behind my back.

"Blaming me because of what is happening is totally the worst reason I've ever heard in my whole life. I didn't tell you to understand me and I didn't tell you to not tell me what you feel. It's your choice not to tell me. It's your choice to cheat. Even if there's so many things that I lack to but you should have thought better. Cheating is not the answer." I said.

I took a heavy breathe and faced them. I shouldn't look pitiful in front of them because it will make me look like a loser. I wiped my eyes dry and face them wearing a firm and fierce look.

"Maybe I was wrong for not understanding you. I was wrong for not listening to your complains, but at least now I know that you're no better than any other man out there. You two reeks in disgust. I hope that you wouldn't stay happy forever because you ruined someone else life. " I said to Rick then look at Astrid. " As for you, I don't want to see your face ever again. I don't want to have a friend who stabs me behind my back. I hope that you'll regret what you did to me." I said before turning my back to leave.

I can feel that my whole body is shaking and any moment now I will fall to the ground but I'm trying hard not to. As soon as I went out of the door, I saw Viy outside the car. She run towards me and helped me walked and get inside the car without asking.

And when the car starts to moved away from the Villa, that's when I burst out crying. The pain is killing me.

Where did we go wrong? Why this had happened? Why?