The Billionaire's Forgotten Vows

Melissa Wright walked out of the hospital speedily, holding the test results with her hands trembling. At first, the words on the result were blurred in her eyes but she already knew what they said; she was pregnant with David's baby.

She let out a huge sigh of relieve as a shaky breath left her lips and at that point she pressed a hand to her still-flat stomach. "This was it... The moment that changed everything."

Her fingers hovered over her phone as her mind talked to her "Call David, tell him" She was convinced then that maybe, just maybe, this would be the thing that made him finally see her.

Just as she was about to place the call to David, her screen lit up with a message before she could even dial his number.

Melissa frowned at the text "No 'hello,' no explanation... just an order. Typical David Haynes." Still, she pushed aside the irritation and hailed a cab. If he wanted to see her then she would tell him the news in person.

She smiled to herself in the backseat while trying to picture his reaction "Would he be shocked? Happy? Would he pull me into his arms the way I'd always dreamed he would?"

Hope filled her chest and she began to believe that this was the start of something new; something real.

The cab pulled up at the Grand Arcadia and Melissa's heart leaped at the sight of flashing cameras, a red carpet, and a sea of expensive gowns and tailored suits "A celebration?" she asked herself.

"My wedding anniversary" She said as she exhaled and relief washed over her. "Maybe David had finally planned something for me" She thought "Maybe this was his way of making things right." She said lowly as she stepped inside, pushing through the crowd and scanning the room for him.

There he was; tall, striking and impossible to miss but he wasn't alone.

Her heart leaped as she saw the woman beside him; "Helena Powell?" The woman David had never truly let go of; David's first love.

Melissa's breath seized as Helena leaned into David and their closeness unmistakable as the guests cheered and someone raised a glass "To David and Helena, reunited at last!"

Melissa felt the world stop for a while; Laughter, Applause and Helena smiling as though she already owned David.

"David's wife?" someone scoffed. "Oh please, we all know he only married Melissa to appease his grandmother" another echoed "Exactly! David was always meant to be with Helena" the first responded.

David smiled at the teasing "Alright, enough.." he said coolly. "Helena can't drink, so I'll drink for her." He added as he took Helena's glass from her. He lifted his glass with his hand on Helena's waist and his expression was relaxed and comfortable like she was what he had wanted all along.

Melissa barely registered the moment as she turned and walked out. The sound of rain greeted her, but she kept moving even when her body felt numb. The wind bit at her skin with rain soaking her dress but she didn't care at all.

The hospital's results crumpled in her hand forgotten. "So that was it" she said as tears dropped down from her eyes. That was David's real choice.

She forced herself to breathe knowing she needed to leave, to just walk away and be done, but just as she reached her front door, headlights cut through the rain and a sleek black car pulled up with a familiar figure stepping out. His sharp and commanding voice cut through the night. "Melissa, why are you standing in the rain?"

Melissa blinked against the rain barely able to make out David's face through the downpour.

Why was he here? Shouldn't he be with Helena enjoying and partying in their little reunion?

She swallowed hard, forcing down the lump in her throat "Why do you care?" with her voice hoarse, fragile, and she hated it that way.

Running a hand through his damp hair David sighed "Get inside before you get sick"

Something inside her snapped "Get inside?" she repeated with a bitter laugh escaping her lips "David, you just humiliated me in front of half the city and now you're worried about my health?"

His jaw tightened "You're overreacting Mel"

Melissa scoffed "Oh, I'm overreacting? Watching my husband play the doting lover to another woman on our anniversary isn't enough to warrant a reaction?"

David exhaled sharply with his patience thinning "This isn't the place for this"

"No, it isn't" she agreed "And that's why I'm done" she added

She met his gaze with a steady voice despite the chaos inside her "I want a divorce"

For the first time that night David got shocked with the surprise displayed in his eyes "What did you just say?"

"You heard me" Melissa lifted her chin "I want out" she said boldly

A tense silence stretched between them with the rain filling the void where words should have been.

David took a step closer "Is this about money? Are you doing this to negotiate a bigger settlement?"

A sharp pain cut through her chest but she forced herself to smile "Oh, David. You really think everything is about money, don't you?"

He didn't answer.

Suddenly exhausted Melissa let out a shaky breath "I'll have my lawyer send over the papers." She walked past him reaching for the door handle but his hand shot out gripping her wrist.

"You're not serious" he said with a voice but there was something dangerous beneath it; something almost desperate.

She looked up at him and she hesitated for a split second but then remembered the way he smiled at Melissa. The way he never looked at her that way. "I am" she responded, but David tightened his grip "You're my wife."

She pulled her arm free "Not for much longer" she said as she stepped inside slamming the door behind her.

With the rain still falling around, David stood outside staring at the closed door and for the first time, he felt something he couldn't name.

For the first time, Melissa didn't care too.

**********************************

Melissa sat in her bedroom with hands curled around a mug of tea that had long gone cold. She had made up her mind but her heart was still hammering in her chest "Divorce? It was the only way?"

A sharp knock on the door sent a jolt through her but she hesitated because she already knew who it was.

She opened the door just enough to see David standing there and his suit still damp from the rain with unreadable expression "We need to talk" he said with a quieter voice although firm.

She crossed her arms "We don't, actually".

David exhaled through his nose clearly restraining himself "You don't get to make this kind of decision in the heat of the moment"

Melissa tilted her head "I don't? Funny, because I made this decision the moment I realized I was just your placeholder"

"You're not a placeholder." He said as his jaw dropped in awe.

"Then what am I, David?" she quickly responded but got no answer.

Melissa's stomach ached because he didn't respond. Of course he didn't because the answer was too ugly even for him.

"I'll sign whatever you want" she said finally "Just let me go" she added.

David's fingers curled into fists at his sides and then in a lower voice than she had ever heard him use, he asked "Is there someone else?"

Melissa blinked and then laughed before slamming the door in his face.

David stared at the closed door with the sharp sting of rejection burning through him because Melissa had never stood up to him like this. Never for once had she looked at him with such finality like he was a chapter she was desperate to close and he hated it.

The next morning, she was already packing when the knock came again. This time, it wasn't David but Brinley

"Are you seriously going through with this?" Brinley asked eyeing the half-packed suitcase.

Melissa zipped up the bag "Absolutely"

Brinley crossed her arms "You know he's not going to let you go that easily, right?"

Melissa paused "Let him try". Because this time she wasn't the same woman who had once waited, hoped, and settled and she was done waiting.

But as she walked out of the apartment with the suitcase in her hand, she wasn't prepared for the sight that greeted her in the driveway. It was David leaning against his car with his arms crossed and eyes locked on her with quiet determination.

"Where do you think you're going?" he asked coolly.

Melissa tightened her grip on the suitcase handle "Anywhere but here.

David stood in front of her, cool and composed as if he hadn't just shattered her world days ago.

"Move" she said with a steady voice despite the anger that was raging inside of her.

David didn't budge, Instead he reached for her suitcase and with one effortless tug pried it from her hands.

"What the hell, David?" she snapped stretching to grab it back but his grip was firm "We need to talk."

"We don't" she quickly responded.

"We do" David snapped back with a calm voice which was a calm contrast to the fire in his eyes "You want a divorce? Fine... But we do this my way" He said.

Melissa's breath hitched. Of course she knew that David wouldn't make this easy "There is no 'your way'" she said "This isn't a business deal. You don't get to dictate the terms" She added.

David smiled even when he wasn't amused by the act "Everything is a deal, Melissa. And I never agree to something unless I'm sure it benefits me."

She clenched her fists "Oh, let me guess. You'll sign the papers, but only if I play the role of your devoted wife for a little longer? Maybe parade around in public so your precious reputation stays intact?" she said.

He didn't answer right away which confirmed her suspicions and a bitter laugh bubbled up in her throat "I knew it"

David exhaled sharply "My grandmother is sick" Melissa shocked by the response as it had nothing to do with their discussion "Your grandmother is sick, so what?"

"She's asking for you, she doesn't know about..." He gestured vaguely between them "any of this" he added.

The weight of his words settled over her. Nadine Haynes was the only member of David's family who had ever treated her with kindness and the thought of her suffering while believing everything was fine between them twisted something in Melissa's chest.

David took her silence as an opening "One month" he said "You stay, while you pretend things are normal and once it's over, I'll sign the papers"

Melissa's head snapped up "You're blackmailing me with your grandmother's health?"

David met her gaze without hesitation "I'm giving you an opportunity to leave on my terms, clean and simple"

"Simple? There was nothing simple about this" Melissa said as she crossed her arms "And if I refuse?"

David's expression didn't waver "You won't"

Infuriating, arrogant, manipulative and yet... was she really heartless enough to leave Nadine when she needed her most?

Melissa let out a slow breath after weighing her options "Stay for a month, pretend and then walk away forever. Can I do it?" her inner voice whispered to her.

David stepped closer as he lowered his voice and asked "What's it going to be, Melissa?"

Her heart pounded "Fine, one month and that's all" she said.

She lifted her chin "but when this is over, you sign those papers without a fight"

David's lips curled slightly "Deal".

Melissa should have felt victorious, but it felt like she had just walked into a trap instead.