The Billionaire's Hidden Bride: The Secret Heiress

"You should thank me for the dress. No one else would waste fabric on you," Maya's new mother spat as they descended the grand staircase.

The corset hugged her painfully, squeezing every breath from her chest. She had never worn anything like this in her life. The fabric shimmered, but it felt so hard to breathe. Music played around the ballroom and laughter filled the air.

The house was alive with people celebrating Mr. Sterling's birthday, her supposed father.

Maya's heels wobbled as she took another step down. She reached for the rail to steady herself, but her new mother hissed. "Don't touch anything. It's all worth more than your life."

Maya swallowed hard. She didn't want to be here. A few weeks ago, she had been living quietly in her small countryside house, far away from all this glittering cruelty. Then men in dark suits showed up, claiming her father lived here.

They made her take a DNA test which confirmed that Mr. Sterling was her biological father. And now, she was trapped in a world that clearly didn't want her.

As she reached the last step, the room began to notice her. Heads turned and whispers rose.

"That's her...the countryside girl they brought in," a woman murmured.

"She doesn't even look like she belongs here," another whispered behind a champagne glass.

Maya's eyes moved briefly toward one of the women whose heavy makeup made her look like the joker. A faint, bitter smile tugged at her lips before she looked away.

Another woman whispered, loud enough for Maya to hear, "They really brought her here? To this event? How humiliating."

Maya tried to ignore them, fixing her gaze on the grand decorations around.

Then came the click of heels against the floor. The crowd parted slightly as Nelly appeared. She looked dazzling and dangerous in that silk, red gown that accentuated her curves.

A group of equally mean-faced girls followed her, their laughter echoing through the hall.

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that," Nelly said mockingly. "As you all know, she's my dad's illegitimate child." Her words were loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.

Maya froze, she didn't lift her head.

"I don't know what my dad was thinking," Nelly continued with a fake sigh, "but I guess when he was younger, he must have had an affair with one of those... lowlifes." She gestured toward Maya without even looking at her. "And this" she waved her hand dismissively "is the product."

One of the girls gasped dramatically. "Oh, Nelly, I'm so sorry, dear. You actually have to share your father with... her?" She leaned closer and whispered loudly, "A countryside girl."

Maya's jaw clenched.

Nelly scoffed, tossing her hair. "Share? Oh, please. I'm not sharing anything. Dad's just being charitable. Giving her a roof over her head. I'm pretty sure the one back home was leaking."

The girls laughed. Maya didn't. She just looked away, forcing herself to stay calm. Her chest burned, but she said nothing.

Then she inhaled softly, "Um, excuse me, I... I need to use the bathroom. Could someone please show me where it is?"

A few of the girls exchanged looks. "Oh, careful not to steal the soap, country girl," one of them snickered.

Another added, "Need me to show you how a faucet works?"

From the looks of things, none of them had any intention of helping her.

So Maya turned away silently, as she walked down the long, glittering hall. The mansion was enormous, she could get lost in here.

Then she spotted a woman in uniform carrying a tray.

"Um, excuse me," Maya said carefully, "are you... one of the staff here?"

The woman paused and nodded. "Yes, miss. I'm one of the chefs.

"Oh," Maya exhaled in relief.

"Could you please show me where the bathroom is?"

"Of course, miss. This way," the woman replied kindly.

Maya followed her through a side passage until they stopped at a white door with golden handles.

"Thank you," Maya said softly.

"You're welcome, miss," the woman smiled before walking away.

Inside, the bathroom gleamed like something out of a magazine. It was spotless with marble counters, gold faucets, and a faint scent of roses. She used the toilet, flushed, and washed her hands, watching the water run clear through the sparkling sink.

After Maya was done in the bathroom, she let out a quiet sigh of relief and stepped out. She immediately thought maybe she should've just stayed inside a little longer, anything was better than going back out there.

She hesitated, then turned to go back in.

But before she could reach for the handle, someone brushed past her, the thick scent of perfume filling her nose.

"I thought you were already done. Ugh!" the girl muttered, glaring as she disappeared into the bathroom, banging the door shut in Maya's face.

Maya blinked, her lips parting slightly. "Okay then," she whispered under her breath.

She sighed, straightened her posture, and walked back toward the main hall. The sound of laughter and clinking glasses grew louder with every step.

The party was still in full swing; waiters carried trays of champagne and food.

From across the room, she spotted Nelly and her group of friends clustered near the bar section, laughing at something, probably at someone.

Maya just hoped they wouldn't notice her.

As she walked through the halls, she was just trying to avoid Nelly and any of her friends. She planned to stand quietly at a corner until this long, never-ending party was finally over.

She moved carefully through the crowd. But then a girl brushed past her shoulder roughly.

Maya stumbled, and before she could catch herself, her elbow hit the edge of a tall table.

A loud crash shattered through the music.

The sound froze the room. Conversations stopped in between. Heads turned towards her.

Maya blinked down at the floor. Pieces of the vase lay scattered, glittering under the light. The golden dragons that had once circled its surface were now broken and gleaming in the shards.

Her breath hitched.

Nelly stomped toward her, gasping dramatically.

"What have you done?" she screamed, grabbing Maya's arm.

Maya's eyes darted between the pieces on the ground.

"It was an accident...someone pushed-"

"Shut up!" Nelly snapped, her voice harsh. "Do you have any idea what you've just done?"

The crowd was watching now, murmuring.

"That's an Imperial vase," Nelly said, shaking her head in disbelief. "You just broke one of our mansion heirlooms!"

"Do you realize what you've just done?" Nelly yelled as heads turned towards them.

Maya's heart pounded loudly in her chest.

"Such a fool," Nelly continued, stepping closer. "You come here with your filthy feet, wearing our expensive clothes, breathing our luxurious air, and now you decide to destroy something that's worth more than your existence?"

The room was filled with whispers.

"She's so clumsy," someone murmured from behind.

"She doesn't belong here," another voice added.

Maya swallowed hard. Her gaze travelled to the girl who had brushed past her earlier and nudged her off balance. The girl was standing now with a mocking smirk, and her arms folded.

"You were the one who-" Maya started.

"Oh please," the girl scoffed. "Don't try to blame anyone else for your mistake. Everyone saw it."

"That's not true-" Maya started, her voice trembling.

"Enough!" Nelly cut her off, glaring at her with hatred burning in her eyes. "You've embarrassed my family enough for one night."

The crowd grew thicker around them.

Mrs. Sterling appeared from the other side of the hall, her expression dark.

"What in heaven's name is going on here?" she demanded.

"Mother," Nelly said quickly, pointing at Maya. "She broke the imperial vase."

"What? Which one?" Mrs. Sterling snapped as she turned toward her daughter.

"The one from the Qing Dynasty, mother," Nelly said quickly. "The one father got from the Dynasty collection."

"What?" Mrs. Sterling's voice rang. She turned her glare on Maya, who stood frozen beside the shattered glass. "How?"

"I...someone pushed me-"

"Don't you dare lie!" Mrs. Sterling cut in, stepping closer. "Unlucky girl! What were you even doing near it?"

Nelly crossed her arms smugly. "Oh my gosh, I don't even know why Dad insisted she stays here."

"That's because he doesn't want the idea of his child living in the countryside to stain his name," Mrs. Sterling hissed. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have let her step foot into this house."

Her eyes filled with disgust. "She's an illegitimate child. A countryside girl and she's unfortunate. Day one of you being here and you break something this expensive!"

Nelly stepped closer, tilting her head mockingly. "Do you even know how much that vase costs?"

Maya's lips parted, but she couldn't speak.

"Nearly two hundred million dollars," Nelly said slowly, savoring every word. "Have you ever seen that much in your life, you wretch?"

The room went quiet except for the faint sound of the music. All eyes were on Maya.

Maya looked down at the shattered pieces. Gosh, so much for trying not to be noticed.

"It...it was an accident," she whispered. "Someone pushed me-"

"Oh, don't you dare make excuses," Mrs. Sterling snapped. "That vase was a family heirloom, worth more than anything you've ever touched in your life."

"I didn't mean to-"

"You never mean to, do you?" Nelly shot back. "You just keep making trouble wherever you go."

What? This was the first day they met.

The laughter that followed from the other girls was loud, echoing in Maya's ears.

She looked down, her eyes burning but she refused to let the tears fall.

"Maybe we should just send her back to wherever she came from," one of the guests whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear.

"She doesn't belong in this house," another chimed in.

Just then Maya glanced at the girl who had pushed her. The girl fluttered her lashes, "Oh my gosh, Nelly, what do we do with her?"

Nelly paused, turning slowly to face Maya, with calculating eyes. "We should probably call the police, Anna." she said. "Destruction of property is a crime, isn't it? She should get arrested."

Mrs. Sterling folded her arms. "You'll pay for this somehow, girl. I don't care how you get the money, but you will-"

"Put it on my account," a deep voice suddenly said, causing all eyes, including Maya's to turn.

A man in a dark, tailored suit rolled toward them. The suit itself screamed quiet luxury. His dark hair was slightly tousled, his skin was fair, his jawline sharp, and even though he sat on a wheelchair, there was no mistaking he was tall.

But it wasn't the man alone that drew everyone's attention. It was the sleek, black, electric wheelchair. The kind of thing that whispered power instead of pity. Two men stood silently behind him in matching suits and dark shades.

Mrs. Sterling's entire demeanor changed. "E-Ethan... Mr. Ashford! You're here already?" she stammered, the earlier arrogance disappeared.

"Yes, I am," Ethan replied simply.

Ethan Ashford, the twenty-five-year-old multi-billionaire, CEO and founder of E&A Designs-an interior design and decor company ranked among the top in the city. Known for his brilliance, precision, and almost unnerving composure, he had built a reputation that few dared to question.

"Put it on my account," he repeated.

Mrs. Sterling blinked rapidly, startled. "What? What do you mean...Mr. Ashford, you don't have to. It's fine-"

"It's expensive, isn't it?" Ethan asked without looking at her.

"Yes," Nelly blurted out before Mrs. Sterling could speak. "She broke an imperial vase!" She turned to Maya. "Do you know how rare that is? It's the real one from the Qing Dynasty, worth nearly two hundred million dollars!"

A faint smirk tugged at Ethan's lips. "That's incorrect."

Nelly's brows furrowed. "Excuse me?"

"The original of that imperial vase isn't from the Qing Dynasty," he said smoothly. "It's Ming. Early Ming, to be exact. And it's not worth two hundred million, it's priceless. Because it's not for sale. It's housed in the National Museum of Beijing under government protection."

A heavy silence dropped over the room.

He looked toward the broken vase, then back at Nelly. "What you had here was a decorative replica with nice finish, poor glazing, and a weak base, not more than $30,000. It wouldn't have lasted a year."

Nelly's mouth opened, but no words came out.

Ethan turned to one of the suited men standing behind him. "Replace it. Same design, better quality. Send the bill to my office."

"Yes, boss." They bowed slightly.

"All done," Ethan said coolly. "The commotion can stop. I hate noise."

And with that, he turned and rolled away, heading toward the heart of the party, Maya could only stare at him. There was something about him.

And somehow, she knew this was only the beginning.

Maya stood there, watching as Mr. Ethan Ashford rolled away. The crowd parted instinctively for him.

Mrs. Sterling's called out. "Ella! Tina!"

Two maids hurried over with a dustpan and brush, their heads bowed. They knelt and cleaned up the shattered vase. When they were done, Mrs Sterling gave Maya one last glare before turning away.

Nelly followed after her mother, tossing her hair back dramatically, and soon the crowd moved, pretending nothing had happened. The music started again and laughter returned.

Maya exhaled softly, stepping aside. As she moved, Anna- the same girl who had shoved her earlier, brushed roughly past her.

"You're lucky," Anna hissed, "Nelly's fiancé saved your ass. Otherwise, you'd be behind bars right now."

She scoffed and walked away, leaving Maya frozen in place.

Nelly's fiancé?

Maya's gaze travelled toward the tall man in the wheelchair, now deep in conversation across the hall.

Just a few hours in this mansion, and she had already been humiliated, insulted, and nearly accused of a crime. How much worse would things get if she stayed here longer?

Maybe she shouldn't have come at all.

She barely knew her father. It had been twenty years without him, and suddenly she was expected to belong here? To this house filled with people who looked at her like she didn't deserve to breathe their air?

Meanwhile, Nelly practically skipped her way across the grand hall. She spotted her father surrounded by a few executives and friends. They clearly hadn't heard the commotion earlier.

"Dad!" she called brightly.

Mr. Sterling, a tall man with streaks of gray in his dark hair turned at the sound of her voice. His expression softened. "Nelly," he smiled as she reached him and wrapped her arms lightly around his shoulders.

"Look!" Nelly said, pulling back. "Ethan's here!"

Mr. Sterling's brows lifted as he turned to see the young man in the sleek black wheelchair approaching. "Mr. Ashford," he said with a welcoming tone, extending his hand.

"Happy birthday, Mr. Sterling." Ethan replied smoothly, shaking his hand firmly.

"Thank you."

Nelly's eyes gleamed mischievously as she leaned closer to her father. "Dad, did you hear what happened? That illegitimate daughter you brought home broke something."

Mr. Sterling's smile faltered. "Nelly," he said sharply. "Be careful with your words."

"But Dad-"

Before she could say another word, Ethan spoke, his tone cold. "I already handled it," he said, turning his gaze briefly toward Mr. Sterling. "You should focus on your birthday, Mr. Sterling. The matter's been resolved."

Mr. Sterling blinked, then nodded quickly. "Ah, right, right. Yes, of course. Thank you, Mr. Ashford." He turned to Nelly, patting her shoulder. "We'll have dinner soon, once the guests start to leave. Go on, mingle."

Nelly bit her lip, forcing a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Of course, Dad."

Soon after, guests began to leave one by one. The once bustling hall now fell a bit quiet. Maya stood off to the side, unsure what to do next.

Her eyes drifted to the long dining table at the center of the room, where servants were now arranging plates, silverware, and golden-rimmed glasses.

An after-feast? she wondered. The Sterling family clearly liked to celebrate in style.

Nelly was the first to take her seat, elegantly crossing her legs. Mr. Sterling soon joined her, followed by Mrs. Sterling. Ethan was helped into a seat, followed by a couple of men.

Maya bit her lip. Maybe this was her cue to leave. She began to take a slow step back when a maid rushed toward her.

"Um... Miss Maya," the maid said, bowing slightly. "Mr. Sterling has asked that you join the table."

Maya blinked. "What?"

"Yes, ma'am. They're about to have dinner. He said I should ask you personally to join."

"Oh, I don't think I should," Maya muttered.

The maid gave a polite smile. "Please come."

Maya swallowed hard, her heart suddenly racing. As she walked toward the table, she could feel every pair of eyes following her. When she reached the end of the table, she hesitated, not sure whether to sit.

Nelly glared at her. "Why the hell is she here?"

Mr. Sterling's tone was calm. "I don't think she's eaten since she got here. Let the child have her seat."

"Oh, come on, Dad," Nelly huffed. "Why are you being so nice to her? I get that she's your child, but still-"

"Nelly," he cut her off gently. "Don't overthink it. We're just going to eat. Nothing more."

Mrs. Sterling gave a small laugh. "Nothing more, indeed. But you know, darling, I've been through quite a lot because of this girl. It's not like she's part of our family or anything. She's just an illegitimate child from the countryside."

Maya kept her eyes on the table as she lowered herself into the empty chair.

Mr. Sterling exhaled quietly, rubbing his temple. "This shouldn't be about who's legitimate or not. It's my birthday. Let's just enjoy dinner."

No one replied.

Some maids began serving the dishes.

Maya stared at the table in front of her, unsure whether she was supposed to eat or simply admire the arrangement. She had never seen so many dishes in one place before.

The long dining table looked like something straight out of a royal banquet. There was beef wellington, bowls of truffled mashed potatoes, lobster tails resting on fine china, and glasses filled with champagne and wine that sparkled like liquid gold.

When the maids finally stepped back, Maya felt completely overwhelmed. On her left were three forks which looked the same to her. On her right, three knives of varying shapes and sizes. Napkins folded neatly. So many plates layered one over another that she couldn't even tell which one to start with.

Her eyes moved to the others at the table. Nelly and her mother moved effortlessly, picking up the utensils. Even Ethan, who sat quietly beside Mr. Sterling, ate quietly.

Maya swallowed hard. Her heart was racing.

She watched a moment longer, then took a slow breath and picked up one of the forks. Maybe this one was right. But the moment the fork touched her fingers, Nelly scoffed.

"That's a dessert fork, silly."

A small wave of laughter echoed between Nelly and her mother. Maya froze, her face heating in embarrassment. She quickly set it down and picked up another one.

She began eating, trying her best to keep her hands steady.

"You're supposed to put the napkin on your lap, dummy." Nelly spoke again.

Maya stopped, realizing the napkin was still neatly folded beside her plate. She sighed softly, picked it up, and placed it on her lap just like the others.

Nelly giggled, leaning slightly toward her mother. "Gosh, I mean, how's the countryside?" She probably spent her time climbing trees and chasing chickens. Isn't that what they do in small towns?"

Mrs. Sterling chuckled softly behind her glass of wine.

Mr. Sterling cleared his throat then reached for his glass, and turned his attention to the man sitting calmly across from him.

"Mr. Ashford," he began, smiling politely, "how's the new launch going?"

Ethan, who had been quiet throughout the entire dinner, lifted his gaze from his plate.

"It's going well," he said simply.

That was all.

Maya glanced at him. He barely spoke, yet somehow his presence filled the room.

Mr. Sterling nodded approvingly. "Oh, that's really good. I'm glad to hear that."

"Thank you," Ethan replied, taking a slow sip of his wine.

Across the table, Nelly leaned toward her mother and whispered something. Mrs. Sterling listened, sighed, and then nodded slowly.

"Mr. Ashford," Mrs. Sterling began, "I know what I'm about to say is a bit abrupt, but I just hope you wouldn't mind."

Ethan set his glass down gently. His hazel eyes lifted to meet hers.

"What is it?"

Mrs. Sterling smiled faintly. Her gaze moved toward Maya, who was barely eating.

"We know that the initial agreement was that you were to marry Nelly."

Ethan didn't react. He simply continued eating.

"But," Mrs. Sterling said, straightening slightly, "there has been a change." She looked at Maya. "We would like you that you get married to Maya instead."