The Billionaire's Rejected Wife

"So, you came," she smirked and looked at me from head to toe. "Such a cunning whore."

Before I could even react to what she said, Dad suddenly appeared behind her, accompanied by Giselle, his wife.

I immediately noticed the sharp gaze from Dad, as if he could harm me at any moment, while Giselle just looked at me coldly. It was her usual expression toward me.

"Dad-"

I couldn't continue what I was about to say as Dad threw something at me. It hit my eye and fell to the floor.

"How long do you plan to hide that shame from us, Natasha?!" His voice thundered, full of threats and anger.

Still recovering from whatever hit my eye, which, if it was a sharp object, surely left me blinded, he threw something else at my words.

"What-"

"You're pregnant?! How, when you haven't introduced any boyfriend to us yet? What is this? Did you just get pregnant? Who's the father? Do you even know the father of that... of that child?!" He yelled in such a disgusted tone.

I was taken aback. My whole body went cold. As my gaze landed on that thing on the floor, I felt myself weaken completely. It was my pregnancy test. How did they get it? It was in my condo!

I quickly composed myself, picked up the object, and faced Dad.

"Dad, please, let me explain first."

"What else do you have to explain to us, huh? How you got pregnant by some guy? When did you start defying me, Natasha?! When did you start tarnishing the name of this family?" He yelled at me. He was furious, and I could see his lips trembling with anger.

I felt a knot in my stomach. I couldn't find the right words in my mind. All I knew was that I needed to explain what happened. But how?

"D-dad, it's not like that. It was an accident-"

"What? You accidentally got pregnant by someone?! Aren't you disgusted by what you're saying? Aren't you ashamed?! What will people say when they find out about this? How will you explain everything?!" He continued to shoot those words at me.

I bit my lower lip. God, help me.

"I'm sure he's from the bar. She's been going out with her friends after work quite often lately," Blanche commented as if she knew what was going on.

Anger surged in my heart, along with disappointment and pain toward Dad.

"What? You go to bars, Natasha? Your Dad clearly told you not to go to those places because someone from the media might see you. Did you not listen?" Giselleimmediately retorted, causing me to sink further.

"I-I only went there once..." I almost whispered.

"But you still went. I was right, wasn't I? That's where you met the guy who got you pregnant. What a shame," Blanche said, looking at me with disgust.

And to my surprise, when I looked at Dad, he had the same look in his eyes. My lips parted, trembling with frustration and pain.

"D-dad, please let me explain first, please. I didn't mean for this to happen. I will tell you everything. I just needed to find the right time."

But the expected moment of him listening to me was abruptly cut short by a powerful slap he delivered to me. My head almost flew from the impact. My whole body went numb, especially the cheek he struck. I couldn't hear anything for a few minutes.

"You really have no shame, not even for yourself! You're such a coquette!" He roared.

My entire body trembled. My heart sank completely. Tears started streaming down uncontrollably. I didn't want to hear this. Please. I wished my hearing remained blocked due to the slap.

"I can't believe I'm harboring such a shameless and disrespectful woman in my own house! I thought you were decent, Natasha! You promised me you wouldn't disappoint me, but what is this?! You keep burdening me with problems, you ungrateful brat!"

Before I could recover, here it goes again.

I felt myself slowly sinking, unable to resurface. I couldn't even stay afloat. As I looked at him, I realized even more that I would never gain his sympathy. That this was how he always saw me.

"Blanche is far better than you! You can't even fulfill the basic duty of being a good daughter! Get rid of that child!"

I was stunned as if I jolted awake.

"W-what? Dad, no..."

"And what do you want? To keep it? I will never accept that child in my house! That child will never carry the Vallejo name!"

It felt like a cold bucket of water was poured over me. My shoulders kept rising and falling as I tried to hold back tears, so I could convey what I wanted to say to them, to him, properly.

And eventually, I stopped crying. All I could hear were heavy sighs. It felt like I was drowning. Like I was so weak. Why is he doing this to me?

"B-but, Dad, this is your grandchild..."

"I have no grandchild born out of shame, Natasha! The father of that child isn't even your boyfriend! A bastard!"

"But Dad, this is my child! How could you... How could you... Oh, God..." My heart completely surrendered as I saw the firm expression on his face.

"Alejandro, if she doesn't want to abort the baby, it's better to just kick Natasha out." Giselle suggested.

My eyes widened at that. I immediately looked at Dad who continued to stare at me. No. No. He can't do this to me. I'm his daughter!

"She's carrying the Vallejo name. What will our patrons say when they find out she got pregnant by just anyone? My god!" She added, looking at me sharply.

"You are such a disgrace!"

"D-Dad, you can't do this to me... Please..." I pleaded with him.

But he remained firm as if it was already on his mind. As if he had made his decision before I could even explain to him.

During our intense stare, Dad's gaze suddenly turned cold toward me. All I could see was the hatred as if he didn't see me as his own child.

"Leave my house now, Natasha." He declared coldly.

I was completely defeated. I felt like a cigarette butt being stepped on repeatedly until completely extinguished. No. He can't do this to me.

"From now on, never set foot in this house or the Valle Corp again. You are no longer my daughter. You will never taste the privilege of being a Vallejo. Leave and never come back here." He ordered me sternly and turned away.

I even reached out my hand to try to reach him, but Blanche tapped it away and gave me a disdainful look before they followed Dad. I overheard him instructing the maids to gather all my belongings and give them to me, which only made me lose all hope.

Oh, what a perfect daughter you are, Natasha.

"Are you sure about this, girl? Your dad might freak out. I don't know how your family does it, but they have ways of finding out some things. Especially about you." Jordan said as we marched towards the VIP section.

"What happened exactly? Why didn't Mr. Brady accepted your proposal?" Maddie asked as we settled in the VIP room we rented at that bar.

I shrugged. "He wanted something else from me."

"What do you mean by 'something else'? Maybe he wants you to propose something different to him. You know how he is, that old pervert," Jordan muttered some curses.

"That's exactly the problem. He wanted me to have a private meeting with him, just the two of us. When I refused, he backed out. He said he would personally inform Dad," I said, pouring myself a drink.

I could hear the two of them cursing under their breath.

The weight of disappointment from losing a significant investor, one of my father had introduced to me, had pushed me to seek solace in the liberating embrace of the night.

I can't believe that old pervert! He didn't even give me a chance to present my entire proposal to him. When I refused his request, he immediately dismissed the meeting and left. How rude!

"Then tell your Dad what happened." Maddie suggested.

I smiled sadly. The bitterness from the alcohol went straight to my heart.

"He doesn't believe me anyway, especially when he's already influenced by bad news. The company has been courting Mr. Brady for a long time."

"Well, what are you going to do?" Jordan asked as she poured another drink into my glass.

I couldn't answer that. I didn't have the energy to discuss it anymore. I'm completely drained today. I haven't even been able to think about what I would tell Dad about it. I could tell him about that perverted old man's intentions, but I'm afraid he won't believe me and would just get even angrier with me.

As the alcohol coursed through my veins, I felt a newfound surge of courage. The music pulsed, its rhythm beckoning me to the dance floor. There are lots of people during those times. It seems like everyone has their own struggles tonight. I wonder what they are going through. I glanced at the two who were busy lecturing me.

"Do you want to dance?" I asked them. They immediately shook their heads.

"We'll dance later! We just arrived!" Jordan hissed.

I nodded and took a sip of my drink. I poured myself another one and looked around again.

From our position, I could see people playing beer pong. Some of them seemed lost in their own worlds. When my gaze shifted to the other side of the VIP section, towards the entrance, I noticed a woman and a man who appeared to be having an argument based on their expressions. The woman looked furious, while the man seemed impatient about something. It seemed like he was about to explode in anger any minute now.

"What happened with your sister's presentation? Did she get accepted?" Maddie asked.

That was another burden weighing on my heart.

"Yes. As usual. Everyone supports her," I replied.

"Damn it! It's like she's the legitimate daughter in that situation. If I were in your shoes, I would have left a family like that a long time ago," Jordan commented, scanning her eyes around me. I smiled bitterly at her.

"It's fine. As long as I can still handle my part well."

"If there's a martyr in a love life, you're a martyr to your family!" Maddie exclaimed, raising her glass as if inviting a cheer.

I laughed and joined them in a toast. We all downed our drinks, momentarily forgetting about what happened.

The night is getting deeper. I can feel dizziness creeping in, and I'm sure I've had enough. Once again, my gaze landed on the dance floor. Without hesitation, I joined the writhing sea of bodies, letting the music guide my movements. Each sway and spin unleashed a wildness I had never allowed myself to embrace before.

Amidst the pounding bass and throbbing energy, my attention was diverted by an escalating argument nearby. A man and a woman were locked in a heated dispute, their words dripping with frustration and distrust. They were the ones who were in a VIP section earlier.

My curiosity was piqued, and an audacious idea took hold of me.

"You're such a womanizer! A cheater! Who are you with here? Is it that woman again? I've caught you so many times! I thought I was the one you wanted?" The woman yelled at him.

"I didn't promise anything to you. Leave me the fuck alone. We're not in a fucking relationship!" The man shouted back, clearly filled with anger.

"Really, huh? You can't fool me anymore! I swear, I'm going to tell this to your Dad! I will not let this slide anymore!"

"Go fuck yourself! I don't care!"

Seizing the moment, I made my way toward them with an idea on my mind, my heart pounding with exhilaration and nerves. With calculated spontaneity, I planted myself between the arguing duo, my presence demanding attention. Before I could second-guess myself, I turned my gaze to the man and, in a bold move, leaned in and pressed my lips against his.

I pity him. He's in a tight situation and looks like he needs my help to get away with this woman. Maybe I can help him.

"What the fuck! Who are you–hey! That's my boyfriend you're kissing, whore!" I heard the woman yell some curses, but my attention wasn't on hers but on this man.

The suddenness of my kiss startled the man, causing his eyes to widen with surprise. But instead of pulling away, he responded with an intensity that electrified me. At that moment, I felt a connection, a shared understanding of the struggles we both faced.

"Oh, my God! This is fucking unbelievable!"

The woman caught off guard and stunned into silence, watched as the man's hands instinctively reached out to hold me. Sensing an opportunity, I took the man's hand and led him away from the chaos of the bar, the world outside disappearing into a blur of city lights.

As we found ourselves outside, away from prying eyes and judgment, my heartbeat echoed in my ears. I could hardly believe what I had just done, yet the rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins fueled my daring spirit.

"Who are you?" The man asked, his voice tinged with a mixture of curiosity and vulnerability. "What... What did you just do?"

"I'm..." I beamed and pulled him away from my kiss. "I... I'm just a bystander who wants to help you," I replied, my voice carrying newfound confidence. "And tonight, I choose to be free from the expectations that have bound me. Just for tonight."

"What?"

The man studied me, his gaze filled with a mix of intrigue and gratitude. At that moment, we were two souls seeking solace and escape, bound together by the freedom found in a stolen kiss. With an unspoken understanding, we leaned into each other, our lips meeting again, sealing our shared rebellion against the chains of our respective lives.

In that stolen moment, I felt a flicker of courage I had never known. I had broken the family rule, found an unexpected connection, and in the arms of a stranger, discovered the power of letting go. The night held countless possibilities, and as our embrace deepened, I allowed myself to surrender to the thrill of the unknown, embracing the intoxicating liberation that awaited us both.

Until we found ourselves inside this man's condo unit. Both panting under each other's movements.

"It is what it is... Or so I thought."

My peaks hardened even more when I felt the heat of his stare roving against my exposed body.

"Are you sure of this? Doing this with me? A complete stranger?"

I nodded immediately as dizziness succumbs me.

"Damn, lady. You don't know what you're getting yourself into." His voice is hoarse and cold and tempting.

I arched my back when he hips down and takes one of my mounds into his mouth, his tongue sending me into the highest level of ecstasy. God...

"Oh, Gods..."

I tugged my head back into the pillow. I'm being driven off to the edge, and his hips are still thrusting into mine through the layers of clothing separating us, making me more impatient and irritated.

"I... can't take it anymore. Please... Off with it. Please. Now." I pleaded with my dizzy voice.

"Now you're being impatient, huh?"

The man chuckled and immediately took off his pants. I held my breath when his shaft springs free from his boxers and sees how much he wants me, too. My core clenches at the sight of him, all of him, now mine to own.

"No regrets? I'm asking because you might regret it the next day, baby."

Oh, this man. He's driving me crazy.

"No regrets."

I pulled a fistful of his hair and bit into his shoulder to muffle my moans when he put his two fingers in and stretched me wide. He's moving in an agonizing, tortuous slowness that I take another bite of his skin to force him to take up speed.

"You're being aggressive, baby..." He keeps on teasing me.

"And you're driving me crazy... Stop teasing me and get on with it, please."

"Why are you in such a rush? We have all night."

"If you want to play, just say so. I can play with you, too."

I tried to push him off me to flip over so I could go on top, but this man captured my wrists with his much bigger hand and locked them together.

"Damn you!" I exclaimed.

The man pinned my hands above my head, stopping my movement. "This is what you asked for."

"I didn't know you could be such a tease."

He smirked playfully. "Now you do."

He silenced me with his lips and quickened the movement of his fingers in and out of me. He slipped in another digit and my back arched as another moan tears out of my mouth. Before I knew it, I was coming undone, and white-hot pleasures bolt through my entire body like electricity.

Yeah, right. He was right. We have all night.

The gentle knock on my door broke my reverie. It was Blanche, my stepsister, a constant reminder of the complicated web of relationships that entangled my existence.

"Natasha, hurry up! The guests are arriving soon." Blanche yelled outside.

Taking a deep breath, I composed myself and opened the door. Blanche's eyes widened at the sight of my breathtaking beauty. As she should. Hm.

"Wow, Natasha, you look stunning. The perfect Vallejo princess."

Blanche's voice is filled with both awe and a hint of envy. I forced a smile, grateful that my true emotions were concealed behind my polished facade.

"Thank you, Blanche. You look lovely as well."

A lie.

"Right. Let's go. Dad and Mom are downstairs."

As we descended the grand staircase together, my gaze caught a glimpse of my stepmother, Giselle, watching me with a discerning eye.

I had spent years trying to earn her approval, to be seen as more than just a replacement for my deceased mother. But no matter how hard I tried, it seemed her love remained elusive.

"You look stunning, my love, Blanche." She greeted her daughter with a soft expression.

"Thank you, Mom."

"And as usual, you're late, Natasha." She turned to me with a stern look.

"That's enough. The party will start soon." Dad interrupted before I even utter a word.

I snorted and rolled my eyes secretly. Witch!

The night unfolded in a blur of dazzling lights and polite conversations. I gracefully mingled with the guests, my every move was flawless and calculated. All the while, my mind wrestled with the secret I was carrying, the weight of it threatening to shatter my composure.

Oh, what have I done?

"Natasha! It's great to see you again after such a long time. It's been a while since I last saw the most beautiful daughter of the Vallejo family. I missed you, dear." Mr. Gregory, our family's closest friend and business partner greeted me and gave me a peck on my cheek.

"I missed you too, Mr. Gregory. You've been in Spain for quite some time for business matters, right? I'm glad you're back." I greeted him back as I scanned him from head to toe.

"Yes, dear. I had to accompany my wife on her engagements." He replied as he guided me to the corner so we could hear each other. "Anyway, how are you? Do you have a boyfriend?"

I winced at that question. I was so used to being asked that by people in the business world, and my answer remained the same until now.

"Not yet, sir. I'm not ready yet." I confessed. Mr. Gregoryjust shrugged his shoulders and took a sip of his wine.

"Oh, dear. You know my son Gideon is also single until now. Do you want me to set you up on a date?" He questions, pertaining to his grumpy son who has an attitude. Oh, I really hate that guy.

He's an arrogant asshole!

"Oh, no, thank you. It would be embarrassing for your son. He's grumpy, you know." I laughed.

The Gregory family was a close friend of our family, so I often accompanied their son Gideon to events like this. I just don't know where that guy is now. I haven't seen him since earlier. Maybe he wasn't here.

I would have been fine with him. He was handsome, intelligent, and hardworking, but he was just too serious and grumpy.

"Oh, that boy. I can't believe he still hasn't made a move to court you."

I fixed my hair and chuckled. As my gaze wandered in another direction, I found myself transfixed, unable to move from where I stood. I spotted a familiar face. It was him, the man whose touch still lingered on my skin. Panic coursed through my veins as I realized he was approaching Blanche, a smile playing on his lips.

"Did they know each other?" I whispered to myself.

"What is it, dear?" Mr. Gregory interrupted me and looked in the direction where I was looking. "Oh. That's the Laurent family. Do you know their only son?"

My heart pounded in my chest as I struggled to maintain my composure. Of course, I know that family! Who wouldn't know the very prominent family in this business world I have?

"He's their only son?"

"Yes, Natasha. They just got back from Rome and they're here for good. I heard that man is very elusive so very few people only know him. Looks like your Dad introduces him to your step sister Blanche."

"Oh..."

I was at a loss for words. I just stood there, gazing at my family who were currently engaged in conversation with the Laurent family, while the man was still talking and smiling at Blanche. I didn't even know how to react. What the hell is this?

I talked to Mr. Gregory for a few more minutes before I saw Dad approach the Laurent couple. With swift determination, I discreetly retreated to a corner of the room, my mind racing with plans to escape this tangled web.

Shit. Did they know each other? Is Blanche his girlfriend? Fuck! It can't be. No. No. No.

As I watched Blanche and the man engage in light conversation, I made my decision. It was time to flee, to protect my secret and the fragile stability I had built. I excused myself from the party, slipping away unnoticed into the night.

As the cool breeze kissed my cheeks, my steps quickened. With each passing moment, I distanced myself from the man I could never truly forget.

Or so I thought I could escape his ways.

"Excuse me, miss."

Just a few minutes after I had been standing outside, holding a wine glass, the man I had been avoiding earlier suddenly appeared behind me. I almost spilled my wine upon recognizing him.

"You're..." He was so surprised to see me. As if he had just seen a ghost or something terrifying. Yeah, I get him. Even I would be so terrified to see him here.

"Damn, it's you..." He mumbled. I saw how his intent gaze fixed on me.

My heart pounded even more. I could hear my own heart beating so loudly while thinking of what I should do next.

I heaved out a violent sigh and shook my head.

"No. No, it's not me. I don't know you. Please, excuse me."

"Wait!" He grabbed my wrist!

A jolt of electricity coursed through my body as I felt his warm hand on my skin. In an instant, the audacious night we had shared rushed back to my mind.

"W-what? Get off me."

"Why did you suddenly disappear? When I woke up, you were gone. You didn't even leave..."

"Leave what? Were you expecting me to leave my contact information after that night?" I cut him off when I had an idea of what he was going to say. Is he serious?

"Well, yeah, because you said you wanted to repeat that night." He directly said to me as if all is well!

"What? No way!" When did I ever say that to him?

Wait. Wait. Did I say that to him? No freaking way.

I forcefully removed his grasp. He chuckled. Slowly, the fire ignited within me as I saw how he was looking at me, just like that night. How he looked at me while I moaned beneath him.

"I see. So, it was just a one-time experience for you then?" He mockingly said to me and in just a snap, his expression was now serious and cold.

I simply nodded, "It is."

"But what if I don't like that? What if I want something more?" He insisted.

He was so persistent and his voice was firm and with full authority. Like I should obey what he said. As if I should agree with what he's saying. This man is definitely crazy.

"Leave me alone. I don't even know you."

Before I could leave, he quickly caught me and enclosed me in his arms. He towered over me, causing my knees to tremble. I felt a sudden dizziness as he accidentally bumped into me, and his lips brushed against my nose. I couldn't explain the mix of excitement and nervousness I was feeling.

I knew this was wrong. He and Blanche were acquainted, and I couldn't get involved with him.

"But you clearly said no regrets without knowing what you're getting yourself into. You gave in yourself to me knowing you were still a virgin that night. Why is that?" His expression clouded with confusion as if he genuinely wondered and wanted to know my answer to his question.

I could feel my entire face heating up. Did he really have to ask me that directly? Didn't he sense that I was embarrassed? And so what if I was still a virgin that night before anything happened between us? It wasn't a big deal to me!

My hands began to tremble. My heart was raising while trying to get away with his hold on me but he's a bulky man. I can't take him!

"Why is it that you were saying you don't know me and you want me to leave you alone but in your eyes... I can see pleading in your eyes, don't you know that?" He said in his raspy voice, again, while staring at me intently.

"Do you want me to stay here?"

"W-what are you talking about?" I quickly averted my eyes from him.

I couldn't help but catch a glimpse of his slight smirk in my hearing.

"I know who you are, Natasha. Now, it's time for you to know who I am."

Before I could even utter a word, his mouth was crashing against mine. I was completely weakened by his sweet, addicting kiss. My arms automatically snaked around his neck to balance my weight causing me to let go of the wine glass and broke it to the ground.

However, our intense kiss was abruptly cut short when we heard approaching footsteps. He quickly sprang into action, pulling me away from the scene. Before I knew it, I found myself inside his car.

"Damn it!" He mutters some curses.

Anxiety surged through my heart as I saw who emerged. It was Blanche!

"It's Blanche. You should go. She's looking for you." I pushed him to go outside, but he didn't even flinch.

"I'm not going back to that party." He firmly declared.

"But she's your girlfriend!"

"Slow down. Where do you want to go?"

I looked at him with so much confusion. He was serious. What was he planning?

"What?"

"Anywhere you want." He utters as he starts to rev the engine of his car.

"To do it?"

He chuckles and shakes his head. "Silly, no. I'm not going to take advantage of your vulnerability. I just want you to relax. I know how hard it is to be at a party like that, surrounded by many clients and potential investors. I'm tired. I want to rest."

I bit my lower lip with so much embarrassment. I couldn't say anything. It seemed like he had read my mind. "A-Anywhere. It's up to you."