Trial Marriage With My Billionaire Husband

In one of the cubicles in the restroom, a girl in a red lace gown stood. Her trembling hands held a phone as she scrolled down.

With each word she read on the screen, her heart cracked. Tears welled up in her eyes threatening to fall.

She had been here for over thirty minutes, eyes glued on the phone screen, desperately hoping that the messages on the screen would change. But it didn't.

The fact remained. Her fiance is cheating on her on her bridal shower night somewhere in this hotel.

Ava's leg could no longer support her. Slowly, she sat on the toilet seat.

Henry can't be doing this to her. She shook her head in denial.

Ava wiped her tears off her face with a thumb. But the tears didn't stop. Her mascara smeared her face, running down along with her tears. Her makeup was ruined.

Ava looked down at the message one last time, proof that her fiance, the man she had loved since high school was cheating on her.

She had seen a message pop up on his screen when he gave her his phone.

She was never one to go through her man's phone, she saw no reason for it. She didn't see the content of the message, but the contact name made her raise her eyebrows.

"True Love." with three heart emojis.

They may be engaged, but he had saved her number with her name, without any heart emojis and she has never had a problem with that.

She didn't have the chance to check the message before he came back and took his phone from her.

She had taken his phone without his notice before he left and walked to the restroom. Which she deemed the safest place to read the messages.

Now staring at the messages from a woman asking him to come to meet her and that she has missed him making love to her, her heart shattered.

Ava had not given herself to Henry yet. She wanted to get married first before they slept together.

Her chest tightened at the thought that Henry was with another woman.

She took photos of the chats with her phone.

Ava's trembling hands held the doorknob. She inhaled sharply, trying to steady her emotions which were all over the place.

The room number was stated in the message. Ava contemplated going to the room. A part of her believed that she was mistaken. Henry loved her and would never do this to her. But she chose to go see for herself.

She opened the door.

The cubicle door in front of her made a creaking sound as it opened, notifying her that someone else was out.

The lavender smell of air freshener hung heavily in the air.

Ava ignored the weird look thrown on her by the girl, she couldn't care less about how she looked right now.

She stepped out of the restroom and walked down the hallway. She didn't go back to her party which was being held beside the hotel pool.

She took the elevator and went straight to the last floor.

She stared at the message again, a bit longer this time.

The elevator dinged informing her that she was on the top floor.

As she walked down the hallway, she could hear her blood pumping in her ear. Her heels clicked on the floor, and her eyes moved from one door to the other.

She soon stopped in front of a door with the inscription, "144." She inhaled sharply.

This was the room.

She stepped closer and noticed the door was left ajar. She didn't need to push open the door. From where she stood she heard muffled moans and faint groans.

She peeped inside the room. Henry was on top of a girl, he had his back to her, but she recognized him.

Her heart squeezed. Her entire body shook violently. Tears blinded her eyes. She raised her hand contemplating opening the door, but she pulled back.

What would she do if she opened the door and stepped in?

Ava was devastated. She rested her back on the wall close to the door, and slowly, she slumped down and sat on the cold floor.

Her eyes glistened with tears, her nose red. She tried to halt the tears streaming down her face but she couldn't. The weight of her tears suddenly turned heavy.

She had hoped she would be wrong, but she wasn't. Henry had betrayed her. She had loved him at his worst and had always been by his side.

She suddenly felt drunk, not from alcohol but from a cocktail of emotions- pain, anger, sadness, betrayal, and regret. Her wedding was in four days and Henry, her fiance, was in the room with another woman.

She had given him all she had, all except her body. Maybe that was where she had gone wrong. But he had promised to wait till they got married. Now it was clear that it was because he had someone else satisfy his sexual desires.

Her face contours with pain and despair.

The sounds stopped, but Ava remained seated on the cold floor feeling forlorn.

After a while, Ava stood, ready to leave. She would tell Harper first. Harper was at the party, though she had left a while ago.

Harper was her stepsister. They weren't close, but Harper would know what to do. She can't continue with the wedding. Harper would be able to convince her father since she was his favourite

Ava wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. At that moment, Ava resolved in her heart to end the engagement. She can't push through with the wedding, not after what she has just discovered.

Just as she was about to take her first step, a familiar voice stopped her in her tracks, "Do you think we'll be able to spend time together after you get married?"

That voice... Ava paused, the jars in her head spinning. "

Of course. I'll always come when you call."

"You mean you'll always pick me first?"

Harper.

The girl in the room is Harper.

Ava's eyes widened at the realization. She shook her head in denial. Maybe she was imagining things.

She should have left before it got worse, but her legs refused to move.

"I'll always pick you over that stupid sister of yours. Who wouldn't, you are far better than her. You, my girl, are the one I love." There was a pause.

"What if you fall in love with her? After all, you'd be seeing her every day." Ava's ears shot up wanting to hear Henry's reply.

"That's impossible. I'm marrying her so that I'd be close to you. Ava is just being stupid. How could she not know I've never liked her? I've sent her so many signs, yet she clung to me."

"And you know it's also to get the company from her. Once I get possession of the company completely, I'll divorce her, and put the company in your name."

"What if she comes after us? You think she'll just let us go?" Harper asked.

"Your sister is insanely foolish. And you know she loves me, I'll come up with something or..." Henry leans towards Harper and whispers in her ears.

Ava's back hit the wall again. Harper was sleeping with her fiance. And she was the one he loved, then what about her? What was she to him?

And for what? To get her company?

The only thing her mother left for her. They must be dreaming if they thought she would let this slide.

Ava smiled sadly. If the fact that Henry was cheating on her didn't break her, then the fact that he cheated with Harper, the same girl she has held close to her heart, broke something unfixable within her.

She had never seen Harper as a step-sister and had treated Harper as if they were of the same mother. And this was how Harper repays her?

Take her man and steal her inheritance?

She must have been blinded so much that she didn't realize that she was in love with a monster.

"You, Harper are the one I love. And it's fine if we don't get married. I'll always love you and trust me, Ava will never find out. She is too naive. She is not smart enough to notice anything." He said.

Ava smirked upon hearing this.

She leaned out of the wall and wiped the tears from her eyes. If this was what they thought about her, then there was no need to shed any tears on them.

She stepped away from the door. She smiled slowly and turned, heading for the elevator.

She crossed her hand when she stepped into the elevator. The naive girl who was blinded by love can now see.

Those two shithead cheaters have been caught.

Unknown to Ava, at the end of the hallway, a man with brown hair stood, his brown eyes never leaving her.

He turned to his P.A. "Find out all about her."

"Yes, Master Ethan."

.

.

.

Ava's vision blurred as she walked aimlessly out of the hotel. Earlier, she had promised herself not to shed another tear over them anymore, but her grief was too heavy.

She wasn't returning to the party. She stood outside, people sauntered around, but Ava took no note of them. She thought of calling Lila, her best friend but she decided against it.

It was suffocating to be here, when she knew that in one of the rooms, the man she had spent her entire life loving was huddled up with her step-sister, both plotting against her.

Just as she was about to take a step further, someone tapped her on her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks. Slowly she turned.

"Where have you been, I've been..." Lila paused.

"Lila," Ava called slowly, sounding lifeless.

"What's wrong?" Lila held her shoulders, gently pulling her closer. Her eyes flicker around, but nothing seems amiss. People walked around, completely oblivious to both girls standing at the side.

Lila had noticed Ava's absence from the party a while ago and had searched everywhere for her.

Ava wanted to speak but her words were stuck in the back of her throat.

"Take me away from here." She managed to say in a barely audible voice.

"Tell me, what's wrong," Lila said, feeling her chest tighten at the sight of Ava in pain.

"Please." Ava's voice was low.

Ten minutes later, both women sat inside a cab. Ava laid her head on Lila's shoulder while Lila smoothed her hair and then slowly patted her back.

She wanted to demand an answer from Ava, but she knew Ava was not in the right mood to speak.

A few moments ago, Ava had been the most happy to-be bride. She had worn the brightest smile, but now, the girl close to her was a contraction, to the girl she remembered.

Ava was always a sweet girl. She was simple-minded regardless of what she faced at home, she tried to be positive and had never held any grudge against her family.

The cab soon pulled over in front of Lila's apartment.

"Do you want a drink?" Lila asked when they got inside. Ava shook her head. Her cheeks were dried, but the mark left by her mascara remained, proof of her grief.

Without another word, Ava walked to Lila's bed and laid on it. It wouldn't hurt this much if she slept and never woke up, she thought.

Her phone next to her brightens and then rings. Without taking a look at the caller, she turned her phone off. She could already guess who it was. She kept both phones far from her.

Ava and Henry had met when she was in high school. She liked him first, but he never looked at her. But this changed when she was in college. They became friends and eventually began going out.

When he asked her to marry him, she was the happiest girl on earth.

But who would have thought he was after something else? Was she that easy to fool?

She had fallen for a lie.

Her mother had willed her publishing company to her before she died, but it was conditioned on the fact that she had to be engaged before she could claim full ownership.

Ava sat up hastily when a thought hit her.

She had handed over 80% of her shares to Henry making Henry the biggest shareholder in the company.

"What have I done?"

"What's wrong this time?" Lila who had been watching her asked quickly moving close to her.

"I think it's time to tell me what's wrong. What happened to you, and your face," she pointed to her face. "You look a mess. One minute you're happy and the next you're looking all..." she paused trying to find the right words to say, "messy."

Ava turned to her, "I'm calling off this wedding." She declared

"What?" Lila's eyes widened, "why? Did you go out to meet Henry?" She asked as the realization that Henry was also missing from the party hit her.

"Don't tell me that bastard wants to call this wedding off." she stood.

"I've always known he can not be trusted, he has always seemed suspicious, I didn't want to say anything since you loved him so much and never listened to me. But if he dares hurt you, I'll make sure I-"

"It's me. I want to call the wedding." Ava said calmly. Her entire demeanor changed in the blink of an eye.

Lila stopped her ranting.

"What?" She sat on the bed, placing one leg on it.

"But why? I mean... you were happy, what happened? Is this why you are crying? Did your stepmother say anything?" She asked all at once without giving Ava the chance to reply.

It was no news that Ava's stepmom was against her wedding because she hated seeing Ava happy. She has never liked Ava and together with Harper, they never miss any chance to make her life miserable.

Lila hated them with every fiber of her soul. But she had no say since Ava had always tolerated them and regarded them as family.

Ava closed her eyes, trying to fight the sudden rage growing within her, "Henry is..." she breathes in sharply, "he is cheating on me..."

"He is what? How dare that son of a bitch." she clenched her fist, anger coursing through her veins.

"With Harper," Ava added and opened her eyes.

"Those two fucking-" Ava began but was interrupted by Lila.

"Bastards." Lila completed. "I'll rip them to pieces." How could he do this when it is just four days to this wedding with Ava?

"Henry is a complete wasted jerk, but that ugly duckling, I know she hates you, but this is extreme. Such a traitor."

Ava went ahead to tell her all she heard. She felt her anger boil with each word she said. It finally made sense.

Why did Harper suddenly have something important to do when the party just began? Why they both always have business trip at the same time?

"What do I do? I've handed over the company to Henry. I made him the biggest shareholder." She had been completely in love with him. Who knew he would cheat on her with her step-sister?

"We have to get that company back, the shares and everything. Henry can't have a dime from it," said Lila.

"But how?" Ava wondered. No matter how she thought of it, there was no loophole.

"We'll come up with something," Lila assured her. She was ready to stand with Ava till the end.

She had always wanted Ava to stand up against her family who has never treated her well. And it seems Ava just realized how far they can go to destroy her.

"Do you want to go home?" Lila asked.

"No." She wanted to stay as far away as possible from them.

That night, Ava couldn't sleep, she kept tossing and turning.

Her father would not have her calling off the wedding. That was one problem. Then there was Henry. She had to get the company back from him.

The next morning, Ava took a cab home.

She knew no one was worried about her; they had called last night only because they were worried about the party.

Ava wasn't as lucky as she anticipated. Her father was seated in the sitting room, tapping his foot on the floor uneasily.

Ava wished she could teleport herself to her room without having to face him.

Ava stood at the entrance, suddenly reluctant to step in.

"Ava," Harper called from behind her, and Ava scrunched her nose in disgust.

"Where have you been all night?" She walked towards her and hugged her, Ava felt her skin crawl up at her touch.

"We've been worried all night."

After having sex with Henry, Harper had gone back to the party with him, but Ava had disappeared, leaving her party devoid of celebrant.

"How could you embarrass the family like that Ava," Asher Stone, her father thundered from where he sat. "How dare you leave your party without telling anyone? And you switched off your phone so we couldn't reach you. You unfilial child."

Ava was silent.

She wasn't going to apologize.

"Come on Dad, Ava must not have done it on purpose, it wasn't like she went out with another man or something," Harper said.

She then nudged Ava on her arm, "Right Ava?" saying this, Harper has created such thoughts in her father's mind.

Ava could only wonder how she had been blind to this. To this side of Harper which was cunning and manipulative. She acted like a loving sister in front of her only to plot behind her back.

"Then she should have at least called." Mr. Stone went ahead to say, glaring at Ava.

"Dad's right Ava, you should have called, what happened?" Harper tried to link her hand with Ava's but Ava quickly moved her hand away, "Henry was so worried."

Ava snickered, 'was he now.'

Before she thought of a way to end this wedding she had to lay low.

"I wasn't feeling too well so I left." She said in a soft voice, radiating a calm composure.

"She always has one excuse or the other. I told you not to worry about her. She is nothing but trouble." Olivia Stone walked in with a tray of tea. "She is only bent on embarrassing this family." her Stepmom said, placing the tray on the table.

"Harper has something she wants to share with us." She said without sparing Ava a second look. Ava saw this as her sign to walk away.

Mr. Stone smiled, and his attention suddenly shifted to Harper. His golden child.

"Well, I..." Harper blushed, "I have someone I love." She said.

This caught Ava's attention immediately and she stopped in her tracks.

"His name is Ethan. Ethan Thompson. Mom has already arranged a blind date with him tomorrow afternoon. I just want your help, Dad, so this can work out."

Ethan and not Henry?

Ava was suddenly thrown into a pit of confusion. What trick was Harper playing?

She stepped into her room, closed the door gently, and rested her back on it.

Suddenly, an idea hit her, if Harper could take her man, why can't she do the same?

With a smile, she walked towards her window, "What do we do Harper, now I want Ethan too." Whatever trick Harper was playing, she vowed to ruin it and beat her in her own game.

She placed a call across to Lila, "Hey girl..."

"I have a favor to ask." "Of course, I can help you beat her up," Lila said.

"No, not that." She paused and continued, "Find out about Ethan. Ethan Thompson."

"Why?"

"Harper betrayed me, I want to pay her back. Tit for Tat."