UNEXPECTEDLY THE BILLIONAIRE'S WIFE

"Ugh, finally," Layla muttered under her breath, her voice weighed down by exhaustion. She had been on her feet for nearly five hours, working non-stop. The clock had just hit 6 p.m., but her day wasn't over yet. She still had another job waiting... babysitting her neighbor Mrs. Cole's twins for the next three hours before she could finally call it a day.

Leaving the cozy warmth of the café where her shift had just ended, Layla wrapped her thin jacket tighter around her and headed toward Mrs. Cole's apartment. As soon as she knocked, the door swung open. Mrs. Cole stood there, cradling one of the twins -a little boy- in her arms, while the girl peeked from behind her mother's legs.

"Good evening, ma'am," Layla greeted politely, mustering a small smile despite the tiredness tugging at her features.

"Oh, Layla, sweetheart, how are you holding up?" Mrs. Cole asked kindly. "I'll be back before 9:30, but my husband might return earlier. Their dinner and snacks are already in the fridge, and before putting them to bed, please warm up some milk."

Layla nodded, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "No problem, ma'am. I'll make sure they have warm milk before bed."

After Mrs. Cole left, Layla turned to the twins, who were already busy playing with their toys on the living room floor.

"Well, it's just the three of us now, huh?" she said, pouting playfully as she joined them, her heart a little lighter for the moment.

Hours passed, and by 9 p.m. sharp, Mr. Cole returned. The twins were already fast asleep, curled under their little blankets.

"Oh, good evening, Mr. Cole," Layla greeted as he stepped through the door.

"Layla, how are you? The twins are asleep already?" he asked, setting his keys down.

"Yes, sir. I put them to bed a while ago. I was just waiting for your wife to return so I could head home," she replied softly.

Mr. Cole reached for his wallet and pulled out a crisp $100 bill, handing it to her. "Here, let me pay you so you can get going."

Layla accepted the money with quiet gratitude. "Thank you, sir."

Once home, she gently pulled out a small, worn box from beneath her bed. Carefully, she added the $100 bill to the little stack inside, her growing collection of hard-earned cash. Every dollar she earned from side gigs went straight into that box. She was saving it for one thing: her father's prison bail.

Three years ago, her father had been arrested for drug possession and theft. He'd been caught during a police raid, and ever since that day, Layla had been left to fend for herself. For a long while, resentment filled her heart, anger at the man who'd let her down, who had chosen the wrong path and left her all alone.

But during her visits over time, something changed. Her father had changed. Surprisingly, he'd become more devout, more thoughtful, and more sincere. He had sobered up, and during one emotional visit, he had looked her in the eye and pleaded, "I want you to give me a second chance, please, dear. I'm sorry for causing this to us." She had never forgotten that day, the way his voice cracked and his tears fell. It had broken her heart, but it also lit a spark of hope... a hope that maybe they could start over, together.

Since then, she had saved every cent she could, dreaming of the day she could pay his bail and finally rebuild their lives. But life had not been kind. Living expenses, bills, and reality often made that dream feel further away than ever.

The next morning, a soft Saturday sun peeked through her window. It was visiting day at the prison. Layla made her way there, her heart both heavy and hopeful. After passing through security, an officer directed her to the visitor phone booth. Moments later, her father, Finn, appeared on the other side of the glass. He looked different thinner, older, but calmer.

"Hey, sweetheart," Finn greeted, his voice warm but shaky.

"I'm good, Dad. How have you been holding up?" Layla asked, her fingers brushing against the glass. "Don't worry. This will all be over soon. I'm trying to find another side gig today. I'll figure it out."

Finn gave her a faint smile. "I've been attending a rehabilitation class here. The government offers it to people like me. It's... helping. I've been trying, Layla. I want to turn over a new leaf."

She could hear the sincerity in his voice, and it gave her hope, the same hope that had pushed her to work two jobs, skip luxuries, and save every dollar for him.

They spent the rest of the visit talking, about her life, her part-time jobs, and the little things she rarely had time to share. When the clock finally signaled the end of visiting hours, Layla left with a bittersweet feeling in her chest.

Later that day, her determination paid off. She managed to secure another side gig, this time as a library assistant at the community library. It wasn't much, but every job, every dollar, brought her one step closer to the fresh start she and her father longed for.

It was late afternoon when Layla got home from the community library. She dropped her bag on the couch and was about to lie down when her phone started ringing. She picked it up and saw the name: Victoria.

It was strange. Victoria never called her this late.

"Hello?" Layla answered.

"Layla..." Victoria's voice was shaky, like she had been crying. "I don't know what to do. My family... they're forcing me to marry someone I don't even know."

Layla sat up straight, surprised by her words. "What? Victoria, what do you mean? Who are you marrying?"

"Some rich guy named Julian Bennett," Victoria said, her voice breaking. "It's not my choice. My dad made a deal with his family to save our business. I don't love him, Layla. I don't even know him."

Layla stayed quiet, trying to find the right words. She had never heard Victoria sound so helpless before.

"I can't do it, Layla," Victoria whispered. "I don't want to marry him. I love someone else."

Layla's heart sank for her friend. She knew Victoria's life looked perfect from the outside, but this was something deeper. Something painful.

"I need your help," Victoria said, her voice lowering. "I'm planning to run away with the person I really love... but I need a way to escape. I need someone to ruin the wedding, to cause a big scene so no one notices when I'm gone."

"Please help me layla"

Layla was quiet, still trying to understand.

"I'll pay you," Victoria added quickly. "Forty thousand dollars. Cash. I promise. I just need you to do this for me."

Layla felt her heart skip a beat. Forty thousand dollars. That was more than enough to pay for her father's bail. More than enough to finally set him free.

Before she could answer, Layla heard a voice in the background..... a deep male voice, sharp and cold.

"Victoria, who are you talking to?"

The call cut off.....

They say friends always need each other, but what if needing isn't enough?

Layla sat on her bed, her phone resting in her hand, her mind racing with doubt and fear. What Victoria had asked of her was no small favor. She didn't want to get herself tangled up in rich people's problems, especially problems that could ruin someone's life. The thought of being caught by Victoria's parents or worse, the groom himself, made her stomach twist.

But the money... forty thousand dollars.

That was more than enough to bail her father out of prison. More than enough to give them both a fresh start.

Her heart and mind fought each other, but in the end, her need was stronger than her fear. She picked up her phone and dialed Victoria's number.

The call barely rang before Victoria picked up, her voice full of hope.

"Have you given it a thought?" she asked, sounding desperate.

Layla hesitated, then asked the one question that really mattered.

"Are you really going to pay me?"

"Yes! Of course I will," Victoria answered right away.

Layla let out a small laugh, though it wasn't a happy one. "Are you sure this will even work? What if you get caught? What if they catch me? Your dad might just shoot me on the spot."

She tried to joke, but deep down, she meant every word.

"You'll figure it out, Layla. I know you've got plenty of ideas. Please, Layla, I need this. I promise, I'll pay you. I swear," Victoria begged. She and her secret boyfriend had already made a plan to meet outside the wedding venue and run away together. They were planning to elope.

Layla went silent for a long moment, her thoughts spinning.

"Hello? Layla? Are you still there? Are you doing this or not?" Victoria asked, her voice sharp with panic.

Layla sighed, finally making her choice.

"Alright, alright. Okay. I'll do it. But how are we even going to pull this off?"

"The wedding's in five days," Victoria said. "I'll give you a guest pass, so no one will get suspicious."

They talked a little more, setting the basics of the plan. When the call ended, Layla dropped her phone and slumped into the couch, her mind still buzzing. Victoria was serious, she wasn't the type to joke about money or love. Layla trusted her. Besides, the money could change her life and her father's too.

That night, Layla lay awake, thinking. Every idea that came to her felt too risky or too weak. Until one thought hit her, clear as day.

She could pretend to be pregnant with the groom's child.

It was bold. Messy. Wild. But it was the kind of drama that could ruin a wedding in seconds. She had never met Julian Bennett, the groom, but that was the beauty of the plan....the surprise would confuse him, and in that moment of shock, she could twist the whole story.

All she needed was confidence. And guts.

The day before the wedding, Victoria called her again. They went over the plan one last time, their voices low and careful.

"When it's done, take a taxi to Doe's River, outside the city. I'll be waiting there with the money," Victoria said softly.

"Alright. Okay," Layla replied.

Victoria hung up, leaving Layla alone with her thoughts once more. She still felt scared, but the thought of forty thousand dollars gave her strength. She pushed the fear aside and focused on the good. She would make this work, no matter what.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

The day of the wedding finally arrived.

Layla stood in front of her small mirror, getting ready for her role. She pulled on a short blonde wig, completely covering her long dark hair. She used heavy makeup to hide her natural features. The final touch was a tight, body-hugging dress that shaped her figure perfectly, drawing attention to her fair skin.

She barely recognized herself.

Her phone buzzed. It was Victoria.

"Are you ready?" Victoria whispered, her voice soft so no one would overhear. "I'm about to walk down the aisle, Layla. Please don't mess this up. If I actually get married today... I swear I'll hate you forever."

Layla smirked. "You're paying me, remember? No way I'm letting that happen."

"I trust you, Layla. Please, do a good job," Victoria whispered one last time.

"Alright, hang up before someone catches you," Layla said. The line went dead.

Layla stared at herself in the mirror one last time. The wig, the makeup - it all made her feel like someone else.

She took a deep breath and whispered to her reflection,

"Let's do this. Let's stop that wedding, baby."

Layla said to herself as She blew a quick kiss to her reflection, picked up her bag, and stepped out of the apartment to get to her side gig of the day...

Layla locked the door to her tiny apartment, her heart pounding harder with each step she took. She flagged down a taxi and gave the driver the address to the church, clutching her small purse tightly in her lap the entire ride. Her nerves buzzed with both fear and determination.

Thanks to Victoria, she had a legitimate invitation in hand, being her best friend had its perks, especially today.

When Layla finally arrived at the church, the sight of the grand, elegant decorations almost took her breath away. The place was like something out of a fairytale, white roses and silk ribbons wrapped every corner, crystal chandeliers sparkled above the pews, and a soft classical tune drifted through the air. It was clear that no expense had been spared.

"So much money for a wedding that's not even built on love," Layla thought to herself with a small, bitter smile.

She quietly walked down the aisle and took a seat at the very last pew, choosing the perfect spot where she could watch everything unfold without drawing attention. She adjusted her blonde wig slightly, her hands a little shaky, and tried to blend in as just another guest.

It wasn't long before the ceremony began. Soft whispers faded as the guests turned toward the aisle, and the bride -Victoria- entered, dressed in a breathtaking white gown. Layla watched her closely. Even though Victoria kept her expression calm and even wore a practiced smile, Layla could tell. Behind those painted lips and pretty face, her best friend was dreading every second of this.

Then Layla's eyes shifted to the groom standing at the altar.

"Wow, he's really handsome," she caught herself thinking. His sharp jawline, dark hair, and perfectly tailored suit made him look like the kind of man women dreamed about. In fact, Layla found him more attractive than Victoria's secret lover, Oliver. She couldn't help but wonder, was love really worth this much risk?

But then again, love wasn't about looks. It was about feelings. And Victoria's heart belonged to someone else.

As Layla sat there deep in thought, a voice suddenly pulled her back to reality.

"Miss, why on earth are you wearing black?" an elderly woman seated beside her asked, frowning in disapproval. "This is a wedding, not a funeral."

Layla held back the urge to roll her eyes.

"Maybe a wedding shouldn't be celebrated if the bride isn't truly in love," Layla replied softly, her voice calm but heavy with meaning.

The old woman gasped, turning her head sharply toward Layla with surprise. "Are you even invited to this wedding?" she asked, her voice sharp but laced with curiosity. "Why so bitter, dear?"

Layla let out a dry chuckle, leaning back slightly in her seat. "I ate something bitter for lunch," she replied with a sarcastic smile.

The old lady blinked at her, confused, but before she could fire off another question, Layla leaned in and added, "Also, why are you so noisy, Grandma?"

Layla stood up and dusted off her dress, flashing the woman a sweet but sharp smile. "Sorry, I didn't know there was a dress code. I'm not part of the wedding entourage, just a guest. Now, if you'll excuse me... I have something important to do. Enjoy the show."

Without waiting for a response, Layla walked away, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor as she headed straight toward the front. Every step made her pulse quicken. Her hands were slightly damp with sweat, but she clenched them into fists, steadying her courage.

As she moved closer, she could hear the priest's voice echo through the church, solemn and calm.

"Do you, the bride, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband..."

Before the priest could finish the sentence, Layla raised her voice, sharp and clear.

"I don't accept!" she shouted.

The entire church froze. The room, once filled with music and whispered excitement, fell silent. Heads turned, eyes wide with shock, as every single person tried to figure out who had just interrupted the ceremony.

Layla stood tall, her voice even louder this time.

"Stop the wedding!"

The silence deepened, and all eyes locked on her. Victoria stared at her, wide-eyed, a mix of shock and silent hope glimmering behind her carefully painted face. The groom's expression twisted into pure confusion, clearly having no clue who Layla was or why she had just thrown the ceremony into chaos.

Layla stood her ground, her heart pounding but her voice steady as ever.

"I said stop the wedding. Everyone."