The Daring Billionaire’s Wife by Lypstical

Dominic

My father's home office has only ever had a picture of him but ever since Charlotte was born, he's put up a few more and just of her and her precious smile. Each time I'm here, it's mostly business, except when I bring Charlotte over.

As he finally takes his seat on the other side of the desk, my first thought is that he wants to talk about business, as usual but with some small talk. "How's everything at home?" He keeps a blank expression as he leans back.

"Everything's great," I reply, not expecting him to linger on this conversation, but he surprises me.

"I want to talk about Charlotte." His face brightens up a little as he looks at her picture on the left side of his table. "She's so well spoken despite her young age. I've spent so much time with her and I see just how good of a job you've been doing, especially you. Vanessa has told me all about how you usually go the extra mile just for my granddaughter."

I chuckle and proudly say, "I'll do anything for my princess."

"I know you will. I wanted you to earn my trust again. That's why I've been watching you. With everything I've observed in the past few years, I've decided to give you back what you deserve."

"What?" I almost jump out of my seat but end up placing my hands on the table as I lean forward. "You're... giving it back to me?"

"Your mother wanted me to do it last year but I thought to myself that I should wait a bit longer and you've really proven yourself to me. I'm proud of you, son. I forgave you a long time ago. I just wanted to see how long you'd actually be there for your family and not once have you let them down, so here you go."

He slides an envelope across the desk and after I open it to check the document, my eyes grow wider as I read through it.

"This is a list of all the shares you're giving to me and it's much more than I thought it would be! What...what about Sophie and Jake?"

He gives me a half smile. "As a family business, we've expanded even more in just three years. That's why they also have more than enough and they were thrilled, maybe not as thrilled as you are. I could've easily monitored you during the first few weeks of your marriage, but I didn't want to invade your privacy and I trusted you. Just don't mess things up now. Actually, I believe you won't."

He rises to his feet and walks over to me, making me rise up and I embrace him a bit too strongly that he grunts.

"Sorry." I force a chuckle as I loosen up.

"I expected it."

"Dad, thank you so much for this."

He pats me on the back. "I'm glad to say you earned it."Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

On my way out, Frank calls and I don't let him speak as soon as I pick up.

"Guess who's the happiest man on earth right now?" I ask.

"Definitely not me because I'm stressed out about all these wedding plans!"

"That's why I'm here to help."

"Then why aren't you here right now?"

"Calm down and listen to the good news."

After I tell him, he gasps loudly. "Dude, you're one lucky man!"

"That's where you're wrong. You know I earned this."

"Right! Now, get here and let's think about some suit designs for my wedding!"

"It'll have to wait. I need to go somewhere. Today's the day."

"And where exactly is that place? Oh, is this what I'm thinking?" He chuckles. "This should be good. Can I come with you?"

"No. I need to do this alone."

Despite leaving the document in the car, I still can't stop thinking about it. It's like I can read it word for word in my mind. I can't wait to celebrate this good news with Vanessa. I could have told her over the phone, but I prefer telling her in person and I will as soon as I leave this prison.

From the other side of the room, Angela emerges with one of the officers accompanying her and as I look at her from head to toe, I instantly shake my head at what has become of her and the most obvious changes are her matted hair, chapped lips, and bruised arms and neck. Before she gets too close, I ask the officer behind me and I find out that she's been getting into fights a lot.

As I hear about the most recent incident of how her hair in the back was yanked from her scalp after a fight she started, I raise my eyebrows in disbelief at how she's only gotten worse.

But when she finally gets closer and tries to act cocky, I compare her to what she was like when she still believed she had the upper hand a few years ago. This is still a more tame version of her and I can't help but wonder who made her this way in this prison. Sitting down on the other side, she says, "I still can't believe you finally came to see me after all these years. Couldn't stay away from me any longer?"

"Don't fool yourself with that shit. I'm not here because of that."

She frowns. "Not even a small part of you wanted to see me?"

"Of course not."

She narrows her eyes at me. "How could you say that when I was once someone special to you?"

"You once were someone special to me, just as you've put it and it hasn't been the case for a long time and it will never be."

"But...you love me."

"Are you Vanessa?"

It takes her a few seconds to figure it out and as soon as she does, she sneers, shaking her head in disbelief.

"That's impossible. There's no way that bitch really took you away from me and completely stole your heart!"

"That's exactly what happened. You know who else stole my heart? My little princess, the one you targeted with that fucking knife before she was born. She's beautiful, strong and healthy. Her name is Charlotte." She exhales deeply. "Look, I went too far and I'm sorry. I want you to know that-"

"Save it. I need to hurry up here so I can get back home. They're waiting for me."

"Why are you so different? It's me." She points at herself with wide eyes.

"I know it's you. That's why I came to share some good news with you."

She raises her eyebrows with hope. "Am I getting a lighter sentence?"

I scoff. "No. That's been left up to your behavior in this place."

She glares at me. "Then what the fuck is it?"

"I'm getting everything I've ever wanted from my father and more."

"What? There's no way that's true. He took that away from you because you broke his trust."

"He just gave it back and I remember the last time I came here, that was the one thing that gave you some satisfaction, that I lost out on what wanted the most by telling the truth. Look at me now. I have everything I've ever wanted. You know, you had the perfect opportunity to expose everything, and you did when you posted it, but how could anyone read it when I made sure it wasn't made public?"

She sneers. "You really had people under your control working that hard to stop me?"

"That's what I just said. I have the internet at the bottom of my feet. Whatever I say is final. Not even that gossip site stood a chance with all that money given to them. You can always just stand up right now and say it to everyone that you and I were once together, but who will believe you? Well, that's all I came to say. Keep rotting in here. It really suits you well."

She furiously attempts to reach for my hand across the table, but I swiftly lean back and get up from my seat.

"I need to get home now."

"No! Please don't go!"

"This is the last time I'm coming here and you know, seeing you again after such a long time has just helped me confirm something."

"That you still have feelings for me?" She smiles in an unsettling way.

"No, that I still fucking hate you for everything you did."

She bursts into tears as she shakes her head, but that has no effect on me so I turn around to leave. Even as she screams out to me, I don't even look back.

-

Vanessa

I keep looking at the time, wondering when Dominic will be back home and with Charlotte taking a nap, I close my eyes as I sit in front of the mirror, anticipating his return.

Just as I begin taking off my earrings, the door creaks open and there he is.

I'm so excited that I rush to him but to my surprise, he rushes to me, too and we meet right in the middle of the room, our lips locking in a passionate embrace and I can feel him smiling against my lips. After pulling away, I say, "What's up with you? You seem so happy."

"I could say the same about you. It's definitely not because of the shares my father-in-law gave to you since it's been a few days now, so what is it?"

I giggle and look away. "You go first."

As he proudly shows me the document and everything my father in-law said to him, I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him all over his face.

"This is amazing! Congratulations!"

"Thanks, my love. I'm so glad this happened at a time when it didn't even cross my mind. These past few years, only you and Charlotte have been of the most importance in my life and that'll never change." "Yeah....about that." I press my lips together.

"What is it?" He furrows his eyebrows.

"I'm pregnant!"

His eyes go round as he presses his hands on my shoulders. "Really?" His voice trembles with emotion.

"Yes! Our family doctor was here and she confirmed it. I j-"

He cuts me off, smashing his lips against mine as he holds me close.

He suddenly pulls away and says, "I thought I couldn't get any happier after getting back what my father initially intended to give to me, but I was wrong."

"Really?" My mouth hurts from smiling.

"Of course and I mean every word. A sibling for Charlotte is the best news ever. Now, come here," he whispers, tilting his head.

As our lips lock while in another

passionate embrace, I once again

think back to the first time I spoke to him in that hotel. We've come a long way and now, he's gone from a greedy man, to a husband and father who cherishes his family above everything else.

Even as I stand here with my eyes closed, I see nothing but a bright future for us and it is one filled with love and laughter.

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THE END!