Married To The Cold-hearted Billionaire

My life hasn't always been pleasant. In fact! I can't remember the last time life was fair to me. I had lost everything that mattered to me; my parents, my house and now my job.

The numbness in my heart has blocked tears from rushing and ruining my cheap mascara.

I kept thinking about how good my life and Natalie's life would have been if my father hadn't married Willa after our mother's death until I realized that I was walking around the same place.

I was still daydreaming when a call brought me back to reality - It was Natalie.

"Hey Pumpkin..." I said before being interrupted by a voice that didn't sound like my baby sister's.

"Are you Miss Adams? Natalie's Guardian?"

"Yes...yes, I am" I replied with anxiety in my voice. I could feel sweat dripping from my face and my sweaty palms weren't helping matters.

"Natalie is in a critical condition and we need to perform surgery on her."

"Oh my gosh! My pumpkin! I'll be on my way right now!"

I rushed to the hospital as fast as I could. Seeing my sister in such a critical condition reminded me of the overwhelming fear I felt when my dad had a fatal accident six years ago. It was all making sense to me now that life was unkind to me.

Just before I could continue another episode of self-pity and depression, a doctor who I suspect spoke to me over the phone called my attention to Natalie's condition.

"You must be Natalie's guardian" He asked with no expression on his face.

"Yes, I am," I answered almost immediately.

" As you know, Natalie has been diagnosed with gastric cancer and it has become critical because of her previous medical conditions. She is quite young and it is not yet too late to perform a surgery, but delay may cause more complications."

" Erm...Is she going to be fine after surgery? Natalie is my only family and my life. Please don't let anything go wrong " I pleaded with my teary eyes.

" Of course. We assure you that we will do our best, but she can't proceed with the surgery without at least half of the payment. He said, not minding the tears and sweat all over my face.

" Uhmm...yes...how much are we talking about?" I asked, unsure of my words.

" 20,000 dollars " He replied almost immediately.

"What?" I screamed, letting out a sigh. " That's quite a lot of... never mind. When is the surgery scheduled for?" I replied, trying to hide the shock and pain I was feeling.

"Tomorrow afternoon, Ma'am"

"I will get...get the money at all costs. Just keep my sister safe for me... please"

"Be rest assured." He replied before walking away to attend to other patients.

I couldn't feel my legs, they were wobbly. I let the hot tears flow from my eyes and the mucus from my nose validate the fact that I'm the most miserable person on earth.

My mind traveled around my memory and there was no other person I could ask for help except Willa. Willa and her nightmare of a daughter, Maggie. They are both crazy bitches, but I had to do something for my little pumpkin. I stood up quickly from the ground and decided to swallow the pride I lost when she took all of my father's money and properties for herself and kicked Natalie and me out in the middle of the night.

I had to put my hatred for her and Maggie aside for the sake of my little sister. I encouraged myself till I finally got to the house she stole from me.

"Good morning. Anyone home?" I groaned as I hit the bell aggressively.

"Oh! Look who we have here. Mom! Aurelia is here, probably to beg for money" Maggie scoffed as she opened the door like it never welcomed my presence.

The sight of Willa upset my stomach and I wanted to puke on her face and spit on her.

"Little dragon" as she often called Maggie. Yes, they were both dragons whose fire ruined my family.

"Well, have your seat, Aurelia. " Willa said, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Thank you... I guess? So, Willa, I know you can... Please help Natalie!" I pleaded as I found my way to her long legs that wore every latest designer shoe. " Natalie is suffering and she needs money for surgery," I said, holding on to her legs.

"She has cancer and .."

"You need money" Willa interrupted me without showing any form of sympathy.

"Yes... 20,000 dollars" I whispered, facing the ground.

She stood up, kicked me off her legs and sprayed herself with perfume like I was a piece of trash.

"Alright, Relia. I should help you even though you're just a useless piece of garbage. You will be useful to my little dragon," Willa said, letting a smirk find its way to her wrinkled face. She faced Maggie and signalled to her to speak, or more like command me.

"Yes Mommy," Maggie said before facing me with a more direct and straight face. "You get the money only if you take up the garbage I've been trying to get rid of. I mean, a garbage like you should be able to do the work perfectly...am I right?

"What garbage?" I let out a whisper, trying to figure out what, for heaven's sake, was going on.

"Arthur Miller!" Maggie and Willa said simultaneously, letting out an evil laughter

"What's? Who's that?" I asked, unsure of their evil scheme.

"My fiancé, your husband to be" Maggie replied, "Look, Aurelia! Arthur is good garbage, so I'm doing you a favour. All you have to do is pretend to be me on the wedding day and marry him. It's that simple."

"Wait! Arthur Miller? The evil CEO who has ruined almost every woman in New York? Why must I do that? I have a boyfriend for heaven's sake, Maggie!" I yelled as I found the strength to stand up against the dragon and her evil little dragon.

"Carl? Do you call that a boyfriend? Why don't you call him now and ask for the money? Let's see if he's not going to be the one begging you for a thousand dollars." She snapped as she and her mom laughed at me like the evil witches they were.

"Okay. Let's say I take your place and marry him, won't he recognise the difference and probably sue you? " I asked, hoping to change their minds.

"Arthur has never seen me before. It was your foolish dad who promised Arthur's dad one of his daughters and I happen to be the only one worthy of such class and luxury. Too bad, he's a complete jerk and asshole. By the way, I'm being fair; you are his daughter, after all. Maggie completed, making me feel more miserable than I already did.

"Aurelia, just agree to it already." Willa snapped "It's not like you have a choice. I shouldn't have put Maggie's name as the daughter your father was going to marry off to the Millers. I didn't know it was the asshole Arthur. He was probably planning to divorce the fourth time.

The tears in my eyes were so flooded that I couldn't see the satisfaction on Maggie's face and the determination on Willa's face. I guess I have to surrender now or I'll lose my precious sister.

"Okay. I..I will marry him, but I must get the money today." I said as the little self-respect I had shattered into innumerable pieces.

"I dictate when you get the money! " Willa snapped. "Sign this, you can go on with your stupid name; it doesn't even matter to the Millers. You are just another experiment for their spoiled heir. You will get the money tomorrow morning, but if you try to outsmart us, I will make sure the Millers destroy you and your pathetic sick sister."

I stood up to sign the cheque with my wobbly legs and shaky hands. I could hear my heart pound louder than Willa's threats.

No matter how horrible I felt, I was a bit happy that my pumpkin would be safe, but deep down, I feared the terrible life Willa was pushing me into more than Natalie's sickness.

I left the house like a hopeless victim who had just been robbed. I was so lost in thoughts that the persistent honking of a car overshadowed my thoughts. Before my brain could explain what was happening, I was on the floor almost hit by a car that probably belonged to some rich kid, then a man rushed out of the car and extended his hand to me;

"Are you okay, miss?" He asked with a concerned look, but the only thing I could see was my greatest nightmare coming to pass.