The Billionaire's Abandoned Wife Was the Hidden Heiress All Along

On our wedding night, Kevin James and his "female buddy" nearly went all the way on my marriage bed.

"Call off the engagement!"

"Rachel, don't misunderstand. We just drank too much and fell asleep. Nothing happened."

I was so angry I laughed. They were completely naked, tangled together, and when I pushed the door open, their lips still hadn't parted. Serena Simmons shot me a smug look, practically daring me to react.

"Yeah, isn't it totally normal for buddies to sleep together? It's not like it's the first time. No big deal."

She was right—it wasn't the first time. But Kevin had promised to keep his distance from her, so I'd let it go.

He was certain I'd never marry anyone but him, which made him this brazen—wanting credit for his devotion while still indulging in Serena's temptations.

"I said, call off the engagement!"

1.

"Rachel Gilbert, we just finished the wedding, and you're talking about calling it off? Where do you expect the James family to put our face?"

I looked at Victoria James and sneered. Her disgust had never been subtle.

"So the James family still cares about face? Then why don't you ask your son about his behavior?"

Victoria had always looked down on me. When they came to honor the engagement years ago, they found me in some backwater town and assumed I had no family, no connections.

"Kevin and Serena already explained—they drank too much and nothing happened. Why are you being so petty? Typical country girl. So small-minded."

My fists clenched. I was a mess.

"Yeah, Rachel, it's not like we haven't slept together before. Totally normal. Don't act like the sky is falling."

Serena grinned and threw herself into Victoria's arms. "Auntie, I missed you so much!"

"Oh, Serena's the good one—she still remembers me!"

The two of them chatted like mother and daughter, acting as if I didn't exist.

It wasn't until I changed out of my wedding dress and grabbed my suitcase that they noticed me. Kevin seized my hand, brows furrowed, clearly annoyed that I wasn't being sensible.

He'd married me for two reasons: I could help him land projects, and I was obedient enough not to challenge him.

"Let go!"

"Tonight is our wedding night. I don't want to lose my temper. Don't make a scene, okay?"

After I finished packing, I looked at him. "You know it's our wedding night. This is the bridal suite. That's the marriage bed."

I pointed at the tangled sheets. His expression flickered.

"Just change them. It's not a big deal!"

So in his eyes, getting married wasn't a big deal at all.

"Fine. Then we won't get married—just as you wish."

"Can you stop making a scene? We just held the wedding and you're already talking about calling it off. Are you trying to make us look even more ridiculous?"

I shook off his hand. "You're not afraid of looking ridiculous, so why should I be? Is there anything more humiliating than a husband fooling around with another woman in the bridal suite on his wedding night?"

"Rachel Gilbert, marrying into the James family is your good fortune. Did you forget you're just some girl from the countryside? You can't be shown in public. If the old man hadn't insisted on honoring this agreement, do you think you could've stepped through our door?"

That was true. The James family was the wealthiest in Ashford City, and Kevin's new company was thriving because of it.

With her son on the rise, Victoria looked down on me even more—convinced I was reaching above my station by marrying Kevin.

I grabbed my suitcase and left.

"Rachel, don't do this. If you leave, Kevin will be so torn. It's all my fault. Hit me, scold me—anything! Just don't let things get ugly because of me—ah!"