One Night With A Mysterious Billionaire (The Heiress's Revenge)-Chapter 47: His Engagement is in a week time
Lena
I sat quietly in my office, reviewing the documents Sylvia had brought in for my signature. The neat stacks of paper lay before me, but my attention slowly drifted away. For the past two weeks, life had been strangely calm without Raymond, no sudden appearances, no arguments, no emotional turbulence.
Though the calm came at a cost. I was still hurt that he had left without a word, without even a hint of goodbye. Yet, with each passing day, it hurt a little less. I was learning to live with his absence, learning to accept the silence that greeted me every time I returned home.
The lawyer Raymond had arranged for me proved to be exceptionally efficient. My father and Selena had been legally removed from my mother’s house, and I immediately called in a renovation team to restore the property. Most days, I stayed there instead.
The villa I once shared with Raymond now felt hollow and desolate, like a shell stripped of warmth. Sometimes, I wondered if Raymond would end the contract the next time we met. Not that it mattered anymore. At least, that was what I told myself. I sighed softly and forced my attention back to work, only for Sylvia to burst into my office, visibly agitated.
"What is the matter?" I asked, lifting my head to look at her tense expression.
"Have you seen the news?" she asked.
I shook my head. "No."
"You’re trending."
I sighed. It had become almost routine. I had stopped checking online discussions because people could be cruel without consequence. The memory of how Ashley had been blacklisted from social circles due to online verdict on her still burned vividly in my mind.
"Someone posted a picture of you and Raymond online," Sylvia added.
My heart rate spiked instantly.
"What?" I blurted. "That can’t be possible. We were careful." Raymond never wanted our relationship public. After all, it was never meant to last, it was a contract relationship.
"Let me see it."
"I don’t think you should," she replied hesitantly.
I raised a brow. "Why?"
"There’s more," she said quietly. "His engagement is in a week time."
"What?" My breath hitched. "What are you talking about?"
"I think it’s better you hear it from him yourself," Sylvia said gently. "But the comments online... they’re not in your favor."
I stretched out my hand. She hesitated, then handed me her phone. On the screen was a photo of Raymond and me seated in an intimate setting. I remembered that day clearly, it was the day we signed the contract. But the comments beneath it were heart-wrenching. To them, I was the shameless other woman intruding between childhood sweethearts who had known each other their entire lives.
I scrolled further and saw another image. Raymond stood beside a woman dressed in a white gown with delicate floral patterns. Her hair flowed softly around her shoulders, her features gentle and refined. She smiled brightly as she held Raymond’s hands. My gaze drifted to him, his black bespoke suit gleaming even through the phone screen, his face handsome as ever, his eyes cold and unreadable, like he was someone else entirely.
I smiled bitterly. So this was why he traveled without telling me. I had thought maybe something happened.
After one last glance at the comments, I handed the phone back to Sylvia.
"Are you okay, Lena?" she asked, her eyes filled with sympathy.
"I’m fine," I replied with a smile that felt foreign. I nodded reassuringly.
"You know I’m here if you need anything."
"Thank you for your concern," I said softly. "But I want to be alone."
She studied me for a moment, then nodded and left. When the door closed, I took out my own phone and went online, not to read comments, but to stare at the different pictures of Raymond. After a while, I stood up, grabbed my bag, and walked out.
As I passed through the bullpen, murmurs followed me. Curious stares. Gossip. I ignored them and entered the elevator, heading straight to the lobby. Sullivan noticed me immediately and moved to bring the car around, but I stopped a taxi instead. I gave the driver my home address and leaned back as the car pulled away, letting the city blur past me in silence.My phone kept blowing up, Sullivan’s name flashing across the screen again and again, but I didn’t pick up. I let it ring until the sound faded into silence, then rang again, and again, until I finally tossed the phone aside. Inside my room, I stripped off all my clothes and crawled onto the bed, pulling the sheets around me as if they could shield me from the noise in my head. I tried to shut my mind from the chaos, to force myself into stillness, but I couldn’t. Hot tears spilled from my eyes, soaking into the pillow beneath my face.
It wasn’t because I was in love with Raymond. I knew that much. What hurt was the familiar sting of being used, of once again being a convenient piece in someone else’s plan. That realization cut deeper than heartbreak ever could. And it hurts.
I didn’t know how much time passed after that. Days blurred into one another until I lost track completely. I only moved when my body demanded it, waking up to eat, to drink water, to use the bathroom. I ordered home delivery and lived out of pizza boxes stacked beside my bed. I designed when I could, sketching absent-mindedly, then slept again. My phone eventually turned itself off after too many unanswered calls. Somewhere in the haze, I remembered hearing Sullivan’s voice at the door, knocking, pleading for me to open up. I refused. I stayed silent.
After what felt like forever, I woke up one morning feeling different. Lighter. My room was a mess, design sheets scattered across the floor, clothes tossed over chairs, empty boxes piled carelessly. I took my time cleaning everything, folding, and organising. When I was done, I went to the bathroom, took a long bath, and combed out my hair slowly. Staring at my reflection, I made myself a promise. This would be the last time I let anyone treat me this way.
If Raymond wanted to get married, I couldn’t stop him. I could only wait until he returned to York City so we could terminate the contract properly. My company was already doing well, especially with the support of Hyacinth Hove Corporation. Surprisingly, they hadn’t backed out of our agreement, even when my reputation took a hit. That alone gave me strength. It was time to start living for myself, for once. No boys. Just me.
Since it was the weekend, I turned on my phone and called Sylvia. She picked up immediately.
"Girl, where have you been? I’ve been blowing up your phone," she said the moment the call connected.
"I was just trying to get myself together," I replied calmly.
"Are you okay? She asked. It’s being almost a week"
"Yes. I’m fine. I cut her off, not ready to hear anything relating to Raymond. "Why don’t we hang out today? Just the two of us."
She agreed instantly, like she’d been waiting for that invitation. I got up and dressed quickly, slipping into a short black gown. The neckline dipped low, elegant yet bold, framing my collarbones like a deliberate invitation. Thin straps rested on my shoulders, delicate but firm, holding everything in place. The back was open, a clean sweep of bare skin that made turning around an act of quiet seduction.
At the club, Sylvia met me and we ordered drinks. As we drank, she tried to bring up what happened, but I refused to talk about it. Before she could push further, I headed for the dance floor, swaying my hips, my hands lifting and falling freely. I traced my fingers from my neck down to my chest in a sensual motion, losing myself in the music. A guy joined me, and I danced with him, throwing caution out the door. When exhaustion finally caught up with me, I returned to the bar. Sylvia watched me, shaking her head with a small smile.
"What is it?" I shouted over the music, taking another shot.
"You’ve changed."
"For better or worse?" I asked her
"You’ve grown," she replied, clinking her glass with mine.
I was too busy dancing to notice when Sullivan crept up behind me. I turned and found him standing close, solid like a wall. I shot Sylvia a look. She shrugged apologetically. My anger rose.
"Sullivan, there’s no need for you to follow me around. I can drive myself to work if I want," I snapped.
"Ma’am, I can’t do that. Boss’s orders."
I clenched my fists, ignored him, and told Sylvia I was leaving.
"Lena, please don’t go," Sylvia pleaded. Hear what he has to say first
"I don’t want to hear anything," I said, my heels striking the floor as I walked out.
Outside, I tried to catch my breath. Sullivan followed close behind. I quickened my pace. Suddenly, a bus stopped in front of me. Men in black hoodies jumped out. I sensed danger and turned to run, but they grabbed me and shoved me inside. The last thing I saw was Sullivan running toward us before everything went black.
