Page 32 of The Billionaire's Wife

I force a smile.

We stand in awkward silence for a moment, the seconds becoming more and more unbearable as they pass. Seeing him again, my heart feels like it’s about to break in two. I didn’t know it would feel this terrible to be face to face with him again, but it hurts more than I can bear.

I bite my lip, looking away. How can he just act like nothing happened between us? Was it actually nothing to him? The realization crashes over me like a ton of bricks. Fuck. I should’ve known. He’s probably used to getting whatever girl he wants. Last week was just fun to him. Nothing more. How could I have been so stupid to think otherwise?

And I realize I was holding onto the tiniest shred of hope that once I saw him again, things would be different. I’d see that familiar spark in his eye, that smile, something to tell me that what I felt was reciprocated.

But now I know it was all just as fake as our marriage.

“Um …” I start, staring down at my feet. “I think you should probably find a new dog walker,” I force myself to say.

He looks shocked. “What? Are you starting vet school?” Hope flickers across his face.

I shrug. “Soon, probably. So I should start offloading some of my clients.”

He frowns slightly. “Why don’t you keep doing it until you start school? That way you can keep saving up.”

“Just—” I snap but stop myself. “I said you should find a new dog walker. So you should.” I turn to go, but Alec strides across the room, reaching for my arm. His touch sends an electric current through me, and I pull away.

“Is something wrong, Ella?” he asks, looking down at me in concern.

I shake my head. “Nothing’s wrong.”

I try to continue, but he stands in my way. “You’re lying. Tell me what it is.”

“Alec, move,” I plead.

“What’s wrong?” he repeats, his frown deepening.

“Everything!” I snap. “I—I …” I shake my head, sighing in frustration. “I thought that after last week, after everything that happened, that you … cared. About me.” I look up to meet his gaze. “But it turns out you basically just paid me to be your wife and prostitute for the week.”

Shock washes over his features. “Ella, no. I never meant for that—for any of that to happen.”

“Of course you didn’t,” I mutter. “You never meant to get involved with me. I wasn’t even your first choice to play your wife—it just happened. Even Julia could tell I was wrong for the part.” I’m rambling now, but I can’t stop myself.

“Julia?” Alec repeats.

“She talked to me the last day of the cruise. She said she knew we weren’t really married. Don’t worry, Marcus doesn’t know, and she promised she wouldn’t tell.”

“She saw through us?” he asks quietly.

“She did. And she also thought something was there, but she was obviously wrong about that too. Just like me.” I shake my head. “I should never have allowed myself to get caught up in all this. Your real wife would never be someone like me.”

I brush past him toward the door, and this time he doesn’t stop me, seemingly too shocked to even move. I hurry through the door, slamming it behind me.

Chapter 20

Ella

Eating sushi alone that night, however good it is, is a bit of a bummer. At least Howard’s face lights up in excitement when I give him his bone. Alec tries to call me the next day, but I don’t answer. And he doesn’t text or call again, so I can only assume his apology would probably have been half-assed. All he wants is to rid himself of his guilt, probably. He toyed with a younger girl and hurt her, and now he feels bad.

Well, welcome to the club, asshole.

I spend the rest of the week trying to rid him from my mind. I stop walking Betty, which I feel slightly bad about knowing that she’ll probably miss me, but I already told Alec about it, and I need the space. I stuff all of the clothes he’d given me, and the ring, into a box and shove it under the bed. I don’t want to throw it away. At the very least, they’re worth an insane amount of money—but I can’t stand to see them right now. Maybe in a few months, I’ll feel differently.

It's Friday night, and I’m wrapped up in a blanket on my couch watching a movie, with Howard resting his head on my leg, fast asleep. I’d spent the last few hours compiling my vet school application, and I’m finally ready to submit it. I want to sleep it on, go over it again in the morning, and then send it off. However unfairly Alec may have treated me, I do have to admit that the financial boost really gave me the motivation to take the jump and apply. I’m ready. And I’m excited.

A sound at the front door has Howard sitting up, suddenly awake and fully alert. I hear a knock, and Howard is leaping to the floor, barking manically.

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