Page 1 of Reckless Billionaire's Ruthless Claim

Chapter 1 A Temporary Replacement

Ellie Madden's phone dinged with a new message.

‘Hey Ellie, I just saw your boyfriend hugging a woman at a private party. They looked really close. You should hurry to the party before he gets seduced by another woman.’ -X

Her hand froze mid-reach for popcorn. The piece she had just eaten caught in her throat, making her cough loudly. Slapping her chest to shove it down, she grabbed a soda, gulping it in one go. She stared at the message, her heart racing.

Tossing the phone aside, she leapt out of bed, grabbing a dress from the closet and throwing it on in a frenzy. Just as she was about to leave, Ellie hesitated, turning back to grab her makeup bag and phone.

‘Please send me the address.’ She texted back to the unknown, mysterious texter ‘X’.

Fifteen minutes later, Ellie stood outside a grand estate, its lights spilling out onto the driveway, indicating the lavish party within. The sight of the sprawling mansion didn’t intimidate her despite not coming from wealth.

Dressed in a fitted black dress that hugged her slender frame, she paired it with matching heels, exuding effortless confidence. Her wavy chestnut hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her sharp, playful eyes gleamed under the glow of the lights.

Marching up to the front door, she tried to enter, but a firm hand grabbed her arm.

“Your invite, ma’am?” The security guard extended a hand, his eyes sweeping over her from head to toe.

Ellie bit her lip, stepping aside. It was a private party of the richest elites of the country; sneaking in would be nearly impossible. Quickly pulling out her phone, she texted back to ‘X’ who had sent her the tip-off.

‘Hey, I can’t get in without an invite. Can you do something?’

The reply didn’t come, but within minutes, the guard’s phone buzzed. After a brief conversation on the call with someone, he stepped aside.

“You’re free to go in, ma’am.”

Ellie grinned and rushed inside at once.

The interior was as grand as she had imagined—golden chandeliers, marble floors, and walls adorned with expensive artwork. There were murmurs rippling through the crowd, whispers about the opportunity to own a share in the Cage Hospitals Group, as tonight's party celebrated the company going public.

Yet, Ellie’s focus wasn’t on the grandeur of the event or the lavish decor surrounding her.

Her eyes darted across the crowded main hall, scanning for the familiar figure.

Her heart sank when she spotted Sawyer Stark. His tall, commanding presence was impossible to miss, and his effortlessly handsome looks made him stand out even in a sea of wealthy elites.

His jet-black hair was neatly styled, sharp gray eyes cold and unreadable. The tailored suit hugged his broad shoulders and lean frame perfectly, exuding power with every breath. Even in a room full of billionaires, he was the one who looked like he owned everything—and he probably did.

But it wasn’t just him she noticed—it was the woman in a figure-hugging green gown standing dangerously close to him. She had a glass of wine in hand, feigning tipsiness as she reached out to touch Sawyer’s arm.

“Sawyer,” the woman purred in a breathy voice. “I feel a little lightheaded. Can you take me upstairs to my room?”

Sawyer, who had been mid-conversation with others, turned his head slowly, as if only now registering the woman next to himself, and her touch on his arm.

Ellie didn’t wait another second. She stormed forward, coming to stand right in front of him.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded, her voice trembling slightly. Her eyes flicked to the woman’s hand still resting on his arm. “Why didn’t you tell me you were going to a party? A private party? I would’ve come with you.”

Sawyer’s piercing eyes turned to her, bored and cold. Without answering, he took another sip of his whiskey and walked over to a couch where his friends were gathered.

Ellie followed, standing awkwardly as two men and three women lounged around Sawyer.

They were all impeccably dressed in designer clothes that screamed wealth and privilege. The women, with their high heels, flawless makeup, and air of arrogance, looked every bit as polished as their outfits.

One of the women at the table chimed in, her voice dripping with curiosity. "Is this Sawyer’s girlfriend everyone talks about?" Her eyes narrowed as she gave Ellie a scrutinizing look from head to toe. "Doesn’t Olivia look a lot like her?" she asked, turning to the people beside her.

They nodded in agreement, one of the men murmuring, "Yeah, I just realized. No wonder I thought she looked very familiar."

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