After dumped, I married a billionaire

When Aila Ellis stumbled, Leona Carpenter’s quick reflexes snagged her arm before she could fall. Aila stared up at her, completely stunned.

"If you’re gonna put on an act, at least make it look real," Leona whispered—soft, but sharp with frost. "If you can’t pull it off, I guess I can help you out."

Aila’s heart skipped a beat. She twisted to meet Leona’s gaze, and all she saw back was cold, unreadable glint. A cold wave of dread crashed over her.

The hospital garden was lined with carefully placed decorative stones, laid out to look calm and peaceful. Leona knew exactly what would happen the second she let go of Aila’s arm. And she didn’t even hesitate.

A dull thud rang out as Aila’s head cracked against one of the stones. A nasty lump bloomed instantly on her pale forehead, making her look even more delicate and helpless than she already did.

The whole thing happened in the blink of an eye. Aila was too shocked to move, and even Michael Hansen was caught so off guard he reacted a beat too slow.

When Michael finally pieced together what just happened, he rounded on Leona with a furious glare. "Leona, do you have any idea what you just did?"

Leona gave a lazy little shrug, playing it totally cool. "Oops. My bad…"

"You…!" Michael stared at her unapologetic face, realizing she didn’t feel a single ounce of guilt or remorse.

"Don’t believe me?" Leona taunted, catching the scorn in Michael’s eyes and twisting her lips into a mocking smirk. "It’s so funny, huh? Aila apologizes and you automatically buy it was an accident, but when it comes to me, suddenly you’re suspicious. Guess my acting just isn’t up to your standards, huh?"

Aila brushed a gentle hand against her forehead, pressing lightly to the thick swelling. A sharp, throbbing pain split through her skull, unrelenting. She glowered at Leona, resentment burning in her eyes, and forced herself not to snap back.

For Aila, who made her living off her looks, this was devastating. She never saw Leona coming—never thought she’d go this far.

Leona paid no mind to the hatred in her stare, amusement flickering cold in her eyes. "Aila Ellis, you’d better stay far away from me from now on. Next time, it won’t be something this minor."

Michael caught the warning immediately, stepping fast between them, his gaze dark and locked hard on Leona. "Leona, this is completely irrational!"

Leona lifted a brow casually, her mouth tugging into a icy smile. "If I’m irrational, just stay away from me. I don’t have patience for other people’s mess, and anything I throw away? I think it’s disgusting."

"You!" Michael’s face went tight, his fists clenched at his sides. "If you got a problem with me, take it out on me. Leave Aila out of this."

"You really think this little thing is worth fighting over?" Leona shot back, voice thick with disdain, her eyes dripping sarcasm. "You think an awful lot of yourself, don’t you?"

Michael’s brow furrowed as he held her stare, his voice low and dangerous. "You can hate me all you want, but I won’t let you hurt Aila."

He bent down, lifted Aila gently into his arms, and threw one last cold glare at Leona before walking away.

Leona stood her ground, watching Michael leave. The tears she’d been holding back for so long finally spilled over, tracing hot paths down her cheeks.

Three years of giving up everything for nothing. She’d turned her back on her whole family just for him, and all she got out of it was heartbreak. But from the second she decided to cut him loose for good, she’d never planned to look back.

Leona slowly closed her eyes. No matter how hard she tried to stop them, the tears kept falling. They were proof that this love she’d carried had been her ruin all along.

"You okay?"

A deep, calm voice spoke up right beside her.