The Billionaire Sweet Love

Chapter 3

"I’ll be taking you out this afternoon,” Ethan said as he walked into the living room, not looking up from his phone. His tone was flat, as usual, no warmth, no affection. “We’ll go shopping, and then we have a business event tonight.”

Lisa blinked, caught off guard by his sudden appearance and the mention of plans. She hadn’t expected to see him, let alone spend the day with him. “Shopping?” she asked, trying to mask her surprise.

Ethan finally glanced up, his eyes briefly meeting hers. “You’ll need something appropriate for the event. It’s a formal business party, and you don't seem to have anything appealing”

She nodded, though her mind raced. It was strange, the thought of shopping with him, of being out in public together.

Up until now, their interactions had been few and far between, cold exchanges that felt more like business than marriage. But this felt like a step outside that carefully constructed distance, even if it was still for the sake of appearances.

“Okay,” she replied softly, feeling unsure of what else to say.

“Be ready in an hour,” he said, turning to leave the room just as quickly as he had entered.

Lisa stood there for a moment, processing his words. Part of her was anxious, she didn’t know how to act around him when they were alone, especially after last night, but another part of her was curious. Maybe today would be different. Maybe they could break through the icy wall that seemed to separate them.

An hour later, Lisa was dressed and waiting by the front door when Ethan appeared again. He didn’t offer her a compliment or even acknowledge the effort she had put into looking nice. Instead, he simply gestured toward the door. “Let’s go.”

They drove into the city in silence, the atmosphere between them tense and awkward. Lisa stared out the window, watching the streets pass by as they made their way to one of the most upscale shopping districts in town.

When they arrived, Ethan led her into a boutique filled with designer gowns, luxurious fabrics, and sparkling accessories. The staff immediately greeted them with the kind of deference that only came with recognizing extreme wealth.

“Pick whatever you want,” Ethan said, his tone businesslike as he sat down on a plush couch, scrolling through his phone again.

Lisa hesitated, unsure of what to choose. She had never shopped in places like this before, and the thought of spending thousands of dollars on a dress felt surreal. She wandered through the racks, her fingers brushing over the delicate materials, still trying to adjust to this new reality.

As she tried on different gowns, the staff buzzed around her, offering suggestions and adjustments, while Ethan remained completely disengaged, barely looking up from his phone to offer an opinion.

Every now and then, Lisa would catch a glimpse of him in the mirror, sitting there, detached, as if he couldn’t care less about the fact that she was trying to make an effort.

Eventually, she chose a sleek black evening gown, simple but elegant. She stepped out of the fitting room, feeling nervous, hoping for some kind of reaction from him. Ethan glanced up briefly, his expression was neutral.

“That’ll do,” he said, standing up and nodding to the sales associate to wrap it up.

His lack of enthusiasm stung, but Lisa didn’t let it show. She had learned by now that expecting anything more from Ethan was a mistake. This was who he was, cool, distant, and impossible to read.

Once they had left the store, the drive to the business party was just as quiet. The event was being held at a grand hotel downtown, and as they pulled up, Lisa could already see the well-dressed guests arriving, stepping out of luxury cars and walking up the red-carpeted steps. Ethan parked the car and turned to her before they got out.

“Remember, tonight is important for my business. We need to play the part of a married couple. Don’t draw attention to anything… unusual.”

Lisa nodded, feeling the pressure of his words settle over her. This was just another performance, another day of pretending. She had agreed to this when she signed the contract, but it didn’t make it any easier. “I understand,” she said quietly.

They stepped out of the car, and the flash of cameras immediately greeted them as they entered the party.

Lisa felt out of place among the glamorous guests, but she did her best to smile and stay by Ethan’s side, though he barely acknowledged her throughout the evening.

He introduced her to a few of his business partners, exchanged polite pleasantries, and then drifted into conversations that didn’t involve her.

Feeling increasingly invisible, Lisa excused herself to get some air. She slipped out of the ballroom and found her way to the hotel’s terrace, hoping for a moment of peace. She stepped outside, the cool night air hit her, and for the first time all evening, she felt like she could breathe.

But her brief moment of calm was shattered when she heard a familiar voice behind her. “Well, well, if it isn’t the charity case.”

Lisa froze, turning slowly to see Jade, one of her old classmates from college. Jade had always been cruel to her, mocking her for her background, for the fact that she didn’t come from wealth like the rest of them. And now, seeing Jade here, in the midst of Ethan’s world, made Lisa’s stomach churn.

Jade sauntered over, her eyes gleaming with malice. “I heard you married rich,” she sneered, her voice dripping with condescension. “Who’d you have to beg for that?”

Lisa tried to stay calm, reminding herself that she couldn’t let anyone know the truth about her marriage. “It’s none of your business, Jade,” she said, keeping her voice steady.

But Jade wasn’t finished. “You think just because you married a billionaire, you belong here? You don’t. You’ll always be that poor, pathetic girl who didn’t have anything.”

Lisa clenched her fists, trying to hold back the anger rising in her chest. She knew she couldn’t afford to get into a confrontation, not here, not now. But Jade was relentless.

Before Lisa could walk away, Jade raised her hand, as if preparing to slap her. “You don’t even deserve….”

Suddenly, a hand caught Jade’s wrist mid-air. Lisa gasped, her heart racing as she turned to see Ethan standing behind her, his expression dark and unreadable.

“That’s enough!” Ethan said, his voice low and dangerous. His grip on Jade’s wrist tightened just enough to make her wince before he let go.

Jade stumbled back, shocked and embarrassed. “Ethan, I didn’t….”

“Go inside,” Ethan interrupted, his voice cold. “Now.”

Jade hesitated, her face flushed with humiliation, before she turned and stormed back into the ballroom.

Ethan turned to Lisa, his expression softening just slightly. “Are you alright?”

Lisa nodded, though her heart was still pounding from the encounter. “I’m fine.”

For a brief moment, Ethan’s gaze lingered on her, as if he wanted to say something more. But then, just as quickly, the wall came back up, and he straightened, his voice returning to its usual indifferent tone.

“Let’s go back inside.”