UNEXPECTEDLY THE BILLIONAIRE'S WIFE

They say friends always need each other, but what if needing isn't enough?

Layla sat on her bed, her phone resting in her hand, her mind racing with doubt and fear. What Victoria had asked of her was no small favor. She didn't want to get herself tangled up in rich people's problems, especially problems that could ruin someone's life. The thought of being caught by Victoria's parents or worse, the groom himself, made her stomach twist.

But the money... forty thousand dollars.

That was more than enough to bail her father out of prison. More than enough to give them both a fresh start.

Her heart and mind fought each other, but in the end, her need was stronger than her fear. She picked up her phone and dialed Victoria's number.

The call barely rang before Victoria picked up, her voice full of hope.

"Have you given it a thought?" she asked, sounding desperate.

Layla hesitated, then asked the one question that really mattered.

"Are you really going to pay me?"

"Yes! Of course I will," Victoria answered right away.

Layla let out a small laugh, though it wasn't a happy one. "Are you sure this will even work? What if you get caught? What if they catch me? Your dad might just shoot me on the spot."

She tried to joke, but deep down, she meant every word.

"You'll figure it out, Layla. I know you've got plenty of ideas. Please, Layla, I need this. I promise, I'll pay you. I swear," Victoria begged. She and her secret boyfriend had already made a plan to meet outside the wedding venue and run away together. They were planning to elope.

Layla went silent for a long moment, her thoughts spinning.

"Hello? Layla? Are you still there? Are you doing this or not?" Victoria asked, her voice sharp with panic.

Layla sighed, finally making her choice.

"Alright, alright. Okay. I'll do it. But how are we even going to pull this off?"

"The wedding's in five days," Victoria said. "I'll give you a guest pass, so no one will get suspicious."

They talked a little more, setting the basics of the plan. When the call ended, Layla dropped her phone and slumped into the couch, her mind still buzzing. Victoria was serious, she wasn't the type to joke about money or love. Layla trusted her. Besides, the money could change her life and her father's too.

That night, Layla lay awake, thinking. Every idea that came to her felt too risky or too weak. Until one thought hit her, clear as day.

She could pretend to be pregnant with the groom's child.

It was bold. Messy. Wild. But it was the kind of drama that could ruin a wedding in seconds. She had never met Julian Bennett, the groom, but that was the beauty of the plan....the surprise would confuse him, and in that moment of shock, she could twist the whole story.

All she needed was confidence. And guts.

The day before the wedding, Victoria called her again. They went over the plan one last time, their voices low and careful.

"When it's done, take a taxi to Doe's River, outside the city. I'll be waiting there with the money," Victoria said softly.

"Alright. Okay," Layla replied.

Victoria hung up, leaving Layla alone with her thoughts once more. She still felt scared, but the thought of forty thousand dollars gave her strength. She pushed the fear aside and focused on the good. She would make this work, no matter what.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

The day of the wedding finally arrived.

Layla stood in front of her small mirror, getting ready for her role. She pulled on a short blonde wig, completely covering her long dark hair. She used heavy makeup to hide her natural features. The final touch was a tight, body-hugging dress that shaped her figure perfectly, drawing attention to her fair skin.

She barely recognized herself.

Her phone buzzed. It was Victoria.

"Are you ready?" Victoria whispered, her voice soft so no one would overhear. "I'm about to walk down the aisle, Layla. Please don't mess this up. If I actually get married today... I swear I'll hate you forever."

Layla smirked. "You're paying me, remember? No way I'm letting that happen."

"I trust you, Layla. Please, do a good job," Victoria whispered one last time.

"Alright, hang up before someone catches you," Layla said. The line went dead.

Layla stared at herself in the mirror one last time. The wig, the makeup - it all made her feel like someone else.

She took a deep breath and whispered to her reflection,

"Let's do this. Let's stop that wedding, baby."

Layla said to herself as She blew a quick kiss to her reflection, picked up her bag, and stepped out of the apartment to get to her side gig of the day...