He Cheated On Me Thinking My Wealth Was His—So I Kicked Him Out of the Billionaire Game Chapter 01
The day I found out I was pregnant, Julian Chase came clean.
“I cheated. It’s your assistant.”
“She’s younger. She’s got moves. Keeps things exciting.”
“It’s different from you. You were raised with rules, always so proper. She’s… different.”
I stood there, the pregnancy test crumpled in my hand, frozen on the spot.
But Julian looked like he’d finally let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. His voice was almost cruelly light.
“Don’t worry, though. I’ll be a good dad.”
“But don’t think you can trap me just because you’re pregnant.”
“A guy needs some excitement outside. It’s normal.”
I laughed.
Julian married me and actually thought that made him one of us?
The company was mine. My child would inherit it after me.
Julian’s last name didn’t mean a thing.
—
I looked down at the wrinkled test in my hand.
“How long?”
Julian paused for a beat.
“Six months.”
Cora chimed in with a smile, “Longer than that, don’t you think?”
“The first time was the night Elise left for Sedona.”
“You were drunk. You held me and said Elise was perfect, but she was too uptight.”
Something squeezed my chest.
I’d gone to Sedona to hike for him. To pray for his safety.
I’d walked forty-three miles of desert trails for him, sick and dizzy, whispering prayers I was stupid enough to believe mattered.
Turns out I was sick with altitude sickness, gasping for air, Julian was rolling around with someone else.
Cora tilted her head, her smile bright and smug.
“That next morning, you told me you loved how flexible I was.”
I looked at her familiar face and the words caught in my throat.
Ten years ago, I met her during an outreach program in rural Kentucky.
Back then, she wasn’t Cora Mills. She was Cora Miller.
Skin and bones. Too weak to even cry.
I got her medical care. Put her through school.
After graduation, I brought her into my company as my assistant.
I taught her to write emails, handle clients, choose gowns, and wear her hair for black-tie events.
At the corporate gala, she raised her glass, eyes wet, and said, “I wouldn’t be here without Elise.”
So this was how she thanked me.
Sitting on my husband’s lap with bruises blooming on her neck.
Julian saw me staring at Cora and his brow furrowed.
“Elise, she didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I fell for her first.”
Cora looked at him like he’d just whispered something beautiful. Her eyes went red.
“Julian…”
I almost laughed. It was disgusting.
Julian softened his voice.
“Don’t blame her. She’s young. Innocent.”
“She’s not like you, Elise. You were raised with rules. Everything has to be proper.”
“With her, it’s easy. Fun.”
He paused.
His eyes dropped to the test in my hand.
“Look, if you’re pregnant, I’ll step up.”
“I’ll be a good father.”
“And Cora isn’t going to take your place as Mrs. Chase.”
He said it like he was closing a business deal.
Calm. Almost reasonable.
“But don’t think you can lock me down just because you’re having a baby.”
“You’re in no condition right now.”
“I can’t just go without.”
Cora reached up and touched the gold pendant around her neck.
The one I’d given her when she graduated.
She’d said she was scared to go to her first corporate gala. Scared she’d make a fool of herself.
I was the one who put it on her.
She let out a soft laugh and shot me a smug look.
