A Trillionaire’s Revenge

“Look, my friend's forgotten all about me. You're married now, and don't mingle with us singles?"

I grab her and give her the tightest hug I can afford. She was still wearing her Love Spell cologne, as always. "Thank you for coming,"

"I must give it to you, you look amazing, glowing, if I may add. Is marriage the secret?" She says as she hugs back.

We break the hug. "You can say that." I smile.

"Well, I guess, that's a good thing. I should be expecting that." She says as she waves her hand, an engagement ring visible on it.

I gasp in excitement, "Bloody hell! When? Who? Congratulations!" I say as I pull her in for another hug.

She shrugs but dismisses it immediately. "David." She says as she looks at me, directly in the eyes. That was exactly what she did when she felt bad over something—looking you in the eyes to avoid any form of guilt or burden.

"David? You mean, David Jackson?" I ask in complete shock an amazement, not just because he was to be my fiancé, but because of the terrible decision she had just made. "You know what he's like, you know what their family's like—how could you make such a reckless decision?"

"It's purely business. Political. It's just a year, or two. There's no dowry, no prenup and my freedom after a year or two is finalized. My family needs him and his family needs us. It's a win win, right?" She says.

I hold her hand, "Don't walk the same path I walked, Lydia. Don't let them use you in such a horrible way." I plead, my heart, genuinely breaking for her. It dawned on me that our parents were all just the same. Cut from the same cloth. Suddenly, but not the first time, I wished I was born poor. I would've been hungry but happy.

"Just as much as I'm being used, I'm using them too. My family is using the Jackson's and I'm using my family. Although, they have no idea, but they'll find out soon enough."

I raise my eyebrows in confusion, "How so?" I ask her. She tells me her plan and I look at her in awe. Lydia had a quiet personality and a shy personality too, but what she had just said made me see that even the most gullible person could be as cunning as a fox or even worse. A voice inside my head begged me to take notes on scheming from Lydia so at least, I'd beat my mother in her own game for once.

The party had begun, and people are socializing. I occasionally steal glances of Luke as I speak with Lydia. Things had really changed since school and I'd realized I'd missed out on a lot. My friend Anna had moved out of London to Germany to start a new life. Tracy had moved to Scotland for school, and would occasionally return and Verónica was still here, in Shoreditch.

That's your husband? You can't take your eyes off him." Lydia states.

I blush, "I never thought I could love someone as much as I love him. It's just so surreal."

Rocket? We all

sigh, "At some point, I did too, but I am glad that it didn't happen. I would never have been truly happy

was

but it was all deception. My mother manipulated me into marrying him, but it all turned out for the

glad it did, Natty. You truly deserve

you, and marrying that arse, is not where you will

will be how I can get what I want, then so

he shows." I say, as my focus is fixated at the

both look at Senator Jackson and his son, David

with his

feeling about tonight."

won't be happening to any of

room in a bid to find him. My eyes fall on him, champagne in

wonder how we could even resist him." Lydia

party chimes in and I turn to see David. The smile vanishes

in response. Lydia is quiet. I begin to wonder if her whole quite, calm behavior is a charade because with me, Lydia was a

he wraps his hands around her waist. She wraps her hands around his neck. "I'm fine, thank you." She responds. Disgusted by

He's talking to Senator Jackson. I approach them.

interrupts, "New marriages are always like this."

having fun without me. I thought you needed

cheeks, "Always so

you say hello to the senator? I thought you were familiar?" Luke asks. I turn

not in any way positive." I say, a fake smile on my face.

dear, I'm afraid you'll have to put your old grudges aside. Your husband and I just got acquainted and he's interested in becoming a co-owner of my new club."

when he looks at me, he can see the shock and disappointment on my face. "Yes- I've shown interest, but interest doesn't mean I'll become your partner, Mr. Jackson." I look at the senator, wondering his motives for approaching Luke. If only Luke knew that the man standing right in front of him tried to manipulate my

business there and then." Luke says and my heart begins to beat. That wasn't an option, that could never happen. Rocky was still in

visiting. It's not a problem." The senator says and I almost loose my balance.