The Daring Billionaire’s Wife

Two weeks ago, getting to our honeymoon destination was filled with excitement and desire. I expected it to be the same on my way back with Aileen, but it doesn't seem to be the case.

While I'm already trying to get back to work by going over a few documents on my laptop, she seems distant as she sits on the other side of the limousine with a poker face, far from me while scrolling on her phone. It doesn't matter what she's looking at, I would have expected her to at least sit so close to me. To grab her attention, I close my laptop and raise my head, leaning back in my seat.

"Babe, is everything alright with you?" I ask, glancing at her crossed legs and skirt raised all the way up to her thighs. I still can't seem to get enough of her.

She sighs, looking up at me with an assuring smile. "Everything's fine."

I narrow my eyes suspiciously. "You know that I'm asking because I don't think that's the case."

"Why would you say that?" She tilts her head in curiosity.

"It's written all over your face that something's wrong."

"Fine, you got me. I didn't want to say anything because it's nothing. It's just the usual back and forth with my entitled family. The three of them just won't stop with their demands."

"Wait, I thought you blocked them. I remember you told me that."

"Well, I did, but anyway, it doesn't matter. I'm fine. I can handle them." She puts her phone on the seat next to her and places a hand on her chest with an enthusiastic smile. "I can't wait to see our new home!"

"I was just about to say something similar. I can't wait to show you." I nod in agreement.

Her enthusiasm puts me at ease as this is what I would expect of her. For the rest of the ride, she barely pays attention to her phone, engaging me in conversation by asking about my work.

We get to our new home, one of which I recently bought and I hold her hand as we step inside. She looks around with a light nod and a small smile, her reaction not meeting my expectations as I thought she'd be blown away by the size of this mansion. It makes me wonder what's going on with her.

"It's so beautiful here," she finally says, her tone neutral.

"Wait until you see the master bedroom." I chuckle.

Holding her hand, I lead her to the elevator and notice her smile, which doesn't seem to completely be genuine. Is she that annoyed by her entitled family? It has to be something else as we already spoke about this in the limousine, but what could it be? This should be an important moment, but she only seems half present with me.

We get to the bedroom door and I push it open, letting her walk inside before me.

stands in the middle of the spacious room, looking left and right with her shoulders slightly curved inward. It's

hands on her shoulders

the size of this bed?" I whisper against her ear. "Imagine all the

flirtatiously, then

I realize what might be on her mind. How insensitive of me. To make

focus

deep sigh. "You're right. I can now focus on that since I

yet." She firmly

I can speak, my phone begins to ring from my pocket, the caller ID making

to take this. It's

him. It's business as usual, as a lot is expected of me but at the end of our conversation, he mentions an upcoming event and I realize there's something I haven't yet told Aileen. It's also related to what my parents and I spoke about the first time they met her. I don't want to sound like a control

look around but there's no sign of her. That's until I look at the balcony. There she is, facing the sky with her arms wrapped around herself. While approaching her, I say, "You know, you can always share what's going on

didn't hear you come in," she says as

minutes since I returned from my honeymoon and we're already

playfully rolls her eyes. "That is

her, ready to indirectly tell her what my parents told me that evening. "My father also mentioned the upcoming fundraiser As my wife, this will be your first public event and it's just the beginning, so you better be ready. You're now an important figure in my family and we value reputation above anything else.

me, raising her eyebrows, her lower lip trembling as she struggles to meet my gaze. "Why

the case with any well established family within my class, Who would want a tarnished reputation? Absolutely no one, but anyway, everything's been great so far. I only meant it in the sense that there's a certain way you need to carry yourself at these events. The press will always try to find a way

negative and make it

She

"Then it's settled."

a kiss on her forehead, relieved that this has played

-

Aileen

all the times Liam could have told me about anything to do with reputation, why did it have to be now, when

come crashing down after going through everything she sent me. I've been looking at it since Liam and I were still on that

happiness and just when I was wondering if I should tell him or not, it feels like the universe is against me by having him tell

a moment alone in the bathroom while with my phone, I get start typing to reply to a message Meryl sent to me but instead, she calls. Apart from Liam not being the bedroom, there's so much distance between the spacious bathroom and spacious bedroom,

that I pick up but still