Billionaire Heiress Husband Betrayal

CHAPTER ONE September, 2007.

The crackling of the nearby fire spoke to Alice, informing her that this was a night she would never forget or even if she did, it would not be in a hurry. Her eyes fleeted between the fire and Malcom who was on one knee, his arms outstretched in askance. He held a clear cut, diamond ring which glistened under the fire, drawing her attention. She stared between Malcolm and the ring, various questions running through her head.

"Alice, I know your life is already beautiful but let me be a part of it and make it heavenly. I cannot imagine a life without you. I've tried…" He let out a small laugh, shook his head as if the words surprised him too.

"I've tried to live without you but each time, I fail. Please, marry me." The skip of her heart was all the conviction she needed to know what her response would be.

She was in love with the guy. Has been since she was fifteen. He was her first love and like all first loves, she dreamed of spending her entire life with him.

Yet, here he was, on bended knee, asking for her hand in marriage but for some reason, an uncertainty lurks in her head. Perhaps because she has plenty of dreams which she believes have to be fulfilled outside marriage or maybe because she thinks they are still growing and hence are not old enough to make such decisions.

Malcom was a good five years older than her but it never proved to be a problem to her. He was her protector, her guardian and her lover - everything she was not opportuned to have as a child. Maybe that was why she considered herself lucky to have him.

"Do you want children, Malcom?" She asked. The smile on his lips and eyes slowly transform into a frown.

He gently dropped his hands to his sides, rose from the ground and stood to his full height. She stared up at him, maintaining the same blank look on her face despite the turmoil building in her heart.

"What? Why do you ask that, Alice?"

"It is a very simple question. Do you want children or not?" The confusion on his face was clear but she was determined to give nothing away. As important as the topic was, they never discussed it.

She didn't know Malcom would ask her to marry him on her eighteenth birthday. "Well…" He cleared his throat. "...the prospect of having children is not something I have completely cancelled out. Maybe not now but in years to come, I want to. I love the concept of fatherhood."

Her eyes narrowed into tiny slits as she looked up at him. The glow from the fire kissed his brown hair, giving it an exotic, orange look. She did not miss the word he used - concept. She wasn't sure what that meant but it left a bitter taste in her mouth.

"Concept of fatherhood? What does that mean, Malcom? What happens when you cease being thrilled by this…concept?" The words fell from her mouth with the same bitterness she felt.

"That won't happen" He responded, shaking his head and scrunching his nose in disgust as if the mere thought of her words irritated him.

"Malcom, I do not want children…ever" She added the last part when a hopeful look appeared on his face. He clenched the box containing the ring tightly in his palm, looked at the fire then back at Alice. Her face was set in a cold expression, one he had never seen on her before.

"Fine. We will do whatever you want. I'm ready to compromise" He assured her. Her head fell back in surprise. Compromise? Malcom never used the word 'compromise'. It sounded strange falling from his lips.

"How long will this compromise hold for?" She made quotations around "compromise" with her fingers.

He clicked his tongue, ran a frustrated hand down his hair and pressed his lips into a thin line. Forcing an exasperated sigh, he said, "Alice, will you marry me or not? I'm forced to say these questions are largely influenced by those books you've been reading and that makes no sense. This decision is about your life not some author's."

"This has nothing to do with the books I read" She responded in equal irritation. So many questions ran through her head. Would she be making the right decision by marrying Malcom now? She had an empire to build. She was okay with being in love with the young man but actually marrying him? That was a huge step. Would she regret it?

"I would like to discuss this with my grandmother. If she agrees, we'll get married" She said, finally looking away. Malcom blinked in disbelief.

"What? What does your grandmother have to do with this? You can make these decisions yourself. You are an adult now, Alice" He pressured.

"I insist" She snapped, pushing herself up and walking towards him. She stopped right in front of him and poked his chest harshly.

"You are twenty-three, Malcom. You are certain about what you want in life. I'm still sorting mine out. Let me…"

"You have a bloody inheritance" He yelled, interrupting her. She blinked once, twice, then a scoff followed. As if realizing his slip, Malcom shook his head and tried to touch her but she took her hands back.

2017

"Alice, are you ready?" Malcom's voice came from the door, breaking her out of her thoughts. She stared at his reflection in her mirror and the corner of her lips curve into a smile.

He walked into the room and stopped behind her. He gently squeezed her shoulders and she placed her left palm on the hand on her shoulder.

"The guests are here. You look divine" He complimented, kissing her forehead. Her smile broadened and she nodded in appreciation.

"We don't want to keep them waiting" She said, pushing the seat backwards and rising up. She straightened her black sequin jumpsuit, lifted her jaw, squared her shoulders and began making her way out of the room with Malcom walking closely behind her.