HIS BILLION -DOLLAR BRIDE

CHAPTER ONE

BETRAYAL

ZARIAH NIGHTBORNE POV

I stared at my dad’s secretary, my eyes down as he handed me the secret box my adoptive dad left behind. Today was the final burial night and even thought I still couldn’t understand why all the rituals took place, I still had to go along with it.

“Thanks.” I bow slowly, my tears streaming down my face, he patted my back before turning to leave.

He stopped and stared at me, “You should check out the content immediately you get back inside and don’t take a minute to hesitate about whatever is in there.”

I was confused! I needed answers but no one to ask, I nodded while watching him walk away. Nothing I do can ever change everything happening.

As I proceed to walk upstairs, I heard the loud voice of my best friend, “Zariah!” She shouted, I broke into a cold smile turning to look at her.

“Lena.” My tone was soft and delicate, she hugged me immediately she got to my side. I broke the big and nudged her slowly, she stared trying to look out for anyone.

I cracked, “I dismissed everyone already, the guards are on break. Everyone deserves the peace.”

We both walked towards the staircase going up as we chatted, “It must have been hard alone.” She started.

It really was hard, late nightmares, flashes of visions that doesn’t seem as though they were my memories.

Weird dreams and feelings, I have no idea if they were true or not, not when they felt so real and each pain is inscribed into my bone and rib.

As if they were my own memories. “Really was. But didn’t I still have you?” I asked slowly. She was always going and coming back.

I couldn’t even contact her because of her abusive parents. “Don’t you find anything strange these days?” She suddenly asked as we got to the door of my room, I raised my brow at her question.

Truly, things have been a little different and strange these days but I didn’t take it to heart because it doesn’t make any sense.

I answered, my voice cautions trying not to say too much, “Well yea, but maybe the atmosphere.” I shrugged.

She didn’t respond, instead she draw back, “Zariah, I just remembered I have something very urgent to do back at home, you don’t mind me leaving right now.” Before I could say anything, she dashed out leaving in a hurry.

What’s wrong with her?

I locked my door from behind crashing into the bed, a long stressful day! I took out my phone clicking on a number as I proceed to send a message.

“CALL ME WHEN YOU RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE.” I clicked send and dropped my phone. I sighed out. Now I have no one but them.

Lena and him, KAEL.

I slowly sat up, taking the box and placing it properly on my lap as I tried opening it. There was a small keyhole there and a key was wrapped on it.

I took the key and opened it, there was only a small letter inside and nothing more, I raised my brow in confusion.

I took the letter out and dropped the box, I opened it, the message was old yet clear like it was just written.

“YOU ARE NOT WHO YOU THINK YOU ARE.”

Seeing the write up, I shivered , cold sweats rolling down my cheeks. What does it mean? I couldn’t place my mind on it so I dropped it.

I was feeling so tired so I decided to have a rest and sleep, relieving all the day discomfort. I pulled up the duvet properly on my body as I lie down.

It must just be one of dad’s trick to get me to forget about his death, I smiled slowly, my eyes starting to close slowly.

It felt heavy and I was already sleeping. Before long, I plunge into darkness, my eyes closing into a deep sleep.

I weakly opened my eyes straightening my body, as I tried catching a glimpse of where I was. I could remember sleeping on the couch.

I looked around again. Then clutched my head in pain, tons of images. Screams, loud voices, matching legs, weird creatures and sadness.

A lot of fires and things being destroyed, I stared at the people who were hiding from the war, my eyes darted to just one corner of the forest.

There it was, the tattoo again, as I tried getting close to it, I was forced to wake up.

My breath was racing rapidly. My sweat already wetted the bed, I was shaking as I tried calming myself down. This dream again. And it’s always when I get to the tattoo. My phone turned on ringing out loudly again.

The main reason why I jolted awake from my dream, I frowned slightly but seeing the call I’d made me smile.

I picked it up before the call could end, “So long so far.” I said immediately shrugging like the person could see me.

“I’m sorry! I was just so busy at the company these days.” His calm voice came in, I immediately felt at peace hearing his voice.

KAEL and I were both childhood best friends until we graduated from college and he took it upon himself to ask me out, yes. I love him also.

But lately, after the death of my adopted father, he has been distant and acting weird, which I couldn’t understand but knowing it might be because of his company, I let go of the misunderstanding before it start creating doubt in me.

We continue to talk for few more minutes, turned hours then he got busy again prompting the call to end.

“You would call me soon right?” It was a reassurance, I wanted to be sure he was only just busy.

“Yes, I would…” There was a pause on the other end of the call. Silence then I could hear ruffles.

A low deep voice, “Where’s she, KAEL?” Befpre I could listen to more, the call dropped. I was worried but I had no idea where he was right now, all I knew was he was on a business trip.

The door knock on my door made me look up, “Who?” I asked.

“Miss, your friend, miss Lena is downstairs, she is waiting for you.” Hearing that, I stood up in a hurry.

I wore my flip flops, “Tell her I’ll be there in some minutes.” Without waiting for any response, I took my towel dashing into the bathroom.

I took off my nightwear staring at myself in the mirror, my face was pale a bit looking weak but my full plumb lips stood out.

All of a sudden, I saw a figure running, my face changed which made me flinch. At first I thought I was hallucinating.

But then, my eyes flickered changing from my natural blue eyes changing from blue to red, I widened my eyes in shock, before I could react, the mirror shattered.

A write up coming up, “YOU ARE NOT WHO YOU THINK YOU ARE.” This was the same write up dad had written in his box.

I staggered out, still in shock of whatever happened as I went to look for the box but I couldn’t find the small write up again.

Instead there was a token, I sighed, I must have been stressed out that I started hallucinating things. The token was for the whole mafia underworld.

My adoptive father was the head of the top underworld organization, fierce, feared and dangerous, he raised me to be just like him or maybe but I had a little bit of sympathy.

I always felt like a bit of me was missing but there was no way to explain it. I took the token going back into the bathroom, everything was normal, I truly was hallucinating.

I stared at the mirror again, my eyeball was split into two, one half red and the other blue. I opened my eyes in shock.

“You gat to be kidding me!” I thought but couldn’t find an answer, as I closed my eyes and sighed, opening it again, my eyes were back to normal.

Wasn’t it enough that I have deadly nightmares every night, now I have to hallucinate things again, I ignored the feelings taking a shower and going out to dress up.

I wore a black trouser and crop top, keeping my gun in the black jacket before putting it on. I packed my hair up into a bun, put on a red lipstick before wearing my sneakers.

I headed out, I sight Lena speaking with someone but no one was there with her, just as I moved closer, she noticed my presence and faced me.

“You are finally out. I thought it’ll take you forever to be done.” She smiled lightly, I couldn’t tell if the smile was genuine or not.

“Not a bother to you, where are we going?” I ignored her initial saying asking her the main important question.

She shrugged, “Going shopping of course, you are going to be initiated as the next mafia queen, she need some badass dresses.”

I rolled my eyes picking up the key to the motorcycle and some cards. “Then we go low profile.”

I didn’t want to draw attention to myself so I preferred going without anyone noticing me, she nodded as we walked out.

My mind suddenly drifted, “Do you think werewolves exist?” I asked her, setting the motor bike.

She smiled, “Yes of course…” She noticed I was staring at her weirdly, “Sorry. I meant probably, I’ve been researching a lot about them lately and maybe, just maybe they are.”

I nodded ignoring her as I sat on the bike after wearing my helmet, she wore hers also sitting on the bike behind mine.

I started it and drove off, my mind on what she said, could the weird creatures in my dreams be werewolves? But I couldn’t see them well.

I stopped the bike removing my helmet as I arranged my hair, Lena stopped just beside me also, “We have such a long day to go.” She winked.

I nodded dropping the helmet as I walked towards the mall entrance but something caught my attention, someone!

“KAEL.” I murmured surprised, I thought he was on a business trip as I walked closer to him, I could vividly hear his voice.

“I told you, I was only with her because of her father’s power, now that he’s dead, I need to find out who the next leader is, I don’t need her anymore.” His voice was full of disdain.

I stopped on my tracks, “What if she finds out?” The lady beside him asked him, her hands rubbing on his body seductively.

“She will never. That’s how much she trusted me.” His smiles irritated m

e, I closed my eyes trying to control my anger as I shouted his name.

“KAEL.”