I Married My Ex's Billionaire Father
Chapter 212: A Very Wealthy Woman

Chapter 212: A Very Wealthy Woman

The plush cushions of James’s apartment swallowed Lyse as she sank into the sofa, the delicate porcelain teacup trembling slightly in her hand. The chamomile tea, usually a source of comfort, felt lukewarm and tasteless. Her mind was a whirlwind of confusion, hurt, and a strange, persistent ache.

She had just finished recounting the tumultuous events day to James, the words tumbling out in a rush of emotion. The revelation hung heavy in the air between them, a bombshell that had detonated the carefully constructed image of her life.

"...and then he just... he just told me," Lyse finished, her voice barely a whisper. "He is the one I married, James. Levi. He is my husband from that drunken night."

James stared at her, his usually jovial face etched with disbelief and anger. He ran a hand through his perfectly coiffed hair, his brow furrowed. "He’s... he is your husband?" he repeated, the words sounding foreign even to his own ears. "But... but you mean, all this time you were together be never told you what had happened!"

Lyse nodded slowly, her gaze fixed on the swirling tea leaves in her cup. "Yes," she confirmed quietly. "He told me he loved me but he never... he never said a word about that night."

The silence that followed was thick with unspoken questions and simmering resentment. James paced the room, his agitation growing with each step. "I can’t believe he did that, Lyse," he finally exploded, his voice laced with indignation. "He kept that from you? Even though... even though you he asked you to marry him? That’s... that is just despicable."

Lyse remained silent, her expression unreadable. She swirled the tea in her cup, watching the leaves dance and settle. The image of Levi’s face, his eyes filled with a mixture of regret and... something else, something she couldn’t quite decipher, flashed through her mind. She missed him. The thought came unbidden, a sharp pang of longing that made her heart ache. She missed his touch, his smile, the way he made her feel like she was the only woman in the world.

But then, the image of his betrayal resurfaced, the bitter taste of deception coating her tongue. How could he? How could he have kept such a monumental secret from her? Had their entire relationship been a lie? Had he been playing a game with her emotions, manipulating her for some unknown purpose?

"Lyse," James said, his voice softer now. He sat down beside her on the couch, his hand resting gently on her arm. "Are you alright girl?"

Lyse looked at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and pain. "I don’t know, James," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. "I honestly don’t know what to think anymore, i don’t know how to feel."

James squeezed her arm reassuringly. "It’s okay to be confused, Lyse. It’s okay to be hurt. He has put you in a terrible position." He paused, a thoughtful expression on his face. "But... look at the bright side," he said, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "At least you did not sign a prenup, right? That means you are going get half of everything he owns in the divorce. You will be a very wealthy woman, Lyse."

Lyse didn’t respond. The thought of a divorce, of separating from Levi had not even crossed her mind. But now that James mentioned it, she felt like a heavy stone had been placed in her stomach.

The thought of wealth, felt hollow and meaningless. It was the furthest thing from her mind. All she could think about was Levi, the man she loved, the man who had betrayed her trust in the most profound way. The money, the properties, the luxurious lifestyle – none of it mattered if she could not have him, if she couldn’t be with him.

"Lyse," James said, his voice laced with concern. "Are you even listening to me? This is huge! You are going to be set for life!"

Lyse looked at him, her eyes filled with a weariness that belied her years. "James," she said softly, "I don’t care about the money."

James blinked, his smile faltering. "You... you don’t?"

Lyse shook her head. "No," she said. "All I care about is... is him."

James stared at her, his expression a mixture of surprise and understanding. He had always known that Lyse had strong feelings for Levi, but he hadn’t realized the depth of her love.

"Lyse," he said gently, "I know this is difficult. But you have to think about what’s best for you. He lied to you, Lyse. He kept a huge part of the start of you both from you. Can you really trust him after that?"

Lyse didn’t answer. She didn’t know if she could trust him. The doubt gnawed at her, a constant reminder of his deception. But despite the hurt, despite the anger, a part of her still clung to the hope that their love was real, that it was stronger than his lies. She wanted to believe that he had a good reason for keeping his marriage a secret, that he hadn’t intended to hurt her.

"I need time, James," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "I need time to think."

James nodded, understanding dawning in his eyes. "Of course, Lyse. Take all the time you need. I am here for you, whatever you decide."

Lyse managed a weak smile. "Thank you, James," she said. "I don’t know what I would do without you."

James squeezed her hand again. "You’re not alone, Lyse. You will get through this. Just... just remember that you deserve to be happy."

Lyse nodded, her gaze drifting back to the swirling tea leaves in her cup. She knew James was right. She deserved to be happy. But happiness felt so far away, a distant dream that seemed almost impossible to reach. She was trapped in a web of conflicting emotions, torn between her love for Levi and her hurt and anger at his betrayal.

She didn’t know what the future held, but she knew one thing for sure: she couldn’t stay in this state of limbo forever. She had to make a decision, one way or another. She had to decide whether she could forgive Levi, whether she could rebuild their relationship on a foundation of lies and secrets. Or whether she had to walk away, leaving behind the man she loved, the man who had become her husband, the man who had broken her heart. The choice was hers, and it was a choice that would determine the course of her life.