The Billionaire's Stolen Bride,Marrying My Ex's Father

I was the true heiress, yet I fell head over heels for a fake golden boy. I was so blinded by love that I actually agreed to marry Julian. I never imagined that on our wedding day, Julian would pull a bridal bait-and-switch. While I was in the bridal suite having my makeup touched up, he walked down the aisle and exchanged vows with Chloe, the adopted daughter of my family. I only found out when it was time to exchange the rings. Julian grabbed my hand, whispering coaxingly, "Chloe is pregnant. I can't let my own flesh and blood grow up as a bastard child. Don't worry. As soon as the baby is born, I'll divorce her and marry you. Just wait for me for one year." "In one year, I promise I'll welcome you into the Sterling family with the grandest wedding imaginable!" Julian was dead certain that I was hopelessly obsessed with him—that I couldn't live without him, and that just like countless times before, I would nod through my tears. Except this time, I yanked my hand back. I turned around, walked straight toward Julian’s father standing on the stage, and looped my arm through his in front of the entire ballroom. "A year is way too long. Besides, your father is still drop-dead gorgeous." "If I marry your dad, I become a Sterling today!" Dead silence fell over the hall. It took Julian three whole seconds to process what I had just said. "Sienna, are you insane?! That's my dad!" Chloe gasped, her eyes wide with mock disbelief. "Sienna, have you lost your mind? Do you even know who Mr. Sterling is? He’s the head of Sterling Enterprises, worth trillions, famously single, and impossibly picky. You think a man like him would settle for an empty-headed trophy like you?" I completely ignored their jeers, tilting my chin up to look at Vincent Sterling. "I am the biological heiress to the Vance family, the sole heir to the Vance empire. Marrying me won't hurt your portfolio." "Let's go sign the marriage papers right now. Deal?" Vincent said nothing. Panic flickered in Julian’s eyes, and he hissed, "Dad! Sienna is my girlfriend!" Only then did Vincent react. He lowered his gaze to my hand resting on his arm, gently patted the back of my hand, and delicately pulled away. "I’m going to call your parents and ask them to come over." With that, he turned and walked out. Everyone in the room assumed that was his polite way of turning me down. The moment Vincent left, Julian lost all restraint. He stood opposite me and burst out laughing. "That's priceless! Sienna, did you seriously think every man falls for your pretty face?" "My dad can barely stand the sight of me. Why on earth would he look at you?" Chloe covered her mouth with a delicate giggle and chimed in, "Sienna, you should just leave. Didn't you hear Mr. Sterling? He's calling Mom and Dad." "They were already so furious about your relationship with Julian that they refused to even show up today. Now that you've humiliated yourself with this pathetic stunt, when they get here, they'll break your legs!" Seeing me still standing motionless on the stage, Julian waved a hand and summoned security to drag me off. "I apologize, everyone. There's been a little scene today, so I guess we'll skip the formal toasts." "The ceremony ends here. Please, enjoy the food and drinks—just consider it free entertainment." With a mocking sneer at me, Julian offered his arm to Chloe and escorted her off the stage. I was half-dragged, half-shoved into a secluded corner of the reception hall. Low murmurs erupted around me like a buzzing hive: "Sienna Vance got dumped, so she tried to jump to the top of the food chain? Trying to seduce Vincent Sterling? What an absolute joke!" "Right? The way Mr. Sterling called her parents made it obvious—he was disgusted by the spectacle and wanted her family to put her on a leash. Now look at her: no wedding, and her parents are going to tear her apart." "Now I get why Julian swapped brides. I’d do the exact same thing. Who wants to marry a psycho like that?" ... Cruel barbs flew from every direction, threatening to crush me. I stood there until the reception finally wound down and most of the guests had filtered out. BAM! The heavy double doors of the banquet hall flew open. My parents strode in, marching straight toward me. I froze in place. Seeing my mother raise her hand, I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the hard slap across my face. Yet in the next second, my mother gently cupped my cheeks with trembling, ecstatic hands. "Sienna! Why didn't you tell us you were marrying Vincent Sterling today?! Did you really think your father and I wouldn't show up?" "Vincent called us himself! He said he's taking you to City Hall this afternoon to get your marriage license. Is it really true?!"The few lingering guests instantly froze, their smirks vanishing, heads whipping around in sheer shock. I opened my eyes, equally stunned. Looking past my parents' shoulders, I saw Vincent Sterling striding toward me. He pulled his ID from his jacket pocket and flashed it at me. "Got my documents. I also notified your parents so they can serve as witnesses." "Let's go. We're getting our marriage license right now." Before I could even process it, Vincent took my hand and led me out, giving me no time to change out of my wedding dress. I was in a complete daze until the clerk at City Hall handed us the official marriage certificate. Only then did reality finally hit. I had actually... married Vincent Sterling. I glanced sideways. He was staring down at the certificate in his hand, lost in thought. "You walked away earlier. I thought you rejected me." "Everyone was laughing at me." Vincent looked up and gently ruffled my hair. "I'm sorry. I was terrified that once you cooled down, you’d change your mind, so I rushed back to get my papers." "Don't worry. I won't let you be wronged. The ring, the gifts, the proposal, the real wedding... I’ll give you everything you deserve. And from now on, no one will ever laugh at you." He slipped an sleek black Centurion card from his inner suit pocket and pressed it into my palm. "Take this card. Spend whatever you want. As soon as I wrap things up at the office, I'll come straight to you." "My assistant already bought you fresh clothes. Go change in the restroom. The dress you're wearing is the wrong size, and the fabric is terrible. It doesn't suit you at all—the lace chafed your chest raw." I glanced down, noticing for the first time the bright red, stinging irritation across my collarbone where the cheap, scratchy lace had rubbed against my skin. Julian had picked this wedding dress for me. He had claimed that as an illegitimate child, he had no money to splurge on luxuries, so he had pulled strings just to rent this cheap piece. Back then, completely blinded by love, I didn't care. I felt that as long as I could marry him, I’d gladly wear a burlap sack. I had stood there in that loose, fraying dress, practically moved to tears by my own devotion. Yet today, the gown Chloe wore down the aisle was shimmering, custom-fitted, and spun from the finest silk. A bespoke designer masterpiece. Julian wasn't broke. He just didn't care enough to spend a dime on me. I sniffled, choking back the sudden wave of bitterness. Vincent instinctively reached out to comfort me, but right before his fingers touched my face, he paused and pulled his hand back with practiced restraint. "Be good. Don't cry." "Sienna, move into the Sterling Estate tonight. I'll have Julian thrown out." I paused, blinking through my red-rimmed eyes. "Wait... isn't he your son? I know he's illegitimate, but still..." Vincent gave a soft, dry laugh and offered me a tissue. "He's an illegitimate son of the Sterling family, not mine." "Julian was my late older brother's kid from an extramarital affair. My brother died years ago in an illegal street race. To protect the family’s public image, my father claimed Julian was my secret child. It's a Sterling family secret. But since we're married now, I shouldn't keep secrets from you." So that was why Julian always called himself a "fake heir." I stared at him, mesmerized, until Vincent gently leaned down and wiped away my stray tears himself. "All right, no more tears." "I need to discuss a few things with your parents first. Once you're changed, my driver will take you home, and my assistant will help you pack your things. See you tonight, okay?" He coaxed me like a cherished child. I nodded. By the time I finished changing, Vincent and my parents had already left. The driver dropped me off at the Vance mansion. The moment I pushed the front door open, I found all my luggage packed and neatly stacked in the foyer. "Well, well. Look who decided to show up—the grand Mrs. Sterling!" Chloe’s smug, venomous laughter echoed through the hallway. She stood near the staircase, chin tilted high in the air. "Didn't you notice? The maids came by and boxed up every single thing you own." "Looks like Mom and Dad have officially kicked you out of the family!""I wasn't kicked out. I'm moving into the Sterling Estate," I replied calmly. Chloe didn't believe a word. She threw her head back and laughed until she nearly lost her balance. "Give it a rest, Sienna. I don't have time to indulge your pathetic delusions." "I’m leaving anyway. Unlike a worthless stray who got kicked to the curb, Julian is taking me to the Maldives for our honeymoon! Bye-bye, Mrs. Sterling!" With a mocking snort, Chloe grabbed her designer luggage and strutted out without looking back. Not long after she left, my phone rang. It was Julian. "Did your parents kick you out?" "I warned you not to pull that crazy stunt at our wedding, and now look at you. I found a place for you to stay. Just go there. I have an urgent business trip with the company, so I'll visit you when I get back." Still lying straight to my face. A cold numbness settled over my chest. I cut right through his bullshit. "Is your company sending you to the Maldives for a honeymoon with Chloe?" Julian went dead silent on the other end, clearly caught off guard. Then, sounding slightly guilty, he mumbled, "You already know?" "Chloe is pregnant, Sienna. I have to keep the mother of my child happy and stress-free. When I get back, I’ll take you on a honeymoon, too. We can... go take a walk around the downtown public park. Stop being so petty." My jaw clenched. Chloe got a luxury vacation to the Maldives; I got a stroll in a free public park. Before I could even rip into him, Julian hung up. A text notification popped up on my screen: [I booked a room for you. Just stay here.] I tapped the link to the address. It was called "The Budget Motel." Not only was it a discounted hourly-rate dump, but the photos attached showed a cramped, damp box with mold blooming across the ceiling, stained sheets, and filthy floors. It wasn't fit for human habitation. I didn't bother replying. I blocked his number on the spot. Footsteps sounded behind me. Vincent's assistant stepped forward, holding a cardboard storage box. "Ma'am, what should we do with these?" I cast a glance into the box. It was filled with every "gift" Julian had ever given me over the years. Cheap, nauseatingly sweet knockoff perfume. Ten-dollar clearance-rack shirts. A few promotional gift-with-purchase samples from luxury brands—the actual luxury products had no doubt been handed straight to Chloe. In Julian's eyes, I was just like these items: cheap, low-maintenance, and easy to appease. "Throw it all away." "I'll go check my room to see if anything was missed. If not, I'm ready to head to the Sterling Estate tonight." The assistant nodded respectfully and took the box away. Shortly after I settled into the Sterling Estate, Vincent returned. I hadn't felt awkward when I impulsively proposed to him at the wedding, but now that we were completely alone under one roof, a delayed wave of embarrassment washed over me. I stood there, tongue-tied. Calling him "honey" or "darling" felt impossible, so all I could squeeze out was a stiff, formal greeting: "Mr... Vincent, you're back." Vincent seemed amused by my awkwardness. He reached out and gently ruffled my hair. "Mr. Sterling? I'm only thirty-eight. I don't think I'm quite that old yet." "It's fine. Just call me Vincent. We did have an impromptu wedding, after all, and it's completely natural that we need time to build our feelings. I understand. For now, I'll sleep in the guest suite so you can have the master bedroom all to yourself." My cheeks burned. "No, I should be the one in the guest—" Vincent gently pulled me into a brief, warm embrace, his voice laced with a smile. "No arguments. It's settled." "I'm older than you. By marrying me, you're already getting the short end of the stick. Let me do what I can to spoil you." Blushing furiously, I opened my mouth to protest, but he took my hand in a completely natural gesture. "Come on, let's eat." "Your old man is starving." I couldn't help but burst into a laugh, and the lingering tension melted away. Life at the Sterling Estate turned out to be remarkably easy to adapt to. Vincent was incredibly thoughtful, paying attention to the smallest details of my routine. The food, the home scents, my daily habits, even the exact temperature of the central AC—everything was tuned precisely to my liking. The only thing was, he was exceptionally busy. Over the past few days, his schedule had grown especially hectic. I considered calling him, but worrying I’d interrupt an important meeting, I set my phone down. I decided to head out to pick up a custom-made silk tie I had ordered for Vincent. We had lived together for nearly three weeks now, and every single evening when he came home from work, he brought me a thoughtful gift. Yet, I hadn't given him anything decent in return. The moment I entered the luxury boutique, before the sales associate could even hand me the gift box, a familiar voice called out from behind me. "Sienna! So this is where you've been waiting for me!"Before I could turn around, Julian had already grabbed my wrist. "I went to that motel to look for you, but you weren't there. I called, but you didn't pick up. I was literally about to text you when I spotted you here!" Julian's eyes drifted down to the counter and locked onto the bespoke silk tie. "Is this for me?" "Sienna, you got kicked out of the house, and you still managed to scrape together money to buy me something this nice? You really are amazing to me." Julian smirked, reaching out to drape the tie around his own neck. I yanked it out of his grasp, my face cold as ice. "This isn't for you. Don't touch it." Julian's expression instantly darkened. "Not for me? Who else could it possibly be for?" "Sienna, did you cheat on me while I was away?!" Before I could even speak, Chloe, who was standing behind Julian with her baby bump slightly showing, chimed in venomously, "She totally cheated! Julian, look at what she's wearing—it's head-to-toe couture! She was kicked out by her parents; how could she afford that? She probably paid for it on her back!" "She never even checked into that motel you booked. She's definitely shacking up with some sugar daddy!" "That tie is for her side piece!" Disgusted by Chloe's filthy mouth, I grabbed the packaged tie and moved to leave. Julian caught my wrist in a vice-like grip, blocking my path. "Hold on! Chloe hit the nail on the head, didn't she? That's why you're running!" "Sienna, don't push your luck. Tell me who the hell he is right now! If you confess, maybe I'll let it slide and we can still have a future. Otherwise—" I glared right into his eyes. "Get your hands off me. I am married. My husband is Vincent Sterling—your father!" Hearing this, Julian let out an enraged, mocking bark of laughter. He tightened his grip until my wrist bruised under his fingers. "Sienna, stop dragging my dad into your pathetic lies! Let me tell you the truth: my dad was so disgusted by you making a scene at the wedding that he’s already preparing to marry someone else! Stop dreaming about climbing the social ladder." "Besides me, who the hell would ever want you?!" I wrenched my arm free and marched toward the descending escalator. "I told you, he's your father! If you don't believe me, call him yourself!" Julian had no intention of letting me walk away. He chased after me, grabbing my shoulder right as I stepped onto the moving escalator. "Stop right there! You're still trying to take that tie to your sugar daddy?" "Sienna, leave the tie, and tell me who the bastard is!" Chloe waddled over, using her pregnant belly as an excuse to shove her way into the fray. The two of them flanked me on the narrow escalator steps, pulling and shoving. Stumbling under their aggressive tugs, my footing slipped, and I teetered dangerously on the edge. Right then, my phone buzzed in my bag. I reached down to grab it, but Julian's hand was faster. He snatched the phone right out of my fingers. He glared at the lock screen and read the preview aloud through gritted teeth: "['The butler said you went to the boutique. I wrapped up early today and I'm coming to pick you up. — Hubby']" "['Wife, I miss you. — Hubby']" "You actually saved his contact as 'Hubby'?! Sienna, have you no shame?!" That was the contact name I set for Vincent. I lunged forward to snatch my phone back. In the chaotic struggle on the moving stairs, a hard, deliberate shove hit me squarely in the chest. "AH—!" I lost my balance completely. With a terrified cry, I tumbled down the steep, descending metal steps. Julian froze, his hand still suspended in the air in mid-push. Only when he saw me crumpled, motionless on the hard floor at the bottom of the escalator, did the horror of what he had done finally dawn on him. Panicking, he raced down the stairs. "Sienna?! Sienna!" Someone was faster. A dark figure bolted past, dropping to his knees beside me. Vincent looked up at Julian and Chloe, his face twisted in deadly fury. "Julian, have you completely lost your mind?!" Julian went pale. "D-Dad? What are you doing here?" Vincent didn't waste a single second on him. He leaned down, carefully checking the gash on my forehead, his fingertips trembling uncontrollably. Watching Vincent's tender, protective gestures toward me, Julian froze, bewildered. Then, a horrifying realization hit him. "Dad... the woman you said you were marrying... it can't be..." Vincent swept me effortlessly into his arms, then lifted his head, glaring at Julian with eyes full of murder. "Yes!" "It's Sienna!"