The Return of The Zillionaire Heir

Chapter 9: A Debt Repaid

 

Barren?

 

The words replayed in his head like the saddest nursery rhyme alive. He had no clue that she couldn’t bear children. Bella had always talked about how she wanted a big family someday.

 

I thought Ethan had been patient with her. He never tried to rush things or force her to do anything she didn’t feel comfortable doing.

 

His mind wasn’t with him. Memories from his past marriage haunted him. He pressed the gas, going above the speed limit as he drove aimlessly on the highways.

 

Anyone who saw him now would think he had a death wish, but how else could he deal with this double betrayal?

 

When his line of thought refused to change, Ethan settled for dissecting the current situation.

 

The Suarez’s seemed like they valued family a whole lot. Arranged marriages were made to strengthen alliances, but those alliances only became solid rocks once a baby came into the picture.

 

If she didn’t tell him about it, then there was no chance in hell she could have told Marco about it. This was Bella’s deepest secret.

 

Ethan tightened his hands on the steering wheel as he gritted the words out. “I’m coming for you, Bella. You and your bloody empire.”

 

He arrived at his home a bit tipsy. When he almost tripped over his own feet, Ethan realized he was way past that now. He managed to make it to the kitchen and fetch himself a glass of water.

 

He drank two glasses, feeling his head clear up on the second one. A voice in the next room floated into the kitchen. It was Nadia. He frowned, staying on high alert.

 

Ethan rushed into the living room, only to find her watching a late-night movie on the couch. She buried herself under a duvet, and there was a large bucket of ice cream next to her.

 

“Hi?”

 

She glanced over her shoulder. “Hey, Ethan.”

 

“Do you do this all the time?” He approached.

 

She dragged out a sigh. “If you count the days I’ve been attacked by my supposed boyfriend, then yes.”

 

His frown deepened at what she implied, but suddenly, she burst into laughter, pointing at the look on his face. He could imagine how he looked now. He was horrified at the thought that someone had been harming her right under his uncle’s nose.

 

“That was a joke.”

 

“A silly one you shouldn’t mention again, especially around Uncle Aaron.”

 

Nadia went silent, watching Ethan round the couch and plop down on her left. She made puppy-dog eyes at him. “Do you want ice cream?”

 

“That looks awfully like an irresistible bribe.”

 

Her smile widened. “It will be our little secret.”

 

Ethan took the bucket, sticking his spoon into it and tasting the ice cream. The velvety and creamy feeling of vanilla wreaked havoc on his taste buds. One spoon wasn’t enough. Soon, he was in need of several fixes.

 

“Vanilla is my newest addiction.”

 

“Wait until you try chocolate. Heaven will come down to you.” Nadia giggled.

 

But Ethan’s next words stole the sound of her happiness from her. “I’m sure I can’t wait to try it, but what do you say to crashing an engagement party with me?”

 

“With you?” Her eyes bulged, and she adamantly shook her head. “Uncle Aaron will murder me."

 

Ethan smirked mischievously. “Nadia, we both know you are not the kind to care. Besides, you wanted to repay me. This is it.”

 

One week later. Ethan walked behind a lavishly dressed Nadia as she stepped into the venue for the event of the season. Every elite person in the city would be in attendance.

 

So many do not remember Ethan’s face, and he hoped that would remain the case tonight as he played bodyguard.

 

“Where is she?” The hate in Nadia’s voice wasn’t lost on him.

 

Prior to this moment, he had narrated his story to her, no matter how pathetic it had sounded. Ethan had to because she had an important role to play in his current mission to sabotage this event.

 

“Over there.” Ethan pointed at Bella with his eyes, and luckily, Nadia caught on without much stress.

 

She was smarter than she let on, and he liked that fact about her.

 

“She’s looking this way. At you.” Nadia nudged his arm with her shoulder.

 

His jaw clenched because he was looking, too. “I know.”

 

They couldn’t take their eyes off each other. Ethan boiled with rage because he would never forget what she did to him, but he saw her eyes flash silver now as they zeroed in on the beautiful and young Nadia.

 

She had been about to step into a waiter’s path, but Ethan’s quick hands on her waist pulled back, letting her come flush against him.

 

Bella had seen it all, and she looked pissed.

 

Ethan couldn’t hide his smile.

 

The rest of the evening went by in a blur. Soon, it was easy for Ethan to slip past the crowds and make his way upstairs when everyone had gotten invested in partying hard. This was the second part of their mission. They had to split up and play their roles to perfection.

 

Somewhere downstairs, Nadia would be about to spill a glass of wine all over the celebrant, Marco Suarez, as she came to congratulate him. Though the announcement hadn’t been made yet,

 

It would all work out perfectly. It had to.

 

Ethan had never played spy before, but every step that led him up to this moment was luck. He had just been going with his gut since the night began.

Even when he ducked into the storage room at the side to avoid the people advancing, he followed his gut.

But how could he explain the situation his gut had just led him into now?

 

Right there, at the end of the room, was Marco, the man of the night.

 

And he was currently involved in a heavy make-out session with Pamela Harrison.