Marrying My Betrayers Billionaire Uncle

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I funded Camerons life for five years. The first thing he did after making it big was kick me to the curb.

Youre an orphan, Norah. You paid a few semesters of tuition, and you think that gives you the right to leverage my future?

His cruelty was casual, almost bored. If you want me to marry you that badly, fine. Im getting married in a month. If you have the guts to crash the wedding, Ill marry you then.

My heart didnt break; it simply went cold. I turned around and accepted the arranged marriage my late parents had set up for me years ago.

The irony was sharp: my wedding date was the same as Camerons.

I had just arrived at the hotel in the bridal car when I was dragged out. Cameron was there, flanked by his groomsmen, looking at me with pure disdain.

"I was joking, you psycho. You actually came to crash the wedding? Are you that desperate to be with me?"

He pulled out his phone to livestream, humiliating me as the 'other woman,' and accused me of stealing a signet ring belonging to the heir of the Huntington dynasty.

But the moment I took the arm of the Huntington heir and walked into the ballroom, Cameron stopped laughing.

01

I was dragged out of the limousine, a mess of white silk and tulle. My veil was torn, my ankle throbbing where Id twisted it.

Cameron looked down at me, a sneer curling his lip. "Norah, I made a joke to mess with your head. You actually showed up in a gown? How pathetic is that?"

"Do you have no shame? You literally cannot live without a man?"

The rich prep-school boys surrounding him laughed, their voices loud and jagged.

"An orphan thinking she can marry into the Huntington circle? Honey, find a mirror."

"Shes pretty, though," one of them drawled, his eyes raking over me. "Since youre not getting into the family, why dont you hang out with us? Well make sure youre taken care of."

They doubled over laughing, their gazes feeling like slime against my skin.

Humiliation and rage warred in my chest. I glared at Cameron. "What is this, Cameron?"

"Don't play dumb." Cameron scoffed, looking at me like I was something stuck to his shoe. "I was having fun with you. You still haven't figured that out?"

"Normal people walk away when they get dumped. I didn't realize your skin was this thick. You actually wore a wedding dress to ambush me."

"You paid a few bills back in the day, and you think you can hold that over me forever?"

"You spent fifty grand on me? Fine. Today Ill pay you back double. Just stop dreaming about marrying me. You arent worthy."

Cameron pulled a stack of hundred-dollar bills from his jacket and slammed them into my face.

The crisp edges of the new bills sliced my cheek. I felt a sting, then the warmth of blood. I gasped, tears springing to my eyes from the sharp pain.

I stared at Cameron. He used to be gentle. He used to be kind. How did he turn into this monster?

I wiped the tears and blood from my cheek. My voice was ice.

"Who would want to marry an ingrate like you? Im not here to crash your wedding. Im here to marry my husband."

"We just happen to be at the same hotel."

"Hahaha! If youre going to lie, at least make it believable!" one of the trust-fund boys howled, wiping tears of mirth from his eyes. "The Sovereign Hotel is for the elite. Who could a nobody like you possibly be marrying here?"

Another guy stepped closer, his grin oily. "I get it. Twenty-eight years old, panic setting in. Tell you whatforget Cameron. My dads single."

"Marry my dad, become my stepmom. Pop out three sons in three years, and if theyre boys, the Lee family will cut you a check. Hahahaha!"

The mockery buzzed in my ears like static. My hands were freezing. I looked at Cameron, who was just watching them, letting it happen.

Cameron was my neighbor. His mother died when he was five, and my parents, pitying him, took him in. When my parents died in a car crash, it was just the two of us against the world.

In high school, when local thugs targeted me because I had no family to protect me, Cameron fought three of them at once. He ended up in the hospital, nearly expelled, but he made them swear never to touch me again.

I remember asking him, through tears, if it was worth it.

He had looked at me with such intensity. "Its worth it, Norah. I won't let anyone bully you. I love you. Wait for me. I promise Ill give you a good life."

Seven years. One stint abroad. That was all it took for his heart to rot.

"From the day you broke up with me, we were done," I said, my voice trembling with suppressed fury. I scanned the faces of the men mocking me. "Im remembering every insult today. Once the ceremony is over, my husband will settle the score."

"Ooh, scary. Who gave you the confidence?"

"Your imaginary husband?"

One of the groomsmen stepped forward, his hand reaching out to grab the bodice of my dress. "Why don't you marry me instead? I'm Cameron's buddy. I can give you some 'justice' right now."

He winked, lewd and disgusting.

"Get the hell away from her!"

Harper, my best friend and maid of honor, came sprinting from the back of the stalled motorcade. She didnt hesitateshe delivered a flying kick that sent the groper sprawling.

"You people have a death wish," she screamed. "My best friend is marrying Dominic Huntington. You treat her like this, and youre dead men walking!"

Cameron froze for a split second, then threw his head back and laughed. He laughed so hard he choked.

"You aren't even good enough for me, and you think youre marrying my uncle? The Dominic Huntington?"

"Especially after Ive already had you?"

"Theres a limit to daydreaming, Norah!"

02

"Dominic Huntington is untouchable. Even our fathers are terrified of him. And you claim you're marrying him?"

"A toad lusting after a swan. Delusional."

The ridicule intensified.

"The ceremony is starting soon. What are you boys doing out here?"

Blair, Cameron's bride, walked out. She saw me in a gown that was visibly more expensive than hers, and a flash of jealousy cut through her poised expression.

"Just watching a clown, babe. She claims my uncle is going to marry her. Ha!" Cameron said. "Failed to crash our wedding, so now she's hallucinating."

Cameron wiped his tears of laughter, wrapping an arm around Blairs waist while shooting me a look of pure disgust.

Blair looked at me with faux pity. "Miss He, I didn't think Cameron would make such a harsh joke, but really..."

"Its not right of him. I apologize on his behalf."

Cameron scoffed. "It was just a joke. She's the one with the twisted mind who actually showed up."

"She deserves the humiliation."

The groomsmen chimed in like a Greek chorus of idiots. "Exactly, Blair. Shes a gold digger. She knows Cameron is a Huntington now and won't let go. No shame."

I looked at Blair. She was the daughter of the Xu familyrich, elegant, appropriate. They met on campus, matched in status. For Cameron, an illegitimate son needing legitimacy, she was the perfect asset.

My eyes drifted to her hair. A vintage emerald comb glinted in the sunlight.

That was my family's heirloom. I had given it to Cameron as a promise of our future. I never expected to see it on her.

Swallowing the acid in my throat, I spoke calmly. "Miss Xu, the hairpiece you are wearing was my engagement gift to him. Since we are nothing to each other now, please return it."

Blairs expression stuttered. She smiled, a sugary, poisonous thing, and pulled the comb from her hair.

"Miss He, I know you helped Cameron, but you can't force love."

"He chose me. Please, have some self-respect and leave."

She held the comb out. I reached for it, but before my fingers could graze the metal, she let go.

Crack.

The emerald comb hit the pavement and shattered.

I stared at the fragments, my vision blurring. That heirloom had survived a hundred years in the He family. Now, it was dust.

"Babe, she almost ruined your wedding, and you're just letting her go? You're too nice," one guy jeered.

"She needs a lesson. Otherwise, with her thick skin, she'll just come back to harass Cameron."

Cameron smoothed Blairs hair, his eyes cold as he looked at me. "You guys are right. She needs a lesson to kill the fantasy once and for all."

Two of the men circled me. One shoved me hard. My ankle gave way, and I collapsed onto the asphalt, a heap of bruised white satin.

The grief for the heirloom and the shame of the moment fused into a white-hot anger. I scrambled up and slapped the nearest guy across the face.

"Are you deaf? I told you, I am marrying Dominic Huntington today!"

The man I slapped touched his cheek, his eyes turning dark and dangerous. He swung back, a heavy hand striking my face. Stars exploded in my vision.

"Still acting? Still pretending?"

"The Huntington heir is marrying a woman from a dynasty family, an arrangement made at birth. Youre a nobody orphan. You dare impersonate her?"

"If you're so tough, call Dominic Huntington out here to save you!"

Blair chimed in, her voice dripping with fake concern. "Boys, that's enough. Miss He is clearly upset. Its normal to invent a savior when you feel small."

"Just make her leave. Don't let her ruin our day."

"She hasn't learned her lesson yet. She can't leave!" The guy I slapped grabbed my arm, his eyes scanning my dress with malicious intent.

"This dress... where did you steal it from? It looks more expensive than the bride's."

Cameron frowned, stepping closer. "Today is Blairs day. You wearing something this flashy... youre trying to humiliate her."

"Strip it off her. I won't allow anyone to outshine my wife today."

Blair looked at Cameron with adoring eyes, visibly touched, before feigning hesitation. "Stripping a girl in public? Thats too cruel, Cam."

"Just kick her out."

"No. I need her to understand her place. Or she'll never stop stalking me." Cameron looked at me with pure loathing.

I stared into his eyes, feeling a strange detachment. I couldn't believe this was the boy I raised. I gave up college to work double shifts for his tuition. And now, because of a coincidence of venue, he wanted to destroy me.

Thirteen years of history, erased.

"Hey beautiful, let's get you out of that."

03

Two of the men lunged, grabbing handfuls of my bodice.

"Get off me!" I screamed, kicking and clawing. Harper threw herself into the fray, pulling at them.

"Let her go!"

But two women in heels were no match for a group of gym-rat men.

Within seconds, the delicate lace of my bodice ripped. The sound was sickening. The fabric gave way, exposing my bra.

Camerons friend held up his phone, broadcasting live.

"Look at this, folks! This is what happens to homewreckers!"

"She knew my bro was getting married and showed up in a wedding dress to spite him. Now she's stripped. Karma, right?"

Harper desperately tried to cover me with the tattered remnants of the silk. She was screaming, her voice cracking. "You are humiliating Dominic Huntington's wife! You think you're going to survive this?"

"Get lost! Don't touch my friend!"

"Still bluffing? If you were Dominics bride, hed be here, wouldn't he?"

They twisted my arms behind my back, forcing my face toward the phone camera.

"Get a good look. This is the face of a stalker."

Comments flooded the screen:

[Die, homewrecker!]

[Shameless!]

[Throw her in the river!]

My face burned with shame and fury. "I am Dominics wife! You will die for this!"

In the struggle, a pendant tucked into my bra swung loose. It was a heavy, dark green jade signet ring on a gold chain.

"That's the family seal!" I shouted. "The Huntington signet ring! Does this not prove who I am?"

The man holding me froze. He looked at the ring, his face draining of color.

It was unmistakable. Dominic never took it offuntil he gave it to me. It was the symbol of absolute authority in the Huntington family.

Cameron saw it. He marched over and yanked the chain from my neck, snapping the clasp.

"Let me go," I hissed. "Or you're dead."

Cameron stared at the ring, his eyes shifting. Then, a cold, calculating sneer appeared.

"You came to the ancestral house with me once. I can't believe you had the audacity to steal my uncle's ring."

My eyes widened. The lies flowed out of him so easily. "You liar! Dominic gave that to me!"

I only found out a year ago. My father and Dominics father were best friends. They made a pact. After Cameron dumped me, Dominic found me. He offered the marriage. I accepted partly because I was broken, partly for revengeto become Camerons aunt.

But I never expected Cameron to accuse me of theft.

"Since you have no shame," Cameron said, his voice rushing, "you don't need the rest of that dress."

He signaled the man holding me.

The guy laughed nervously but complied. "We're losing daylight, Cam! Go get married. I'll handle this trash."

"I promise to give her a 'wedding' she won't forget."

He started dragging me toward the side alley. Harper was fighting, I was screaming, scratching at the pavement.

Just as the darkness of despair began to close in, a voice thundered across the driveway. Low, terrifying, and authoritative.

"STOP. Take your hands off my wife."