The Billionaire's Healing Bride A Second Chance Romance

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I'd spent three years as an online therapist.

A week before my wedding, I posted the announcement and decided to shut down my account for good.

One second before I hit deactivate, a new follower appeared. A private message popped up.

Dr. Henson, what if your best friend had been sleeping with your boyfriend for years, and you only found out right before your wedding? Could you live with that?

I barely hesitated before typing backMy best friend would never sleep with my boyfriend.

After I sent it, I even laughed a little.

Because I knew Leonora Fox inside and out.

The girl was hopelessly devoted to love. She'd had ten miscarriages for some man she'd never even let me meet.

With all that baggage, who else could she possibly want?

I was about to go through with the deactivation when my phone buzzed again.

Babe,

what if I told you I slept with your best friend?

Every drop of blood in my body went cold.

I stared at the words on the screen. I recognized each one individually, but strung together they were terrifyingly foreign.

A second later, a hotel name and room number came through.

I don't remember how I got downstairs, or how I flagged down a cab.

The whole ride, I kept telling myself it was a prank.

But when I pushed open that door, every last shred of hope shattered.

Seth Vance and Leonora Fox were tangled together on the bed.

Seth saw me. He didn't panic. There was almost something like exasperation in his expressionBabe, you're really that naive? I literally had to hand-deliver the affair to your face before you'd notice.

My eyes burned. My voice shookWhy?

Seth's expression didn't changeYou know how I am. I have needs. And after what happened to you, you can't stand being touched. Every time we're together you just lie there like a dead fish. But Leonora's different. She knows things. With her, I can do whatever I want.

Besides, she's willing to skip protection for me, even get an ab

Enough!

I couldn't hear another word. I lunged forward, eyes red, and slapped him across the face.

Seth Vance, you are a goddamn animal!

I turned on LeonoraAnd you! Leonora Fox! I treated you like family! This is how you repay me? Do you even know that I'm getting married to him in one week?

Leonora went white. She tumbled off the bed and stumbled to her knees at my feet.

Clara, I'm sorry

I'm shameless, I know. I'm the one who seduced Seth into bed. I'll leave right now, I'll walk away from him

She's not going anywhere!

Seth pulled her to his side and fixed me with a cold stare.

Clara Henson, she never asked for a title. She never even asked me to care about her. She gave up everything for you. How can you still want to push her away?

And don't forget. When you were exposed as a fake heiress and thrown out on the street, when everyone piled on to humiliate you, Leonora was the only one willing to be your friend.

Without us, you'd be dead. As for our engagement, it still stands. The wedding goes ahead in seven days. I won't let you suffer.

Tears fell before I could stop them. I stared at the two people I had once loved most in this world.

When I was younger, my mother fell ill and needed a blood transfusion. I went to donate and the test came back: I wasn't a Henson by blood.

That same day I was thrown out of the Henson house. People cornered me in an alley and did whatever they wanted.

The whole thing resurfaced out of nowhere when I was a sophomore in college. My roommates, my professors, everyone had something cruel to say.

Only Leonora Fox, from the dorm next door, came to me of her own free will. She stayed by my side.

And Seth Vance.

My childhood sweetheart.

When I was being bullied, he was the one who stepped in front of me and told the world that no matter what I became, I was still his fiance.

After I was assaulted, he was the one who went with me to the hospital for the examination, who sat beside me at the police station while I gave my statement.

When the entire school pointed and whispered, he was the one who held my hand and walked me through the crowdNo matter what happens, I'm right here.

Back then, I believed I had the two best people in the world.

Now both of them had betrayed me.

And behind my back, God knows how many times they'd slept together.

Every time I'd taken Leonora to the clinic for an abortion, every time I'd nursed her through recovery afterward, the memory of it made my stomach turn.

Bile surged up my throat. I spun around and ran.

I didn't know how far I went. By the time I stopped, there were no tears left.

Numb, I pulled out my phone and dialed a numberMrs. Henson, the bride swap you mentioned with your biological daughter. I agree.

Delight flooded the voice on the other endThen in one week, Alma marries Seth, and you'll go to Harbor City for the Ashford family's luck bride ceremony.

Once everything was settled, I went to the clinic to resign.

I wasn't just an internet personality. In real life, I was a licensed psychologist.

The moment I stepped through the door, I could feel something was off.

Then the male colleague who'd harassed me before shoved a video in my face

And here I thought you were some pure, innocent thing. Turns out you're a slut behind closed doors.

Barely legal and hanging around alleys with guys, handing out condoms yourself.

When you're doing therapy sessions with your male patients, you probably hand those out too, huh?

He stood up without warning, lunged forward, and ripped my bag out of my arms.

Let's see if this bag is full of condoms too.

He dumped everything out at once.

Several unopened boxes of condoms tumbled onto the floor.

His eyes were filthy with intentClara, how many men have you slept with, exactly?

If I'd known sooner what kind of woman you were, I wouldn't have wasted my breath.

The images I had locked away broke free all at once, every frame vivid and merciless.

Pinned down in that alley. Terror flooding my chest, swallowing everything else whole.

But even then, I'd held on to enough reason to remember the survival advice I'd read online.

Pretend to cooperate to minimize injury. Offer a condom to prevent disease.

And for that, someone uploaded the footage. The victim became the slut.

What's the matter, nothing to say? After all that time pretending to be

SLAP!

I cracked my palm across his face with everything I had.

His expression twisted with rage. He seized a fistful of my hair. You were messing around with that many guys when you were barely out of high school, and you think you get to hit me for saying it?

I tried to wrench free, but he flipped me around and pinned me to the floor.

You're already this used up. One more time won't make a difference, right?

His hands were reaching for me. A scream tore out of my throat, and some force I didn't know I had sent a chair swinging into his body.

Everything dissolved into chaos.

I stumbled out, a wreck, fingers shaking so badly I could barely unlock my phone.

Seth had destroyed that video a long time ago. How was it still out there?

In the work group chat, it had been posted by an anonymous account that no one could trace back.

I contacted a private investigator.

In less than ten minutes, I had my answer.

When I saw the name Leonora Fox, my mind went blank.

A sentence my college roommate once said surfaced out of nowhereYou got sold out and you're still sitting there happily counting the money with the person who sold you.

With trembling hands, I messaged that same roommate.

She replied in under a minute.

Leonora had always been in love with Seth.

Everything made sense now.

Back when the video first leaked, Leonora, who had never spoken a single word to me before, showed up the very next day wanting to be my friend.

Every time Seth and I went on a date, she tagged along.

I stumbled home and shoved the door open.

The scene on the couch hit me before I could brace for it.

Seth saw it was me and frownedYou don't know how to knock?

Leonora scrambled to fix her clothes. Her eyes landed on the handprint across my face, and panic flooded her expressionClara, who hit you?

That show of concern made my stomach turn.

When I didn't answer, her eyes reddened instantlyClara, tell me. Who hit you? I'll go andah!

Leonora! Cut the act!

I shoved her to the floor, my eyes burning red.

Clara, what the hell is wrong with you?

Seth strode forward and pulled Leonora behind him, his face dark as he turned on meShe was worried about you. What are you doing?

Leonora was still looking at meClara, what happened? Just tell me, okay? Whoever hit you, I'll make them pay.

I hurled my phone at herStill pretending?

Leonora saw what was on the screen. Her hands went limp at her sides.

Clara, it wasn't me! I would never do something like that!

She came toward me crying, reaching for my arm. I backhanded her across the face.

I treated you like my best friend. I gave you everything! And you slept with my fianc and leaked the video of me being assaulted. Leonora, how could you? You

Why should she owe you anything? Seth cut me off, his expression cold. You hear a few words from someone and turn on her just like that. Some best friend you are. Besides, hasn't she always been the one who was good to you?

On your birthday, she baked you a cake. When you got sick, she carried you to the nurse's office. When people trashed you online, she went after every single one of them. And now you accuse her? Hit her? Are you even human?

And besides, weren't they right? Didn't you hand them the condom yourself? Didn't you go along with it willingly?

My whole body went cold, shaking so hard I couldn't stop.

Seth was using that against me too.

Seth! How dare you say that to Clara!

Leonora shoved him away, eyes brimming.

Seth frowned. She attacked you first. Stop being so forgiving all the time.

Leonora ignored him and pulled me close.

Clara, don't listen to him. That wasn't your fault. You were the victim! Those animals are the ones to blame!

My eyes were red. I said nothing.

Leonora broke into sobs. Clara, say something. Please. Don't do this.

She grabbed Seth and pulled him over. You're the person she cares about most. Say something to her.

Seth looked at the hollow emptiness in my eyes and realized he'd gone too far.

He reached for me, and pain cracked across his other cheek.

I put everything I had into that slap.

I don't want to see either of you! Get out! Get out of my sight!

Seth's face went completely darkClara. Look around. This is my apartment. The one who needs to leave is you.

I froze. Then I started laughing, tears streaming down my face.

Fine. I'll go. I'll never set foot in this place again.

Walking down the street in shambles, it finally hit me.

After all these years, after everything, I was still the one left behind. I didn't even have a place to go.

The best friend I thought I had. The fianc I trusted. All of it was a joke.

I kept walking, numb, with no idea where I was headed.

Then a familiar voice cut through the airClara's over there!

Leonora ran up and grabbed my hand.

Clara, there's a storm coming. Let's go home, okay?

I shook her off coldlyThat's not my home.

Seth frownedClara, can you stop making a scene?

I didn't bother responding to either of them. I turned and kept walking.

The next second, I was hoisted off the ground.

My face drained of color. I beat my fists against his back, Seth! What the hell are you doing? Put me down!

Seth's jaw was set, his voice flatYou keep this up and when the rain hits, Leonora's going to get sick because of you.

My eyes burned red as I screamed and thrashedI never asked you to come find me! Put me down!

Mid-struggle, my dangling foot connected hard with his kneecap.

Seth hissed through his teeth. Are you done? If Leonora hadn't insisted on coming after you, you think I'd bother?

A bitter laugh tore out of meOh, so I should thank the woman who nearly got me killed. How generous.

Seth's expression darkenedLeonora already told you it wasn't her. Why do you have to be so unreasonable?

All that humiliation. All that pain. In his eyes, I was just being unreasonable.

I let out a hollow laugh. Sure. I'm the unreasonable one.

I turned and strode toward the road without looking back, without noticing the car barreling toward me from behind.

Clara! Watch out!

Clara! Watch out!

Two frantic shouts rang out at the same time.

Leonora lunged forward, trying to pull me out of the way, but it was too late.

The impact hit like a wall. Both of us were thrown through the air and slammed onto the pavement.

Leonora!

I lay on the ground, consciousness slipping fast.

Through blurred vision, all I could see was Seth sprinting toward Leonora, panic written across his face.

Then everything went black.

It was four full days before I woke up.

Clara, you're finally awake.

Seth's eyes lit up.

The moment I saw him, the image flooded back. Him running to Leonora. Not me.

I pulled the corners of my lips into something that wasn't a smile and said nothing.

Seth sighed and reached over to ruffle my hairIf I'd known it would end up like this, I would've just kept it from you.

But Clara, I didn't want to lie to you.

His eyes were earnest, as if what he was about to say was the most reasonable thing in the worldI respect that you can't be intimate because of what happened to you. So can't you respect that I have needs and find someone else to meet them?

I swear, you're the one I love. With Leonora, it's only physical.

Disgust crawled up my throatYou're revolting.

Seth's face fell, but then something seemed to occur to him and he tried again

Okay, okay, don't be mad. This one's on me. I promise I won't upset you again.

When I didn't respond, he leaned in closer.

Baby, don't be mad at me. Forgive me, okay?

I swallowed back the nausea and shoved him away. Does it even matter whether I forgive you or not?

Seth noddedIt matters.

My face was stoneFine. I forgive you. Now get out.

Seth stood up and left.

I watched him walk away without a second's hesitation. I got out of bed, intending to leave too.

As I passed a hospital room, a familiar voice drifted through the door.

Leonora, you said once Clara forgave me, you'd let me stay by the window. Come on.

I froze where I stood.

The voice inside continuedWhat about the wedding the day after tomorrow? Can you skip it?

Seth's voice came through, breathlessNo. I promised I'd marry Clara. I can't go back on that. But I swear, even after we're married, you can still be by my side.

I clamped a hand over my mouth and rushed into the bathroom, retching until the room spun and my knees buckled against the cold tile.

When I stumbled out, a wall of bodyguards stood in the corridor.

Miss Henson, the Ashford family has moved the wedding up. Mrs. Ashford needs you in Harbor City immediately.