Married to a Secret Billionaire (Stella Taylor)
Chapter 1 Let's Go to Bed

Chapter 1 Wedding Night

"It's late. Go to sleep."

The man's low, magnetic voice pulled Stella Taylor back to reality. She looked up to meet his deep, ink-like eyes, which were brimming with emotions she couldn't comprehend.

Nervously, Stella gripped the hem of her skirt as her heartbeat quickened.

She had been sitting on the edge of the bed since entering the room, her spine stiff from holding the position for so long. She was still wearing her wedding dress. It wasn't until the man finished his shower and stepped out of the bathroom that she realized she would be spending her wedding night with him.

But she didn't know how to interact with her newlywed husband, especially since she was only a substitute.

As the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy family, she had married this penniless man in place of her elder sister to fulfill a marriage contract set by their families' previous generation and receive a considerable dowry.

With that money, her mother's illness could be treated, her siblings could continue their education, and her family could live well.

Taking a deep breath, Stella warily made her way toward the bathroom like a timid hare. "I... I'm going to wash up too."

The man narrowed his eyes.

Stella quickly slipped into the bathroom and tried to lock the door, only to replace that the old wooden door didn't even have a latch. She was stunned; even though she had faced hardships in the past, she had never experienced such poverty.

Her eyes reddened slightly as she hesitated to remove her dress.

The man outside seemed to understand her concern and spoke in a deep voice. "I'll go outside for a smoke. Take your time."

Stella's heart tightened as she pressed her ear against the door, listening to his footsteps gradually fade away. The door creaked, and then a profound silence engulfed the surroundings.

The big red wedding letters on the mottled walls had slightly faded. The day before the wedding, a typhoon had swept through the city, leaving behind fallen billboards and broken trees. Stella had been married amidst this wreckage.

There was no beautiful wedding car to pick her up; she had walked a long way before getting into an inconspicuous van that ran for an unknown amount of time before arriving at the village. The muddy path had dirtied her shoes and wedding dress.

The old folks said there would be no happiness in marriage during such weather.

But Stella had long stopped caring about her happiness.

She dried her hair as she walked out of the bathroom.

Her husband hadn't returned yet. The smoke took him long enough.

She looked around at the two mud-tiled rooms, some parts still leaking. Though dilapidated, with some cleaning, they could still make a good home. Stella smiled faintly and took advantage of the man's absence to tidy up the room from inside to outside.

As she knelt on the bed and pulled down the covers, the man walked in through the door.

Stella turned around too quickly, causing the only bath towel on her body to slip off. She cried out in shock and instinctively covered herself with her hands.

But it was too late. The man had already seen everything.

Stella hastily grabbed the quilt to cover herself as her face flushed.

The man's Adam's apple bobbed, and his eyes darkened with complex emotions. He slowly walked toward her and croaked in an ambiguous tone, "It's late. Let's go to bed."

His emphasis on the word 'let's' was noticeable.

Stella's heart was in her throat. She shut her eyes and suddenly felt a force around her waist. She fell into his arms, and he gently pressed her onto the bed.