Chapter 12 Husband Hunt
"What did Liam do?" she let out a small smile as she locked eyes with the enemy she called her sister.
Rebecca wanted to spill everything, to tell the world how the one she considered family was worse than an enemy. She wanted to ensure that Vanessa never bore the name Smith again after all, she didn't have the Smith blood in her, but she had to wait. There was a time for everything, and now was not the moment to reveal her secrets.
Telling herself that, she pushed back all the words she longed to say and took a slow breath, as she forced her expression to remain calm.
She turned, looking directly at Richard. "All you need to know," Rebecca said quietly, "is that I am never going back to Liam. Not today. Not ever and even if he's the last man on earth, I'd never let him be a father to my child." She spoke with determination, punctuating each word to ensure anyone who cared to listen would not dare ask her about Liam again.
Richard stared at her, confusion and frustration etched on his face. Vanessa looked shocked for a brief moment before quickly masking it with a concerned expression.
There was something Rebecca knew, that much was obvious, but what was troubling Vanessa was the need to find out, and she needed to know as soon as possible.
There was no way Rebecca would hate Liam this much if she didn't know something.
Richard leaned forward. "So what are you planning to do, Rebecca? You don’t have any man. You are pregnant. And if you don’t marry in three months, everything your father left… will legally go to Vanessa."
He didn’t say it harshly, but the words landed like a slap all the same.
Her blood boiled. Her father built that company with sweat and sacrifice. She had worked beside him, listened to his late-night business discussions, and stayed awake helping him even when she was exhausted.
As for Vanessa? She cared for nothing except shopping, makeup, and seeking attention.
Rebecca had worked hard to prepare herself to take over her father's company, and she would die before she let someone like Vanessa inherit it.
"I’ll find a husband," Rebecca said finally, her voice firm. "If that’s what it takes, I’ll find someone within three months."
Vanessa gasped softly and sat up straighter, her fake concern settling on her face.
"But Rebecca," she said, causing both Rebecca and Richard to turn to her, "what if you don’t? Three months is such a short time to find love, especially with your… condition…" Her eyes flicked to Rebecca’s stomach. "Some men may run away. You know how people talk."
Rebecca stiffened, anger rising so quickly it burned through her chest. "What exactly are you trying to say?" she asked sharply. "Are you planning to stop me from getting married?"
Vanessa’s eyes widened in feigned shock. "What? Of course not! Why would I stop you? You’re my big sister. And everything belongs to your dad. It would be… unfair for me to take your inheritance." She placed a gentle hand on her chest. "I truly hope you find someone who will marry you, despite your situation. Besides, you can go look for the child's father and marry him instead. Don't you think that would be better?" Her voice dripped with false sweetness.
Rebecca wanted to slap the smile off her face. She wanted to tear away the facade and expose the vile person hiding behind it.
Suddenly, she stood up, her chair scraping against the floor. "Don’t worry," she said, her voice steady. "I’ll find a husband one way or another. I’ll make sure MY FATHER'S property never lands in the wrong hands."
For a split second, Vanessa’s smile faltered, although not enough for Richard to notice, but just enough for Rebecca to see.
Rebecca smirked, turned around and walked away before anyone could say another word.
Once she made it to her bedroom, she shut the door and locked it.
As soon as she was alone, her breathing hitched, and tears escaped her eyes. She sank onto the bed, clutching a pillow tightly.
"What am I doing?" she whispered.
Her father’s will. Her pregnancy. Her heartbreak. Her betrayal. Her evil step-sister. Everything felt overwhelming and no matter how strong she tried to be, it was getting to her.
What was she supposed to do and how was she supposed to get a husband in three months? The last thing she'd want is to lose her father's properties to that vile girl.
Or should she just tell Richard about what Vanessa did? Perhaps, that would stop Vanessa from getting the company.
Fine, she'd try to get a man first, even if it's a contract husband. It doesn't matter who, all she needed to do was get a man, pay him to marry her and stay married for at least a year. Until after her child is born. She'd give her child an identity while keeping everything away from Vanessa's reach.
Wiping her face roughly, she picked up her phone. There was no time for tears or mourning. Now, she needed a husband and fast.
As she picked up her phone, the first thing she did was open a dating site. Dozens of options popped up: dating apps, marriage-matching sites, anonymous forums, even websites that offered "contract husbands."
Her eyes scanned the profiles:
\- Men looking for casual dates.
\- Men asking for money.
\- Men who were obviously fake.
\- Men who were married.
\- Men who were too old, too young, or too unserious for her liking.
Her frustration grew heavy, and she pressed her forehead against her phone. Taking a breather, she returned to the dating site. Her hands trembled as she filled out her profile.
She wrote: "Looking for a serious partner. Marriage required soon." Then erased it.
She wrote again: "Seeking long-term commitment." Then erased it again.
She didn’t know what to say. Who would believe her? Who would accept her? Who would marry a pregnant stranger even with money involved if he's not a bad and lazy person? Men were known to work hard so, can she get a good man this way?
Her heartbeat quickened. Panic rose in her throat.
Right now, she didn't even know what else to think or do. Because time was against her. Because her father’s legacy was slipping through her fingers. Because Vanessa was downstairs smiling. And time was running out.