You Bet on My Love and Lost Everything Chapter 2

Nick froze mid-drag on his cigarette.

The whole room went dead silent.

One of Nick's friends was the first to react, forcing out an awkward laugh. "Ella, Nick's just messing with you. Don't take it seriously."

"A bet's a bet." My voice was flat, without a ripple of emotion.

Nick took a deep pull on his cigarette, then strode over to me, shrugging with forced casualness. "You're right, Ella. A bet's a bet."

He glanced at the man beside me, reached over and clapped him on the shoulder, his tone flippant. "Take good care of her."

I turned and walked out on the man's arm. Behind me, the room erupted.

"Nick, Ella's not going to actually go through with it, is she?"

"Shouldn't you go after her? If something actually happens, you'll regret it!"

No matter what his friends said, Nick's lips stayed curved in that same unshakable smirk. "Relax. She's just trying to get a rise out of me. I'll bet you anything she'll send him away the second she's out the door."

I had no idea where Nick's confidence came from.

Maybe it was my five years of unwavering devotion. Or maybe he was that certain about my supposed obsession with fidelity.

None of it mattered to me anymore.

Because not only did I not send the man away, I took him straight to a hotel.

"What's your name?" I let go of his arm and turned to face him.

"Ethan Taylor."

I took a closer look at Ethan.

He didn't look very old, probably mid-twenties. He wore a simple black T-shirt that couldn't hide the solid, well-defined muscles underneath.

His features were strikingly sculpted, and his light-brown eyes were so clean they reminded me of early morning sunlight, carrying a touch of youthful innocence.

"You're young. Why sell yourself for money?"

Ethan didn't answer. He just lowered his gaze, his lashes casting a faint shadow beneath his eyes.

I didn't push it. I was about to say something when my phone buzzed. It was my father.

"Ella, when are you bringing your husband home to meet us?"

My grip tightened on the phone.

For five years, I'd tried countless times to bring Nick home to meet my parents, but he always had some excuse. Too busy with work, social obligations, bad timing...

Only then did it hit me that perhaps he'd never intended to meet my parents or become part of my family.

When I didn't respond, my father's tone turned cold. "Did you make the whole thing up just to avoid the arranged marriage? I'm warning you: if you're not really married, you're coming home to marry whoever I choose. Otherwise, you won't see one cent of the Gomez family's multibillion-dollar fortune!"

I didn't want an arranged marriage, but now Nick and I were getting divorced...

My gaze drifted to Ethan, and an idea suddenly took shape.

"I'll bring my husband home in three days."

I hung up and turned to Ethan, getting straight to the point. "Marry me."

Ethan's head snapped up, a flash of surprise in his light-brown eyes. "What did you say?"

"Don't worry. I'll pay you. I'm not asking you to do this for free."

I expected him to refuse. The idea was absurd, after all.

But the next second, Ethan nodded. "Okay."