Double Life of My Secret Billionaire Husband

"It's late. Go to sleep."

The man's deep and sensual voice snapped Jane Maldonado out of her thoughts. She looked up and met his deep black eyes where emotions she could not understand swirled.

Jane nervously clutched her skirt as her heart began to race faster.

Ever since she entered the room, she had stayed seated on the edge of the bed. For a long time, she maintained the same posture that made her back stiff. She had not even changed out of her wedding dress. She only properly realized she would be spending her wedding night with this man when he walked out of the bathroom after he was done with his shower.

However, she had no idea at all how to interact with her new husband, especially since she was a substitute bride.

As the illegitimate daughter of a rich family, she was marrying this poor man on behalf of her older sister just so the family could gain a substantial dowry by fulfilling the marriage contract signed by those of the last generation.

With the money, she could treat her mother's illness while her younger brother could also continue his education. It was the only way for her family to live a good life.

Jane took a deep breath and walked over to the bathroom as she trembled like a frightened rabbit. "I ... I'll wash up as well."

The man narrowed his eyes.

Jane quickly darted into the bathroom. Just as she was about to lock the door, she realized the old wooden door did not even have a latch. She was stunned. Although life had been difficult before, it was never this bad and impoverished.

Her eyes turned slightly red. She hesitated for a long time in the bathroom, unwilling to take off her dress.

The man outside seemed to know what she was thinking as he suddenly said in his deep voice, "I'll be smoking outside. Take your time."

Jane's heart clenched. She leaned against the door and listened as his footsteps gradually faded away. The front door creaked and then there was silence.

The colorful wedding decorations on the mottled walls seemed pale and lifeless. On the day before the wedding, a typhoon had swept through the city. Fallen billboards and trees were seen everywhere on the roads. Amidst this mess, Jane was married.

There was no beautiful bridal car to drive her. She had to walk a long while before she got into the inconspicuous van that drove her for who knew how long before they arrived at the village. The muddy path had dirtied her shoes and wedding dress.

The elderly liked to say that those who were married in weather like that would not have happy marriages.

However, Jane had long stopped caring about her own happiness.

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

Her husband was not back yet. His smoke break was taking a long time.

She looked around the two-room mudbrick house. A few leaks could be seen. While the place was somewhat dilapidated, it could still be a nice home after cleaning it up. Jane smiled. Seizing advantage of the fact that the man had yet to return, she tidied up the entire place.

Just as she knelt on the bed to pull away the quilt, the man walked in.

Jane turned around a little too violently. The bath towel wrapped around her, the only thing covering her body, slid down. With a surprised cry, she instinctively wrapped her arms around herself. However ...

Her breathtaking beauty had been thoroughly exposed to the man.

Jane hurriedly used the quilt to cover herself as she blushed.

The man's throat bobbed. The gleam in his eyes darkened with swirling emotions. He slowly walked over to her and said in his hoarse yet rather sensual cold voice, "It's late. Let's sleep."

Jane's heart almost leaped out of her mouth. She slammed her eyes shut. Suddenly, she felt a strong-arm wrap around her waist, pulling her along to fall into his arms before he pinned her down on the bed.

Jane's mind went blank.

She felt a warm chest pressing against her back as a fierce heartbeat echoed in her ears. The man's masculine scent enveloped her. She took a deep breath, unable to move her stiff limbs.

The man's hand suddenly stopped.

"Do you know who I am?"

Jane was taken aback.

He wanted to tell her that he was her husband now. This was their wedding night. It was only natural for a married couple to do what he wanted to do.

However, Jane took his question seriously and timidly answered, "I do ... You're George Marlow."

His eyes narrowed slightly as the corners of his lips tilted upward.

George? Huh! It was a surprise she knew of that name.

Unfortunately, he was not George Marlow.

She was not Ocie Maldonado either.

He had actually known it from the moment she walked through the door. She was just a substitute. While he did not know the reason for it, there was absolutely no way a woman with the temperament of the great Maldonado daughter would marry a country bumpkin.

It did not matter. She was a substitute bride while he was a substitute groom. They were even.

"George ..."

He snapped back to reality and looked down, meeting her beautiful, shimmering eyes. Like an intangible hand, her bashful gaze suddenly took hold of a part of his heart no one knew before.

"I'm sorry. I'm just nervous." She bit her lip and tentatively reached out to hook her arms around his neck. "You're my husband. Whatever you do to me is only right. So ... let's begin."

Tiny beads of sweat formed on the tip of her delicate nose. She clumsily moved closer to him while trembling uncontrollably.

A thought crossed George's mind. Just as she hesitantly leaned in to kiss his lips, he abruptly grabbed her hand and pushed her away from him.

Jane was startled. With a still flushed face, she looked at him with confusion in her wide eyes.

"Forget it." He looked at her. "You're tired. Get some rest."

"George, I ..."

"I think you need some time to get used to this. I won't push you for it until you're used to married life."

He then turned away.

Jane stared at his bare back in a daze. She did not know how much time passed before she heard his soft snores.

It was only then that she carefully examined him.

He was very handsome while asleep with his side profile accentuated by his sharp cheekbones and masculine brows. His strong arms curled up beneath his head. Examining his muscular body made her blush.

Jane's heart skipped a beat. She quickly looked away.

As she drowsily fell asleep, her mind was filled with memories of her stepmother's and Ocie's vicious mockery before she was married off. They told her that while the Marlow family and the Maldonado family were close in the past with a marriage contract tying them together, the Marlow family had hidden away in a hillside village, living in poverty, after something bad happened to them. The son of the Marlow family was notorious for being a troublemaker who was often imprisoned.

"How could I possibly marry a hoodlum?" Ocie arrogantly said. "You're more suitable. After all, who knows how many men your mom has been with? Your brother is a bastard as well!"

"A woman like you is only worthy of a thug."

"Jane, think carefully." Jane's father was similarly cold. "As long as you'll marry George Marlow on Ocie's behalf, I'll give you money to be used to cure your mother."

Her stepmother poked her head and sneered. "It's a great honor for a slut like you to get married as the second daughter of the Maldonado family. Don't be ungrateful!"

When Jane snapped awake, she realized the sun was already shining brightly while the man who slept beside her was nowhere to be seen.