The Disguised Billionaire She Rejected

Chapter 2.

Marcus sagged his shoulders as he hung up the phone. He went mute for a moment and couldn’t believe that he had finally broken up with Jessica.

He loved Jessica. He couldn’t deny it. All his dreams always had her in them, and the breakup felt like something had broken inside him.

But what was the essence of being in love with someone who didn’t reciprocate? It was like a dog watching a bone on a screen. It could yearn for it but could never get it. He didn’t want to be that dog.

He finally took out his phone and dialed a number he had not contacted in a long time. When the call connected, he said in a low, heavy voice, “Father, you were right. I lost.”

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line. Then Marcus' father spoke, his voice slightly choked. 

“Where are you?”

Marcus gave him the address quietly.

Less than thirty minutes later, a black latest Ferrari 849 Testarossacar stopped not far from Marcus' place. 

The door opened, and a dignified middle-aged man stepped out. He was tall and straight-backed, his presence calm yet overwhelming, the kind of man who didn’t need to speak loudly to command respect. 

He walked straight toward Marcus and pulled him into a firm embrace. Marcus froze for a second, then relaxed, the exhaustion he had been holding back finally spilling out.

If Jessica had been there, she would have been stunned. In fact, she would went crazy. 

She would have recognized him instantly—Edward Langston. 

One of the world’s top tycoons. The multi-billionaire man she always admired and forever wished to meet. 

Her company had tried countless times to secure a partnership with the Langston Consortium. All of them had failed.

What she never knew was that if she had married Marcus, that partnership would have been effortless. But that was no longer relevant.

Marcus spoke in a low, despondent voice. “Father… you were right. I was wrong.”

Edward looked at his son and felt a sharp pang in his chest. Marcus had lost weight. His eyes were tired, stripped of the light they once held. The past three years had clearly worn him down.

“I warned you, I knew this would happen. Hope you don't forget our agreement” Edward told him

He reminded Marcus of the agreement they made three years ago. If Marcus failed to successfully marry that woman, he was to return home and obediently inherit the family estate.

Back then, Marcus had been stubborn. He wanted to support Jessica. He wanted to make her successful, make her shine, make her achieve everything she dreamed of. 

For her sake, he had willingly dropped his identity, hidden his background, and used his abilities only to help her from behind the scenes.

Edward had tried to stop him telling him Jessica wasn't worth it. At the time, Marcus refused to listen. Now, he finally understood what his father had seen from the beginning.

Marcus nodded slowly. After three years with Jessica, he had grown disillusioned with love. Whatever belief he once had in sacrifice and loyalty had been completely crushed.

“I’m ready to come home,” Marcus said. “I am ready to become the heir you wanted me to be.”

A rare smile appeared on Edward’s face. He patted Marcus' shoulder firmly. He had waited all long for this.

“Let's go home then!”. He delightfully said.

Marcus excused himself to go inside and pick up his luggage. He rushed back inside while Edward waited downstairs.

Marcus quietly finished packing so as not to alert others. This villa had been purchased after Jessica’s business succeeded; her parents and even Travis lived there as well. 

Marcus realized that there were very few things in this house that truly belonged to him.

 Yet there was a big bedroom filled entirely with Travis’s belongings. They didn't regard him at all, in fact, Travis has more right than him, while he would do the chores, Travis did nothing 

He shook his head and muttered, “What a weak and fool I am”. He allowed Jessica and Travis’s relationship to cross such boundaries.

All of Marcus' possessions fit into a single backpack. That was all he had after three years of giving everything else away.

He slung it over his shoulder and walked toward the door. At that moment, the door opened.

Jessica and Travis walked in together. Jessica froze when she saw him. Her face was drained of color. For a second, she seemed to finally realize that Marcus hadn’t been joking when he said he was leaving.

“Marcus?” she blurted out. “What are you doing!!!”

Marcus didn’t answer. He adjusted the strap of his backpack and took another step forward.

This made her mad. She rushed over and blocked his path, her voice sharp. “Where do you think you are going?”

Marcus looked at her calmly. His eyes were empty. “This is no longer my home.I’m leaving, You and Travis can finally have the privacy you want.”

Jessica’s face darkened instantly. “Why are you still thinking like this?” she snapped. “Fine. I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry for making you wait.”

Marcus scoffed softly. “Are you?”

She frowned. “Travis just needed my help for a few minutes. Can’t I attend to him?. We still have all the time in the world.”

Marcus laughed at this. “Travis again. You can’t even talk to me without mentioning his name. Nine times you make me wait because of Travis! ”

Jessica frowned deeper. “Is that why you are moving out? Where would you even go? You have no one but me!”

Before Marcus could respond, Travis stepped forward. His eyes were red as he slumped his shoulder. He put on a pitiful fragile face. 

“ Marcus…” he said softly. “I’m sorry. It’s my fault.”

He sniffled and looked at Marcus with guilt-filled eyes. “My sister’s death affected me deeply. I have been psychologically fragile ever since. I became too dependent on Jessica. That’s why I caused problems between you two.”

He bowed his head. “I will move out immediately. I won’t be a burden to Jessica anymore. So, Marcus can stay.”