I Became the Billionaire's Fake Lover to Get My Revenge
Chapter 18: Next Steps

Chapter 18: Next Steps

A jolt of electricity surged through Anna’s body, snapping her upright against the headboard.

She hadn’t even heard him enter—not a single footstep, not the faintest shift in the air. And judging by the way Daniel practically jumped out of his chair, he hadn’t either.

But there he was.

William Stark.

"Mr. Stark!" Anna gasped, startled, while Daniel scrambled to his feet. The chair screeched against the floor, the sharp sound slicing through the air like a blade.

William’s gaze swept over the two of them, unreadable. "You both look way too surprised to see me. Were you just talking about me?"

Anna swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. A wave of nervous heat crept up her neck as her palms grew clammy.

Daniel, meanwhile, let out a forced chuckle, stepping back from Anna’s bedside as though he’d been caught somewhere he wasn’t supposed to be.

"Of course not! What would there even be to talk about?" he blurted, tugging at his jacket sleeves in a clear attempt to steady himself.

William’s frown deepened. His sharp gaze flicked to his assistant. "Are you saying I’m so dull and unremarkable that no one would bother discussing me behind my back?"

"What?!" Daniel flinched like a startled cat. "That’s not—"

"Enough." William’s tone cut through the air, firm and unyielding. "Go find the nurse outside. She needed some papers signed."

Daniel exhaled, muttering under his breath as he turned to leave. "God, what a tool..."

William’s head snapped up. "What was that?"

"Nothing! Nothing! I’m going!" Daniel practically bolted out of the room, exhaling in relief the moment the door slid shut behind him.

A soft, melodic laugh drifted from behind William, making him wince. His gaze flicked back to Anna, who still had a faint smile playing on her lips.

"You seem to be in a good mood today," he noted, settling into the chair Daniel had just vacated.

"That sounded like lovers’ banter," she teased back, smiling.

A deep frown carved itself onto William’s face. "Ugh, don’t even joke about that," he grumbled, sinking into the chair with a sigh.

Anna’s laughter continued, light and genuine, but William’s attention had already shifted. His sharp gaze landed on the box of chocolates beside her arm, one piece noticeably missing.

"Do you like chocolate?" he asked, his voice casual but oddly intent.

Anna tilted her head slightly, as if trying to gauge the reason for his sudden question. "I do... why?"

"Doesn’t matter," he dismissed, brushing past the topic. "Anyway, I assume you’re eager to hear about our next steps."

Anna straightened slightly, a flicker of excitement flashing across her features. "Yeah... I know it’s silly to feel this way, but I just can’t help it. I think I’m too anxious—too restless from staying here."

Her voice dipped into something quieter, and William’s gaze instinctively followed the nervous movement of her hands. Her left thumb was fidgeting against her right, peeling at the delicate skin until a raw patch appeared.

"Well," William said, shifting his focus back to her face, "there’s a lot to cover, but I’ll explain everything one step at a time."

Anna swallowed, her body tensing as her left thumb dug a little too harshly into her right.

"Anna Hyde is no more," William announced, his tone sharp and business-like. "And so is Anna Adler. From now on, you will be living as Chloe Dumas—a secret art buyer catering to the elite. Wealthy collectors who prefer discretion often rely on intermediaries to acquire rare pieces on their behalf. Chloe, of course, is French."

Anna blinked rapidly, her short eyelashes brushing uncomfortably against the cotton mask. "Chloe Dumas? Is that a real person?"

"No, I created her," William replied, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "Art dealing is a complex world. High-profile buyers rarely bid in person. Instead, they send trusted agents—individuals with deep knowledge of the market and an eye for value. These secret buyers often remain anonymous for years."

He paused, waiting for her reaction, but when none came, he exhaled quietly and continued. "I know you majored in Art History at university. I also know you’re a talented artist yourself. This disguise seemed like a natural fit for you."

Anna flinched, her expression shifting from confusion to shock. "You know all that?"

William’s brow furrowed in disapproval. "Why does that surprise you so much?"

Anna hesitated before nodding slowly. "I guess it makes sense... You had to do thorough research before setting all this up."

His frown deepened, but after a moment, he forced himself to relax. "You really don’t remember––never mind. Yeah... That’s exactly what it is..."

The subtle strain in William’s voice made Anna tense. Had she said something wrong? Had she offended him? Her lips parted instinctively to apologize, but he spoke first.

"Anyway, everything you need to know about Chloe Dumas will be covered once your tutoring begins."

"Tutoring?" Anna repeated, her brow rising in confusion.

Shit. William inwardly cursed himself.

"I suppose I didn’t explain things properly from the start," he admitted with an awkward sigh, raking a hand through his hair. "Once your procedures are complete and you’ve recovered, you’ll go to France to meet some of my people. They will... refine you into the woman you’re meant to become."

"But why do I have to leave?"

"Because while surgeries and makeup can alter your appearance, your voice and the way you carry yourself are far more telling. Those who knew you before could still recognize you."

He leaned back slightly, watching her reaction. "I’ve hired an expert in accents. She’ll teach you French and train you to mimic a native accent, so that even when you speak English, your voice will be unrecognizable."

Anna blinked, absorbing the weight of his words. Then, unexpectedly, she let out a small breath of amazement. "Oh... That’s actually brilliant."

William smirked slightly. "Of course it is. Besides, you’ll need to refine your knowledge of art while you recuperate. Being away from here will do you good."

For a moment, Anna felt the world tilt beneath her. She would have to leave. To disappear. From everything. From everyone.

Her fingers trembled as her left thumb instinctively sought out the skin around her right. She dug her nail into it, peeling away the tender flesh until a bead of blood welled up. But she barely noticed. The more the reality of this arrangement sank in, the more suffocating it became.

She would have to leave.

"Anna?"

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.