Surprise Marriage to a Billionaire
Chapter 188: Swallow Her Pride

Chapter 188: Swallow Her Pride

At Clayton University Hospital

Dina’s body trembled as she hurried toward her mother’s office. Things didn’t go according to plan and by now, she was sure that her father was already aware of how she messed up.

When she entered, her heart sank further. Her father was already there, his face livid, and the tension in the room told her all she needed to know—her mother had just borne the brunt of his fury.

"Father..." she murmured weakly.

*Slap!*

The harsh sound of the slap echoed in the room, catching Dina off guard. Pain radiated through her cheek as her hand touched the stinging skin. It was the first time her father had ever hit her.

"You fool!" Tim roared, his face flushed with anger. "Do you have any idea what you’ve done? Your stupidity has ruined everything! No matter how hard you try, you’ll never be a match for Rain. You’re a disappointment, as always!" His voice dripped with contempt.

Dina’s legs threatened to buckle beneath her. She couldn’t believe this was happening.

"From now on, you will not make a single move against Rain," Tim spat, his eyes flashing with venom. "In fact, you’ll treat her with respect—beg, if you must. If this situation gets any worse, don’t be surprised if you’re the one who ends up in jail!" His words were cruel, and the reality of the situation hit Dina like a punch to the gut.

"But, Father—"

"Not another word!" Tim barked, his eyes narrowing in a deadly glare that made Dina freeze in place. "You will do exactly as I say, or I’ll throw you out of this family for good."

Her body was tense with fear as her father continued, "Now, prepare yourself. Paul Smith is finished, and your only chance of survival is Michael Astor. Convince him to take you in. If you mess this up, you’re done."

Tim’s words trailed off as his rage made his face go redder, the veins in his neck bulging. Dina couldn’t find the strength to respond, so she simply nodded, knowing full well that she had no choice but to obey.

Her gaze drifted to her mother, who sat silently, her own cheek swollen—evidence that she too had endured Tim’s wrath. The look of helplessness on her mother’s face mirrored Dina’s own feelings.

Dina gritted her teeth, her anger building with every passing second. This was all because of Rain. Her father had called her stupid, a fool, and now she was expected to apologize? The humiliation burned her. She wasn’t lying—she’d heard everything clearly. But the Lancasters, with their wealth and influence, had manipulated the situation to their advantage.

She had underestimated them. Her mother had warned her to be cautious, but now everything had backfired. Even that lowly Sanya managed to get away unscathed.

"What are you standing around for? Go to Michael this instant and beg for his help! He’s the only one who can save you from this disaster!" her father barked, his voice sharp with frustration.

Dina scoffed. "What can that cripple even do?" she shot back, her defiance barely hiding her fear.

Her mother’s voice cut through the tension, quiet but firm. "Michael isn’t crippled, Dina."

Dina’s forehead creased in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

Her mother exchanged a glance with her father before replying, "The wheelchair, the weakness—it’s all an act. He’s been deceiving everyone. Michael is far more dangerous and influential than you realize. He’s your only hope now."

Dina felt the blood drain from her face. "He’s been pretending this whole time?"

Her father’s patience snapped. "It doesn’t matter why! What matters is he can pull strings you can’t. So get to him, and do whatever it takes."

Dina clenched her fists, the bitter taste of defeat rising in her throat. First Rain, now Michael. Everything felt out of her control, and the thought of pleading for help made her sick. But with no other choice, she had to swallow her pride.

*****

William and Sanya were inside the fine dining restaurant to eat lunch. However, ten minutes already passed since the waiter served their dishes and yet Sanya was still not touching her food.

William shrugged as he glanced at Sanya, who was still glued to her phone.

"Why don’t you eat something while you wait for her reply? I’m sure she’ll get back to you soon," he suggested with a sigh, his stomach growling in protest. He felt bad devouring his meal while Sanya fixated on the screen, sighing every few seconds.

With a deep breath, Sanya finally set her phone down, picked up her utensils, and hesitantly began to poke at her food. "If you want, you can go with me to the ancestral family mansion. You’ll get to see Rain there and talk things out," he offered, a hopeful grin spreading across his face.

Sanya met his gaze. "Will that be okay? I really want to see Rain, even if she’s angry. I know I’ve messed up by dragging this out too long," she admitted with a downcasted voice.

"Of course! Come with me and let’s have dinner with the family. My brother’s been asking about my fiancee..." he added with a roguish smile.

Sanya’s expression fell as she quickly interjected, "Girlfriend! We agreed to keep it at girlfriend status for just a month. After that, we can decide if we want to take the next step."

"Fine, but just so you know, I’m confident you won’t be able to resist my charm," he said with a wink. He was confident that Sanya would come to like him long before their one-month timeline was up.

Even now, he could see the impact he had on her; the way her cheeks flushed at his playful banter made him want to reach out and caress her face, to feel the warmth of her skin under his fingertips.

But he found himself pondering a deeper question. Was it merely physical attraction that drew him to Sanya? There was something more, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. And he was eager to explore what this connection truly meant and where it might lead.