Reckless Billionaire’s Ruthless Claim (Obsessed Billionaires, Cherished Brides #4)

Chapter 16 The Real One

Ellie froze.

The woman’s were eyes filled with tears as she pulled Ellie closer, turning her around to get a better look at her face.

A man rushed in at the sound of her cry, his voice firm yet calm. "Jessica, what are you doing?" He was the same man from the picture. Olivia’s father. "Let the girl go. She is not our daughter."

Jessica’s teary eyes remained locked on Ellie’s face, searching for something. Then, after a long moment, she blinked and stepped back, releasing her grip. “I… I’m sorry,” she stammered, her voice shaking. "I don’t know why I did that."

Ellie’s heart pounded harder, the pain in her chest intensifying.

But she couldn’t afford to stay here. If she got caught trespassing, she could be handed over to the police.

She forced a polite smile and quickly explained, “I just came to drop off a painting, madam. Thank you. Goodbye.”

With that, she turned and bolted out of the house.

Behind her, she could still hear the couple talking.

"What’s wrong with you?" Olivia’s father, Jack, asked, his voice gentler now. "Our daughter is living with us."

“I don’t know, Jack,” Jessica whispered, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. “I don’t know why I did that. She just… she looks so much like our Olivia.”

Jack exhaled heavily. "I know. But that doesn’t mean we can call anyone our daughter. You’ve already noticed how insecure Olivia is. She doesn’t even let us keep any pictures of her past in this house. And now, you’re mistaking another girl for her? Do you realize how badly Olivia will take this?"

Jack placed a comforting hand on his wife’s shoulder, speaking softly to calm her down.

Meanwhile, Ellie slipped away, her heart still throbbing painfully in her chest.

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to shake off the image of Jessica’s devastated face. The woman had looked so broken, so utterly miserable.

Ellie clenched her fists, squeezing her eyes shut as if that could block out the ache pressing down on her.

Her phone rang again, pulling her out of her thoughts. Annoyed, she pulled it out of her pocket and glanced at the screen.

‘Jeremy.’

She exhaled sharply, pressing the answer button as she walked away from the house.

“Hi,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

“Hey! Where are you? Busy?” Jeremy asked immediately.

Ellie bit her lip, casting one last glance at the grand house behind her. She hesitated for a moment, then shook her head.

“No, not busy,” she said. “What’s up?”

“How about you meet me on Sixth Street in an hour?” Jeremy suggested. “I want to treat you to a meal for helping me out and teaching me to dance today. I nailed it, and everyone was super impressed! Now I’m actually looking forward to the show next week. It’s going to be a big hit—I can feel it!”

Ellie grinned at his excitement. She couldn’t remember the last time she had felt this kind of accomplishment—this kind of praise.

“Thanks, but it’s really not necessary,” she assured him. “I was just doing my job. Besides, I had fun. I love dancing.”

“Good to know,” Jeremy said, his tone playful. “But listen, I don’t keep favors hanging. You already owe me one, remember? If you refuse tonight’s dinner, then next time I see you, you’re repaying that favor.”

Ellie gritted her teeth. "For God’s sake, when are you going to forget about that kiss?!"

“Never.” Jeremy’s laughter rang through the phone. “I’m going to hold it over your head for as long as I can—use it to blackmail you into whatever I want.”

“Devil,” Ellie snapped.

Jeremy only chuckled.

She sighed. “Fine. I’ll meet you there, but I might not be able to stay long. It’s getting late, and I need to head home early.”

“Deal. Just come over,” Jeremy said, then hung up.

***

“Mr. Stark, your suspicions were right.”

Henry walked into Sawyer’s home office, a file in his hand. He placed it on the desk in front of him and stepped back.

"It was indeed Miss Olivia who hired the men to run Miss Ellie down that night."

Sawyer let out a slow, exhausted breath, tilting his head back and closing his eyes.

“Why is she doing this?” he muttered. “What the hell is happening? She was always kind, always sweet. I don’t get it. What reason would she have to hurt Ellie?”

Henry hesitated before continuing, his expression tense. “Mr. Stark, there’s something else I discovered. It might be a coincidence, but…it’s highly suspicious.”

Sawyer straightened, his brows furrowing. “Go on.”

“The day Miss Olivia was burned in the fire, another girl, a friend of hers, was admitted to the hospital at the same time. She also had burn injuries, but more than that—she underwent plastic surgery. The same day as Miss Olivia. The injuries were sustained at the same time, in a similar fire incident.”

Sawyer’s frown deepened. “Which friend?”

Henry flipped through the file, pulled out a picture, and slid it across the table.

“Remember her, Mr. Stark? She used to constantly throw herself at you, even though she knew Miss Olivia was your fiancée. The same girl who had a massive crush on you.”

Sawyer stared at the photograph, a faint memory surfacing. Then, suddenly, another image flashed in his mind—him recoiling slightly when he noticed a small black birthmark on that girl’s neck.

And just a few days ago… hadn’t he seen the same, faintly faded mark on Olivia’s neck?

His heart pounded. His body tensed.

He shot to his feet, his mind racing.

"Could it be that Olivia isn’t Olivia? That she’s an imposter?" His voice was sharp, his eyes blazing as he turned to Henry.

Henry met his gaze with grave seriousness. "Mr. Stark, Miss Olivia hasn’t been the same in the last three years. We all thought it was psychological, but no one ever considered the possibility that she might not be Olivia at all. So yes, there’s a chance she isn’t who she claims to be."

Sawyer’s fists clenched.

"Get her DNA tested immediately," Sawyer ordered, his jaw tightening. "We need to find out where the real Olivia is."

The thought sent a wave of dread crashing over him. The Olivia he had loved—mischievous, kind, but never cruel—was she still out there? Had she been suffering all this time while he stood by, blind to the truth?

His jaw tightened. His chest ached with tension.

Had he unknowingly let something terrible happen to the real Olivia?

***

Ellie halted in front of the massive restaurant, her eyes widening at the sight of the luxurious entrance.

She had come in her usual casual clothes, thinking it was just a simple dinner. But now, standing before an extravagant five-star hotel, she realized she had completely miscalculated.

"My day just isn’t going to get any better, is it?" she thought with a sigh, forcing a smile onto her face.

Bracing herself, she straightened her shoulders, adjusted her smile, and walked up the grand staircase to enter the restaurant.

A waiter guided her to a table where Jeremy was already seated. Thankfully, he wasn’t in a suit, just his usual casual wear, which made her feel slightly less out of place.

"You’re here!" Jeremy greeted enthusiastically, pulling out her chair with one hand without bothering to stand up.

Ellie slid into her seat, whispering urgently, "You gave me a scare! Seeing this place from the outside, I thought I should’ve worn an evening gown or something."

Jeremy chuckled. "Miss Ellie, get updated. Casual is the new suit at fancy restaurants."

Ellie shook her head in relief. "Good to know. I didn’t want to show up in an evening gown either. I’d look so stupid."

Jeremy grinned. "What do you want to eat? It’s my treat. Order everything on the menu if you want."

Ellie was about to reply when her phone rang. She pulled it out of her purse, and Lily’s name flashed on the screen. The moment she picked up, Lily’s urgent voice came through.

"Ellie, get to the hospital right now! Uncle Tony had a stroke—they’re prepping for emergency surgery."

Ellie shot to her feet, her heart leaping into her throat.

"I’m coming! Take care of him, please!" she said in a shaking voice, snatching her purse off the table.

"Sorry, I have an emergency!" she rushed out, her voice barely steady.

After everything she had lost in the world, Uncle Tony was the only family she had left. He had been there for her when no one else was. He never flinched when caring for her, even when her wounds were severe and her skin was burned. Now, she was helpless, unable to ease his pain, unable to save him.

"Did you come by car?" Jeremy’s voice cut through her panic. Seeing the look on her face, his own expression turned serious.

"No, I’ll get a cab or something—" she started, already rushing toward the exit.

But before she could take another step, Jeremy grabbed her hand and pulled her outside with him. "Come on. I have a car. I’ll take you."

Ellie didn’t have time to argue. Right now, getting to the hospital was all that mattered.

Jeremy drove fast, taking every shortcut possible, and they reached the hospital in record time.

Ellie ran through the hospital doors, her breath coming in short, desperate gasps. Her eyes scanned the corridor before landing on Lily, who was pacing anxiously outside the ward.

"Lily, I’m here!" she called, breathless.

Lily turned to her immediately, speaking fast. "He had a stroke. A blood clot formed in his brain due to a head injury. The doctors say surgery is the only option. But—" Lily hesitated. "We need to deposit the money first, or they won’t operate."

"Of course! I’ll pay right now." Ellie pulled out her purse, rummaging for her card.

But then—her hands froze.

Shit.

Sawyer had already blocked all her finances. She had nothing.

Panic clawed at her throat. She looked up at Lily, horror-stricken. "I don’t have any money. Can I pay later? Can they start the operation first?"

"It’s not in my hands, Ellie," Lily said, her anxiety spiking. "The hospital won’t operate until the payment is made."

Ellie whispered, "But I don’t have any right now. Sawyer blocked everything. I don’t even have a card—he took them all and gave them to Henry."

Lily’s face paled. "I have five thousand dollars in my account, but that’s nowhere near enough. The surgery costs thirty thousand."

Before Ellie could respond, a hand suddenly appeared between them—offering a black card.

"Here. Use it."

Ellie’s gaze followed the hand up to Jeremy’s face.

"No, I can’t take your money," she pushed it back. "You’re a stranger. I can’t burden you like this."

"This isn’t important right now," Jeremy said firmly. "What matters is getting the surgery started. Don’t let money be the reason he doesn’t make it. I have it."

Ellie hesitated, her pride battling with her desperation. But there was no choice.

Reluctantly, she took the card and handed it to Lily. Then she turned to Jeremy, her eyes filled with gratitude. "I’ll pay you back soon. I promise."

Jeremy shook his head. "Don’t worry about it right now."

Ellie exhaled, her hands shaking as she reached for the diamond necklace around her neck. Unclasping it, she pressed it into Lily’s hand.

"Take this," she said. "Sell it back at ‘Satire’ in Max Mall. That should fetch a good price. Use the money for Uncle’s medical bills for the next few days. I’ll find a job for more money."

Lily hesitated, glancing at the necklace. "Ellie… Sawyer gave this to you. If you sell it and he finds out—"

Ellie clenched her jaw, her frustration mounting. "I don’t have time to worry about him right now. It’s just a necklace. I’ll buy it back later or pay him for it. Uncle Tony is the only thing that matters right now."

Lily gave a short nod. "Alright. I’ll handle it." She hurried off toward the billing counter.

Ellie stood there, rubbing her hands together, pacing back and forth in nervous agitation. Her mind was racing, and she barely noticed where she was going—until she suddenly collided with someone.

Her purse slipped from her hands, spilling its contents across the floor.

"Are you fucking blind?!" an angry voice snapped.

The woman she had bumped into flipped around with a scowl, her sharp glare locking onto Ellie.

Ellie looked at the woman, about to apologize when she saw who it was.

Alina.

Ellie let out an annoyed breath and didn’t bother to say sorry.

Alina, who had been glaring at the things scattered on the floor, suddenly spotted a photograph that had fallen from Ellie’s purse. It was an old picture of a boy and a girl standing close together. Then her eyes slid up, seeing Ellie. Alina’s lips curled into a sneer.

“What are you doing at the hospital, beggar? Don’t tell me you’re dying of some STD or HIV or something.”

Ellie clenched her eyes shut, exhaling slowly. She refused to let Alina get under her skin. Without sparing her another glance, she stood up and turned away, moving toward Jeremy.

"Do you hear a dog barking?" Ellie said loudly. "I swear I hear it. Who allowed a dog into a hospital? This is ridiculous.”

“You bitc—!” Alina’s scream pierced through the air, but the moment her eyes landed on Jeremy, she clamped her mouth shut.

Seeing the striking man with an effortless coolness and undeniable attractiveness, Alina’s irritation vanished. She quickly softened her expression, flashing a coy smile.

“Hi, handsome.”

Jeremy gave her a blank, unimpressed stare before turning away without a word.

Alina’s jaw clenched in humiliation. Her face burned as she watched him completely disregard her. Furious, she spun on her heels and stormed out of the hospital, nose held high.

Outside, Olivia was waiting in the car, lazily scrolling through her phone. When Alina spotted her, she rushed over and slid inside with an irritated huff.

“Hey, girl,” Alina greeted, though her tone was far from cheerful. “What a shitty day. I just ran into that beggar bitch at the hospital.”

Olivia barely acknowledged her, still tapping away on her phone.

Alina’s gaze drifted over to Olivia’s screen, where a photo of a boy in a green night suit was displayed.

“Wait, who is that?” Alina leaned in for a better look. “Why do you have this picture too?”

Olivia's fingers froze over her screen. Olivia frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I just bumped into Ellie, and her stuff fell all over the floor. She has a photo of the same boy—only in hers, there’s also a girl standing beside him. In a pink night suit.”

The phone nearly slipped from Olivia’s fingers. Her blood ran cold.

“What did you just say?” Her voice was eerily calm, but there was an underlying tremor.

Alina shrugged. “I said she had a photo of the same guy, but with a girl next to him.”

Olivia’s eyes widened, her body stiffening at once.

Why would Ellie have this picture? Everything was already burnt down when the house was set on fire three years ago. There was nothing left—no memories, no evidence. Olivia had made sure of that. She had ensured that no pictures from the past were recreated, let alone displayed in the house with the old Olivia’s face on them.

So how could Ellie have that picture?

Unless… the real Olivia wasn’t dead.

And Ellie—Ellie was the real Olivia.

“Shit. Shit. Shit!” Olivia slammed her hands on the car, her eyes widening in a crazed panic. Even Alina flinched, fear creeping into her expression.

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

But Olivia wasn’t listening. Her mind was racing, her thoughts spinning wildly.

‘No, it can’t be her. I burned her down three years ago! How can she be here?’

But the police never found a body in the remains. They had said there were traces of burned skin, evidence that Olivia had been reduced to ash. But no body was found.

Had she escaped?

“That fucking bitch,” Olivia scoffed, running her fingers through her hair frantically. “That fucking, fucking bitch!” she screeched.

“It’s her. It’s definitely her,” Olivia gritted out, her eyes rolling like a mad woman, her breath uneven. “I have to get rid of her.”

Alina sat frozen, watching Olivia unravel before her eyes. She had never seen her like this before, and the more she witnessed, the more terrified she became. But she didn’t dare say a word.

***

Inside the hospital, a man in a crisp suit paused mid-step in the corridor, his sharp gaze settling on a familiar figure.

Damion had come for a business-related meeting, but his gaze landed on Ellie, pacing restlessly in the hallway. She looked distraught, worry written all over her face.

Frowning, he turned to a passing nurse. "What’s going on with her?"

“There’s an old patient, Tony, who is undergoing surgery,” the nurse informed him. “He had a stroke. This girl has been here since evening, waiting anxiously. But he’s alright now. The operation is almost done.”

The nurse then explained everything about Tony to him, including him adopting Ellie not long ago and the car accident that made him fall into a coma.

Damion’s eyes darkened. He glanced back at Ellie, taking in her anxious expression.

Alone, desperate.

Without another thought, he pulled out his phone and made a call.