The Billionaire's Pampered Wife

Ariana lay motionless in the VIP hospital room, surrounded by machines that beeped steadily beside her bed. Her eyes were fixed on the door, as if she was waiting for someone.

The door was pushed open from outside. A beautiful woman wearing a black dress that showed off her figure walked in. Her red hair was styled in a bob. Ariana smiled in relief when she saw her. Rose was finally here.

Rose hurried to her bedside. “Oh, honey, look at you. How did you get here?”

Tears gathered in Ariana’s eyes as she held Rose’s hand tightly, like her life depended on it. “Where is Arthur?” Ariana asked.

Rose’s eyes shifted before she answered. “I don't know. He isn't here yet.”

Arthur was the heir of the Whitmore family, the richest and most respected family in Country C.

Ariana had been adopted by the Old Madam of the Whitmore family when she was young. The family believed she was their good-luck charm because Arthur, who had always been weak since birth, became healthier after Ariana joined the family.

Because of this, the Whitmore family adored Ariana and gave her everything she needed. They also made sure she was trained to become confident and resourceful—the perfect woman to stand beside Arthur as the future lady of the Whitmore family.

Rose had been Ariana's best friend from the beginning. She was the young miss of the Starline family. Although the Starline family was wealthy, they couldn't compare to the Whitmore family.

As Rose held Ariana's hand, she noticed the bracelet on her wrist. It was made of gold with small diamonds inlaid around it. Ariana looked at it in confusion. Wasn't that the bracelet she had designed but hadn't put on the market yet? It was part of her new collection. Only she and Arthur knew about it.

Ariana slowly looked at Rose. “Rose, where did you get that bracelet?”

Rose looked down at her wrist in shock. She had forgotten to take it off in her hurry. “I—Rose stammered, her eyes shifting as she tried to think of an explanation.”

Ariana said nothing. She simply stared at her. She had known Rose for years. She knew when her friend was lying. And Rose was definitely lying now.

“If Rose didn't get the bracelet from me, then there was only one other person who could have given it to her.” Arthur.

Ariana's expression changed slightly. “Where were you tonight?”

“I was busy,” Rose answered quickly.

“Busy?” Ariana frowned.

What could Rose possibly have been busy with? They were in the same social circle. Ariana knew the people Rose usually spent time with, and none of them had plans that night. Then the small details she had ignored over the years began flashing through her mind.

Arthur and Rose were always somehow unavailable at the same time. There was a time Arthur had travelled to Paris. When he returned, Rose suddenly had a famous bag from Paris. When Ariana had asked about it, Rose had casually said her cousin bought it for her. But what cousin? Even though Rose's family was wealthy, they weren't wealthy enough to casually spend that kind of money on a single bag.

Ariana's eyes narrowed. Then she noticed a red mark on Rose's neck. Her gaze hardened.

“Isn't that a hickey?” Rose froze.

“You were with Arthur.” It wasn't a question.

Rose's face changed. “Ariana, it's not what you think—”

“Don't lie to me, Rose. I've seen the signs.”

Rose's lips trembled. She knew she couldn't deny it anymore.

“Yes.” Ariana's heart sank slightly. Not because she loved Arthur. She had never been deeply in love with him. But she had trusted Rose. She had trusted the woman standing in front of her as one of the few people she believed would never betray her.

“How long?”

Rose looked away. “We've been dating since I was eighteen.”

Ariana stared at her. For a moment, she didn't know whether to laugh or be angry. All those years. All those strange coincidences. All those excuses. It suddenly made sense. Although she didn't love Arthur, why couldn't he simply have been honest with her instead of treating her like a fool?

Ariana looked at Rose. “Do you really think the lady of the Whitmore family will allow you to be with him?” “Never.”

Rose's expression darkened. “Why are you so sure of that?”

“Because she doesn't like things getting out of her control.” Ariana's voice remained calm. “You're not worthy.”

Her words hit a painful spot. Rose's expression twisted with anger. “Then are you the one worthy? Who do you think you are?” She stepped closer. “You're just an orphan who was adopted by them because of your so-called good luck. How could you possibly compare yourself to me?”

Ariana simply stared at her. She wasn't affected by the insult. She had heard worse things in her life. Rose's anger grew when she saw Ariana's calm expression.

“Stop staring at me like that!”

Ariana raised an eyebrow.

“I hate that look you always have. You always look like you're above everyone else.” Rose's voice trembled with anger. “Even now, you know the man you're supposed to marry isn't in love with you, yet you still have that look in your eyes.”

She suddenly laughed bitterly. “Why don't you just die?” "what kind of luck do you have that even a car accident won't kill you"

Ariana's expression finally changed. “What did you say?”

Rose went silent. She had said too much. Ariana's eyes narrowed. Rose looked away, realizing her mistake. “No. I said nothing.”

“I heard you clearly.” Ariana's voice became colder.

“You said you tampered with my car.”

Rose took a small step backward. “No…” She looked frightened now. No one could know. Not even Arthur knew what she had done. If Ariana left this hospital, everything would be over.

Her family would be finished.

Her relationship with Arthur would be exposed.

Rose's breathing became unsteady.

She looked at Ariana.

Then at the door.

Then back at Ariana.

Ariana noticed the change in her expression. “What are you trying to do?”

Rose didn't answer immediately. She slowly moved back toward Ariana's bedside. “You have to die for me to live.”

Ariana stared at her in disbelief. “Rose…” Ariana gathered what little strength she had left and tried to stop her. But Rose had already made her decision.

The machines beside Ariana's bed continued beeping. Then everything went quiet.

Rose stood frozen beside the bed, staring in horror as the machines fell silent. Her legs gave way beneath her, and she sank onto the floor.

“No…” She covered her face. “It wasn't my fault.” Her voice trembled. “She forced me. It was either me or her.”

Ariana felt herself falling.

Deeper.

Deeper into darkness.

It felt as though she were sinking beneath endless water. She tried to reach the surface, but something seemed to be pulling her farther down.

Then she looked up. A figure stood in the distance, watching her. Ariana narrowed her eyes. She couldn't see clearly. The figure looked strangely familiar. She forced her eyes to focus. And then her heart stopped. The girl standing before her looked exactly like her.

Same face.

Same eyes.

Same features.

Ariana stared at her in confusion. Who was she? The mysterious girl slowly stretched out her hand. Ariana hesitated. Something about her felt strange. Yet somehow… familiar.

After a moment, Ariana reached out and took her hand. The instant their hands touched, a powerful force pulled Ariana toward her. Darkness engulfed her.

Ariana felt a pounding pain in her head as she struggled to open her eyes. Bright sunlight streamed through the uncovered window and hit her face, which only made the pain even worse.

“F*ck. Who the hell left the curtains open?” she cursed in annoyance. She yanked the blanket off her body and tried to stand. Immediately, a wave of dizziness hit her. A sharp pain shot through her leg, forcing her to sit back down on the bed. Ariana stared at her leg in shock.

Then the memories came rushing back.

Rose.

The oxygen.

The betrayal.

She remembered everything. She was supposed to be dead. So why was she alive? As Ariana sat lost in thought, the door suddenly opened. A young, unfamiliar girl walked into the room.

“Young Madam, you're finally awake!”

Ariana stared at her in confusion. Young Madam? Who was she calling Young Madam? She looked around the room. She was the only person there. She must be talking to me. Ariana's confusion deepened. This was a hospital room, but it wasn't the same hospital room she had been in before she died. She turned toward the girl.

“Um... who are you?”

The girl's expression immediately changed as tears gathered in her eyes.

“Young Madam... you don't remember me?”

Ariana stared at her. What b*llsh*t. Young Madam? She wasn't even married to Arthur yet.

“Should I?” Ariana asked, trying to keep her expression under control.

The girl hesitated. “What about the Young Master?”

Ariana's eyes narrowed. “Get lost. You're in the wrong room. I'm not your Young Madam, nor do I know any Young Master.” The young girl immediately burst into tears. She turned around and ran out of the room.

“Hmph. Who do they think they're playing with?”

Ariana rolled her eyes. Not long after, the girl returned with a doctor.

“Doctor, I think something is wrong with her. She doesn't even remember the Young Master.”

“I thought I told you to get lost!” Ariana shouted angrily.

The doctor rolled his eyes. “Would you stop acting, Ariana? We're all tired of your antics.”

Ariana froze.

Acting? What was this doctor talking about? She stared at them in confusion. Just then, a man who looked to be around twenty-seven walked into the room.

He was tall, with long legs and deep-set eyes that seemed capable of freezing anyone in place. His deep black hair was combed backward, revealing his handsome features.

The moment Camella saw him, she immediately bowed her head.

“Young Master.”

The doctor turned toward the man and smiled. “I think your wish finally came true. Your wife doesn't remember you.” He said it jokingly.

Ariana's eyes widened.

Wife?

Her heart skipped a beat. She didn't know these people. She didn't understand what they were talking about. She looked at the man again. Who the hell was this man?

Suddenly, her head began pounding. Ariana grabbed her head as unfamiliar memories started forcing their way into her mind. Memories that didn't belong to her.

The people in the room stared at her in shock. Camella rushed to her bedside. “I think something is wrong! Doctor, do something!” Tears filled her eyes. Ariana couldn't bear the pain. Everything went black. She fainted.

Ariana opened her eyes and stared at the white ceiling, completely lost in thought. What had happened to her? How had this happened? She had died. Then, somehow, she had become someone else.

From the memories she had received, the woman whose body she was now in had the same name and the same face as her.

Well... this Ariana was a little prettier, but that wasn't the point. Could there really be two people in this world who looked exactly alike?

The woman whose body she was now living in was also called Ariana. When she was thirteen, she had saved the Old Master of the Blackwood family. Since then, he had taken responsibility for her education and eventually decided that she would become the future wife of the heir to the Blackwood family.

At twenty-two, she graduated from university and married Justin Blackwood. Their marriage was never made public. It was a private ceremony attended only by the two families.

Despite coming from a poor background,