The Trillionire Tycoon's Fiesty Bride

In my previous life, I married someone randomly out of anger.

On the wedding day, my so-called brother, Maddox Barone, committed suicide.

I hated him so much, but my father, Derek Barone, showed me Maddox's diary page by page.

"Celeste, he is not your biological brother at all," said my father.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself reborn at the engagement party.

I pointed at Maddox Barone in the audience, saying, "Dad, I want to marry him."

Everyone was shocked.

I looked at my petrified father, a resolute determination in my voice as I repeated clearly, "Dad, I want to marry him."

Lifting my skirt, I stepped down from the stage, walked to Maddox, who stood dressed in a suit and tie, and took his hand.

As I once again felt the familiar warmth emanating from Maddox's hand, a shiver ran down my spine. Yet, I was acutely aware of the strength and firmness with which he reciprocated my grasp.

I saw my father stand up and heard him unleash an angry roar, "Celeste Barone! What are you doing again!"

Ten minutes later, I was thrown into the bedroom by my father's bodyguard.

I collapsed onto the floor, staring at the familiar surroundings. Memories flooded back, reminding me that in my previous life, I would feign sickness every night and call Maddox to my room to bully him.

Back then, I believed that he allowed me to vent my anger because he felt remorseful. However, in the end, I realized that it was because he had always loved me.

Maddox was not an illegitimate child, but rather a husband selected for me by my father.

In my previous life, it was because of my willingness that I got myself into trouble and made Maddox so desperate that he committed suicide.

In this life, I took the initiative to pursue him.

I changed into home clothes and put on socks, then quietly opened the balcony door and skillfully locked it from the outside.

I estimated the distance between my balcony and Maddox's and carefully climbed onto his balcony.

As soon as I landed, I saw Maddox opening the door and coming in. He glanced up and noticed my presence.

Seeing him coming towards me anxiously, I jumped into his arms without hesitation.

I gazed into his beautiful eyes, gripping his shoulders tightly, ready to speak when a knock on the door interrupted us.

"Maddox, you awake? I wanna ask you something," came my father's voice from outside.

2

Once my father left, I suppressed my anger and came out of Maddox's closet.

I walked straight over and questioned Maddox with a condescending tone, "Why did you tell Dad that today was your fault?

"What does today's incident have to do with you?"

The room was dimly lit, with only a floor lamp casting its glow. The spot where Maddox was seated remained engulfed in darkness.

He didn't answer but just put down the wine glass in his hand. Only then did I realize that he was drinking.

"Celeste, you should go back to bed."

Maddox acted like an elder and didn't even look at me.

"I'm gonna sleep here tonight," I said.

I didn't want to explain; all I wanted was to rip off Maddox's hypocritical mask.

He obviously had harbored feelings for me since childhood, to the extent that he collected every fragment I left behind. He liked me so much that he couldn't bring himself to touch me, even when I was drunk. He adored me so much that he drove away all the bad guys I encountered. And yet, foolishly, I saw him as a pervert.

Was it too late for me to go to him now?

Maddox stood up, saying, "Alright, I'll go to the guest room then."

I extended my hand in front of him, sensing the aroma of red wine wafting into my nostrils.

However, he insisted on leaving, leaving me with no choice but to turn around and grab his arm.

"Maddox, are you angry?" I asked.

Maddox turned around and saw that my eyes were red. He sighed and gently caressed my head.

"Celeste, even if you wanted to temporarily call off the engagement, you couldn't joke about me. You understand?"

I held Maddox's hand, saying, "Maddox, I'm not joking."

3

The following day, my father forced me to visit the Atkins family and offered my apologies to the person I had ended the engagement with the previous day.

My engagement to Erik Atkins was a reciprocal manipulation. I used it as a means to annoy my father, while he admitted that he used it to irritate the woman he loved.

Nevertheless, since I had caused him embarrassment, I felt obligated to apologize. Unexpectedly, as I entered the Atkins family residence with gifts in hand, I found that they were in the midst of hosting a party.

All the friends who had attended my engagement party the previous day were also present at this gathering.

I stood in the hallway's blind spot and discreetly gestured to the Atkins family's servants, silently signaling them not to make any noise.

"I have never seen Celeste get humiliated in all these years. Yesterday, when I saw Mr. Derek Barone get so angry that he ordered the bodyguard to lock her up in the bedroom, l almost pissed myself laughing. Hahaha."

"Especially when Celeste said she wanted to marry Maddox, it was absolutely funny."

"Hasn't Maddox always regarded himself as Celeste's brother?"

"Actually, I'm really curious about what Maddox is to the Barone family?"

"Mr. Derek Barone never said he was an adopted son, right?"

"But he didn't say no."

"But in recent years, Maddox has been the only one who has the final say in the Barone Group."

"It is precisely because of Maddox that Celeste can live a joyful and carefree life until now."

"But when Maddox first came to our circle, wasn't it rumored that he was Celeste's selected husband?"

"Celeste lost her temper at the time and even found a man to anger Maddox, right?"

"Celeste has found lots of men in the past few years."

"Isn't that all to piss off Maddox? She didn't bring any of them home."

The living room was filled with teasing and laughter, but I didn't hear Erik's voice.

"Erik, why so quiet?" one of them asked.

"Yeah. Let's interview the person who was publicly abandoned at the engagement party."

In the midst of the silence, Erik's calm voice broke through, saying, "Wasn't it clear to everyone that when Celeste agreed to be engaged to me, we had no intention of actually getting married?

"I know the Atkins family's place."

As I listened to these voices, memories from my past life rushed back. I had mistaken many of them as true friends who genuinely cared for me. Back then, Maddox had warned me to keep my distance from them, yet I had grown angry with him for it. But now, I realized there were no genuine friends among them.

I walked out of the hallway.

"Yeah, everyone, have you laughed enough?" I asked.

I approached everyone in the living room, studying their bewildered expressions, and then clapped my hands.

I said, "Surprise!

"I came here today to apologize to Erik, but I didn't expect to hear an interesting discussion about me.

"What? Just because the Barone family finally made a mistake once, do you think you can keep talking about us?"

A girl couldn't help but stand up and refute me, "You think you're something? Without the Barone family, who do you think you are?"

I shrugged nonchalantly, replying, "So what? I am the only heir of the Barone Group.

"Also, before you said that, you should have asked your brother and cousins how they are pestering me and trying to bond with my family."

I waved my phone, smiled politely at those people, and continued, "Next time when you judge me, figure out whether your friends are truly siding with you.

"After all, I just broke off the engagement last night, and this morning, I received countless messages of concern for me."

I looked at my phone and randomly mentioned the names of a few people present. Seeing their embarrassed expressions, I felt very satisfied.

I said, "One more thing. Maddox is mine now, so don't get any ideas about him."

"Oh, he has always been mine.

"Erik, it seems you are very busy today. I'll come another day."

I patted Erik on the shoulder meaningfully, then walked out. Unexpectedly, I saw Maddox at the corner of the hallway where I had just stood.

I suddenly felt guilty and reached out to pull him, asking, "Maddox, did you hear everything?"

Maddox dodged my hand and walked ahead.

After getting into the car, I tentatively looked at Maddox's expression. To my surprise, Maddox raised the partition and reached out to pinch my face.

I was forced to look directly into Maddox's eyes, my back trembling slightly.

He said, "Dad has arranged a blind date for me. So don't mess around, Celeste."

4

My dad was very smart. Every time Maddox went on a blind date, I was guarded by bodyguards at home.

Only my best friend Esme came to see me and asked me to go to the hot springs in a few days.

At that time, I was very upset because Maddox was going on a blind date.

Esme patted me on the shoulder calmly, saying, "As long as you go, I can make sure Maddox comes."

I was skeptical.

"I'm your wingman," she reassured me.

I looked at the chat record with Maddox. He had not replied to any of the messages I had sent him during this period.

"I feel like he's become a different person. Wasn't he the husband chosen for me? Shouldn't he be my fiancé by now?"

Esme sighed and remarked, "But you wanted to get engaged first."

Unwilling to give up, I secretly hid in Maddox's room at night and wanted to talk to him, but I got completely triggered upon hearing his words.

"You mean Celeste? It's all in the past. The blind dates my dad arranged for me are all quite good," Maddox's voice echoed.

I curled up in the blanket, stunned.

"About four or five," he said.

Had he met so many women in just a few days?

How could he move on from me so quickly? And now, he easily liked someone else? Did I mean so little to him that he could easily get over me?

The room remained dimly lit, yet the sound of Maddox's footsteps grew nearer and nearer, accompanied by his voice engaged in a phone call conversation.

The moment Maddox lay next to me, I turned over and pressed on him.

Staring at Maddox's slightly dilated eyes, I asked him with red eyes, "Maddox, did you get over me so easily?

"Then prove it to me."

While he was stunned, I pressed his shoulders and planted a trembling, passionate kiss on his lips.

5

That night, after leaving his room, I went to the hot spring resort that Esme had recommended, seeking solace and escape.

I lay in the warm waters and allowed my thoughts to dissipate. "I feel like he's truly over me," I murmured.

Esme sat by the pool, her expression filled with disbelief as she stared at me.

"Others may not like you, but Maddox never will. The bond you have shared for over 10 years is undeniable," Esme said.

I threw the grapes in my hand away angrily.

"He pushed me down last night, and I almost got hurt!

"How could he be so cruel to a pretty and lovely girl like me!

"He could never bear to hurt me before.

"And last night, he even wiped his mouth vigorously, as if being kissed by me was unlucky."

I kept complaining, and as I spoke I felt like crying.

"Esme, I think I'll never get him."

Esme gently caressed my head and asked, "So that's why you ran away from home without telling anyone? Because you were embarrassed?"

I responded softly, "Yes.

"I don't know how to face Maddox and Dad. And if his blind dates goes well, he may bring his girlfriend home next month."

I rubbed my eyes, wondering what I had done in my previous life that made the path to pursuing a man so difficult.

"I've never seen you so frustrated. Damn Maddox," Esme scolded, stroking my head again.

I turned away in disgust, complaining, "Why are you petting me like a puppy? And don't judge him."

Esme reached out and flicked the straps on my back.

Feeling hurt, I screamed and completely regained my clarity. I sat up and was about to deal with her, but she had already stood up and put on her bathrobe.

"Sweeite, your swimsuit looks really good on you. It's adorable and sexy," she complimented.

I pouted and lay back down by the pool.

"You chose it, so you're just complimenting your own taste."

Esme looked at the time and put the tray next to me.

"This wine is good. Try it. It's very comfortable to drink while taking a hot spring bath," Esme suggested.

"Alright," I responded. I really needed some wine at this time.

Unaware of when Esme had left, I found myself getting drunk rather quickly due to my emotional state. I didn't realize I was dizzy until I almost finished the bottle of wine.

The wooden sliding door behind me abruptly swung open, emitting a swift creak. Startled, I turned around in confusion, only to see a figure darting straight into the hot spring pool.

Before my vision could fully adjust, I was carried out of the hot spring pool by someone. I only felt one of my straps being torn off by the violent movement.

"Who... who are you?" I asked.

As my vision finally cleared, I found myself face to face with Maddox, his wet collar clinging to his skin. My legs were pressed against his body, and I saw the torn straps of my swimsuit.

I clutched at my collar in panic and reminded him, "This is for ladies only..."

He interrupted, "I can't prove it."

Last night's question received a belated answer. I stared at him blankly, my mind still struggling to process the situation.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

Maddox's breathing was rapid, and the corners of his eyes appeared red.

With a crisp sound, Maddox cast aside his gold-rimmed glasses. Suddenly, he pinched my jaw.

Maddox spoke clearly, "Celeste, I said I lost to you.

"Even in this life, I still can't escape it."