The Billionaire He Thought Was A Gold Digger

I am an only daughter from a seriously wealthy East Coast family, practically an heiress. The first time I brought my boyfriend home for the holidays, my extended family jokingly asked him about moving in and taking our family name.

Brendan, my boyfriend, just smiled that warm, guileless smile of his, saying hed do whatever I wanted.

That night, though, I saw the post.

LOL, are all these Greenwich girls this entitled?

I went home with her for the New Year, and they actually suggested I become a live-in son-in-law. Does she actually think shes some kind of princess?

I froze, then glanced over at Brendan.

His thumb moved, and the post updated instantly.

She thinks she can demand a live-in husband when she doesnt even have nine figures? Delusional.

I managed a tight smile. Nine figures? Honey, my family passed the billion-dollar mark years ago.

The blood rushed out of my head, leaving a cold ringing in my ears. I slowly lifted my gaze to the sofa across the room, where Brendan Keller was sitting.

He was scrolling on his phone, a smirk playing on his lips.

My palms started sweating. It cant be him. Not Brendan. Wed been together for three years. He always seemed so mild-mannered, so accommodating. How could he possibly be saying these hateful things behind my back?

Clutching the last shred of my faith in him, I switched to an anonymous side account and commented on the post: Youve got a massive ego. What exactly are your qualifications?

I watched as Brendan suddenly looked down at his screen and let out a scoffing laugh, before quickly typing a reply.

Seconds later, my burner account got a response from the original poster: I'm a staff doctor at a prestigious downtown hospital and just picked up a new Audi A8.

More importantly, my parents are healthy and have solid pensions.

I have plenty of women chasing me. She should look at herselfa basic East Coast girland ask if she even deserves me to consider it. Shes not an heiress; shes a gold-digger.

Afraid I wouldn't believe him, he even messaged me a private photoa selfie taken in his new car, holding up his hospital ID badge.

It was definitely him.

The "staff doctor" position he boasted about was a temporary contract with a four-figure monthly salary, a detail Id never brought up, worried about hurting his ego. His parents modest pensions barely covered their co-pays and prescriptions for chronic conditions. And the Audi A8? That was my three-year anniversary gift to him. How dare he claim he bought it?

I just couldn't process it.

Only half an hour ago, he was publicly declaring his love and willingness to move in whenever I wanted. Now he was online calling me a gold-digger?

Seeing I wasn't replying, he kept harassing me: What, cat got your tongue?

Let me tell you, the average man today makes over $200k. You want us to move in? You need to pay us for the 30 years of our youth! Thats $6 million minimum!

A gold-digger with a $3k monthly salary expecting me to give up my career? Hilarious.

Just you wait. Tomorrow I'm hitting her up with the dowry demand. That's the only way to humble a gold-digger like her. Once shes humiliated, shell be a good wife.

I was shaking with cold fury. He used to ask me about my monthly income. Not thinking much of it, Id vaguely waved him off and said something like $3ka total lie to keep him from feeling inferior. Hed actually latched onto that number and built this grotesque fantasy of superiority.

I turned off my phone screen. "Brendan," I said, looking at him. "We're done. And before you walk out, leave the key to the car I bought you."

"What?" Brendan looked up, completely baffled. "Because I didn't immediately agree to your family's absurd request? Besides, the car is legally mine now, you cant just take it back."

He walked over and tried to sling an arm around my shoulder. "Look, I'll go talk to your dad tomorrow. We can set a date. How about that?"

I violently shook off his hand, my voice glacial. "Marry me? You cant afford to stand in the same room as me."

"Brendan, I said we're broken up. Now get out."

"I don't think so," he chuckled, sitting back down. "You want me out, but what will your parents say?"

He paused, a derisive snort escaping him. "Look at your parentsthey spent a fortune renting this old-money estate just to make me think you're some sort of precious East Coast elite. They did all that so they could snag a 'quality son' for free."

"You Reeds," he sneered, "your schemes are transparent."

He thinks this is a rental?

I was genuinely speechless, unable to do anything but laugh at his staggering confidence. A contract worker making barely four thousand dollars a month, calling himself "quality." Had I not been blind with affection, he wouldn't have been worthy of shining my shoes.

Seeing my silence, he grabbed my hand and squeezed it. "Look, Im willing to overlook your family's little deception."

"Youre pretty, and your figure is certainly presentable, despite your dishonesty. Marry me, and as long as you behave yourself, I'll love you."

Before I could tear into him, my father walked into the room. "Marry whom?"

He eyed Brendan with unconcealed suspicion. "You and Skylar?" It was clear my father wasnt impressed, either.

My mother and a few relatives followed him. Aunt Carol, my mother's sister, looked at me, then at Brendan. "Skylar, you are the Reed heiress. Youve thought this through?"

Before I could respond, Brendan jumped in. "Yes, if Mr. and Mrs. Reed agree, we plan to get our marriage license right after the holidays."

I rushed to my parents' side. "I have thought it through. Im breaking up with him."

Brendans smile evaporated. "Skylar! Youve been with me for three years! Who else are you going to marry?!"

"My mom says after the wedding, you just have to stay home and make babies. Well give you a thousand dollars for every one you pop out. How great is that?"

My mother's face went from pale to blazing. "Are you out of your mind? What do you think my daughter is?!"

My fathers face was dark. He shot back with cold sarcasm, "Then go tell your mother you're moving in. You can be the stay-at-home dad. I'll pay you ten thousand dollars for every child you look after!"

Brendan raised an eyebrow, a triumphant, I knew it look on his face.

He shot me a smirk, then turned to my father. "So you do want me to become a live-in husband after all? Its not impossible, sir."

"But I have my requirements."

He adjusted his collar, oozing a false sense of superiority. "First, the live-in fee. Given my qualifications, I require at least six million dollars."

"Second, the emotional distress this will cause my mother requires an additional one million dollars in compensation."

"Finally, the dowry. My minimum standard is two luxury cars, A-Class or better, and three luxury condos in the city center."

He looked directly at my father, a challenge in his eyes. "Can you meet those demands?"

The entire room fell silent. Everyone stared at each other, stunned.

My mother tugged at my sleeve, her expression troubled. "Skylar, the things hes asking for, they're just... too much..."

Before she could finish, Brendan cut her off smugly. "Too much, right? If you cant meet the demands, then I cant move in."

He crossed his legs triumphantly and pulled out his phone, starting to play a game.

Instinctively, I checked the gossip site.

Sure enough, a new update: I laid out my demands. They were scared into silence, LOL. This 'East Coast Elite' thing is totally fake.

Watch me, bros. I'm not only not going to move in, I'm going to make her beg me to marry her.

Someone commented, What if they demand the same amount in bride price? Can you pay it?

He replied dismissively: Shes a $3k-a-month woman. Why would she deserve a big bride price? You're worth what you can command.

Honestly, my mom plans to give her 0-08,000 for the wedding. She should be laughing all the way to the altar.

As he was gloating, the rest of us finally burst into laughter.

My mother had meant that his requirements were too measly to be taken seriously. The three luxury condos and two luxury cars he demanded were already just a fraction of the standard dowry shed planned for me. Reed Industries wealth extended into the billions across multiple sectors.

Seeing us laugh, Brendan frowned. "It's fine if you can't afford it. But next time you joke about someone moving in, know your own station, okay?"

"Also, I'll take Skylar to the Justice of the Peace tomorrow. The 0-08,000 bride price? Ill wire a third of it now. Well wait until the baby is born healthy for the rest. Skylar is getting older, and the kids are more likely to have issues."

The air in the room combusted. My entire family roared at him. "How dare you! Say that again!"

"You're the one with the issues!"

"To marry our Skylar, you'll need at least two million eight hundred thousand dollars in bride price, or forget it!"

"$2.8 million?!" Brendan was stunned, then stiffened his neck. "You don't need to overreact just because you can't meet my demands! Aren't you embarrassed to ask for $2.8 million for someone of her caliber?"

"Besides, Skylar is about to be a mother. Im still willing to give 0-08,000. What more do you want?"

"A mother?" I looked up at him sharply. "How do you know that?"

He gave me that sickening smirk. "My mother said that if the condom breaks, you're bound to get pregnant. You were screaming so loudly that time, Skylar. I thought you were enjoying it. Don't worry, I'm strongI bet it took on the first try."

My mind short-circuited.

Before I could even process the violation, my father and uncles gestured toward the door. "Guards! Get this man out of here!"

In seconds, a few large, uniformed men were flanking Brendan.

He looked disdainful. "Quite the performance. You even hired actors to play bodyguards..."

His words were cut short as the guards grabbed him and started walking him out. He looked back at me, disbelief twisting his face. "Skylar! Tell them to stop! If you don't, even if you come to me on your knees with a pregnant belly, I will never look at you again!"

Within minutes, his voice was muffled by the thick walls of the estate.

My mother's eyes were red with pity. "Its okay, baby. Thank God you got rid of that disgusting pig."

My relatives rushed to comfort me, vowing to beat Brendan up if they ever saw him again. I nodded, but said nothing.

That night, Brendan posted a new update.

Fake heiress tried to trick me into becoming a live-in husband, then demanded $2.8 MILLION bride price!

But I held the leverage! The condom broke, and now shes a package deal!

No one else will want this ball-and-chain gold-digger. Shell be crawling back to me tomorrow, mark my words.

The comments section exploded.

OMG, bro, youre so woke! Too many gold-diggers out there. They need to be taught a lesson like this!

Alpha male confirmed. Never got manipulated. I crown you the King of Anti-Manipulation!

I rolled my eyes and blocked his account. Then, I contacted my lawyer to reclaim the Audi A8.

The next morning, I went to the hospital for a blood test. I turned down my parents' offer to come with me. I just wanted to get it over with and let them forget about the whole ordeal.

While I was waiting for the results, I heard Brendans voice behind me. "Well, look who it is. Said you didn't care, but you came all the way to my hospital? Stalking me, Skylar?"

I froze, ignoring him.

He took two steps closer and lowered his voice. "Couldn't sleep last night? Figured youd come here to beg for a reunion?"

He tilted his head back, beaming with arrogance. "The chief of staff here is my former professor. He's very influential in the city. Since youre here, I dont mind introducing you. Its an opportunity to meet an important person."

The chief of staff? I knew the man. Dr. Nolan. I often saw him at my family's social functions, always treating my father with deep respect. Hes Brendans professor?

"No need," I said with a cold laugh. "Just leave me alone." I turned to walk away.

He grabbed my wrist. "Skylar Reed, youre carrying my child, youre practically my wife! Why the attitude?"

"I'm telling you, Dr. Nolan doesn't meet just anyone. You should be honored to get in via me!"

I wrenched my arm free, ready to tear into him, when my phone vibrated. The blood test results were in.

I tapped open the report, and when I saw the result, my entire body went numb.

Positive. I was pregnant.

Brendan, sharp-eyed, snatched my phone and his eyes lit up with excitement. "My mom was right! It worked!"

He quickly pulled out his own phone. "Ill wire you two thousand dollars right now. The rest will come after the baby is born and confirmed healthy."

"Brendan, you are insane!" I grabbed my phone back and headed straight for the family planning office.

He realized what I was doing and violently yanked my hair from behind. "What are you doing!" he roared. "Are you going to murder my son! How dare you!"

The sudden, brutal pull sent me stumbling to the floor.

He stood over me, livid. "Skylar, you fraudulent debutante!"

"You failed to trick me into marrying you, so now youre going to kill my child so you can move on to scamming the next guy?"

Bystanders stopped, staring at me with disgusted, judgmental eyes.

I struggled to get up. "We're not married! It's my choice if I don't want this baby!"

Slap! A loud, stinging sound.

His immense force made my ears ring. As I staggered, he roughly hauled me to my feet. "You think a $3k-a-month gold-digger like you could make me move in?"

"If you werent carrying my kid, do you think Id still want you?!"

I fought him off. "You're crazy! Im calling the police!"

Slap! He slapped me again. "Since youre so vicious, youre not getting the two thousand dollars either! Not until you give birth!"

"Now, come home with me! Stop making a scene!"

Just then, a mans angry voice cut through the crowd. "What is going on here! Who is causing a disturbance in my hospital!"