Inherit Billions Novel by Larissa Pearce

Chapter 1 Mistake

“The results are out. Your kidney is a perfect match for Jessica. You need to get to the hospital within half an hour. The transplant surgery will start immediately.”

Seraphina Dros stood frozen, clutching her phone as her husband, Orion Dros, issued his command from the other end. His tone left no room for negotiation. She fell into silence.

“Hello? Seraphina, did you hear me?!” Orion’s voice rose impatiently.

Seraphina struggled to contain her emotions before finally responding, “Orion, I’m your wife!”

I’m your wife. How could you hurt me for a woman who came out of nowhere?

Orion’s voice turned impatient. Even though Jessica and I are not blood relatives, I have always treated her as my sister. I can’t just stand by and watch her die. People can live perfectly fine with just one kidney. You’re losing a kidney, but Jessica’s losing her life! Don’t be selfish.”

He didn’t wait for Seraphina to respond before ending the call.

Her thoughts swirled as the dial tone echoed in her ears.

The Droses’ business was vast and influential in Eldoria, where they were one of the wealthiest families in Ascotia. Even among the rich, the name Droses carried weight.

Seraphina had met Orion when she was in university. They fell in love quickly and were soon married.

She thought she’d found her happily ever after, but that illusion shattered the moment she lived with the Droses.

Orion was always busy with work and rarely came home. Seraphina spent most of her nights alone.

But that was nothing compared to the real challenge—Orion’s domineering mother, Theresa Dros.

Theresa had always felt superior, and she made it clear she didn’t like Seraphina. Theresa sees her as nothing more than a golddigger vying for the family fortune.

Shortly after Seraphina moved in, Theresa fired most of the household staff, leaving Seraphina to take over all the chores.

She claimed it was a cost-saving measure for the family, but Seraphina knew better. Seraphina’s status as the lady of the house had diminished to that of a mere slave.

Still, Seraphina could have endured it all, as long as it meant being with Orion, the man she loved.

She loved Orion and was willing to endure anything for him.

The day Orion brought home a woman she had never seen before, everything changed. He’d declared firmly, “This is Jessica Yancy. From now on, she’ll be my sister.”

A sister not related by blood?

Unlike Seraphina, Theresa adored Jessica. She even went so far as to tell visiting guests in front of Seraphina that she wished Jessica had been the one to marry Orion instead.

It was clear that Orion doted on Jessica, tending to her every need with the kind of care Seraphina had never received.

He would even drop important business matters to be by Jessica’s side in the hospital when she was ill.

Seraphina, his actual wife, had never experienced such devotion.

Now, Orion expected Seraphina to give up her kidney to save Jessica.

Anger boiled inside her, and just as her thoughts spiraled, her phone buzzed again with a new message. It was a bank transfer notification.

Orion had deposited one million dollars into her account with a note. “Surgery in 30 minutes. Don’t be late.”

This again.

This wasn’t the first time. Orion always threw money at her whenever he wanted something, as if cash could fix everything.

He really thought his money could solve every problem, didn’t he? In Seraphina’s eyes, it was as childish as a kid bragging about his toys.

She closed the notification and opened the second-to-last message on her phone. It was a picture of Orion and Jessica, asleep on the same hospital bed.

In the photo, Orion looked exhausted. He was fast asleep. Jessica rested on his shoulder, beaming with satisfaction.

Her hospital gown had slipped, revealing her bare shoulder and much of her chest.

Anyone who saw the picture would quickly draw conclusions.

And below that, Jessica had added a taunting caption. “Spent the night with Orion. Someone as useless as you should’ve known your place and left the Droses already.”

It was clear Jessica had sent the picture deliberately.

That photo and the phone call earlier had shattered Seraphina’s last bit of resolve.

Screw you! Droses! Seraphina thought furiously.

I’m done!

Taking a deep breath, Seraphina dialed a number she hadn’t called in a long time. Her voice cracked with emotion as she spoke. “Dad, I was wrong.”

On the other end of the line, her father, Emeris Cross, sighed heavily. He said, “If you know you were wrong, then come home. We’ll talk about everything when you get here.”