Disclaimer:

This is a work of fiction. All the characters in this story have no existence outside the author's imagination and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or name. They're not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure inventions.

All Rights Reserved. All parts of this story or any part of the theory thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

C.M. LOUDEN

❤️❤️❤️

Louise Rose Stewart

They say all's fair in love and music.

I say love is unpredictable and sometimes unfair.

In the name of money, I have to pretend to be the most famous matchmaker in town, which is obviously my Aunt Rosy.

It was a twist I didn't see coming! How could I resist when they offered a substantial six-figure digit for the job? This money could alleviate our financial burdens, clear our debts, and ensure Aunt Rosy's medical needs are met.

It's alright. It's just a harmless fib, right? A little white lie, and voila! It's all sorted, done and dusted.

But it was a mistake. I never thought I could trade my soul. And my soul took my heart, dancing it in the heavens with moonlight in all parts.

And now, caught in this so-called whirlwind of love, chances are, I could lose my heart or fight for what it takes to win his love.

Saxe Hendrix Mondragon

Four unsuccessful engagements led to one solution: finding the ideal matchmaker for a successful marriage. That's my mother's suggestion.

I had enough of my mother's annoying wishes.

I have no plans to settle down, nor am I ready for love. All I need is an alibi to make them believe I have found the perfect wife. But before I could make my move, my mother had already hired a matchmaker—a matchmaker who was the opposite of what I expected.

The moment I laid my eyes on Louise, who happened to be the matchmaker, I found it hard to believe that a beauty like a goddess works in this type of business.

She laid out her prospects, and the candidates were all perfect. But what I want is not on the list... I want her!

I knew I had to take her. There's something about her that I can't dare resist. My heart is bursting with love—is it love or lust? Damn, my stupid heart.

Her touch makes my body alive. I want to own her, consume her, and make her mine.

Although falling for her wasn't part of the plan, for the first time, I was willing to bet my heart. But before I could make my move, she made an unexpected shift that changed everything and destroyed us both.

Will I chase and beg? What if it's the other way around?

Should I hold her hand and play another game of chasing hearts? A game where we both try to win each other's love.

***

Chapter 1

Louise Rose

Ouch.

The little plastic toy dinosaur hit my forehead without me noticing it.

The little boy sitting across from me, along with his mother, played with the plastic toy. He tossed it in the air, pretending it could fly like the ones in cartoon movies.

"Oh my," she gasped, covering her mouth, surprised by her son's actions.

"I'm sorry, sweetie. Dylan, apologize!" She pulled him closer and took his toy from him, putting it inside her bag.

The little boy gazed at me with fear and discomfort, his quivering lips ready to cry.

"It's okay. It didn't hurt me," I reassured him with a smile. "Look. There is no blood. It's fine. Don't cry," I said, pointing to the small red mark on my forehead. "There is nothing to worry about," I smiled.

That stops him from almost crying. He nuzzled into his mum's embrace, but his gaze lingered on me from a distance. I smiled as he glanced at my forehead and then at his mum.

"Does it hurt, sweetie?"

"No. Not really."

She gave me a smile of relief and nodded, then moved her son to sit beside her.

"Sit down here and behave. We're nearly there."

I checked my wristwatch and realized I still had two hours left until I reached my destination. The next stop is Bulla, and my stop, Eden, is the last one on this train.

If only Aunt Rosy were not sick, I wouldn't be coming back here. I could have earned more, enough to buy us a property. But then again, I guess it's time for me to come back and see how she is going. I haven't seen her for six years.

Aunt Rosy is the only family member who has supported me from the beginning. She raised me, sent me to school, and then to technical school. I completed my culinary course and worked in Singapore. Life was good there. It was easy.

I've been saving money to buy a property for us in Eden someday. I want to give Aunt Rosy the house she dreams of having.

She spent most of her money on me, and I'm thankful for that. She's like a mother to me. She's my mother's sister, and according to her, after my mother gave birth to me, she walked away, leaving me with her for good. After that, Aunt Rosy hasn't heard anything from my mother, even up until now.

My eyes opened as soon as I felt the train stop. There were no other passengers in this aisle except me. I stood weakly, grabbed my luggage, and pulled it together.

The moment I stepped onto the platform, someone bumped into me, causing me to lose my balance. Luckily, I managed to hold onto the platform handle as I didn't see who it was, with my eyes focused on the pavement.

"Excuse me, Miss, you dropped this." A teenage girl picked up something that had fallen beside my feet and handed it to me. It was a green dragon keychain.

My brows creased, and without restraint, my hand extended on its own like it had its own freaking mind.

For some reason, I remember the little boy who accidentally hit my forehead with his little dinosaur plastic toy. But this isn't a dinosaur. It's a green dragon with a lining of gold. It's feels heavy, like it's made of something special. It has an initial on the side of it's wing. . . SAXE

"I-I don't think it's mine—" My words cut off on their own as the teenager was no longer in front of me. I couldn't see her anymore.

c.m. louden

This story is written in English and is on going on my Goodnovel page. The story is under the Billionaire's Substitute Bride novel.

The Matchmaker and the Billionaire (MBBC#12), Saxe Hendrix Monragon and Louise Rose Stewart.