Chapter 26: Dinner With The Billionaire

Sophia had just settled into her room, sinking into the plush mattress, her mind still reeling from everything that had happened that day. A wedding—her wedding.

Even if it wasn’t real, standing in front of those people, repeating vows, and slipping on a ring had felt unnervingly real.

And Julian… the way he had smoothly announced that she was expecting his child, as if he had been preparing for that moment all his life. It was all so surreal.

She ran a hand through her hair, exhaling deeply. She had been holding herself together all day, but now, alone in the quiet room, everything threatened to crash down on her.

Just as she closed her eyes, a soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

"Sophia?" Emma’s voice followed the knock. "Mr. St. Clair asked me to tell you that dinner is ready. He wants you to join him at the dining table."

Sophia opened her eyes and let out another sigh. She wasn’t really hungry, but she knew Julian wouldn’t take no for an answer.

Emma stepped inside slightly, her hands folded in front of her, a small smile on her face. "He insisted, ma’am."

Sophia flinched at the title. Ma’am. She was still getting used to hearing it, to being treated like she was someone important. But that was part of this new life, wasn’t it?

She swung her legs off the bed and stood up. "Alright, I’m coming."

Emma smiled and gave a slight nod before leaving.

Taking a deep breath, Sophia smoothed her dress and stepped out of the room. The hallway was quiet, but she could hear faint noises from the dining area.

As she walked, she glanced around the massive mansion, its luxurious details still overwhelming. Chandeliers, polished marble floors, intricate paintings—it was nothing like the places she had lived before.

When she entered the dining area, Julian was already seated at the long table, his presence commanding as always.

Unlike his usual formal suits, he had changed into a black button-down shirt, the top two buttons undone, his sleeves rolled up.

He looked more relaxed, but still every bit the powerful man he was.

He looked up as she walked in, his sharp gaze locking onto her. For a moment, he studied her, then gestured toward the chair across from him. "Sit."

Sophia hesitated but eventually pulled out the chair and sat down.

The table was filled with an assortment of dishes—grilled salmon, creamy pasta, roasted vegetables, fresh bread.

Everything looked professionally made, way too extravagant for a simple dinner.

"Why am I here?" she asked, picking up a fork but not eating.

Julian leaned back slightly, his piercing blue eyes unwavering. "Because you barely ate today. You need to take care of yourself. And the baby."

Sophia’s grip tightened slightly on the fork. That word again—baby. Every time he said it, reality hit her harder.

"I wasn’t really hungry," she murmured.

"Eat anyway." His voice was calm but firm, leaving no room for argument.

Sophia sighed and picked up a piece of the salmon, taking a small bite.

Julian watched her closely, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he spoke again. "Today went well."

Sophia raised an eyebrow. "You mean our fake wedding?"

He smirked. "It was convincing, wasn’t it?"

She scoffed. "It was a little too convincing."

Julian picked up his wine glass, swirling the red liquid before taking a sip. "That’s the point."

Sophia shook her head, focusing on her plate.

A brief silence stretched between them before Julian spoke again, his voice more thoughtful this time. "You looked beautiful today."

Sophia’s fork paused mid-air. She looked up at him, caught off guard. He wasn’t teasing, nor was there any hint of sarcasm. It was just a simple, genuine statement.

She hadn’t expected that.

For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond. A strange warmth flickered in her chest, but she quickly pushed it aside.

"Thanks," she said softly, then quickly put another bite of food in her mouth to avoid saying anything more.

Julian’s smirk softened slightly, his gaze lingering on her.

Julian leaned back in his chair, watching her with an intensity that made the room feel smaller.

The silence between them stretched, thick with unspoken thoughts. He finally broke it, his voice steady yet probing.

"When we had that one-night stand," he said, setting his glass of wine down, "you told me you weren’t a stripper." His gaze sharpened. "So what were you doing there?"

Sophia stiffened slightly. She hadn’t expected the question—not now, not like this. Her fingers tensed around her fork before she slowly set it down, inhaling deeply.

"I was the cleaner," she said simply, her voice even.

Julian’s brows lifted. "The cleaner?" His tone was laced with disbelief, as if the idea didn’t quite make sense to him.

She nodded, avoiding his piercing gaze. "Yes. I worked there before and after customers. Why are you surprised, I also worked as a cleaner in your company”.

“But I pay well, that position doesn't fit you and that's why you are here now”, Julian said teasingly.

Julian tilted his head slightly, watching her carefully. "Then why did you dress that seductively, looking for a man”.

Sophia’s heartbeat picked up, but she kept her expression calm. She knew this conversation would come sooner or later.

"Because I needed the money," she admitted.

Julian exhaled softly, his fingers tapping against the table. "And you thought selling yourself for one night was the best way to get it?" His voice wasn’t judgmental, but there was something beneath it—something unreadable.

Her gaze snapped up to his, fire flashing in her eyes. "I didn’t have a choice," she said, her voice sharp yet controlled.

Julian leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on the table. "Everyone has a choice, Sophia."

She let out a humorless chuckle, shaking her head. "Not when you’re desperate. Not when you have no one to turn to."

His expression darkened slightly, his jaw tightening. "And what was so urgent that you were willing to do that?"

Sophia took a deep breath, setting down her fork as she looked Julian in the eye. There was no point in hiding it anymore.

If they were going to be in this contract together, he deserved to know—at least some of the truth.

“I did it to save my mother,” she admitted, her voice steady but laced with pain. “She had a heart condition. The surgery was expensive, and I had no way to pay for it.”

Julian’s expression remained unreadable, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—curiosity, maybe even something softer. He leaned back slightly, arms folded as he studied her.

“Considering the amount I gave you that night,” he said, his voice calm but pointed, “you should have been able to sort it out.”

Sophia let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. “I should have,” she agreed, her jaw tightening. “But Madam Rachel took almost all of it for herself.”

Julian’s brows furrowed, his fingers stilling against the table. “She what?”

“She took her cut,” Sophia said, her voice thick with frustration. “She told me the room, the opportunity, and everything came at a price. I barely got enough to cover anything.”

Julian’s expression darkened, his fingers tightening around the stem of his glass. “And you let her?”

“What choice did I have?” Sophia shot back, her voice rising slightly. “I was desperate. She controlled everything in that place.

I thought if I just played along, I’d get the money and be done with it.” She exhaled sharply. “I was stupid to think that.”

Julian stayed silent for a moment, his gaze locked on her. He wasn’t sure what unsettled him more—the fact that Madam Rachel had exploited her or the quiet pain in Sophia’s voice as she spoke about it.

“So after everything,” he said, his voice quieter now, “you still couldn’t save her?”

Sophia’s throat tightened. The weight of those words crushed her all over again. She shook her head, her hands curling into fists on her lap. “No,” she whispered. “I couldn’t.”

The air between them grew heavy. Julian had seen many things in his life—people lying, manipulating, doing whatever it took to get ahead.

But looking at Sophia now, he realized she wasn’t like them. There was no hidden agenda, no attempt to gain sympathy. Just raw, unfiltered pain.

He looked away, reaching for his glass, but for the first time in a long time, he had nothing to say.

Sophia swallowed hard, pushing back the lump in her throat. She hadn’t expected this conversation to be easy, but she hadn’t expected it to hurt this much either. She glanced at Julian, waiting for a smug remark, a dismissive comment—something.

But it never came.

Instead, Julian set his glass down and met her eyes again, quieter this time. “I’m sorry,” he said, the words gruff, almost reluctant, but sincere.

Julian’s apology lingered in the air, unexpected and sincere. Sophia hadn’t expected him to say those words, and for some reason, they unsettled her more than anything else.

She had spent so long carrying this pain alone—anger, regret, loss—but now, here he was, acknowledging it in a way she hadn’t thought possible.

Before she could think twice, the words slipped out.

“I need you in the room, please.”

The silence that followed was almost deafening.

Julian’s brows lifted slightly, his grip on the glass in his hand tightening just a fraction. His usual composed expression cracked, surprise flickering in his sharp eyes.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Sophia felt her pulse quicken. What had she just said? Did she really mean it? The exhaustion of the past few weeks, the weight of everything she had been through—it was all crashing down on her, and for some reason, Julian’s presence felt like the only thing keeping her from drowning.

Julian set his glass down carefully, his gaze never leaving hers. “You need me… in your room?” he repeated, his voice slow, as if trying to make sure he had heard her right.

She swallowed hard, nodding. “Yes.”

His jaw tensed, and for a split second, an unreadable expression crossed his face—one she couldn’t quite place. But then he leaned back, studying her. “Why?”

Sophia opened her mouth, then closed it. She didn’t know how to explain it without sounding weak. Without making it seem like she needed him for something more than just… comfort.

But she wasn’t going to lie either.

“I just… don’t want to be alone tonight.”

Her voice was quieter this time, more hesitant.

Julian remained still, his gaze searching hers, as if trying to understand what she wasn’t saying. His sharp eyes softened just a little, something shifting in them.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, he pushed back his chair and stood.

“Let’s go,” he said simply.

Sophia’s breath hitched. She hadn’t expected him to agree so easily.

She stood as well, her fingers curling slightly at her sides. Without another word, Julian turned and walked toward the hallway.

She followed, her heart pounding for reasons she didn’t quite understand.

As they reached her room, Julian stepped inside first, his eyes scanning the space. The room was dimly lit, the glow from the bedside lamp casting soft shadows against the walls. It felt… too big, too empty.

Julian turned back to her. “You sure about this?”

Sophia met his gaze. “Yes.”

He exhaled, running a hand through his dark hair, then walked over to the chair near the bed and sat down.

“I’ll stay,” he said simply.

Sophia hesitated. She wasn’t sure what she had expected, but the fact that he didn’t question her further, didn’t push her away or make her feel foolish, made something inside her chest tighten.

She climbed into bed, pulling the covers over her. The mattress felt cold at first, but as she shifted, the warmth of the room seeped into her skin.

Julian leaned back in the chair, watching her. His presence was oddly comforting, a silent reassurance that she wasn’t alone.

Minutes passed in silence.

Sophia turned onto her side, facing away from him. “Thank you,” she whispered.

Julian didn’t respond immediately, but after a moment, she heard him sigh softly.

“Get some sleep, Sophia,” he murmured.

Sophia watched Julian as he sat on the chair in her room, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp, observing her like he was trying to figure her out.

The conversation had died down, leaving only the quiet hum of the night between them.

“Come stay on the bed with me.”

Julian froze. His hand, mid-motion, stilled on the armrest. His gaze snapped to hers, confusion flickering in his eyes.

For the first time since she met him, he looked genuinely caught off guard….