CHAPTER 17: Dinner With Fire Beneath The Table

By the time evening arrived, the mansion felt unusually tense.

Amara stood in front of the mirror in her room, staring at her reflection.

She had changed outfits three times already.

“This is ridiculous,” she muttered under her breath.

Why was she even nervous?

It was just dinner.

Dinner with Alexander…

And his ex.

Amara sighed and adjusted the soft black dress she finally decided to wear. It was simple but elegant, hugging her figure just enough to make her feel confident.

“You’re overthinking this,” she told herself.

But deep down she knew the truth.

She wanted to look good tonight.

Not for Sophia.

But for Alexander.

That realization alone made her cheeks warm slightly.

Before she could change her mind again, she grabbed her phone and headed downstairs.

The dining room was already prepared when she arrived.

Soft lights illuminated the long table, and the atmosphere felt strangely formal.

Sophia was already seated, casually sipping a glass of wine.

Her eyes immediately lifted when she saw Amara enter.

For a moment, Sophia simply looked at her.

Then a slow smile appeared on her lips.

“Well,” she said.

“You clean up nicely.”

Amara smiled politely.

“Thank you.”

Sophia’s gaze briefly scanned her dress again.

“Alexander always liked elegant women.”

Amara raised an eyebrow.

“Good thing I didn’t ask for his opinion.”

Sophia laughed softly.

“Oh, I like you.”

Before the conversation could continue, footsteps approached.

Alexander walked into the dining room.

The moment his eyes landed on Amara, he stopped.

Just for a second.

But that second didn’t go unnoticed.

Sophia noticed.

Amara noticed.

And Alexander quickly looked away as if nothing happened.

“You’re both early,” he said calmly.

Sophia smirked.

“I like being on time.”

Alexander pulled out a chair for Amara.

“Sit.”

Amara sat down quietly.

Alexander took the seat beside her.

Sophia watched the two of them carefully, her eyes sharp with curiosity.

Dinner began shortly after.

At first, the conversation remained simple.

Work.

Travel.

Random stories from the past.

But the tension under the surface never disappeared.

Sophia eventually leaned back in her chair, swirling the wine in her glass.

“So Amara,” she said casually.

“Yes?”

“What do you love most about Alexander?”

The question caught her off guard.

Amara blinked.

“Love?”

Sophia smiled.

“You are married, aren’t you?”

Alexander sighed softly.

“Sophia.”

“What?” she said innocently.

“I’m curious.”

Amara felt the trap immediately.

But instead of panicking, she leaned back calmly.

“That’s a difficult question.”

Sophia tilted her head.

“Why?”

“Because your question assumes something.”

“And what is that?”

“That love is the reason people get married.”

Sophia’s smile widened slightly.

“Interesting answer.”

Alexander quietly watched Amara the entire time.

She was handling Sophia far better than he expected.

Sophia then turned to him.

“What about you, Alex?”

“What about me?”

“What do you love most about your wife?”

Alexander didn’t answer immediately.

The silence stretched for a few seconds.

Amara felt her heartbeat quicken.

Even she was curious about his answer.

Finally, Alexander spoke.

“She’s honest.”

Both women looked surprised.

Sophia raised an eyebrow.

“That’s it?”

Alexander shrugged slightly.

“Honesty is rare.”

Amara didn’t say anything, but the words lingered in her mind.

Sophia suddenly laughed.

“You’ve changed, Alex.”

Alexander gave her a cold look.

“People do.”

Sophia leaned forward slightly.

“Not you.”

Amara noticed the tension between them immediately.

Clearly, their past wasn’t simple.

Sophia then looked at Amara again.

“You know, Alexander used to hate emotional conversations.”

Alexander’s voice became sharper.

“That was years ago.”

Sophia shrugged.

“I’m just saying.”

Then she smiled slightly.

“You must have influenced him.”

Amara felt a strange warmth in her chest.

But before she could respond, Alexander spoke again.

“Sophia.”

“Yes?”

“Enough.”

Sophia held up her hands dramatically.

“Alright, alright.”

But the small smile on her face remained.

Dinner continued with lighter conversation after that.

Yet the strange energy between the three of them never truly disappeared.

At one point, Amara reached for her glass at the same time Alexander did.

Their hands brushed.

Just for a second.

But the contact sent a sudden spark through her.

Amara quickly pulled her hand back.

Alexander noticed.

His gaze briefly met hers.

For a moment, neither of them looked away.

Sophia cleared her throat.

“Am I interrupting something again?”

Amara quickly picked up her fork.

“No.”

Sophia smiled knowingly.

Alexander ignored her completely.

When dinner finally ended, Sophia stood up and stretched slightly.

“Well,” she said.

“That was entertaining.”

Alexander stood as well.

“I’ll have someone escort you out.”

Sophia laughed.

“You’re still so formal.”

She walked toward the door but stopped beside Amara.

Then she leaned closer and whispered quietly—

“Be careful with him.”

Amara frowned slightly.

“Why?”

Sophia’s smile turned mysterious.

“Because Alexander Vale doesn’t fall in love easily.”

She straightened up.

“But when he does… it never ends well.”

Then she walked out of the room.

The door closed behind her.

Silence returned.

Amara slowly turned toward Alexander.

“Should I be worried?”

Alexander looked at her.

“No.”

“Why not?”

His voice softened slightly.

“Because she doesn’t know everything.”

Amara crossed her arms.

“And what exactly doesn’t she know?”

Alexander stepped closer.

“You.”

Her heart skipped again.

“That’s a very confident statement.”

Alexander leaned slightly closer.

“I’m rarely wrong.”

Amara lifted her chin.

“We’ll see about that.”

Alexander almost smiled.

And for the first time that evening, the tension between them felt less like conflict…

And more like something dangerously close to attraction.

Author’s Note

Dear readers,

Thank you for supporting The Billionaire’s Accidental Bride. Your encouragement motivates me to keep writing and developing this story.

Sophia has clearly stirred tension between Amara and Alexander, but the question remains: is she telling the truth about Alexander’s past?

What do you think will happen next?

Stay tuned for the next chapter and don’t forget to add this story to your library.

With love,

T. Ayoola ✨