บททั้งหมดของ A Billionaire For Christmas: บทที่ 21 - บทที่ 30

Samantha’s POVBefore I could respond to my mum's teasing, her voice cut through the moment.“Let’s not just stand in the doorway,” she said with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Come in. Dinner is almost ready, and I’m sure Julian could use something warm after the drive.”Julian stepped aside to let me enter first, carrying a few of the gifts he’d brought, while my father grabbed the remaining ones from the car.Inside, the mansion felt as overwhelming as ever. The towering ceilings, intricate crown moldings, and grand staircase reminded me of just how different my life now was from the one I’d grown up with.Julian, however, seemed entirely unfazed, as if he visited homes like this every day.“Your home is beautiful,” he said to my mother, his tone genuinely complimentary.She nodded, clearly pleased but still scrutinizing him. “Thank you. We try to keep it festive for the holidays.” Her gaze flicked to the gifts in his arms. “What’s all this?”Julian smiled, setting the

Julian’s POVSpending the night alone in the room with Samantha felt… strange. Not unpleasant, but definitely awkward.I could feel the tension in the air, though I did my best to appear calm and in control of my emotions.When she returned, there was something in her expression troubled, distant. I noticed it immediately but decided not to push her. If she wanted to tell me, she would.The next morning, I woke up early. I wanted to avoid making her feel uncomfortable again, so I freshened up and got dressed quietly before she woke. By the time I returned to the room, she was sitting on her bed, her phone in hand, her face relaxed but focused.“Good morning, Samantha,” I said, sitting down on my bed.She looked up, offering me a soft smile. “Good morning. Hope you slept okay.”“I did. Thanks for asking,” I replied. “How about you? Did you sleep well?”She nodded, her smile lingering. “Yeah, I did. It’s… kinda nice to be home, you know? Familiar walls, old memories.”I could hear a mi

Julian’s POVAfter our late-night ice cream raid, Samantha drifted off to sleep almost immediately. I watched her for a moment, marveling at how peacefully she slept, completely unbothered by the fact that we were just pretending to be a couple.She snored softly, and while I should have found it irritating, I didn’t. There was something endearing about how comfortable she was, even in this fabricated situation.Meanwhile, sleep continued to evade me. The sugar from the ice cream didn’t help, and lying in bed felt futile. I decided to take a walk—something I usually did at home when insomnia struck. It always helped me clear my head.Carefully, I slipped out of bed, ensuring I didn’t wake her, and opened the door quietly. This time, I made sure to close it softly behind me. Instead of heading down the kitchen staircase, I took the larger staircase leading to the sitting room.When I reached the bottom, I noticed the lights were still on. To my surprise, Samantha’s mother sat in the mi

Samantha’s POVWhen we returned to the room after the exhausting few hours , I immediately turned to Julian, guilt weighing heavily on my chest. “I’m so sorry,” I said softly. “My family’s been putting you through so much ever since you got here.”Julian smiled, his expression gentle and sincere. “You don’t have to apologize, Samantha. I actually enjoy it.”That caught me off guard. “Enjoy it? How could you possibly enjoy all this chaos?”He hesitated for a moment, the warmth in his eyes dimming slightly. Then he sat down on the edge of the bed, his posture shifting as if the weight of the world had settled on his shoulders. “Because I’ve never really had anything like this,” he began quietly.I frowned and moved closer, sitting next to him. “What do you mean?”Julian stared down at his hands for a moment, hesitating as if he was deciding whether or not to say more. Finally, he let out a soft sigh and began speaking. “When I was young, my parents died in a car accident on Christmas

Julian’s POVSamantha laughed, a sound that warmed the chilly air around us. She had this way of laughing that felt... honest, like she wasn’t trying to impress anyone. For a moment, I found myself smiling without even meaning to."Together," she said, her voice quieter, almost thoughtful.She was looking ahead at the Christmas tree in the square, her expression soft. For someone who claimed to want nothing more than to escape her small town, she sure seemed at peace here. Maybe this place meant more to her than she let on.I leaned back on the bench, letting out a breath. "You know, this town’s got a certain charm. Feels like it’s straight out of one of those cheesy holiday movies."She turned to me, raising an eyebrow. "Are you saying you watch cheesy holiday movies?"I shrugged, smirking. "Maybe. Or maybe I just stumbled across one while flipping channels.""Sure," she teased, the corners of her mouth twitching up. "Whatever you say."The easy banter felt good, like we were slippi