All Chapters of Bound by a Billion Dollar Marriage: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

Isla's question landed, and silence stretched on the other end for a beat."I'm calling because I need you to set up a meeting with Grayson.""..."She's asking me a favor, and the tone still manages to sound like an order."Set up dinner with Grayson for me, and I'll let you see your grandmother this weekend.""!"Isla's expression went dead serious. Her grip on the phone tightened, focus sharpening instantly.She'd seen her grandmother in person maybe twice in the last year, six-month intervals, and even then only when the Bennetts brought her along. Every other check-in came through a five-minute video call, biweekly at best."Fine! But just so you know, Grayson's extremely particular about food. If you want to impress him, you need to pick somewhere top-tier.""Obviously I know that. Just make it happen. If this goes wrong, you'll be dealing with the fallout, not me." Bianca's tone carried an unmistakable threat."..."She's asking ME for help, and somehow I'm the one who owes HER

That is an extremely loaded statement.Isla caught the implication instantly. Something had clearly happened between them that night, the kind of thing that didn't need much guessing.And now she's apologizing about it? Damn. Only Grayson could get someone this proud to eat humble pie.Isla snuck a glance back at him, half-expecting to catch his eye for a shared moment of amusement.Instead, she got a stare frosted over with unmistakable ice.Startled by the intensity, Isla killed her smile instantly, looking away."Sis, you're really buying? Great, great, free food for me, hehe." Isla played along, chipper.Even performing surprise and enthusiasm, the growing dread underneath was hard to shake.She could feel Grayson's stare fixed on her, and under that cold weight, her scalp prickled with anxiety."Since Ms. Bennett is being so generous, why not." Grayson's low, amused voice cut in.Isla glanced up at him at the sound. Is this man even human? He's brutal to me and somehow charming a

After settling the bill, Isla headed back with the card and receipt to find Grayson and Bianca already outside.She grabbed her bag from the table and slowly caught up.Approaching carefully, she found Bianca standing shyly in front of Grayson."Mr. Vale, thank you so much for treating me today. My turn next time." Bianca's eyes lingered on him, clearly reluctant to end the encounter. She hesitated, biting her lip. "My mom always says girls should learn gratitude, not just expect men to cover everything."Gratitude? Isla thought. This coming from the woman who threatens to torment my grandmother if I don't hand over designer bags on demand? The hypocrisy was almost impressive. Isla ducked her head, pouting faintly in disgust."Isla, don't you think Mom has a point?" Bianca turned suddenly, addressing her out of nowhere.Isla snapped out of her thoughts and looked up, right as Grayson glanced over as well. Catching his cold, unreadable stare, she forced a quick smile and nodded. "Mm-hm

Isla slumped against the seat, bag clutched to her chest, expression blank.She'd let out about a dozen defeated sighs in the span of a few minutes.Grayson, catching every one of them, seemed to be in an unusually good mood about it.Isla counted the debt on her fingers. The original five million, plus this thirty-eight thousand. If she'd never lost that ten million to Bianca, none of this would even register as a problem. Instead, it was just piling up, choking her into silence."A kiss is a hundred thousand, and it doubles each time. Last count was two kisses, so that's already three hundred thousand. Total: four million, seven hundred thirty-eight thousand." The number alone felt like it might crush her."Mr. Vale, could you please round today's bill down?" Isla bit her lip, eyes glassy, watching him drive with careful focus.Thirty-eight thousand for a single meal genuinely hurts. I only helped Bianca land this lunch in the first place, why am I the one eating the loss? Even if I

"Translator Bennett." Isla had just walked back into the office when someone called out to her.This is supposed to be break time. Did someone catch us?She turned to find Bradley smiling at her like a doting uncle."Bradley, everything okay?"Bradley glanced around, then leaned in close, dropping his voice. "Isla, do you have a minute for that whole 'gift for the boss' arrangement?""Now?" Isla asked quietly."Yep.""Sure." Isla nodded, best to get this sorted quickly. "Give me a second to drop my bag.""Take your time," Bradley said, hands folded behind his back, still radiating that same benevolent smile.Isla dropped her bag off fast and hurried back.Following Bradley to his office, she spotted several exquisite porcelain vases lined up on his desk, some brightly patterned, some in classic blue-and-white. And there, unmistakably, sat one nearly identical to the one she'd shattered in Grayson's office.Still boxed up, clearly recently appraised.Several other senior executives lin