A Wife for the Billionaire
Chapter 107: SOFIA

Chapter 107: SOFIA

"The main reason?" he iterated, as if he had no clue what I was talking about.

Deeming his carefree manner, inconsequential, I resolved not to answer. I had practically laid myself bare before him and if he took any of it seriously, then he had to show it.

He read my expression, noting that I was all serious now and that his attempt at a joke was futile. Reclining on his chair, he said,

"On my word, I promise I will tell you about the main reason, but before that I need you to tell me why this situation of yours appears choiceless when it’s clear you can say no to her. I mean she’s your stepmom not your goddamn creator"

If only he knew how close Alicia came to holding the power of my creator. She like held the power of my continuance. If she revealed what she knew, my life will be such that death will feel like mercy.

"I ask the same of you, why does your situation seem choiceless when you can clearly say no as well, I mean you must want to with the kind of life you live, right?" I countered.

He smiled, leaning forward, his arms outstretched on the glass desk, and asked,

"The kind of life I live, what does that entail?"

Mirroring the same carefree manner he had on display, I answered,

"Well, if you must know, I have heard things, but that doesn’t matter. It’s not like you need a rundown of your scandalous lifestyle..." I allowed the statement trail unfinished, certain he will take up from where I left off.

"My scandalous lifestyle," he mused, proving me right, "what I do or how I live my life should never be anyone’s business, especially the press. But those nosy asses literally endorse gossip for a living, so touche. Anyway, you probably shouldn’t believe everything you read online"

This was nothing like what I thought this meeting would be, but so far I must say it was like a breath of fresh air compared to the stifling news of my wedlock.

"Like I said, it doesn’t matter, just tell me what I want to know and if you must know, I don’t believe everything I read on the Internet, except those that I know are true" I offered.

He sagged back in his chair, his expression betraying hurt, and though he tried to cover it up immediately, I saw that I had hurt him. And even his next words, carried notes of anger,

"I don’t even care about any of that stuff.

Back to what we were discussing, I will tell you ’my why’ if you will agree to tell me yours afterwards, no games"

Except that he cared. He might hide it well, but public opinion affected him just like everyone else. He was just better at not dwelling on it like most. Hating that I had kinda ruined the vibe, I tried,

"Lots of terms and conditions today, aren’t we a bit docile today?"

A quirked brow was his response. A questioning response, if I may?

"Fine, I promise to tell you" I finally said, when he offered nothing else.

With another flash of a questioning glare, he began,

"My reason is very simple, as the only heir, and with my family’s position as the head family, it’s kinda sacrosanct that I sire an heir as soon as possible"

I should have known, it was pretty obvious, but I couldn’t let it go, not when I felt like he shared my same ideology about marriage.

"Yeah, but aren’t you what, 24, right? So what’s with the rush into something that from your words is mainly for procreation?"

He gave me a levelled look, turned his chair askew and answered,

"I shouldn’t be telling you this, but the Lords of the Wellington Empire, which I’m sure you know their names being the encyclopedia of Wellington Fashion Empire and all. They are not exactly in the friendship zone with us, they have been plotting to remove my family from the position of head family and recurring CEOs. And the only way to do that is if the current CEO and heir, who happens to be me, dies without an heir to continue from whence I stopped and inherit the mantle thereby maintaining the family’s position"

"Poor you" I mocked.

His life might not be all roses, but still it was nothing compared to my ordeal. Not even close. Like my experiences can always beat his, every goddamn time.

"Don’t frump me, just tell me yours and remember no games this time"

No games didn’t imply lying, but was it really lying if I merely omitted some facts, besides I wager he does the same as well.

"Mine is rather complicated. My stepmom hates me and her daughters as well, and so they will sooner see me out of their lives than be a reminder of what they don’t want to remember" I finished.

He stole a look at the skyline behind him, before turning back to me as he said,

"Complicated how? They hate you, they can’t stand you, so pack the hell outta that place"

If only it was that simple.

"Were that a possibility, believe me I would have done it, but like I said, it’s complicated. I can’t just leave. I simply

can’t"

"Don’t be ridiculous, of course you can leave. You are not confined, and that house isn’t a prison, so why don’t you leave?" He asked, even after I have made mention of it over and over again that it was complicated.

I am angry now. I just wanted him to drop the topic, the more he talked about it. The more, I felt like a prisoner.

"And you think I haven’t tried, that staying there against my will, I haven’t tried to leave? What is it about the word ’complicated’ that you don’t understand? You think I haven’t exhausted all my options and yet, I’m still trapped? You really have no idea"

"Then make me understand!" he threw back.

"No offense, but are you dumb or what?

I told you it’s complicated and that means I can’t tell you about it, doesn’t it? Just drop it, I have told you about my own ’why’ so stop stalling and tell me about this main reason of yours"

Maybe I went too far by calling him dumb, but I was pissed. Like way beyond reasoning. And in truth, I warned him. He should have just dropped the issue.

His stubborn resolve only made things worse. It only kept on reminding me of how choiceless I was. How trapped and confined I was, with no chance of escape.

I should apologize, because clearly he was pissed. I could feel it, like the steam from the magma of a volcano, the air suddenly became too hot and stifling as his silence stretched. He wasn’t even looking at me, his gaze was fixed on the floor before him and somehow, that felt worse. At least with his gaze on me, I could try and read his expressions, but this... this was a whole different experience.

I could feel my choices reduced back to no choice at all. If there was any offer he was willing to give in effort to get me out of my perils, that was already lost.

"Why can’t I control my anger? Why can’t I keep it cool? Why do I always lose it? Why? Why?" These questions echoed in my mind, offering no answer. No hope in this situation that my anger has landed me in.

The solution was kinda simple, an apology would suffice. But I couldn’t say it. Each time the thought breached my mind, I waved it away.

If there was anyone to apologize, it was him. I never pressed him after he gave his ’why’, so why should he do so to me? And besides, I tried to warn him, but the stubborn mule never listens.

Should have known that whatever this was, it wouldn’t last. This some sort of middle ground between us, it had to break at some point, driving us farther away from each other.

I knew he would never apologize. Those words of apology would never leave his lips, so I resolved myself to the only choice left. I had to leave. I had to get the hell out of there. He might be silent for now, but what happens when he eventually speaks?

Is it not better, I excuse myself with the least bit of dignity left? Rather than stay and let him take that away as well?

I had lost a lot today and believe me, I was too tired for another loss. I can’t bear another defeat. I just can’t.

I gently lifted my purse from the other seat beside me and stood. This time, he didn’t even look at me. His gaze stayed fixed on whatever the hell was on those tiles before him. And that scared me, like the shit was fucking terrifying.

Hastily, I made my way to the door, my palm closed on the metal handle, it’s chill biting my skin as I was about to pull the door open, I heard him grumble,

"Wait"

With that one word, my legs almost gave away.