Chapter 45: I Seem to Have Married a Billionaire
Exiting the subway, Henry carried the basket of vegetables in one hand, holding Sonya’s hand in the other.
“Let’s head back tomorrow and bring my grandmother and your aunt and uncle to New York,” Henry said.
Sonya nodded. Their wedding was just a week away, and their families hadn’t met yet.
“And your parents too—I should pay my respects.”
Sonya snuggled into Henry’s arm. Marrying the right person meant he cared about her concerns, anticipating her needs.
Back at the villa, Henry handed the vegetables to the security guard. They were going away for a couple of days, and the greens wouldn’t last.
Inside, Henry began feeling unwell, so Sonya made him some soothing hangover soup. As she carried it upstairs, he was in the shower. A loud knock came at the door.
She set the soup down and went to the window. It was Julian Jennings.
“Open up! Sonya, open the door!”
Drunk, he was leaning against the door, barely standing.
Sonya frowned. Across the way, Seraphina, in her pajamas, opened her door. Seeing Julian at Sonya’s door, not his own, she quickly slammed it shut and locked it.
It was late autumn, and the nights were growing chilly.
Unable to open the door, Julian slid to the ground and lay at Sonya’s doorstep.
“I think I heard knocking,” Henry emerged from the shower.
“It’s Julian Jennings,” Sonya pointed out.
Henry went to the window and sneered. “After all these years, and he still hasn’t gotten over it.”
Sonya chuckled but then remembered something.
“Oh, I haven’t told you about me and him. We…”
Before she could finish, Henry nipped at her lip. She widened her eyes, confused, but Henry possessively pulled her close.
“From now on, ‘we’ only refers to you and me. He’s not even in the same league.”
It was childish, overflowing with jealousy, but Sonya smiled, kissing his chin. “My story with him, do you want to hear it?”
Henry shook his head. “Not at all.”
Sonya looked him in the eye, earnest. “I won’t mention him again.”
Henry kissed her. “Good.”
The kiss deepened. As Sonya was laid on the bed, she remembered the soup and pushed Henry to drink it. He gulped it down before eagerly returning to her.
Passion consumed Sonya.
Chapter 45.1: I Seem to Have Married a Billionaire
Sonya woke up thirsty in the middle of the night, her back aching.
“What’s wrong?” Henry asked.
Sonya mumbled about being thirsty. Moments later, water was at her lips. After a few sips, she cleared her head and realized Henry was holding her close, gazing at her with love.
“More?” he asked.
Sonya shook her head, wrapping her arms around his neck and lazily snuggling into him. Though they hadn’t dated long, it felt as if they had been together for years—the familiarity, the dependence, the sweetness. At times, it felt almost surreal.
The next morning, Sonya woke to find Henry making breakfast.
After showering, she went to the window and opened the curtains. Julian Jennings was sitting up. His hair was messy, and his clothes were dirty. He shivered from the cold of the night, then looked over.
Their eyes met. He glared at her, defeated, but Sonya felt nothing but indifference. Unable to bear her gaze, Julian quickly turned away and returned to his apartment. After breakfast, Sonya got dressed while Henry went outside to meet the car. Luke would be driving.
At the entrance, Henry was animatedly talking to the security guard.
“Your beef was tough and chewy. You’re cutting it wrong. Don’t cut across the grain; cut with it. And when you marinate, add pineapple juice to tenderize.”
Sonya arrived just as Henry was instructing the guard. The guard was attentive, taking notes.
“My wife passed away. I cook for myself, and it’s inedible.”
“How old are you?” Henry asked.
“Sixty-five.”
“Children?”
“One son. He’s married and has a granddaughter. She’s so sweet.”
Sonya approached, and Henry took her hand.
“This is my wife.”
The guard seemed surprised. Sonya had lived in the building for eight years, always as Julian Jennings’s girlfriend.
“Oh, is that your car?” the guard asked.
Henry nodded. “We’re leaving now.”
“Just curious, it’s a nice car.”
“It’s alright.”
Sonya glanced at the car—a Rolls-Royce. She wondered how many cars he owned. Luke sometimes drove a black Maybach, sometimes a white Range Rover. And now this.
Sonya had heard their villa was the best in SeaCloud Villas, and Henry had recently bought an estate. She was starting to get curious about his wealth. Wasn’t he just an employee?
“Can I ask you something?” Sonya asked in the car.
Henry fastened her seatbelt and handed her a pomegranate the security guard had given him.
“Ask away.”
“You work at Reynolds?”
“The word ‘work’ is interesting.”
“Isn’t it?”
“It is.”
“Your position… is it high?”
“Manager level.”
“Then… what’s your annual salary?”
“I haven’t calculated it. I’ll have my lawyer transfer my assets to your name, and you can calculate it.”
“No, no, I’m just curious.”
“Curious about what?”
“Curious if I married a super-rich guy.”
If so, it felt overwhelming. Her aunt had only mentioned a good job with decent pay and benefits.
Henry smiled. “Too late to regret it now.”
Sonya raised an eyebrow. “So, what’s your real story?”
“Does Linda know?”
“Of course.”
“She’s my mother. My real mother.”
