Billionaire's Secret Baby

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

As Stephan drove out of the hospital, he couldn’t help but wonder what would happen next if the child was truly his. How would he be able to tell his family about his son when they have been disturbing him to proceed with the wedding? He had been stalling the wedding plans because he wasn’t in love with Amelia, she was just his childhood friend whom he sees as a sister. Their union was orchestrated by their parents because they believed their union would be great for business. Stephan went ahead with the proposal as planned but he couldn’t go through with the wedding.

Stephan decided to keep the information about him having a son to himself till he confirmed if Ethan was his. His head was aching from processing everything he found out today, he needed to relax so he drove straight to the hotel. As he got to the hotel, he slipped into the private elevator that led to the penthouse he wanted to be alone. The elevator pinged signifying they had reached their destination

“Where have you been? I was about to leave,” A familiar voice asked. Stephan turned to the direction the voice was coming from and there stood Amelia his fiancée. He had hoped to be alone with his thoughts but that wouldn’t be possible anymore

“Hi, Amelia” he greeted nonchalantly

“Where are you coming from” She asked tenderly

“Why are you here” Stephan was becoming impatient

“What do you mean? Won’t you ask me in” Amelia was already feeling hurt from Stephan’s reaction. They hadn’t seen each other for a long time and yet he was acting like she was disturbing him.

Stephan sighed and ran a hand through his dishevelled hair. He knew he couldn’t keep shutting Amelia out, especially if they were going to be married soon. He sadly gestured for her to enter the penthouse.

As they stepped inside, the luxurious surroundings seemed to only amplify the awkward silence between them.

“Now tell me why you are here?” Stephan asked

"I’m here to see my fiancée which is you, do you have any objections ” Amelia’s voice trembled slightly as she spoke, her eyes filled with a mix of hurt and confusion. Stephan looked at her for a moment, realizing how his sudden behaviour must have affected her. He took a deep breath, trying to find the right words to explain his existing frame of mind.

“Amelia, I’m sorry,” he began softly, his eyes filled with regret “It’s just been... a challenging and intense day for me. Something unpredicted has come up, and I’m still trying to process it all.”

“Care to share?” Amelia asked with concern visible in her voice

“No, I can handle it” Stephan

“Stephan, please tell me what’s wrong,” she said calmly, reaching forth to touch his arm. “We’re supposed to be partners in everything, right? If something is bothering you, I want to help.”

“Amelia it’s nothing for you to worry about, I can handle it”

“If you say so” Amelia walked to the bar to pour herself a drink “Stephan I’m here so we can discuss our wedding, it's been over a year since the proposal” Amelia stated her actual reason for the visit

Stephan sighed and ran a hand through his hair again. He knew that at some point, he couldn’t avoid this conversation. With a melancholic look on his face, he strolled over to where Amelia stood and tenderly took her hand in his. “Amelia, I need to be truthful with you,” he said, his voice etched with sincerity. “The truth is, I’ve been having second

thoughts about our wedding.”

Amelia stared wide-eyed in shock as hurt flashed across her face

“What do you mean? We’ve been planning this for so long, Stephan. I thought we were in this together.”

“Amelia, you know this marriage thing wasn’t my idea, I have never thought of getting married but even if I have to I want to marry someone I love, I know it sounds cliché but that’s how I feel” Stephan expressed his concern “I don’t want to be in a loveless marriage

“Stephan I thought we’d passed all this, family comes first and this is what our family wants besides it will be great for business” Amelia shakily explained she couldn’t bear to see Stephan walk away from their arrangement. She loves him and has been looking forward to this marriage.

"Are you prepared to be my wife even though you don’t love me?" Stephan looked Amelia in the eyes and questioned. She tried her best to avoid his eyes because she didn’t want Stephan to know she loved him that’s why she begged her father to come up with the arrangement in the first place

“Stephan I will do anything for my family and that includes marrying you” Amelia lied

Stephan wished he could feel the same way Amelia felt, she was a competent partner and a formidable force to pair with but marriage was a lifelong commitment which he was determined to get right and the new information about his son seemed to be weighing greatly on his decision.

“Amelia please give me some time to clear my head then we can proceed with the wedding”

“How much time do you need? Our families are worried and people are talking already”

“Just a few weeks”

“Promise?”

“Yeah, now if you don’t mind I would love to be left alone, I need to rest,” Stephan said trying to evade the question. He did not want to commit himself to any promise that he could not keep.

“Fine I will let you rest but before I leave, I would like to invite you to dine with my family” She said as she got up to leave

“Dinner? What’s the occasion? Stephan was used to spending time at the O’Neil’s mansion but recently, he finds himself turning down invitations from them.

“Nothing really, must there be a reason to eat?” Amelia asked jokingly

“No-no that’s not what I mean” Stephan stuttered, Amelia’s question caught him off guard

“Relax Stephan, my parents already invited your parents but I want you there that’s why I’m inviting you especially”

“Oh okay”

“Date and time will be communicated to your parents, please I need you to promise me you won’t miss it”

“ I won’t miss the dinner” Stephan promised. Amelia smiled, hugged Stephan and bade him farewell. She could sense Stephan wasn’t as excited as she was to get married so she was determined to make him desire the marriage.