Married to a Secret Billionaire

Chapter 2

Alya looked up at the man standing before her and quickly climbed to her feet. Embarrassed, she hastily wiped the tears from her face.

“Are you… okay?” the man asked, genuine concern replacing the awkwardness in his voice.

Alya forced a faint smile and raised her left hand in a small wave. The movement sent a sharp pain shooting through her shoulder, drawing a gasp from her as she instinctively clutched it.

The man frowned.

“I must’ve knocked into you harder than I thought.”

Alya looked him over. His tailored black suit, long coat, expensive wristwatch, and polished shoes all suggested he came from a wealthy family.

She immediately shook her head and waved both hands dismissively.

“N-No, it’s fine. It was an accident. We both bumped into each other.” She offered an apologetic smile. “You look like you’re in the middle of something, so I won’t keep you any longer.”

The man glanced down at himself before looking back at her.

“Does what I’m wearing really make me look that busy?”

Alya blinked, caught off guard by the question.

Was that supposed to be a joke… or did I say something strange? she wondered.

A quiet laugh escaped his lips.

“Don’t mind me,” he said. “Everything I’m wearing is borrowed. None of it’s actually mine.” He rubbed the back of his neck with a sheepish grin. “I’m not nearly as rich as I look.”

Alya only grew more puzzled.

Why was he explaining himself to her?

She simply nodded without saying a word.

“Anyway,” he continued, his expression turning serious, “you should get that shoulder checked. Let me take you to a hospital.”

Alya eyed him cautiously.

“I don’t even know who you are.”

He shrugged casually.

“We meet strangers every day, don’t we? That’s why introductions exist.”

He extended his hand with an easy smile.

“I’m… Eric.”

A brief pause followed before he added,

“Eric Smith. And you?”

Alya remained hesitant. Still, there was nothing threatening about him. If anything, he seemed genuinely concerned.

After a moment’s hesitation, she reached out and shook his hand.

“Alya Anderson.”

He held her hand for a second longer before releasing it.

“Then let me make up for knocking you over, Miss Anderson,” he said with a light smile. “Otherwise, I’ll be feeling guilty all night.”

Alya hesitated, then quietly nodded in agreement.

“Mr. Lyon! Mr. Lyon!”

Eric swallowed and turned around to see a young man in a tailored suit hurrying toward him.

He raised an eyebrow. “Mr. Lyon?” he repeated before quickly catching on. “B-boss, why are you going around calling your name?”

The young man blinked in confusion.

“Huh? But, Mr…”

Eric shot him a meaningful look before subtly gesturing toward Alya, who stood a short distance behind him.

“Mr. Lyon,” Eric continued with a helpless smile, “I know I’m just your driver, but please don’t joke around like that. My name is Eric Smith.”

Realization dawned on the young man’s face.

He immediately straightened his tie and played along.

“R-Right. I can call you whatever I want,” he scoffed. “Without me, you’d be nothing.”

Eric frowned at him as though annoyed before turning back to Alya.

“I’m really sorry,” he said apologetically. “My boss is here.”

Alya gave a small nod.

“Then… I’ll get going.”

“No,” Eric said at once, stopping her. “My boss is actually a kind person. I’m sure he won’t mind if I take you to the hospital first.”

Alya hesitated before glancing at the man beside him.

He was noticeably slimmer than Eric.

Standing well over six feet tall with a broad, muscular frame and an imposing presence, Eric looked far more like the one in charge.

Anyone seeing the two of them together would have assumed Eric was the boss instead of the other way around.

…

When they arrived at the hospital, Alya went inside with the doctor while Eric and Nolan remained in the hallway.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Nolan lowered his voice.

“Boss, I thought you’d sworn off women.”

Eric looked at him and lightly flicked his forehead.

“‘Without me, you’d be nothing?’” he repeated. “Have I ever spoken to you like that?”

Nolan rubbed his forehead sheepishly.

“I had to make it convincing.”

Eric nodded in approval.

“You handled it well,” he admitted. “That’s exactly the kind of quick thinking I need from you from now on.”

Nolan smiled before asking the question that had been bothering him.

“So… what’s really going on, Boss?”

Eric shrugged casually.

“I just wanted to find out whether I’ve finally met the right woman.”