THE BILLIONAIRE’S SUBSTITUTE BRIDE

THE BILLIONAIRE’S SUBSTITUTE BRIDE 7

FINAL PARTThe meeting ended in silence.Not the peaceful kind… but the kind filled with questions that nobody dared to ask out loud.Sofia gave a polite final nod to the Sterling Group.> “Thank you for your time.”She turned slightly, ready to leave.But before she could take another step, Vanessa stepped forward.> “Wait!”Madam Veronica also moved quickly.> “Who exactly are you?”Sofia paused.Slowly, she turned back.Her expression was calm, unreadable.> “Do I know you?”That question hit the room like a slap.Vanessa frowned.> “Stop acting like that. No matter how rich you become, you’ll always be that poor girl we picked up when nobody knew you.”The words stung.A quiet pain flashed in Sofia’s eyes for a second… but she didn’t break.She simply stood there.Still.Controlled.Adrian’s jaw tightened instantly.> “Enough.”His voice cut through the room sharply.Everyone froze.He stepped forward.> “Leave.”Vanessa blinked.> “What?”> “I said leave.”Madam Veronica hesitated… then slowly pulled her daughter away, sensing the tone in his voice.The room cleared.Now only Adrian and Sofia remained.Silence returned.Heavy.Uncomfortable.Adrian finally spoke, softer now.> “Sofia…”She looked at him.No emotion on her face.> “I’m sorry.”She tilted her head slightly.> “For what?”That question made him pause.Because there was too much to say.Too many regrets.Too many years lost.> “For everything,” he finally said quietly. “I didn’t know.”A faint smile appeared on Sofia’s lips.Not warm.Not cold.Just… distant.> “If you want us to work together,” she said calmly, “then we stay strictly professional. Separate lives. Separate paths.”A pause.Then she added:> “Or I withdraw my investment.”That was it.No hesitation.No emotion.Just business.She turned and walked away.And this time… Adrian didn’t stop her.---Later That Day — Sterling MansionThe house was loud again.But not happy loud.Arguing loud.Vanessa paced angrily.> “Who does she think she is?! Acting like she owns the room!”Madam Veronica scoffed.> “Maybe she found another rich man out there. People like her don’t stay loyal.”They both laughed lightly.But Adrian suddenly spoke from the side.Calm.Cold.> “Stop talking about things you don’t understand.”Silence.Vanessa frowned.> “Excuse me?”Adrian turned slowly.> “The question isn’t who she is anymore… the question is how she knew we needed help.”Madam Veronica narrowed her eyes.> “What are you suggesting?”Before Adrian could answer, the door opened.His father walked down the stairs slowly.Behind him… his aunt followed.Both looked unusually serious.His father sighed.> “Because we told her.”The room went silent.Vanessa blinked.> “What?”Madam Veronica stepped forward.> “When?”The aunt crossed her arms.> “Long before you fell apart. She was the only one we trusted to approach without greed.”Shock filled the room.Adrian’s expression tightened.> “So she knew everything?”His father nodded slowly.Silence again.Then Adrian asked quietly:> “Do I love her?”No one answered immediately.Even he didn’t know.Finally, his father said:> “Only your heart can answer that.”Adrian looked down.For the first time… unsure.> “I don’t know what I feel anymore… maybe I do love her.”His father placed a hand on his shoulder.> “Then don’t lose her again.”A pause.Then he added gently:> “But first… I have a surprise for you.”---Two Months Later — Adrian’s BirthdayThe mansion was alive with celebration.Lights.Music.Guests.Laughter.But Adrian sat quietly, detached from it all.Vanessa tried to cheer him up.> “Smile a little! It’s your birthday!”He didn’t respond.Madam Veronica arranged gifts on the table.Expensive watches.Cars.Contracts.Business deals.His aunt proudly presented her own gift.His bodyguards stood nearby.Even his father placed something meaningful on the table.But none of it reached him.Something was still missing.Sofia.He looked at the door once.Then away.---A servant stepped forward.> “Sir… there is one final gift.”Adrian raised an eyebrow slightly.> “From who?”The room went quiet.The servant placed a sealed envelope on the table.His father spoke softly:> “From Sofia.”Adrian’s heart stopped for a second.Vanessa leaned forward.> “She came?”The servant shook his head.> “No. She sent it through her secretary.”Silence fell again.Adrian slowly opened the envelope.Inside was a single message.No long letter.Just one line:> “Happy birthday, Adrian. Don’t look for me yet… not until you are ready to choose me for real.”His fingers tightened around the paper.The room blurred slightly around him.Because for the first time…he realized something painful.She wasn’t running away.She was waiting for him to decide.