Inside the car''s quiet interior, Sophia leaned her head agafest the window, her mind drifting back to the stranger who''de to her aid earlier.


    Could it be fate?


    Was this mysterious figure the soulmate she''d always dreamed about the one who would stand by her forever?


    She breathed out heavily, shaking the thought away.


    She didn''t even know him.


    "You don''t look happy," Alex said, breaking the silence.


    Sophia managed againt smile.


    "On the contrary, I''m very happy. Someone paid a hundred million for me, clearing


    the loan that haunted me and the Lancasters."


    Alex smiled, his heart lightening.


    He was d to see his wife finally ept the help.


    Later this noon, as she drifted into sleep, he gently healed her and pulled a nket over her, making sure she was warm andfortable.


    Meanwhile, behind the scenes, he''d ordered Carlos to take control of the entire ck syndicate.


    Charles Cole, Cathy ck, Bruno ck-their fortunes and futures nowy quietly in his hands.


    "I''m d you''re pleased,” Alex said atst, leaning back in the driver''s seat as they continued down the road. Sophia looked at him, puzzled. "Pleased about what?"


    He gave her a yful wink. "The debt. I arranged for it to be cleared."


    She stared at him, her breath catching.


    For several long moments, she said nothing, struggling to piece everything together.


    "Sophia? Are you alright?" he asked gently.


    She took a measured breath. "Alex... let''s be honest with each other, okay?"


    He tensed slightly, unsure where this was going. "Of course."


    Her gaze was steady, searching his face. "I know who you are."


    Alex''s brow furrowed. He hadn''t expected that. "Really?"


    "You''re ex-military, recently discharged. And I''d bet your grandfather or father worked with mine to arrange this marriage."


    Alex frowned, her assumptions way off the mark.


    Sophia pressed her lips together.


    "Look, I can see you putting on airs, trying to seem confident, maybe to protect your pride. But I''ve already epted you as you are. There''s no need to lie. It''ll only make me resent you."


    **


    Alex looked away, uncertain how to respond.


    "Just be yourself," she whispered. "That''s all I''m asking.


    He met her eyes. "And who do you think I am?"


    She sighed, turning toward the window.


    "We both know we''re just ying our assigned parts for my grandfather''s sake. Until I find the person truly meant for me, we''re stuck like this. At least it stops my


    parents from pushing me into another forced arrangement."


    Alex''s voice held a trace of bewilderment. "So, what''s your point?"


    "Just stop bragging," she said quietly.


    "I''m not bragging.


    "Then stop talking-especially about things that make you sound like someone you''re not." She folded her arms, clearly exasperated. "I don''t need that. Just... be real with me. I don''t care if you''re poor."


    Alex sighed, feeling the tension coil in the air.


    "Alright," he said simply.


    "Thank you." Her voice softened, remorse slipping in.


    "I''m sorry, Alex. It''s been a rough day, even if it ended on a bright note. I''m happy


    the debt is gone, but everything else has been so...plicated."


    He eased his grip on the steering wheel. "No worries. I''ll be careful with my words from now on."


    She offered a tiny smile. "I do think of you as a friend. I ept you as you are. No need to pretend you''re wealthy or anything else."


    Alex resisted the urge to roll his eyes too dramatically. "Fine, fine. I''m just a poor, broke ex-soldier, is that it?" Her smile softened into something more genuine. "See? That wasn''t so hard-to just be who you really are."


    He shook his head, a wry grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.


    He could have told her the truth-about the fortune he controlled, the power he wielded-but it would only feed her disbelief.


    For now, it was easier to let her think what she wanted.


    "Anyway," Sophia said, changing the subject, "we''rete for dinner with Lyra. Can you head straight to the restaurant?”


    "You set up dinner with her?" Alex asked.


    She shrugged. "In case I needed to borrow money from her. Now I don''t. But let''s still go. I''m hungry, and Lyra''s waiting."


    As they drove, Sophia added quietly, "No secrets between us at dinner, okay? Lyra''s been my best friend for a long time, but... she really despises anything-or anyone-who seems cheap."


    Alex shot her a nce, annoyance flickering in his eyes. "What''s that supposed to mean?"


    "It means she''ll probably look down on you. Your clothes, your everything. If she''s hostile, just ignore it. I''ll try to


    help her see things differently, but don''t let it get to you. I''m sick of the two of you


    being, at each other''s throats whenever we meet."


    Pulling up to a grand, upscale restaurant, Alex parked and stepped out.


    He moved around the car to open Sophia''s door for her.


    She emerged gracefully, smoothing her dress.


    "So, earlier," he said, holding the door, "what was your point inying all that out?"


    Sophia''s eyes drifted to the restaurant''s entrance. "I just hope you and Lyra can get a bit closer. Or at least be civil."


    He sighed. "I''ll try."


    They walked inside, the soft hum of conversation and the scent of exquisite dishes filling the air. 1


    Lyra was already seated, dressed to captivate.


    With her natural allure-rivaling even Sophia''s-and the memory of her days as a famed model in Vancouver, she shimmered beneath the warm glow of the lights.


    Men had clearly tried approaching her, only to be coldly dismissed.


    As soon as she spotted Sophia and Alex, Lyra rose from her chair and strode over.


    Sophia expected a weing embrace-but Lyra swept right past her and wrapped her arms around Alex instead.


    "Lyra!" he blurted, startled. "What are you doing?"


    She looked up at him, smiling brilliantly. "Just greeting my best friend''s so-called husband. After all, Sophia wanted us to get closer, didn''t she?"


    Alex stiffened, trying to maintain some personal space. "Closer doesn''t have to mean an ambush hug." Lyraughed, ignoring his difort, and looped her arm through his, guiding him toward the table.


    Sophia followed, her eyes wide, wondering what had gotten into her friend.


    Last time she checked, Lyra treated Alex like a cockroach that had scuttled into


    her cereal bowl, yet now the woman was doting on him like some long-lost father figure.


    "You wouldn''t believe how many creeps tried flirting with me while I waited," Lyra teased. "I need you to ward them off."


    In the background, at a corner table, a group of men watched with jealous eyes. One muttered bitterly, "Great. That perfect goddess is already taken.".


    The man beside him sneered. "Taken by a nobody, from the looks of it. Maybe we should show him his ce." Their leader leaned forward, malice dancing in his gaze. “Yes. Let''s see how tough he is."


    Unaware of the simmering hostility in the corner, Sophia and Alex took their seats, Lyra still clinging a bit too closely forfort.