The Billionaire's Bargain

Chapter 10: Could Carmen Have Known?

Sofia’s chest tightened the moment Ethan’s eyes locked onto hers. It was as if the air shifted, his presence making the room feel smaller. He strolled toward them, a smirk tugging at his lips like he was savoring some private joke.

Alexander’s arm around her waist stiffened, and Sofia could feel the barely-contained tension radiating from him. It had been four months since their engagement became public, and Alexander had worked tirelessly to present their union as solid, even enviable. But moments like this, when his past enemies resurfaced, threatened the delicate image they had constructed.

“Alexander,” Ethan greeted, his voice dripping with mock civility. His gaze slid to Sofia, lingering just a second too long. “And Sofia. Always a pleasure.”

“Ethan,” Alexander replied coldly, his voice a sharp contrast to the man’s smugness.

Sofia forced a polite smile, her instincts screaming to avoid engaging. But Ethan wasn’t one to be ignored.

“I was just telling some friends about the gala a few months back,” Ethan continued, his tone casual but his eyes gleaming with mischief. “Quite the unforgettable evening, wasn’t it, Sofia?”

Sofia’s heart skipped a beat. The way he said it felt pointed, deliberate. She glanced at Alexander, who was now glaring at Ethan, his jaw tight.

“It’s a shame I couldn’t attend,” Alexander cut in, his tone icy. “But Sofia and I make up for lost time, don’t we?”

Ethan chuckled, unfazed. “Of course. Still, it’s fascinating how paths cross. Almost as if... someone planned it that way.”

Sofia’s breath hitched. The comment seemed so out of place yet too pointed to ignore. Ethan shot her a knowing look before walking away, leaving her mind spinning.

“What was that about?” Alexander asked, his voice low but laced with irritation.

“I don’t know,” Sofia whispered, though the unease bubbling in her stomach suggested otherwise.

Later that evening, while Alexander attended to business calls, Sofia retreated to her room. Her thoughts replayed the evening’s events, zeroing in on Ethan’s cryptic words.

Her gaze fell on the engagement calendar pinned to her wall. Four months had passed since Alexander proposed. Four months of public appearances, lavish events, and pretending everything was perfect. But was it?

Ethan’s words pulled her back to the gala—Carmen’s insistence that she attend, her strange excitement, the way she had disappeared right after handing over the invitation.

Could Carmen have known? Could she have orchestrated this entire thing?

Sofia’s blood ran cold. She sat up straight, determination replacing her doubt. She needed answers, and she knew exactly where to start.