MY BILLIONAIRE HUSBAND (Sandro Marcos)

Chapter 8: Cracks in the Facade

The following week, Isabella found herself reflecting on her deepening relationship with Alexander. Their dinner had marked a turning point, and she could feel the walls between them slowly coming down. Despite their unconventional beginning, she dared to hope that their relationship could grow into something genuine.

But as they spent more time together, a nagging sense of unease began to creep into Isabella's mind. It wasn't anything Alexander said or did, but rather a feeling that something was amiss—something just beneath the surface that she couldn't quite put her finger on.

It started with small things. Alexander would occasionally withdraw into himself, his mood turning somber and his answers curt. He would always recover quickly, brushing off her concerns with a smile, but Isabella could sense the strain. She noticed it most acutely when they were discussing plans for the future. The tension would briefly flicker in his eyes before he masked it with his usual calm demeanor.

One evening, after a long day at work, Isabella decided to visit Alexander at his office unannounced. She had been thinking about him all day and wanted to surprise him with dinner. She knew he often worked late, so she picked up some takeout from his favorite restaurant and headed over.

The building was quiet when she arrived, the usual hustle and bustle of the day giving way to the stillness of night. As she approached Alexander's office, she heard voices coming from inside, muffled by the closed door. She hesitated for a moment, not wanting to interrupt, but curiosity got the better of her.

Slowly, she inched closer, the voices becoming clearer. One of them was definitely Alexander's, but the other was unfamiliar—deep, commanding, and tinged with a note of irritation.

"I've done everything you asked," Alexander's voice was tense, a stark contrast to the calm, composed tone Isabella was used to hearing from him. "But this isn't what we agreed on. I won't put her through that."

The other man's voice responded, cool and unyielding. "You don't have a choice, Alex. You knew what this was from the start. If you want to keep your end of the bargain, you'll follow through."

Isabella's heart pounded in her chest as she strained to hear more. Who was this man? And what was Alexander involved in that had him sounding so... defeated?

There was a long pause before Alexander spoke again, his voice low and resigned. "I understand. But don't forget your end of the deal."

The conversation ended abruptly, and Isabella quickly stepped back, her mind racing. She didn't have time to fully process what she had overheard before the door to Alexander's office swung open. She plastered a smile on her face as Alexander stepped out, but the tension in his expression didn't go unnoticed.

"Isabella," he said, his voice softening as he saw her. "What are you doing here?"

"I brought dinner," she replied, holding up the bags of takeout, hoping her voice sounded steadier than she felt. "I thought you might be working late."

Alexander's eyes flicked to the food and then back to her, his surprise quickly masked by a smile. "You didn't have to do that, but thank you. Come in."

She followed him into the office, the mysterious man already gone, leaving only the faintest trace of his presence behind. As they sat down to eat, Isabella couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. The light banter that usually filled their conversations felt forced, and every time she tried to steer the discussion towards what she had overheard, Alexander deftly avoided it.

After dinner, as they sat together on the small couch in his office, Isabella decided to take a more direct approach.

"Alexander," she began carefully, "is everything okay? I couldn't help but notice that you seemed a little... tense earlier."