The Billionaire's Two-Faced Escort Wife-Chapter 89: Family Dinner

Mrs. Devereux moved toward Adrian, holding his shoulders to take a good look at him.

"You look well, Adrian. Seems my son is treating his secretary nicer than we thought," She smiled, touching his cheeks.

Adrian smiled politely, stepping away from the woman to stay a safe distance from her.

"He’s such a nice boss, Ma’am," Adrian replied, ignoring Alexander’s piercing gaze.

"We were all worried about you, especially Sebastian. But we decided to give you space to recover. It looks like Sebastian was worried for nothing. You look fine," Agatha said, glancing at Sebastian, who was standing quietly beside the sofa.

"He shouldn’t worry. My secretary is just fine. Please sit, mother," Alexander said, gesturing toward the sofas.

"Tell me, Adrian. How did you end up in such a dangerous street?" Mrs. Devereux asked as she sat on the sofa.

Alexander stiffened, glancing beside him to look at Adrian, who walked around the sit beside his mother.

He was wondering if Adrian was about to tell them what actually happened.

Adrian lowered himself beside Mrs. Devereux, taking a deep breath.

"Yes, Adrian, tell us. We’ve all been wondering how this happened. How was Alexander not there? No one would have found you if not for the kind man who found you in the alley," Agatha said, staring at Adrian in expectation.

Adrian was about to speak when Sebastian’s voice stopped him.

"The truth, Adrian. Tell them the truth," Sebastian stated, his eyes locked on Adrian’s.

Adrian frowned slightly, not appreciating the way Sebastian tried to manipulate and worsen the situation.

He looked at Alexander and sighed, the poor man sat rigid on the sofa, possibly praying he wouldn’t get exposed in front of the women.

Normally, he would have jumped at the opportunity to humiliate and expose Alexander, but not anymore, not after what they’ve shared, not after seeing how vulnerable Alexander can get when it came to him.

He couldn’t hurt Alexander now, not in front of his rival

"Of course, Sebastian. The truth," Adrian nodded and turned his gaze to Mrs. Devereux.

"I had left without Alexander’s notice. I wanted to get home quickly and retrieve something I needed, but then it was late and I almost forgot how dangerous it was to walk alone in my neighbourhood. It was my carelessness, no one’s fault but mine," Adrian lied flawlessly.

Alexander was surprised, he couldn’t take his eyes off Adrian, his heart was beating fast and he wanted to pull Adrian into his arms and hug and kiss him. He couldn’t believe Adrian was protecting his image in front of his mother.

He just fell deeper in love with Adrian, and he couldn’t wait to be alone again with him.

"Oh, dear. I’m so sorry to hear that. It must have been a horrible experience," Mrs. Devereux touched Adrian’s arm, gently patting him.

Adrian nodded, glancing at Sebastian, who was staring at him in disappointment and questioning.

"I’m fine now, no need to worry about me," Adrian said, clearing his throat and adjusting on the seat.

​Alexander watched the entire exchange, the tension in his shoulders slowly dissipating as Adrian deftly navigated the social landmines. Adrian’s perfect lie—the fabrication of carelessness and a solitary trip—was a calculated act of protection. It was a choice born of their new, fragile emotional agreement, a quiet testament to the love Adrian had just confessed.

​When Adrian chose to sit beside Mrs. Devereux, Alexander had nearly choked on his relief. When Adrian delivered the flawless, self-incriminating story, Alexander’s heart surged. Adrian was sacrificing the opportunity for vengeance and truth for the sake of Alexander’s standing and their own private future. The relief was intoxicating, a deeper euphoria than any drug.

​"I’m fine now, no need to worry about me," Adrian concluded, his polite deflection of concern perfectly timed with Angelica’s announcement.

​"Good evening, Ma’am, Agatha, Sebastian. Dinner is served, please come to the dining table," Angelica greeted politely, glancing at Adrian with concern, clearly aware of the internal warfare unfolding.

​"Oh, hello, Angelica, your food is always the best part of our visit. Come on, everyone, let’s go fill our bellies," Mrs. Devereux stood and surprisingly took Adrian’s hand in hers.

​Adrian panicked, the intimacy too much, the public exposure unbearable. He was still the secretary; he was not meant to be held or drawn into the family core so easily. He searched for an escape.

​"Excuse me, Ma’am, I’ll be joining later," Adrian gently stepped away from her, smiling apologetically.

​Mrs. Devereux frowned, narrowing her eyes at Adrian, "You’re not joining us?" she asked.

​The air in the room thickened again. A refusal was a social slight, especially since Adrian was supposed to be the fiancée’s stand-in.

​Alexander instantly stepped in, rescuing Adrian from the inevitable scrutiny. He put a possessive hand on his mother’s shoulder, leading her gently toward the dining room.

​"Adrian has a migraine, Mother," Alexander stated smoothly, his voice laced with concern that sounded entirely genuine. "The doctor advised quiet rest after the session today. He’s working on a sensitive memo later. You know how focused he gets."

​He gave Adrian a pointed, loving look—a careful blend of public affection and private instruction. Go. Retreat. I’ll cover.

​"Go rest, dear," Alexander said, deliberately using the endearment as a final assertion of their bond, knowing the ’Boss’ rule applied only to professional settings, not private family drama. "I’ll make sure they don’t eat all the steak."

​Adrian nodded, accepting the excuse gratefully. "Thank you, Alexander. Please excuse me, everyone."

​He gave Sebastian a cool, polite nod, ignoring the silent fury in his eyes. Sebastian, clearly incensed by Adrian’s lie and Alexander’s possessive defence, didn’t hide his disapproval.

​As Adrian retreated down the hallway, he heard Sebastian’s voice, sharp and challenging, cutting through the dining room doors.

​"You’re too protective, Alexander. He’s your secretary, not your wife."

​Alexander’s cold response followed: "I am protecting what is mine, Sebastian. Perhaps if you were less interested in my secretary, you’d find time to focus on your own life."

​The door to Alexander’s room closed quietly behind Adrian, muffling the argument. He breathed a sigh of relief. The danger was over, for now.

​Adrian waited in the room for twenty minutes, letting the dinner conversation settle. He changed into a loose pair of comfortable sweatpants and one of Alexander’s soft, oversized t-shirts—a quiet act of claiming territory.

​He knew Alexander wouldn’t last the dinner. Sebastian was too volatile, and Mrs. Devereux was too demanding.

​He walked quietly back to the living room, which was empty. He found Alexander in the study, where he had retreated for refuge.

​Alexander was leaning against his massive mahogany desk, staring out the window at the city lights. He hadn’t changed clothes.

​Adrian walked in and closed the door behind him. The sudden sound made Alexander turn instantly, his eyes intense.

​"I thought you had a migraine," Alexander said, his voice flat.

​"I recovered," Adrian replied, walking toward him. He bypassed the chair and leaned against the desk beside Alexander, maintaining the required distance, yet presenting himself as an available presence.

​"Why, Adrian?" Alexander finally asked, his voice low and strained. "Why didn’t you expose me? You had the perfect opportunity. Sebastian was pushing for the truth. You could have destroyed my reputation, ended the contract, and secured your freedom."

​Adrian looked at the reflection of the city lights in the glass, then at Alexander’s intense profile.

​"Because I love you," Adrian stated simply, letting the difficult, complicated truth hang in the air. "And I meant what I said. I will not resort to cruelty to win my freedom, and I will not hurt you in front of your rival. That is not the man I want to be."

​He turned his body fully toward Alexander. "But you almost cost me my position just now. If I hadn’t stepped in with the ’corporate ethics’ excuse, your mother would have been furious. You have to start respecting the terms, Alexander. Including the one about the marriage contract ending in six months."

​Alexander reached out, his hand hovering over Adrian’s hip, agonizingly close, but not touching.

​"Six months," Alexander repeated, the word a poison on his tongue. "You expect me to survive six months of this restraint, knowing you want me, and then simply let you walk away forever?"

​"That is the contract we just agreed upon," Adrian said, his voice firm despite the tremor of desire the proximity caused. "If you break it, I walk now. And you lose me completely."

​Alexander slowly lowered his hand, resting it on the cool mahogany of the desk instead. He inhaled deeply, the scent of Adrian—clean laundry and his own shirt—torturing him.

​"Very well," Alexander conceded, his voice heavy with defeat. "Six months. I will use every minute of that time to prove that I am the only man you will ever need, rules or no rules."

​He took a step back, separating himself physically. "I need to go back to dinner. Sebastian is watching my absence like a hawk. Go back to the room, Adrian. You are safe."

​Alexander returned to the dining room, his composure ironclad. He managed to steer the conversation away from Adrian’s health and toward the planned charity merger, successfully boring his mother into submission.

​However, as dinner concluded and Agatha began clearing the dishes, she lingered near Alexander.

​"Agatha," Agatha began softly, leaning in slightly. "You need to hear me out. Sebastian is a good man. Kind, honest. He genuinely likes Adrian."

​Alexander put his glass down, his eyes turning to ice. "We’ve had this conversation, Aunt. My secretary is not up for dating."

​"I don’t think so," she insisted, lowering her voice further. "Adrian needs space and quiet to heal, and he needs a friend who offers him pure affection, not the kind of demanding ownership you show. Sebastian provides that."

​She took a deep breath, delivering the final, staggering blow. "I believe it would be in Adrian’s best interest, and perhaps your own, for Adrian to go stay with Sebastian for a week or two. Let them bond. Let Adrian see what true, unconditional affection looks like. If his feelings for who he claimed to be in a relationship with are real, he will return to them. If not, you will know the truth now."

​Alexander stared at Agatha, his eyes blazing with shock and betrayal. His usually loyal ally was suggesting he hand Adrian over to his rival, trusting Adrian’s love to bring him back to whoever Adrian claimed to love.

​"You want me to subject Adrian to that kind of risk?" Alexander hissed, his control dangerously close to shattering.

​"It is only a risk to your pride, Alexander" Agatha countered gently. "Not to Adrian’s safety. Sebastian would guard him with his life. It is the only way for Adrian to truly feel free to choose his love "

​Alexander felt the familiar, agonising surge of jealousy, but Agatha’s plea was anchored in concern for Adrian’s heart, echoing the new contract’s terms. He had to use words.

​"Enough" Alexander finally ground out, his voice shaking with suppression.

Angelica suddenly walked over and carried the empty plates.

She didn’t leave, she stood beside Alexander and quietly sighed, "Sir, perhaps –"

"Go finish clearing the table. That suggestion is offensive and completely unacceptable. Adrian stays here." Alexander cut her off, glaring at her.

​Angelica bowed her head slightly. "Understood, sir." She walked back to the kitchen, leaving Alexander alone with his mother, Agatha and Sebastian, who was watching the whole exchange with thinly veiled satisfaction.

​Mrs. Devereux finally stood, gathering her purse. "Well, that was productive. Now, Alexander, before I go, let’s clear up this Adrienne situation once and for all. The media is circling, and I need a definitive statement for the press release on the merger."

​She looked straight at Alexander, her expression demanding compliance.

​"Call Adrienne now. On speakerphone. Let her confirm she is on an extended retreat. I want to hear her voice. Do it now, Alexander."

​Alexander felt trapped, the pressure cooker of his secrets finally reaching critical mass. He looked toward the hallway where Adrian had retreated, knowing the charade was about to collapse.