Sham Marriage Quit Real Heiress Strikes Back novel Chapter 185

Chapter 185 You’re Eating With Me

“It’s dinner time, come eat with me.”

Finished

Alexander said it like it was the most natural thing in the world, but the way he phrased it left Elena with no real opening to turn him down.

It was technically dinner time, but she still wasn’t in the mood to sit across from him and make small talk. She kept her tone neutral. “I still have work to finish.”

Alexander looked at her, his expression calm, his eyes deep and unreadable. “Your only task today was the presentation, and you already finished that. I’m hungry right now, and anything else I want to ask can wait until after I eat. Elena, does that work for you?”

There was something in the way he said it, not forceful, but impossible to ignore.

Elena understood exactly what he meant.

She nodded. “Alright.”

Alexander reached over and pressed the intercom button. “Fiona, find a place nearby. Somewhere decent.”

Fiona answered immediately, “Of course, Mr. Kingsley.”

About half an hour later, the three of them arrived at a polished, upscale restaurant not far from the office, the kind with low lighting, quiet music, and neatly set tables that made everything feel a little more formal than necessary.

Fiona stayed the entire time,

She handled everything herself, waving off the server politely and stepping in to pour water, serve dishes, and adjust plates without missing a beat. She moved with quiet efficiency, like she had done this countless times before.

At one point, Elena watched as Fiona leaned slightly closer to Alexander’s plate and carefully picked out the chopped green onions from his dish, setting them aside without even asking, as if she already knew his preferences by heart.

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Chapter 185 You’re Eating With Me

That small, practiced gesture landed heavier than it should have.

For no clear reason, it bothered Elena.

It felt too familiar, too natural, like something that didn’t belong in a strictly professional relationship.

Her thoughts drifted back to what he had said earlier about her car.

Finished

She looked up at him. “That car you gave me doesn’t feel right to drive. Just give me mine back.”

Alexander didn’t even pause. “It’s already at the dealership. Too many parts were worn out. You’ll get it back once it’s fixed.”

He’said it casually, but there was no room to argue.

Elena didn’t push further. She shifted the topic instead. “So, is there still an issue with Monica’s situation?”

Alexander set his fork down and looked at her.

“No.”

Elena blinked, caught off guard. “Then why did you have me stay?”

Alexander met her gaze evenly. “A wife having dinner with her husband isn’t exactly unreasonable, is it?”

Elena opened her mouth, then closed it again.

She didn’t have a response for that.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Fiona standing a few steps away, pouring coffee. Her hand suddenly trembled, and a small splash of hot water spilled onto the back of her hand.

Fiona inhaled sharply, trying to keep it quiet.

Both Elena and Alexander turned to look. But Alexander didn’t move.

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Chapter 185 You’re Eating With Me

Finished

Fiona forced a small smile, her voice steady despite the discomfort. “I’m just going to step out for a minute.”

She left the room.

In the restroom, Fiona turned on the cold water and held her hand under it. The burn wasn’t serious.

But the ache in her chest kept building, sharp and persistent, wave after wave.

She stood there for a moment, staring at her reflection, eyes faintly red, then took a slow breath and walked out.

As she headed back, she passed a man in the hallway.

She recognized him immediately.

“Mr. Hawthorne,” Fiona said, stopping him.

Nathan paused and looked at her. At first, there was a flicker of confusion, then recognition settled in.

Alexander’s secretary.

His expression cooled slightly. “Do you need something?”

Fiona smiled politely. “Nothing important. I just didn’t expect to see you here.”

She turned as if to leave.

After a couple of steps, Nathan called out, “Fiona.”

She turned back, her expression lightly puzzled. “Yes?”

Nathan hesitated for a moment before speaking, choosing his words carefully. “I wanted to ask… is Alexander actually married to Elena?”

He had already tried looking into it himself.

All he could confirm was that Alexander was married. But who the bride was, there

was no trace.

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Chapter 185 You’re Eating With Me

Finished

Fiona worked closely with Alexander, so if anyone knew the truth, it would be her.

Fiona paused, as if surprised by the question.

Nathan immediately felt he might have overstepped. After all, she worked for Alexander, there was no reason she would answer him.

He was just about to let it go and walk away when Fiona spoke softly.

“With the Kingsley family’s background, do you really think he’d marry someone like Elena?”

She gave a small, apologetic smile. “I don’t mean that in a harsh way. It’s just… that’s how things are.”

Nathan’s heart skipped. “Then why did he tell me they were married?”

Was Alexander lying to him?

And if he was, why?

Fiona let out a quiet sigh. “He does value her. He’s even argued with his family over her more than once.”

She looked at Nathan, her tone gentle but deliberate. “If you still have feelings for her, I wouldn’t give up so easily. From what I’ve seen, every time your name comes up, she reacts. And if a woman truly doesn’t care about a man, hearing his name wouldn’t affect her at all.”

Nathan felt his pulse quicken.

“Are you serious?”

Fiona smiled faintly. “Why would I lie to you?”

Then she added, her voice softening, “Honestly, I’m saying this for Mr. Kingsley’s sake too. If things between him and Elena turn messy, it won’t reflect well on him, and it’ll be worse for her. Getting back together with you sounds a lot better than being talked about in a way that sticks. Don’t you think?”

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Chapter 185 You’re Eating With Me

Nathan’s impression of Fiona improved instantly.

Alexander really had it easy, didn’t he?

A wife at home, someone devoted at work, and a secretary who handled everything flawlessly.

“Let’s exchange numbers,” Nathan said.

Back in the private room, Elena quietly finished everything on her plate.

Alexander, on the other hand, barely touched his food.

Finished

She noticed and frowned slightly. “I thought you said you were hungry. Why aren’t you eating?”

She had just set her fork down when she realized how little he had eaten.

Alexander answered without changing expression. “I’m not hungry anymore.”

Elena blinked. What did I even do this time?

Still, she didn’t want the atmosphere to turn stiff again.

After a brief pause, she picked up the ladle and served him a bowl of soup.

“This one’s actually really good,” Elena said, setting it in front of him. “You should try it.”

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