The Billionaire's Heir I Never Knew Was Mine novel Chapter 64

Chapter 64: The Debt is Not Even Mine

"I have a chef," Zachary said.

"You already have a chef?" Sienna repeated as she turned toward him. "Then why did you offer me this job?"

There was no accusation in her tone, just genuine curiosity. And maybe a little suspicion, the kind that came from someone who had learned not to trust convenient luck too easily.

Zachary didn’t seem offended. Instead, he looked as if he expected that question.

"He couldn’t come this time," he explained simply. "His father was admitted to the hospital."

"Oh..." Sienna’s expression softened immediately, the earlier teasing fading without a trace. "That’s awful. I hope he’s okay."

"His father is stable, from what I heard," Zachary replied. "So I told him to stay with him until he’s much better. Oh, and he is on paid leave, too."

"That was the right thing to do, and a noble thing to do, too," she said without hesitation.

He nodded once, but his gaze drifted slightly, as if the situation still lingered in his thoughts. "But it left me in a difficult position. I couldn’t cancel the trip."

"Because you don’t want to disappoint Sky," she said quietly.

Zachary glanced toward the stairs, and for just a second, something in his expression shifted; something softer, something almost unguarded.

"Yes. My son has been looking forward to this for weeks."

Sienna immediately felt that small, quiet click in her mind, as if a missing piece had finally slid into place.

Everything made sense now.

"So that’s why you offered me the job," she said, her tone lighter, her earlier doubts dissolving into understanding.

"You were available," he said. Then, after a brief pause, he added, "And you needed it."

Sienna was surprised by his directness. It should have been uncomfortable, but strangely, it wasn’t. Not entirely.

She held his gaze for a second longer than usual, then smiled.

"Well... I’m glad I was available," Sienna admitted. "Thank you for offering me the job, because I do need a side job..." She meant it more than she let on.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

They both looked down at their lattes, as if the cups suddenly held something worth studying.

The silence stretched, but it wasn’t empty. It felt... thoughtful. Like both of them were sorting through things they hadn’t planned to share.

Then Zachary shifted slightly, turning toward her again. He stared at her for a moment, long enough to make her aware of it.

"Do they underpay you at Imperial?"

The question caught Sienna off guard, causing her to curl her fingers tightly around her mug.

Slowly, she turned her head to look at him, trying to read his expression.

’Huh!? Why would he ask that?’

A small, unpleasant thought slipped into her mind before she could stop it.

’Is he trying to make fun of me?’

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