Chapter 246

Chapter 246:

“For God’s sake, Sophia! I’m not joking p>

“Then let me read in peace, will you? Honestly, I wouldn’t mind if you didn’t say another word all day,” I muttered, shooting him a look that finally shut him up. Blessed silence followed, and I took my time with every second I could.

“You know, you actually look really good when you don’t open your mouth,” I teased, flashing him a bright smile just to annoy him a little more.

After nearly half an hour of tense silence and the occasional staring match, I finally reached the last page and signed at the bottom of the contract.

Just as I was about to leave the office, my hand on the doorknob, he called out, “Tonight we’re having dinner at my parents’ house. They want to see us p>

I didn’t even look back. “Fantastic,” I said, tossing the word over my shoulder with a shrug. Out in the hallway, I let the door close behind me and exhaled in relief.

Only 334 days left. I did the math in my head—it was already one month down, eleven to go. That meant I had 334 days to survive this marriage and finally see Layla. Muttering under my breath, I headed back to the kitchen.

Point of view: Sophia:

𝘚𝗵𝗮rе 𝘆оur 𝘁𝗵𝘰u𝗀h𝘵𝗌 𝗼𝘯

“What kind of deal did you get yourself into, Sophia?” Bryan shouted as he burst into my office and slammed his hand on the desk.

I let out another long sigh. I’d already spent most of the morning trying to explain why I accepted Mrs. Kelley’s offer and agreed to marry her son, yet he kept circling back to the same questions.

“I did it because I needed to protect myself p>

“Protect yourself?” He snapped his head toward me. “Sophia, you know I’ve been on your side from day one, right p>

“I know, but I can’t depend on you forever. There will come a time when you meet someone and build a life with that person, and I won’t be your priority anymore. So I have to learn how to stand on my own p>

“So your way of becoming independent was marrying a man you barely know? Do you really think that fixes anything p>

“Bryan p>

“You’re assuming I’d toss you aside the moment I fell in love with someone?” he said, stepping closer to my chair. “Do you realize one of the reasons I founded my company was because I wanted to give you a place where you’d feel safe? We might not share blood, but I’ve always treated you like the sister I never got the chance to watch grow up p>

“I know.” I lowered my gaze because I knew exactly what he meant. He’d lost his sister six years ago, and when he found me after I ran from my engagement in Italy, he took me in and treated me like family.

“You understand all that, and you still hid this decision from me!” he shouted again, frustration mounting.

“Bryan, I already explained that p>