Enjoy My Life after the Billion-Dollar Divorce Ch 8

Chapter 8 Sharing a Room From Now On
Yrian’s voice was steady, neither too loud nor too quiet, making it easy for Eleanor to catch every word.
“How high is the fever? Did you check?”
Xylia blurted it out without thinking, only to remember a second later that the person on the line wasn’t her son—it was a sly wolf.
At this point, she wasn’t the least bit concerned about his condition. What really mattered was Eleanor. Had Sebastian mentioned anything to her about his past marriage and child?
Eleanor’s expression remained unreadable, neither pleased nor upset, while Yrian continued speaking on the other end.
“101.3°F. Nobody is bringing me to the hospital. Mom, can you come and take me?”
“Are you at home?”
“I am.”
The child’s weak and sorrowful tone might have moved others, but Xylia remained indifferent. Rather than reacting emotionally, she simply sent a message to her colleagues, instructing them to send an available ambulance to assess the situation.
Eleanor quietly took in the entire exchange. Turning to her, Xylia stated, “Mrs. Eleanor, Sebastian should have already informed you that I have a child. He lives with my ex-husband now, and I no longer take part in his life. If this is an issue for you, I’m open to divorcing Sebastian.”
Eleanor gave a faint smile. “I looked into your background when you married Sebastian.”
A subtle sense of relief washed over Xylia, but before she could respond, Eleanor went on. “I don’t meddle in the affairs of the younger generation. Seb has always been strong-willed. None of the women I introduced to him ever met his standards—I was beginning to think he’d stay single forever.
“Now that he’s chosen you and is willing to commit, I fully support it. However … ”
She pressed her lips together, while Xylia, well aware of the often-complicated dynamic between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, braced herself for what was coming.
“Mom, just say whatever is on your mind.”
Eleanor let out a soft sigh. “You’re a reasonable person, so I’ll be direct. The Jackmans have a vast business empire, and someone must inherit it. Seb lost his father at a young age, and he has no siblings. All I want is for him to have an heir.”
“Rest assured, you will be treated fairly. Whether you have a son or a daughter, they will inherit the Jackman family’s legacy. However, the child from your previous marriage cannot—after all, they do not share the Jackmans bloodline.”
Xylia’s face froze for a moment. She couldn’t outright tell Eleanor that her marriage to Sebastian was merely an arrangement, so instead, she opted for a lighthearted approach. With a playful tone, she quipped, “Alright, Sebastian and I will do our best.”
“Then I can be at ease. Take this bracelet as a token from me.”
Eleanor removed the bracelet from her wrist. The intricate carvings on it were stunning, and anyone with a keen eye could immediately recognize it as an emerald—worth more than ten million.
Xylia hesitated, reluctant to accept such an expensive gift, but Eleanor wouldn’t take no for an answer. Left with no choice, she accepted it.
After dinner, Sebastian finally returned. Without hesitation, she pulled him aside to a quiet corner and lowered her voice.
“Why did you bring me straight to your house?”
Sebastian, still dressed in his suit, had clearly just returned from work. Though exhaustion lingered in his eyes, he took the time to answer her question patiently.
“There’s no place in this entire city more secure than here.”
Xylia had no words. He wasn’t wrong—security cameras were positioned everywhere outside, and bodyguards patrolled in shifts like a well-trained military unit.
Not to mention the Castros—even elite international assassins would have a hard time breaking in. Safety was the last thing Xylia needed to worry about here.
“It’s not ideal for me to stay. Your mother is here, and this bracelet … it’s far too valuable.”
She slipped the bracelet off her delicate wrist, but before she could hand it back, Sebastian effortlessly put it back on for her, his gaze lingering as he admired how it looked against her skin.
“Mom has great taste—it looks stunning on you.”
Xylia felt a faint warmth creep onto her cheeks. “Is it good? I think so too … wait!”
She suddenly caught herself, realizing she was getting sidetracked. Snapping back to the matter at hand, she quickly refocused.
“This bracelet is emerald—it’s far too valuable. I really can’t accept it. You should keep it and give it to someone you truly care about in the future.”
As she spoke, she reached to remove it again, but Sebastian caught her hand—the one wearing the bracelet—his fingers intertwining with hers as he lifted it high.
His tall frame cast a shadow over her, obscuring his expression, but his voice, low and gentle, was unmistakable.
“Just keep it on for now, Dear.”
Xylia’s face flushed once more, and this time, she didn’t resist.
She had given birth to Yrian at 20, and now, at 25, she hadn’t entirely abandoned the idea of love. How could she remain unmoved when a calm, steady man spoke such intimate words?
Yet reason reminded her—Sebastian was likely only doing this to keep Eleanor from discovering the truth.
For a brief moment, her heart cooled, but she chose not to resist any further. “Alright.”
“Great.”
Only then did Sebastian release her hand, a subtle smile playing on his lips.
Xylia recalled Eleanor’s request from earlier.
“Your mother seems eager for a grandson. I’ll do my best to keep up the act, but the Castros’ situation needs to be settled within this year. I’ll continue to honor our agreement, and hopefully, you’ll find someone you truly love soon.”
Sebastian’s expression softened slightly. “Alright, I get it.”
Xylia sighed at the shift in his demeanor. Just as she turned to leave, a firm grip caught her wrist again.
“Wait,” Sebastian’s deep voice sounded behind her.
She had noticed it earlier—his hands were burning hot, the rough texture of his skin like solid stone. His grip was unyielding, making escape feel impossible. Yet, rather than fear, his steady presence gave her an unexpected sense of security, even though his grip was a little too tight.
“Is there something else?” Xylia asked, keeping her tone patient.
“We may need to stay in the same room.”
“Huh?”
Xylia’s eyes went wide before the realization quickly set in.
“Is this just to keep up the act for your mother? Still, isn’t it a bit improper for us to do this?”
Xylia gazed at his sharp, unwavering features, fully aware that the more time they spent together, the harder it would be to maintain her distance. What if she actually ended up falling for him?
Lowering her head, she hesitated, her voice growing softer.
“Uh … are you sure you don’t have any other places to stay in Brighton?”
Sebastian’s gaze darkened slightly as it lingered on the neatly tied bun atop her head.
“I should have told you earlier. My apologies. But don’t worry, there are plenty of blankets. You can take the bed—I’ll sleep on the floor. Besides, this is the safest place you could stay.”
In other words, they would be sharing a room from now on.
Xylia’s heartbeat quickened—not out of affection, but simply because the idea of living under the same roof as a wealthy, attractive man was enough to make anyone a little nervous.
A call came in, but Sebastian declined it. “Get some rest. I’ll be in the study.”
“Alright.”
As soon as he left, Xylia’s phone buzzed with a voice message from Yrian—only it wasn’t his voice she heard, but Jayden’s.
“Xylia, why did you send an ambulance? Do you not care about Yrian at all?”
She let out a soft chuckle. “The hospital’s ambulance can get there faster than I can. He has a fever of 101.3°F—what’s wrong with me calling for help?”
Jayden’s voice turned sharp, his frustration clear. “You’ve really changed, all for that one billion? Are you willing to abandon your son just for money? I can’t believe I ever thought I understood you.”
“Believe whatever you want, but stay out of my life. From now on, Yrian and you are no concern of mine, whether you survive or not.”
With that, she ended the call without hesitation.
Even so, a faint ache lingered in her heart.
She received messages from her colleague, assuring her that Yrian was completely fine.