Enjoy My Life after the Billion-Dollar Divorce Ch 9

Chapter 9 A Contractual Marriage Is Still a Marriage
It was clear they were just trying to lure her back, but what would happen once she returned was anyone’s guess.
With her parents gone and no family to rely on, if something were to happen to her, there would be no one to seek justice on her behalf.
Perhaps she was overthinking it, but she understood the Castros all too well. To them, wealth was everything—and now that she held one billion in her hands, they likely wished she would disappear for good.
Still, Xylia felt no remorse for taking that money.
After her parents’ sudden passing and the Watson Group’s collapse, a few assets remained. When the Castros faced financial trouble, she had given them everything she had—including the ancestral formula from her family’s pharmaceutical company—so that Jayden could secure a position at the research institute.
Now, she was merely reclaiming what was hers, giving the Castros a taste of their own suffering.
With Sebastian by her side, she felt a newfound sense of security.
Turning off her phone, Xylia suddenly realized she had no idea where his room was. Left with no choice, she stopped a passing servant to ask.
“The room is at the far end on the left side of the second floor,” the servant informed her.
“Alright, thanks.”
Xylia followed the servant’s instructions and walked away, completely oblivious to the sly glint in her eyes.
The mansion was so vast that strolling through it felt like walking down a city street. Every corner exuded luxury, with priceless jade decorations and intricate stone murals adorning the walls. She couldn’t help but sigh. “So this is what true wealth looks like.”
Unfortunately, Sebastian appeared to be somewhat of a mama’s boy, reluctant to go against his mother’s wishes. Otherwise, how else would he have ended up sharing a home with a twice-married woman after tying the knot?
Xylia pushed the door open, and as soon as she stepped inside, the sensor light flickered on, casting a glow over the entire room.
The room was nothing like she had imagined—warm and sophisticated, yet surprisingly decorated in shades of pink, exuding a romantic and elegant charm.
A delicate fragrance lingered in the air—refined and subtle, though not quite to her taste, yet still undeniably pleasant.
No matter how she looked at it, this didn’t seem like a room that suited a man’s preferences.
Had Sebastian arranged it just for her?
Xylia quickly dismissed the unnecessary thoughts, shaking her head to clear her mind. Noticing the neatly arranged women’s clothing in the wardrobe, she chose not to touch them. Instead, she found that the servant had already placed her suitcase in the room. Without hesitation, she grabbed a fresh set of her own clothes and headed to the bathroom for a shower.
Eleanor’s expression darkened as she knocked again, her voice firmer this time. “Xylia, are you inside?”
Silence. Just then, a passing servant paused and respectfully informed her, “Mrs. Eleanor, if you’re looking for Mrs. Jackman, I believe she went to Ms. Dorsey’s room.”
“What?! Who sent her there?!”
Eleanor’s expression darkened instantly. Without a second thought, she bolted up the stairs in her high heels. Halfway up, a sharp snap echoed through the corridor—one of her heels had broken. She stumbled but didn’t stop, barely managing to keep her balance.
“Get her out of there immediately! If Sebastian finds out, she’s done for!”
Eleanor seethed with rage.
That room—that woman—had always been an untouchable subject for Sebastian, the very reason he refused to settle down for years. And now, just when he had finally gotten married, this mess had to happen.
“Understood!”
Without hesitation, the servant darted up the stairs, moving as swiftly as possible.
Meanwhile, Xylia had just finished her shower and changed into fresh clothes when the door suddenly swung open.
She assumed it was Sebastian, but to her surprise, Eleanor stormed in, looking flustered, and grabbed her by the wrist.
“Hurry, come with me!”
Xylia was taken aback, noticing that Eleanor’s shoe had come off. Unable to ignore it, she hesitated before pointing it out. “Mom, your shoe … ”
“Don’t worry about my shoes! Just follow me!”
Fortunately, the new pajamas she bought were modest. Eleanor wasted no time, pulling her toward another room.
The space they entered was unmistakably a man’s bedroom—decorated in sleek shades of black, white, and gray. One wall displayed an impressive collection of medals and trophies, while the rest of the room remained minimalistic, free of unnecessary clutter.
“This is where Seb stays,” Eleanor stated firmly. Her expression was serious. Her presence was as commanding as her son’s. “The room you were in earlier—never bring it up in front of him. And don’t mention anything that happened tonight to anyone.”
“I see.”
Xylia sensed something was off and hesitated before asking, “That room … was it for someone Sebastian cared about?”
Eleanor studied her intently, this time choosing not to conceal the truth.
“Yes. But don’t worry, she’s already gone. It’s just something Seb holds onto.”
“Alright, I get it. But my suitcase was inside that room too, so I assumed it was Sebastian’s bedroom,” Xylia explained.
Eleanor’s expression darkened, suspicion flashing in her eyes.
She pulled out a card and handed it over. “This will be reloaded with spending money regularly. From now on, you are Mrs. Jackman.”
Eleanor had come solely for this purpose.
Xylia accepted the card, watching as Eleanor hurried away.
A strange feeling settled in her chest—not discomfort, just a realization that even someone as powerful as Sebastian had things beyond his reach.
More than anything, she felt sympathy for that girl—deeply loved, yet gone too soon.
She had once given her all for love, only to be deceived in the end. If not for Sebastian’s intervention, that one billion would have already ended up back in the Castros’ hands.
With that thought, Xylia made up her mind. After fiddling with her phone for a while, she let out a quiet sigh of relief. Pulling a blanket from the cabinet, she spread it out on the floor.
The day had been overwhelming, and fatigue soon overtook her. Within moments, she drifted into a deep sleep.
When she opened her eyes again, she found herself lying in bed. The clock read six in the morning.
Glancing down, she noticed her clothes were untouched, while the man who should have been in bed was now sprawled on the floor where she had slept the night before.
Recalling the events of last night, Xylia couldn’t help but look at this wealthy man with a trace of sympathy. Then, she reached out and gave him a shove.
“Sebastian … Ah!”
Before Xylia could process what was happening, she found herself pinned beneath him, his warm breath brushing against her skin.
There was nothing romantic about the moment—his hand was firmly wrapped around her throat. If he applied even the slightest bit more pressure, she might lose her breath entirely.
Sebastian’s eyes were bloodshot as if he hadn’t slept all night. The moment he realized it was her, he quickly released his grip.
“Sorry,” he said, his voice hoarse. “Old habit from my time in the military.”
“It’s fine. I just wanted to let you know that I’m heading to the hospital for work. You can sleep on the bed,” Xylia said.
“I’ll drive you,” Sebastian replied without hesitation. He got up swiftly and, in the same motion, pulled Xylia up with him. Though his touch was gentle, his strength was overwhelming, and she ended up stumbling straight into his arms.
The heat of his body, mixed with the faint scent of his cologne, was almost intoxicating—especially in her half-awake state. For a moment, her mind went blank. Then, snapping out of it, she quickly pushed herself away from his firm chest.
“My bad,” Sebastian said, his tone genuinely apologetic, showing no ulterior motive.
Xylia shook her head dismissively, her gaze landing on the redness in his weary eyes.
“You should stay home and get some rest. I can head to the hospital on my own or have Shadow-1 and the others drive me. You barely slept last night—go catch up on some sleep on the bed.”
Sebastian remained firm.
“What kind of husband wouldn’t take his wife to work?”
“But our marriage is just an agreement … ”
Unfazed, Sebastian stated matter-of-factly, “A marriage is a marriage, contract or not.”
The man’s expression was steady and dependable, the light hitting his face making his sharp features stand out—even more radiant than the morning sun. Xylia’s heart stuttered, caught off guard by his striking looks.
“So … handsome,” she murmured unconsciously.