The Billionaire's Heir I Never Knew Was Mine

Zachary looked at her again, this time a little longer, as if he were trying to read something hidden beneath her words.

For a brief moment, his gaze lingered. Not intrusive, not demanding, but observant in a quiet, careful way.

Then, just as quickly, he returned his attention to the road, his expression settling back into its usual calm.

"I see."

That was all he said. No further questions. No unnecessary curiosity. Just two simple words.

Silence followed.

The silence wasn’t uncomfortable, yet it wasn’t entirely relaxed either. It hung between them like a thin thread. Steady, unbroken, but noticeable enough that neither of them tried to break it.

Sienna leaned back slightly into her seat, her gaze drifting toward the road ahead.

The passing streetlights painted soft shadows across the windshield, and for the first time since leaving the hotel, her shoulders slowly began to loosen.

’That was close.’

The thought echoed quietly in her mind, followed by a lingering sense of disbelief.

And yet...

Somehow, sitting here now, beside a man she barely knew, she felt... safe and calm.

As if everything chaotic from earlier had been left behind the moment she stepped into his car.

After a while, Zachary spoke again.

"Where do you want to go?"

Sienna blinked, pulled out of her thoughts. "Huh?"

"For dinner," he clarified, his tone steady.

"Oh... right." She straightened slightly, turning toward him with a small smile that came more naturally this time. "What do you want to eat? Let’s go with your choice."

Zachary didn’t answer immediately. His fingers tapped lightly against the steering wheel, his gaze steady on the road as if he were actually considering it seriously.

Then he nodded.

Sienna waited.

"Are you sure?" He asked, his voice was calm, though there was a faint hint of something unreadable beneath it. "I might choose an expensive restaurant."

Her smile froze. On the surface, she remained composed. Calm. Polite.

But inside—

’Expensive?’ Her thoughts immediately spiraled as she recalled her expenses over the past few days. ’...Travel expenses back to my hometown. Taxi this morning. Emergency meals...’

Her salary? Still far away, like a distant dream that refused to arrive on time.

Sienna swallowed quietly.

’Girl...this is fine,’ she told herself, forcing a steady breath. ’You can survive with one meal a day. Maybe skip breakfast tomorrow. Or lunch. Or both.’

Outwardly, she maintained her calm expression.

"It doesn’t matter," she said, even offering a confident smile. "It’s my promise to you, after all."

Zach glanced at her briefly.

And for a moment, silence returned.

Then, unexpectedly, a soft chuckle escaped him.

"Don’t worry," he said. "I was joking."

Sienna frowned, "...What?"

"I’m not that cruel," he added, his tone carrying the faintest trace of amusement.

For a second, she simply stared at him. Then her shoulders dropped, and she let out a quiet breath.

’Dang it! This man almost sent me into financial collapse.’

She pressed her lips together, trying not to show how close she had been to mentally calculating her entire weekly budget.

"Do you have any recommendations near your place?" Zachary continued casually, as if he hadn’t just played with her emotions. "It’s easier."

Sienna tilted her head slightly before nodding. "Yeah... there are a few good places nearby."

"Then we’ll go there." He said it casually.

Sienna smiled, this time more genuinely.

"Alright... My apartment is at Orchid Garden," she said, giving him the directions.

Zachary didn’t comment. He only nodded once before smoothly steering the car toward the route she mentioned.

Outside, the streets grew livelier, filled with quiet movement and distant sounds that blended into the background.

Inside the car, the earlier tension had faded completely, replaced by something quieter.

And without realizing it, Sienna allowed herself to relax.

...

Zachary pulled the car to a smooth stop in front of a modest restaurant tucked along the street.

Soft yellow light spilled from inside, giving the place a warm and inviting look.

"This is it," Sienna said, already unbuckling her seatbelt.

Zachary glanced at the sign, The Corner Table.

’So, she likes Italian food...’ he thought as he looked at the two-story building. Nothing flashy. Nothing extravagant. Just... a simple Italian restaurant in the corner.

"Your favorite?" he asked.

"Hmm. It’s close to my apartment," she replied as she stepped out of the car. "And the food’s good. That’s enough."

Zachary followed her, closing the door behind him with a quiet click.

For a brief moment, he stood there, watching her walk ahead with ease, as if she belonged here.

And somehow, that simplicity felt... refreshing.

Inside the restaurant, the atmosphere matched the exterior.

Warm lighting. Wooden tables. Soft chatter fills the air. The faint clink of cutlery and distant laughter created a comfortable rhythm that felt far removed from the sharp, polished world he was used to.

Nothing remarkable. Still, he felt comfortable in the place.

They were seated at a corner table, slightly tucked away from the rest of the room.

Sienna slid into her seat naturally, while Zachary took the seat across from her, his posture still composed despite the casual setting.

"This is my treat," she said, picking up the menu. "To repay you."

"Seriously, you didn’t have to," he replied.

"I know," she said simply. "But I wanted to."

There was no hesitation in her tone. No forced politeness. Just honesty.

"Alright, I can’t refuse if you insist." He calmly said.

She says nothing but smiles.

They ordered without much discussion—grilled chicken sandwich for her, pasta for him, a plate of garlic parmesan fries to share, and dessert. She chose lemonade, while Zachary settled for water.

"You don’t drink?" she asked, glancing up.

"No, thanks. I’m driving."

"Ah, a responsible gentleman," she nodded. "That’s rare these days."

Zachary raised a brow slightly. "You make it sound like a compliment and an insult at the same time."

Sienna smiled. "It’s both."

The conversation drifted naturally after that. Nothing forced. Nothing exaggerated. Just two people talking.

"So," Zachary said after a while, "what do you do exactly?"