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Chapter sixteen
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The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Seventeen
Beautiful EffectSophia stared at her phone screen, reading the flood of messages since yesterday's press conference. Susan had sent eighteen texts ranging from "OMG YOU'RE PREGNANT!" to detailed baby name suggestions. But it was the single unread message from her father that made her fingers tremble."You haven't opened it yet?" Lucas asked softly, setting a cup of decaf coffee on her desk. Morning sickness had made her usual strong brew impossible."Not ready." She pushed the phone away, focusing instead on the morning's market reports. V Corp's stock had actually risen after their announcement – apparently, the public loved a good love story more than they feared corporate scandal.A knock interrupted them. Chris stood in the doorway, looking uncomfortable. "Mr. Vanderbilt – senior – is here. With your father, Mrs. Vanderbilt."Sophia's hand instinctively went to her stomach. Six weeks along, nothing showing yet, but the protective gesture was becoming habit."Send them in," Lucas
Last Updated : 2024-12-07The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Eighteen
New Merge"I can't button these anymore," Sophia grumbled, struggling with her favorite work pants. At twelve weeks, her barely-there bump was just enough to make her regular clothes uncomfortable."Wear the dress," Susan suggested from the video call propped on the dresser. "The navy one with the stretch.""I wore that yesterday." Sophia flopped onto the bed, still in her underwear. "Everything either screams 'trying to hide it' or 'look at my bump.'""Then let them look," Lucas called from the bathroom. "The announcement's going out today anyway."Right. The official V Corp press release about their pregnancy, followed by dinner with both sets of parents. Sophia's stomach churned, and not just from morning sickness.Her phone buzzed – a text from her father: *Your mother craved spicy food when she was pregnant with you. The restaurant tonight has excellent curry.*These little fragments of her mother had been coming more frequently since the press conference. Each one a small bridge
Last Updated : 2024-12-07The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Nineteen
Toast to BabiesThe ultrasound screen flickered in the dimly lit room, and Sophia held her breath. At sixteen weeks, they might finally learn if little Catherine or Edward was on the way. Lucas's hand tightened around hers as the technician moved the wand."Well," the technician smiled, "would you like to know?"Before either could answer, a commotion erupted in the hallway. Chris burst in, face pale. "Mr. Vanderbilt, I'm sorry, but—""Not now," Lucas growled, eyes fixed on the screen."Sir, it's Mark. He's calling an emergency board meeting. He's claiming... evidence of fraud in the merger documentation."The baby's heartbeat filled the sudden silence, strong and steady."Go," Sophia squeezed Lucas's hand. "I've got this.""But—""The baby will still be here in an hour." She managed a smile. "Besides, Susan's in the waiting room. Go deal with your brother."Lucas kissed her forehead, his jaw tight. "Chris, get Darren on the line. I want to know how Mark got those documents."After th
Last Updated : 2024-12-07The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Twenty
Better Beginings"It's like they're having a dance party in there," Sophia groaned, shifting uncomfortably on her office couch at twenty weeks. Both twins had chosen the board meeting hour for their daily acrobatics."Or a boxing match," Lucas suggested, adjusting the laptop so the board members couldn't see her rubbing her expanding belly. Virtual meetings had become a necessity as her pregnancy progressed – twin pregnancies were notoriously demanding."Settle down, little ones," she whispered. "Mommy's trying to run an empire here."The merger was proceeding smoothly, despite the aftermath of Mark's attempted sabotage. He and Bella had disappeared to Europe, their resignation letters arriving via expensive lawyers. The press had dubbed it the "corporate cleanup of the year," though Sophia preferred Susan's term: "karma's double knockout.""Mrs. Vanderbilt," the CFO's voice crackled through the speakers, "about the Singapore restructuring—"A sharp kick interrupted her thoughts. "Sor
Last Updated : 2024-12-07The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Twenty one
Arrival of OverachieversAt thirty-two weeks, the first real storm of the season rolled across the lake. Rain lashed against the windows as Sophia tried to focus on the quarterly reports spread across her home office desk. The twins were restless, perhaps sensing the atmospheric pressure change."That's the third time you've read that page," Chris observed from the video call screen. "Maybe we should reschedule.""I'm fine," Sophia insisted, though her back arched fiercely. "The merger transition won't wait just because your future bosses are doing somersaults."Thunder cracked overhead. The lights flickered ominously."Ma'am," Chris's voice took on that careful tone everyone seemed to use lately, "Mr. Vanderbilt specifically said—""Lucas is in Singapore dealing with Emma's mess. These reports need to be—" She stopped, a sharp pain making her gasp."I'm calling Dr. Chen," Chris said firmly. "And Mr. Vanderbilt. And probably God.""It's just Braxton Hicks," Sophia started, but another
Last Updated : 2024-12-09The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Twenty two
Grand welcomingThe first rays of dawn painted the hospital room in gentle gold, a stark contrast to the storm that had announced the twins' arrival. At four days old, Catherine and Edward were already showing distinct personalities – Cat demanding attention with imperious cries, Eddie observing the world with his father's thoughtful gray eyes."She gets that from you," Lucas murmured, watching Cat wave her tiny fists at the morning light. He sat in the hospital's most comfortable chair, holding Eddie while Sophia fed their daughter."The dramatic timing? Pretty sure that's all Vanderbilt." Sophia adjusted Cat's position, still marveling at how natural it felt. "Though the stubbornness might be genetic on both sides."A soft knock interrupted them. Susan peeked in, her expression suspiciously innocent. "Are you decent? Because there's a small army of grandparents in the waiting room, and I can only distract them with baby photos for so long.""Let them in," Sophia laughed. "Before Cla
Last Updated : 2024-12-09The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Twenty Three
Perfect Chaos, Perfect peace. The penthouse's morning quiet was broken by Cat's determined cries, followed inevitably by Eddie's solidarity wails. At two weeks old, the twins had mastered the art of synchronized demands."My turn," Lucas murmured, already moving before Sophia could fully wake. She watched through heavy eyes as he scooped up both babies with practiced ease. The sight of her ruthless corporate husband cooing softly to their children still made her heart flutter."The magazine team will be here at ten," she reminded him, glancing at the clock. 7 AM. "Sure you don't want to reschedule?""And risk Susan's wrath? She's already threatened to revoke my godfather status if we postpone again." He settled into the nursing chair, a twin in each arm. "Besides, your father's right. It's time to tell our story."The 'story' had grown beyond their control in the past two weeks. Speculation about the Vanderbilt twins filled business blogs and society columns. Yesterday, someone had
Last Updated : 2024-12-10The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Twenty Four
Love rather than Leverage"Well, that's certainly a headline," Darren whistled, tossing the magazine onto the penthouse coffee table. *'From Contract to Covenant: The Vanderbilt Love Story That Reshaped an Empire'* blazed across the cover, accompanied by the now-iconic photo of Lucas and Sophia with the twins in the morning light."The stock's up twelve percent," Susan reported, not looking up from her tablet. At three months old, Cat was dozing in her arms while she worked, a common sight these days. "And the wedding planning inquiries have tripled.""Wedding?" Sophia looked up from where she was burping Eddie. "Whose wedding?"Susan's cheeks flushed. Darren suddenly found the city skyline fascinating."Finally!" Sophia exclaimed, causing Eddie to startle. "Sorry, baby," she soothed, then turned back to her friends. "When were you going to tell us?""We were waiting for the right moment," Susan admitted, unconsciously twisting the elegant diamond ring on her finger. "With the articl
Last Updated : 2024-12-10
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The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Twenty Four
Love rather than Leverage"Well, that's certainly a headline," Darren whistled, tossing the magazine onto the penthouse coffee table. *'From Contract to Covenant: The Vanderbilt Love Story That Reshaped an Empire'* blazed across the cover, accompanied by the now-iconic photo of Lucas and Sophia with the twins in the morning light."The stock's up twelve percent," Susan reported, not looking up from her tablet. At three months old, Cat was dozing in her arms while she worked, a common sight these days. "And the wedding planning inquiries have tripled.""Wedding?" Sophia looked up from where she was burping Eddie. "Whose wedding?"Susan's cheeks flushed. Darren suddenly found the city skyline fascinating."Finally!" Sophia exclaimed, causing Eddie to startle. "Sorry, baby," she soothed, then turned back to her friends. "When were you going to tell us?""We were waiting for the right moment," Susan admitted, unconsciously twisting the elegant diamond ring on her finger. "With the articl
The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Twenty Three
Perfect Chaos, Perfect peace. The penthouse's morning quiet was broken by Cat's determined cries, followed inevitably by Eddie's solidarity wails. At two weeks old, the twins had mastered the art of synchronized demands."My turn," Lucas murmured, already moving before Sophia could fully wake. She watched through heavy eyes as he scooped up both babies with practiced ease. The sight of her ruthless corporate husband cooing softly to their children still made her heart flutter."The magazine team will be here at ten," she reminded him, glancing at the clock. 7 AM. "Sure you don't want to reschedule?""And risk Susan's wrath? She's already threatened to revoke my godfather status if we postpone again." He settled into the nursing chair, a twin in each arm. "Besides, your father's right. It's time to tell our story."The 'story' had grown beyond their control in the past two weeks. Speculation about the Vanderbilt twins filled business blogs and society columns. Yesterday, someone had
The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Twenty two
Grand welcomingThe first rays of dawn painted the hospital room in gentle gold, a stark contrast to the storm that had announced the twins' arrival. At four days old, Catherine and Edward were already showing distinct personalities – Cat demanding attention with imperious cries, Eddie observing the world with his father's thoughtful gray eyes."She gets that from you," Lucas murmured, watching Cat wave her tiny fists at the morning light. He sat in the hospital's most comfortable chair, holding Eddie while Sophia fed their daughter."The dramatic timing? Pretty sure that's all Vanderbilt." Sophia adjusted Cat's position, still marveling at how natural it felt. "Though the stubbornness might be genetic on both sides."A soft knock interrupted them. Susan peeked in, her expression suspiciously innocent. "Are you decent? Because there's a small army of grandparents in the waiting room, and I can only distract them with baby photos for so long.""Let them in," Sophia laughed. "Before Cla
The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Twenty one
Arrival of OverachieversAt thirty-two weeks, the first real storm of the season rolled across the lake. Rain lashed against the windows as Sophia tried to focus on the quarterly reports spread across her home office desk. The twins were restless, perhaps sensing the atmospheric pressure change."That's the third time you've read that page," Chris observed from the video call screen. "Maybe we should reschedule.""I'm fine," Sophia insisted, though her back arched fiercely. "The merger transition won't wait just because your future bosses are doing somersaults."Thunder cracked overhead. The lights flickered ominously."Ma'am," Chris's voice took on that careful tone everyone seemed to use lately, "Mr. Vanderbilt specifically said—""Lucas is in Singapore dealing with Emma's mess. These reports need to be—" She stopped, a sharp pain making her gasp."I'm calling Dr. Chen," Chris said firmly. "And Mr. Vanderbilt. And probably God.""It's just Braxton Hicks," Sophia started, but another
The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Twenty
Better Beginings"It's like they're having a dance party in there," Sophia groaned, shifting uncomfortably on her office couch at twenty weeks. Both twins had chosen the board meeting hour for their daily acrobatics."Or a boxing match," Lucas suggested, adjusting the laptop so the board members couldn't see her rubbing her expanding belly. Virtual meetings had become a necessity as her pregnancy progressed – twin pregnancies were notoriously demanding."Settle down, little ones," she whispered. "Mommy's trying to run an empire here."The merger was proceeding smoothly, despite the aftermath of Mark's attempted sabotage. He and Bella had disappeared to Europe, their resignation letters arriving via expensive lawyers. The press had dubbed it the "corporate cleanup of the year," though Sophia preferred Susan's term: "karma's double knockout.""Mrs. Vanderbilt," the CFO's voice crackled through the speakers, "about the Singapore restructuring—"A sharp kick interrupted her thoughts. "Sor
The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Nineteen
Toast to BabiesThe ultrasound screen flickered in the dimly lit room, and Sophia held her breath. At sixteen weeks, they might finally learn if little Catherine or Edward was on the way. Lucas's hand tightened around hers as the technician moved the wand."Well," the technician smiled, "would you like to know?"Before either could answer, a commotion erupted in the hallway. Chris burst in, face pale. "Mr. Vanderbilt, I'm sorry, but—""Not now," Lucas growled, eyes fixed on the screen."Sir, it's Mark. He's calling an emergency board meeting. He's claiming... evidence of fraud in the merger documentation."The baby's heartbeat filled the sudden silence, strong and steady."Go," Sophia squeezed Lucas's hand. "I've got this.""But—""The baby will still be here in an hour." She managed a smile. "Besides, Susan's in the waiting room. Go deal with your brother."Lucas kissed her forehead, his jaw tight. "Chris, get Darren on the line. I want to know how Mark got those documents."After th
The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Eighteen
New Merge"I can't button these anymore," Sophia grumbled, struggling with her favorite work pants. At twelve weeks, her barely-there bump was just enough to make her regular clothes uncomfortable."Wear the dress," Susan suggested from the video call propped on the dresser. "The navy one with the stretch.""I wore that yesterday." Sophia flopped onto the bed, still in her underwear. "Everything either screams 'trying to hide it' or 'look at my bump.'""Then let them look," Lucas called from the bathroom. "The announcement's going out today anyway."Right. The official V Corp press release about their pregnancy, followed by dinner with both sets of parents. Sophia's stomach churned, and not just from morning sickness.Her phone buzzed – a text from her father: *Your mother craved spicy food when she was pregnant with you. The restaurant tonight has excellent curry.*These little fragments of her mother had been coming more frequently since the press conference. Each one a small bridge
The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter Seventeen
Beautiful EffectSophia stared at her phone screen, reading the flood of messages since yesterday's press conference. Susan had sent eighteen texts ranging from "OMG YOU'RE PREGNANT!" to detailed baby name suggestions. But it was the single unread message from her father that made her fingers tremble."You haven't opened it yet?" Lucas asked softly, setting a cup of decaf coffee on her desk. Morning sickness had made her usual strong brew impossible."Not ready." She pushed the phone away, focusing instead on the morning's market reports. V Corp's stock had actually risen after their announcement – apparently, the public loved a good love story more than they feared corporate scandal.A knock interrupted them. Chris stood in the doorway, looking uncomfortable. "Mr. Vanderbilt – senior – is here. With your father, Mrs. Vanderbilt."Sophia's hand instinctively went to her stomach. Six weeks along, nothing showing yet, but the protective gesture was becoming habit."Send them in," Lucas
The Billionaire's Bargain Chapter sixteen
The Messy TruthThe press conference room hummed with tension as Sophia gripped the podium, heart pounding against her ribs. Lucas's steady presence beside her was the only thing keeping her knees from buckling."Thank you all for coming," she began, her voice shakier than she'd like. Clearing her throat, she found Susan's encouraging face in the crowd. "There have been rumors about the nature of our marriage—""Is it true you signed a contract?" A reporter shouted, cutting her off."Let me finish," she replied firmly, drawing strength from Lucas's subtle touch at her back. "Yes, Lucas and I began with a contract. We were both broken people looking for solutions to our problems."Murmurs rippled through the room. In the back, she spotted Mark's smug smile falter slightly – this wasn't the denial he'd expected."I had just caught my fiancé with my stepsister on my wedding day," Sophia continued, her voice cracking slightly. A few sympathetic murmurs rose from the female reporters. "And
