Trapped in a Secret Marriage with a Dangerous Billionaire - Chapter 236

Chapter 236: A Warm Morning with Soft Kisses

At the same time, Xander sat behind his desk in his home study when a knock sounded. “Come in,” he called.

Liam entered, carrying a folder of documents. “Sir, I have new findings regarding Stella’s disappearance.”

Xander’s gaze sharpened as Liam placed the files before him.

Liam began his report. “We’ve confirmed the ownership of the spa building. It has ties leading back to the Major. Also, the underground tunnel doesn’t just connect to another random building—it leads to an underground parking lot ten blocks away.”

Xander nodded. “Now, I see how they easily took her without leaving traces.”

Liam hesitated for a moment before asking, “What’s our next move?”

Xander leaned back in his seat, folding his hands. “We wait,” he stated casually without a flicker of emotion.

Liam’s brows furrowed. “Wait?”

Xander smirked. “I’m not in a hurry to rescue that woman. Let the Major vent his anger on her. We’ll give him two weeks before we demand her release and hand her over to the police.”

Liam nodded. “Understood, sir.”

—

After finishing with Liam, Xander headed to the living room, only to find Aurora dozing off on the sofa. The servant, having just finished the foot massage, carefully packed up her things.

Xander smiled, watching his wife’s peaceful expression. “You look beautiful when you sleep,” he muttered under his breath.

Without waking her, he carefully scooped her up in his arms and carried her upstairs, towards their bedroom.

Aurora stirred slightly, her head resting against his chest. “Mmm… Xander?” She smelt his fragrance and felt his firm muscles under her.

“Shh,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Sleep, sweetheart.”

A small smile graced Aurora’s lips as she snuggled closer to seep his comforting warmth.

***

~The Next Morning~

Aurora stirred awake, feeling warmth cocooning her from behind. The familiar scent of Xander surrounded her, and she slowly blinked her eyes open to find herself tucked securely in his arms. His breath was soft against her hair, and his strong arms wrapped around her waist protectively.

A lazy smile stretched across her lips as she shifted slightly, tilting her head to meet his gaze. “Good morning,” she murmured, her voice still laced with sleep.

Xander’s lips curved into a slow, affectionate smile. “Good morning, my love,” he replied, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead.

Aurora let out a pleased hum and snuggled closer, savouring the tranquility of the moment. But before she could fully relax again, she felt Xander shift. He pulled back slightly, then lowered himself, resting his head against her belly.

With utmost tenderness, he pressed a gentle kiss to her abdomen, his palm splaying over the slight curve protectively.

“I am your father,” Xander spoke softly, his deep voice laced with warmth and love. “Your mother and I love you very much, and we can’t wait to meet you. But until then, continue to be obedient, alright? Don’t trouble your mother too much.”

Aurora’s heart melted at the sight. She reached down and ran her fingers through his thick hair, her smile growing. “You’re going to be an amazing father,” she whispered.

Xander lifted his head, locking eyes with her before nodding. “And you’re going to be an even better mother,” he countered, leaning up to capture her lips in a soft, lingering kiss.

As their lips parted, Xander’s expression turned more serious. “I have something to tell you,” he said, brushing stray strands of hair from her face.

Aurora’s brows furrowed slightly. “What is it?”

“I need to take a business trip,” he informed her. “I received an invitation to the opening of the new China Tech City, and there’s a three-day workshop seminar attached to it. I’ll be speaking on the third day.”

Aurora frowned instantly, hating the fact that he would be leaving her side. “When?”

“This Thursday morning,” Xander answered. “I’ll be gone for five days and will return on Monday.”

Aurora pouted like a child, her expression shifting into one of exaggerated sadness. “That’s too long,” she complained.

Xander chuckled, shaking his head as he pulled her into his embrace. He placed soft kisses on her forehead, comforting her. “Sweetheart, don’t be sad. I would have loved to take you along, but you have work at Vintage Cellar,” he reminded her, rubbing slow circles on her back. “You can’t just abandon your responsibilities to follow me.”

Aurora let out a dramatic sigh and rested her head on his chest, her fingers intertwining with his. “Still… it’s unfair.”

Xander’s eyes crinkled with amusement as he played with her fingers. “Alright, tell me what you’d like me to bring back for you.”

Aurora perked up slightly, tapping her chin in thought before answering, “Mooncakes, flower tea, dumplings, and Mianhua (dough flowers).”

Xander chuckled and nodded. “Consider it done. And you can invite your best friend over to spend the weekend with you.”

Satisfied, Aurora relaxed against him once more, and Xander pulled her closer, pressing a lingering kiss to the top of her head once more.

—

Vintage Cellar.

Arriving at Vintage Cellar, Aurora entered the conference room where a brief meeting was being held, spearheaded by none other than Stephanie.

The room was filled with top executives and managers, all of whom turned their attention to the discussion at hand.

Stephanie, seated at the head of the table, addressed the group. “Let’s begin with an update on the performance of the Citrus Fruit Punch Champagne.”

The sales manager stood up, clearing his throat as he adjusted his glasses. “The Citrus Fruit Punch Champagne has exceeded our projections. Sales figures indicate that it’s performing even better than the Original Fruit Punch Champagne at the time of its launch…,” he announced with a satisfied smile.

A murmur of approval rippled through the room.

Another manager chimed in, “Given the recent turmoil surrounding Director Olivia, we initially feared her scandals might negatively impact our brand’s image. But surprisingly, the Citrus Fruit Punch Champagne remained unaffected. In fact, it seems public interest in Director Aurora’s product has only increased.”

Aurora sat still, listening carefully as more reports came in. She wasn’t surprised. The product had been designed meticulously with consumer appeal in mind. However, hearing it validated in numbers still gave her a sense of accomplishment.

The room soon broke into applause, directed at Aurora. Stephanie, looking pleased, nodded in approval.

“Well done, Aurora,” one of the board members praised.

Stephanie raised a hand, signalling for attention again. “Since both of Aurora’s champagne flavours are performing exceptionally well, we will proceed with increased promotion. Marketing has drawn up three new strategies to further boost visibility and sales. We’ll go over them shortly.”