Underrated Secret Billionaire

Chapter 8: The Weight of Silent Promises

Tiana turned to Carlos, her heart bursting with gratitude, her eyes shining with raw, overwhelming relief.

Without a second thought, she rushed and hugged him tight, a gesture so humble and full of sincerity that it caught Carlos completely off guard. 

He blinked, his mouth falling slightly ajar as he stared at her, clearly not expecting such a public display of gratitude.

For a split second, Carlos hesitated, a flicker of guilt darting across his face. 

But it didn't take long for his true nature to surface. 

Straightening his shoulders arrogantly, Carlos smirked, soaking in the moment like a man who believed he deserved every ounce of praise the world could offer. He tucked one hand into his trouser pocket and raised his chin slightly, as if he were some knight who had rescued a damsel in distress. 

“Of course,” Carlos said smugly, brushing invisible dust off his sleeve. “I made it happen.” 

Standing nearby, Sonia caught the entire scene unfold. 

She couldn't help it; a small, knowing laugh slipped from her lips, so low that only Jalen heard it. The sheer shamelessness of Carlos was almost too entertaining. 

Sonia toyed briefly with the idea of exposing him there and then. She imagined the look on his face when the truth would slap him clean across the room — the panic, the shame, the desperate backtracking.

A very tempting thought. 

But before she could open her mouth, she felt a gentle touch on her arm. 

Jalen. 

He shook his head lightly, his eyes steady, carrying a quiet message: Leave it. Not now. 

Sonia understood immediately. The moment for revenge would come, but it wasn't tonight. 

Carlos, meanwhile, basked in the false admiration, unaware of the dangerous eyes watching him. 

Still, even in his fake glory, a deep discomfort gnawed at him. 

He knew he had done nothing. He knew the truth was as bitter as raw bitter leaf, hidden just beneath the sweetness of Tiana’s gratitude. Yet, seeing everyone believe his story puffed up his pride like a bloated toad. 

He turned sharply toward Jalen and Sonia, curling his lips into a sneer. 

“If it wasn’t me who helped,” he jeered, his voice loud and dripping with mockery, “then who would it be? You two losers?” 

The words, childish and desperate, hung heavily in the air. 

Tiana, standing proudly beside Carlos, felt her courage surge under what she thought was her savior’s protection. She turned a cold gaze to Jalen, her voice sharp, her words designed to slice. 

“I know you wanted to help, Jalen,” she said icily, her lips tightening into a thin line. “But you must recognize your limits. During our marriage, all you ever did was cook for me. You made breakfast, lunch, and dinner while I built my dreams. So, please, don’t brag about things you can’t do.” 

Each word hit Jalen like a slap. 

He had prepared himself, in his mind, for her anger. For her pride. For her disbelief. 

But the casual cruelty in her voice… he hadn’t expected that. 

He stood there, silent, breathing carefully through the sharp sting her words ignited in his chest. 

The crowd, sensing the tension, began to disperse, some whispering behind raised hands, others pretending not to notice. 

Carlos chuckled softly beside Tiana, pleased with himself, and together, they turned away, walking into the night, their laughter a mocking tune trailing behind them. 

Jalen remained still, his figure almost swallowed by the darkening evening around him. 

Beside him, Sonia watched carefully, her sharp eyes never leaving his face. She had seen a lot of things in her life, but there was something about Jalen’s quiet endurance that pierced deeper than any drama she had witnessed before. 

Minutes passed, long and heavy. Then Sonia, after much thought, broke the silence. 

“Why would you rather let her misunderstand you than just tell her the truth?” she asked finally, her voice low, respectful, but pressing. 

She could not understand it — this deliberate silence he wrapped himself in, even when it hurt him the most. 

Jalen’s eyes remained fixed ahead, staring into the dim street as if he could find answers in the shadows. 

When he spoke, his voice was calm, almost painfully steady. 

“I can’t reveal my identity yet,” he said simply, almost like he was reminding himself as much as he was telling her. 

Sonia frowned slightly, her brows knitting together. “Why not?” she asked gently. The question wasn’t out of curiosity alone; it was genuine concern. 

A faint, almost bittersweet smile tugged at the corners of Jalen’s mouth. 

“I made a promise to my mother three years ago,” he said quietly, his words carrying the weight of years hidden away, buried beneath pride and loyalty. “But in two months... everything will change.”