Sophia's POV

As I stood there beside Alexander, facing his grandfather's stern gaze, I couldn't help but feel a mix of nervousness and curiosity. Teddy Williams's nod hinted that I wasn't entirely unknown to him – Alexander must have mentioned me before. But his first question caught me off guard, causing my cheeks to flush slightly.

"Is she your surrogate wife?" he inquired, his tone as unyielding as his expression.

Alexander's jaw tightened, his displeasure evident. It was a reaction I'd seen before, the result of others trivializing our relationship with that term. Without skipping a beat, he stepped slightly in front of me, as if instinctively sheltering me from...