The Billionaire's Bought Bride and Instant Mom Chapter 124

Aveline

That did it. The sheer arrogance of him, standing there acting like he'd figured out some deep secret about me, when the truth was so much more complicated than his male ego could probably handle.

I felt a slow smile spread across my face—the kind of smile that should have served as a warning.

"You know what, Mr. Blackwell?" I said, my voice taking on a tone of sudden revelation. "You're absolutely right."

Orion looked surprised by my abrupt agreement.

"Yes, there is definitely a biological response happening when I'm around you," I continued, my voice growing more animated. "And you're correct—it is something I need to manage carefully."

Orion's expression shifted from smug satisfaction to cautious confusion. This clearly wasn't the reaction he'd been expecting.

Ryan, meanwhile, had been following this entire exchange with wide, bewildered eyes, clearly not understanding a single word we were saying but listening intently anyway, as if waiting for someone to explain the joke he was missing.

I crouched down to Ryan's level, adopting my most gentle, teacher-like tone.

"Sweetheart," I said softly, "sometimes grown-ups can develop temporary medical conditions that affect how their bodies react to certain... environmental factors. It's nothing serious, but it does require some lifestyle adjustments."

Ryan nodded solemnly, though his expression made it clear he had no idea what I was talking about.

I stood back up and faced Orion with renewed confidence, my voice taking on a clinical, almost academic tone.

"You see, after some self-reflection, I've realized I'm experiencing what medical professionals call 'touch starvation syndrome,'" I explained matter-of-factly. "It's quite common in individuals who've been socially isolated or haven't experienced intimate physical contact for extended periods."

Orion's mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out.

"The symptoms include heightened sensitivity to pheromones, increased heart rate around members of the opposite sex, and—most problematically—severely compromised decision-making abilities regarding physical boundaries," I continued, warming to my topic. "It's essentially my limbic system overriding my prefrontal cortex due to prolonged deprivation."

"I... what?" Orion managed to stammer.

"Think of it like being extremely thirsty," I said helpfully. "When someone's been in the desert for days, they might drink contaminated water just because it's wet. In my case, my body is so starved for physical affection that it's responding inappropriately to the first available male specimen."

The word 'specimen' hit him like a slap. I watched his confidence drain away in real-time.

"So you see," I continued with professional cheerfulness, "it's not personal attraction—it's a purely biological malfunction. Like how people with low blood sugar might crave candy, or how sleep-deprived individuals hallucinate. My body is essentially malfunctioning due to prolonged celibacy."

Orion's jaw worked soundlessly. He looked like a man who'd been expecting a love confession and instead received a medical textbook.

"The good news," I added brightly, "is that the condition is completely manageable with proper lifestyle modifications. Avoiding triggers, maintaining appropriate social distance, and gradually reintroducing normal human contact in controlled environments."

"But..." Orion started, then stopped, clearly struggling to process this information.

"Which is why tonight's dinner would be inadvisable," I concluded. "It would be like offering alcohol to someone with liver disease. Medically irresponsible."

I turned back to Ryan, who had been following this conversation with the fascinated confusion of a child watching adults use big words.

"Do you understand, sweetie? Miss Aveline has developed a condition that makes her body react strangely to certain situations. Like how some people get dizzy on elevators or sneeze around flowers."

"Ohhh," Ryan said with sudden comprehension. "Like how Miss Sarah gets all itchy around dogs!"

"Exactly like that," I said, grateful for the innocent comparison. "So until I'm feeling better, I need to be extra careful about where I go and who I spend time with."

Ryan's face fell with disappointment, but he nodded with the serious understanding that only children could muster. "That's okay, Miss Aveline. We can have dinner when you're all better! Daddy says sick people need rest."

"That's very understanding of you, Ryan," I said, ruffling his hair affectionately.

I shouldered my bag and gave Orion one last, perfectly professional smile. The poor man was still standing there looking like he'd been intellectually blindsided.

"I do hope you understand, Mr. Blackwell," I said with genuine-sounding concern. "I'm sure you wouldn't want to be responsible for triggering a medical episode. That wouldn't be very gentlemanly of you."

"I... no, of course not," he managed, his voice sounding strangled.

"Wonderful! Well, I should really get going. Ryan, I'll see you tomorrow, sweetheart. And remember to practice your reading!"

As I walked toward my car, I could hear Ryan chattering about how they should bring me soup since I was sick, while Orion remained conspicuously silent.

Let him think about being reduced to a 'male specimen' for a while, I thought with satisfaction. See how his ego handles being classified as a biological malfunction.

When I glanced back through my rearview mirror, Orion was still standing exactly where I'd left him, looking like a man who'd just discovered that what he thought was romantic chemistry was actually a medical condition.

Mission accomplished.