The Billionaire's Bought Bride and Instant Mom Chapter 130

Aveline

The aftermath of Sera's dramatic exit was somehow worse than the confrontation itself.

As I tried to focus on my afternoon lessons, I could feel the weight of sideways glances and whispered conversations following me through the hallways. Teachers who'd been perfectly friendly that morning now looked at me like I was some kind of social contamination.

"I heard she slapped an Ashford," someone murmured as I passed the copy machine.

"Can you believe the drama she's brought to our school?" came another voice from the supply closet.

"Poor little Ryan, caught in the middle of all this mess."

By the time I dismissed my last class, I felt like I'd been running a gauntlet of judgment and disapproval. Every glance, every pause in conversation when I walked by, felt like an accusation.

Back in my office, I stared at Orion's elaborate floral arrangement with growing resentment. The roses that had seemed romantic this morning now looked like evidence of something more sinister.

*You manipulative bastard,* I thought, pieces clicking into place with uncomfortable clarity. *This was never about gratitude or attraction. This was about control.*

I remembered his casual assumption that I'd become Ryan's mother. The way he'd tried to arrange my evening plans without asking. His arrogant certainty that I'd say yes to whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted it.

*You sent these flowers knowing exactly what would happen,* I realized with mounting fury. *You knew it would create gossip, speculation, drama. You wanted everyone to think we were involved so I'd have no choice but to fall in line with your plans.*

My hands were actually shaking as I reached for my phone, scrolling to Orion's number. I was going to call him right now and tell him exactly what I thought of his—

The phone rang before I could dial, Luna's name flashing on the screen.

"Thank God," I answered immediately. "I need to get very drunk, very quickly. Are you free?"

Luna's laugh was warm and familiar. "That bad, huh? Give me twenty minutes to finish up here, and I'll meet you at Meridian. You sound like you need the good wine."

An hour later, I was settled into a corner booth at our favorite wine bar, working on my second glass of a very expensive Bordeaux and telling Luna the entire sordid story of my day.

"So let me get this straight," Luna said when I finished, her voice carrying that maddeningly calm tone she used when she thought I was being irrational. "Sera Ashford—a woman who could have any man in Manhattan—came to your office specifically to warn you away from Orion Blackwell."

"To threaten me," I corrected sharply. "Let's not sugarcoat it."

"And you think this happened because Orion is trying to... control you?"

"Obviously!" I gestured so emphatically that wine sloshed in my glass. "He's making these grand romantic gestures to create the illusion that we're involved. Sending flowers to my workplace, involving Ryan in his schemes, cutting ties with other women—all to trap me into this perfect little family fantasy he's constructed."

Luna took a measured sip of her wine, studying my face with those perceptive green eyes that had always seen too much.

"Ava," she said quietly, "have you considered that maybe—just maybe—a man like Orion Blackwell doesn't need to resort to manipulation to get what he wants?"

I snorted. "Right. Because billionaire CEOs are known for their emotional availability and healthy relationship skills."

"Think about it logically," Luna continued, unperturbed by my sarcasm. "He took down the man who attacked you. He defended you against those awful parents at the school board meeting. Now he's apparently willing to alienate one of his company's major shareholders by rejecting their daughter."

She leaned forward, her expression growing more serious. "Those aren't the actions of a man who just wants a convenient mother for his child. Those are the actions of a man who's falling in love."

*Falling in love.* The words hit me like ice water.

"No," I said immediately, shaking my head. "You're wrong. Everything he's done has been about Ryan. He sees how much his son adores me, and he wants to lock that down. I'm not a woman to him—I'm a resource. A solution to his parenting problems."

"Aveline—"

"He doesn't see me, Luna!" My voice rose enough to draw glances from other patrons. I lowered it to a fierce whisper. "He sees what I can do for him. The perfect maternal figure for his son. Someone educated enough not to embarrass him, pretty enough to be presentable, but not threatening enough to challenge his authority."

Luna was quiet for a long moment, swirling the wine in her glass.

"You know," she said finally, "for someone who claims to understand human psychology so well, you're remarkably blind to your own defense mechanisms."

Before I could demand what that was supposed to mean, my phone buzzed with a notification. Then another. Then several more in rapid succession.

"What the hell?" I muttered, opening my messages to find a flood of texts from colleagues, friends, even some parents from school.

*OMG Aveline, did you see the article?*

*Girl, you're FAMOUS!*

*Is this why Sera Ashford was at school today???*

With growing dread, I clicked on the link that several people had sent me.

The headline made my stomach drop: **"EXCLUSIVE: Billionaire CEO Orion Blackwell's Secret Romance with Elementary School Teacher—A Real-Life Fairy Tale?"**

Below it was a photo that made me feel physically sick. Orion, Ryan, and me outside the school, looking for all the world like a happy family. The accompanying article was full of breathless speculation about our "whirlwind romance" and my "Cinderella story" rise from "humble educator" to "billionaire's love interest."

"Oh my God," I breathed, reading through quotes from "anonymous sources" describing our "obvious chemistry" and Ryan's "adorable attachment to his future stepmother."

I looked up to find Luna reading over my shoulder, her expression carefully neutral.

"This is exactly what I was talking about," I said, slamming the phone down on the table. "Do you see what he's done? My entire professional reputation, everything I've worked for—it's all been reduced to some tacky gossip story about landing a rich man!"

Several people at nearby tables were now openly staring at me, clearly recognizing me from the photos.

"I'm not Aveline Reeves, successful educator and businesswoman," I continued, my voice shaking with rage. "I'm just the lucky teacher who caught a billionaire's eye. Everything I've accomplished, every degree I've earned, every business I've built—none of it matters now. I'm just another gold-digger who got lucky."

Luna watched me with that infuriatingly calm expression, waiting for my fury to burn itself out.

"Are you finished?" she asked when I finally paused for breath.

"Excuse me?"

"With the pity party," she said mildly. "Because I have an idea."

I stared at her. "A pity party? Luna, my life is being turned into tabloid fodder!"

"Which is exactly why you need to control the narrative," she said, pulling out her own phone. "My cousin works for *Metropolitan Elite*—you know, that show that profiles successful women in New York? They're always looking for compelling stories about female entrepreneurs and professionals."

I blinked, not following her logic.

"Think about it," Luna continued, her fingers already dancing across her screen. "Instead of letting some gossip rag define who you are, why don't you tell your own story? The real story. Dr. Aveline Reeves, international businesswoman, educator, philanthropist. The woman who built a jewelry empire in Europe and came back to transform children's lives."

Something sparked in my chest—not anger this time, but something fiercer and more focused.

"You want me to do an interview?"

"I want you to remind the world exactly who you are," Luna said firmly. "Independent of any man, no matter how rich or powerful he might be."

I looked at the gossipy article again, at the photo that made me look like some starstruck nobody who'd gotten lucky, and felt my resolve crystallize into something diamond-hard.

"Call her," I said, my voice steady and cold. "Set up the interview."

Luna's smile was sharp with approval. "Now you're thinking like the queen you actually are."