The Billionaire's Bought Bride and Instant Mom Chapter 153

Vivian

I woke up feeling more rested than I had in months. For the first time in years, I'd slept through the night without nightmares, without that familiar knot of anxiety in my chest. Last night, Grandma Eleanor had sat beside my hospital bed like a guardian angel, stroking my hair and humming old lullabies until I drifted off.

*When was the last time someone watched over me while I slept?*

I sat up slowly, reaching for the glass of water on the nightstand, and caught sight of the early morning mist through the window. The soft fog was rolling through the trees outside, and somewhere in the distance, I could hear birds beginning their morning songs.

The scene transported me back to my childhood in rural Pennsylvania, before I knew I was adopted, before I understood why my "parents" treated me like an unwanted burden. I'd spent countless mornings like this one, sitting by my bedroom window and watching the sunrise, dreaming of having a real grandmother who would bake cookies and tell stories and love me unconditionally.

*I used to fantasize about having someone like Eleanor in my life.*

Back then, whenever my foster parents would scream at me or lock me in my room for some imagined transgression, I'd close my eyes and picture a sweet old lady with gentle hands and kind eyes who would protect me from the world. When the nightmares came—and they came often in that house—I'd wish for a grandmother who would chase away the monsters and make everything safe.

When I finally found my biological family and learned I had a real grandmother, I thought my childhood dreams were finally coming true.

*Until I realized all her love belonged to Aveline.*

My eyes hardened as the familiar resentment surged through me. Aveline, who'd never spent a day without love and security. Aveline, who'd waltzed into my grandmother's life and stolen the one thing I'd always wanted most.

*That's when the hatred really began.*

A sharp knock on the door pulled me from my dark thoughts. Richard and Monica entered, both looking far too cheerful for such an early hour.

"Morning, sweetheart," Richard said, settling into the chair beside my bed. "You looked so peaceful, but I could see your mind was somewhere far away. What were you thinking about?"

"Where's Grandma?" I asked, glancing toward the door. "She said she wanted to stay for my follow-up examination today."

Richard's expression grew slightly uncomfortable. "Well, she spoke with our... doctor friend about your 'condition'. Once he confirmed that you and the 'baby' are stable, she said she needed to get home to make breakfast for Aveline."

My face immediately fell. "So even with a pregnancy, I barely register on her priority list?"

Monica let out a sharp laugh from her position by the window. "Oh, Vivian, when did you become so naive? You think last night was about her suddenly developing maternal feelings for you? Please. She was here out of guilt—guilt that something happening to you might be partially her fault. But if it had been Aveline in this hospital bed?" Monica's smile was cruel. "That old woman wouldn't have left for a second."

The words hit their target perfectly, and I felt rage bubble up in my chest like acid.

"Stop talking," I said through gritted teeth. "I don't give a damn who that old woman cares about."

"Don't antagonize her," Richard snapped at Monica. "Can't you see she's already upset?"

"I'm not antagonizing anyone," Monica replied sweetly. "I'm just being realistic. If we don't push Vivian to be stronger, Aveline is going to walk all over us for the rest of our lives. Do you want to spend your golden years being humiliated by that little princess?"

I turned to stare at Monica with ice-cold eyes. "You know what, Monica? Sometimes I really can't stand the way you talk. Just shut up."

I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood up, facing Richard directly.

"How did it go?" I asked him. "Do we have control of the shares now?"

Richard reached out to smooth my hair with the gentle touch he'd used since I was a child. "Everything went perfectly, princess. We can start looking for buyers immediately."

My eyes widened. "Wait, you're selling the entire company? I thought we were just liquidating part of the shares."

Monica laughed from across the room. "Sweetheart, you really don't understand business, do you? The only thing that company has going for it is the brand name. If we don't sell now while it still has some value, it'll be worthless in a few years. Besides, your father isn't exactly a business genius—why would he want to actually run a company?"

A knot of unease formed in my stomach. "But it's Grandma's life's work. The company she and Grandpa built from nothing. Isn't this going a bit too far?"

I fixed Monica with a direct stare. "And aren't you worried this will turn both Grandma and Aveline completely against us? Because once they find out what we've done..."

"Now you're getting cold feet?" Monica's voice was dripping with disdain. "That's rich, coming from the girl who faked a pregnancy for months and had her boyfriend kidnap Aveline. I thought you, of all people, would understand how much we need to destroy that little bitch. Or are you suddenly going soft?"

Her words left me speechless, the truth of my own actions hitting me like a slap.

Richard immediately stepped between us, his voice sharp with anger. "That's enough, Monica. Don't talk to my daughter like that."

He turned to me, his expression softening as he placed both hands on my shoulders. "Listen to me, sweetheart. Once we sell the company, I'm giving you half of everything. You can start fresh in Europe, build whatever life you want. No more living in anyone's shadow."

Despite everything, I felt tears prick at my eyes. In all the chaos and manipulation, Richard's love for me had never wavered.

"Half?" Monica's voice was sharp with disbelief. "Richard, are you sure you want to—"

"Shut up," Richard cut her off without even looking in her direction. "I'm meeting with potential buyers this afternoon. This conversation is over."