The Billionaire's Bought Bride and Instant Mom Chapter 158

Aveline

The past few days had been surprisingly peaceful, though there was something oddly choreographed about it all. Vivian had been visiting Grandma Eleanor regularly, but our schedules seemed to have developed an almost supernatural ability to avoid overlap. She'd arrive after I left for work and disappear before I came home, like we were two actors following perfectly timed stage directions.

*It's almost too convenient,* I thought, but when I mentioned it to Grandma Eleanor, she just smiled.

"Vivian's been wonderful company," she'd said over breakfast that morning. "And I have to say, when it's just the two of us, she never speaks ill of you. Not once. She seems genuinely interested in getting to know me better."

I'd felt some of my suspicion ease at that. Maybe Vivian really was making an effort to connect with her grandmother without any ulterior motives. And if Grandma Eleanor was happy, that's what mattered most.

Now I was in our garden, working off some restless energy by trimming the topiary hedges that our landscaper had shaped into perfect spirals. There was something therapeutic about the precise snip-snip of the shears, the way unruly branches fell away to reveal clean, purposeful lines underneath.

My phone rang just as I was contemplating whether one of the hedges was slightly lopsided.

"Mon chérie!" Laurent's warm voice filled my ear with characteristic enthusiasm. "I feel like it's been forever since we talked. How's life treating my favorite business partner?"

I laughed, setting down my pruning shears and brushing soil off my gardening gloves. "Oh please, you've been so busy playing house with Luna, I'm surprised you remember my name. Speaking of business though—how's our empire building going? Please tell me our New York expansion is more than just a pipe dream at this point."

"Have I ever let you down?" Laurent asked with mock offense. "I promised you a life of luxury and leisure, didn't I? This month alone we've opened a new design studio in SoHo and three pop-up retail locations for our brands. You'll be able to retire and live like a queen before you're thirty."

I moved to a different hedge, examining its shape critically. "Sounds promising. I should probably visit the locations and see how they're doing."

"Actually, speaking of visits," Laurent said, and I could hear the scheming tone creeping into his voice, "I need a huge favor tomorrow."

"What kind of favor?" I asked, though I had a feeling I already knew where this was going.

"I'm completely swamped with work, but I promised Luna I'd take her to that charity art auction tomorrow—you know, the one featuring pieces by Henri Dubois? She's been obsessing over his work for months, and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to bid on something special for her."

I rolled my eyes even though he couldn't see it. "Laurent, you can't just bail on her! Do you have any idea how much that girl values promises and commitments? Women like Luna don't grow on trees, you know."

"Relax, relax!" Laurent laughed. "I'm not abandoning her completely. I have a much better plan—her best friend is going to accompany her instead. Luna won't be disappointed, and she definitely won't be angry with me."

"And why exactly would I agree to spend my Saturday at some stuffy charity auction?" I asked, though I was already mentally calculating whether I had anything appropriate to wear to such an event.

"Because," Laurent said with the kind of dramatic pause that meant he was about to drop a bombshell, "I happen to know that a certain CEO named Orion will be attending."

I froze, my pruning shears halfway to a wayward branch. "Orion?" I tried to keep my voice casual, though my heart had started doing something ridiculous in my chest. "Oh, how refreshing. A CEO like him attending charity art auctions—totally par for the course."

"Mmm, but apparently he's making an exception for this particular event," Laurent continued casually. "Oh, and I believe Sera will be there as well."

Something cold and sharp twisted in my stomach at the mention of Sera's name. I knew Orion had no real interest in her—if anything, their relationship had been strained lately. But hearing their names mentioned together still made me feel... unsettled. Annoyed. Maybe even a little jealous, though I had no right to feel that way.

*Why do I care who he spends time with? We're just... whatever we are.*

The silence on my end must have stretched too long, because Laurent's voice took on a distinctly amused tone. "Interesting reaction. Have I perhaps found the perfect reason for you to attend tomorrow's festivities?"

"Don't be ridiculous," I said, brushing dirt off my jeans with more force than necessary. "I just think it's odd that he'd be at the same event as Sera, considering their... complicated history."

"Of course, of course," Laurent said, and I could practically hear him grinning. "Well, regardless of your motivations, you'll be doing Luna a huge favor. And maybe you could bid on a few pieces that she'd like? Consider it my way of making up for being a terrible boyfriend."

I sighed, looking around at my half-finished hedge trimming. "Fine. For Luna's sake, I'll go. But only because I don't want her to be disappointed and spend the whole evening by herself."

"Naturally," Laurent said with obvious satisfaction. "It's purely altruistic. You're such a good friend, Aveline."

"Shut up," I muttered, but I was smiling despite myself. "I'll pick up Luna tomorrow and make sure she has a wonderful time."