The Billionaire's Bought Bride and Instant Mom Chapter 183

Aveline

I honestly couldn't explain why I found myself unable to leave. Maybe it was the sudden rush of hormones from our interrupted moment, or maybe it was something deeper that I wasn't ready to acknowledge—this growing desire to spend more time with Orion that had nothing to do with business or Ryan or any rational excuse I could conjure.

Looking around at the expectant faces—Orion's hopeful expression, Mitchell's barely concealed amusement, and Ryan's pure excitement—I realized that everyone seemed genuinely thrilled about the prospect of sharing dinner together.

When we finally gathered in the dining room, I was completely unprepared for what awaited me. Orion had somehow transformed himself into the picture of formal elegance—a perfectly tailored charcoal suit with a crisp white shirt and silver cufflinks that caught the candlelight, his hair styled with just enough casual sophistication to suggest he'd put serious thought into his appearance. The dining room itself had been completely transformed: dozens of pillar candles flickered throughout the space, casting warm shadows on the walls, while a bottle of what looked like very expensive Bordeaux sat breathing beside crystal glasses.

But the most adorable sight was Ryan, who had clearly been coached into his own version of formal attire. He wore a miniature navy suit complete with a perfectly knotted bow tie, and had tucked his napkin into his collar with the serious concentration of someone attending a state dinner.

As Mitchell and the kitchen staff began presenting course after course—starting with seared scallops with cauliflower purée, followed by duck confit with cherry gastrique, and ending with what appeared to be individual chocolate soufflés—I found myself completely enchanted by the entire production.

Orion kept my wine glass filled with attentive precision, while Ryan regaled us with an endless stream of stories about his great-grandfather's romantic adventures.

"And then," Ryan said, cutting his duck with the careful precision of a surgeon, "Great-grandfather told Miss Jasmine that he used to be a spy during the Cold War! She believed him for like three whole days until she found out he was actually selling insurance in Nebraska!"

Orion nearly choked on his wine. "He told her he was a spy?"

"Oh, that's nothing," Ryan continued, completely serious. "Last month he convinced Miss Tiffany that he owned a castle in Scotland. She only found out the truth when she googled it and discovered it belonged to some duke guy."

I found myself laughing harder than I had in weeks, completely relaxed and absorbed in this perfect domestic scene. There was something so natural about being here, as if I'd always belonged at this table, in this house, as part of this family.

As Ryan launched into another tale about Bryce convincing a woman he was a retired astronaut, I interrupted with a warm smile.

"Ryan, I'm constantly amazed by what a mature, funny, intelligent young man you've become. The atmosphere feels perfect for sharing important news, so I've decided to tell you my big announcement in front of your father."

Ryan immediately straightened up, adjusting his bow tie with the solemnity of someone preparing for a board meeting. He carefully wiped his mouth with his napkin and sat at attention.

"Miss Aveline, what's your news?"

Looking at his earnest little face, I felt my heart contract with unexpected emotion. But I forced myself to continue.

"I've been your teacher for three months now, and you've grown so incredibly much. You're like a young eagle whose wings are getting stronger and stronger..."

I could see Ryan's eyes beginning to glisten with unshed tears, as if he sensed where this was heading. Orion's expression grew tense, but he nodded encouragingly for me to continue.

My own voice began to waver as I pressed on. "When an eagle's wings are fully developed, it learns to fly on its own. And once it can fly independently, it doesn't need to stay behind the parent eagle all the time. It has to learn to soar alone because... because saying goodbye is... it's part of growing up."

The word "goodbye" broke something in Ryan. His eyes filled completely with tears, and he struggled to keep his voice steady.

"Miss Aveline, you... you can't leave me! Where are you going? I want to go there too! I can learn to fly by myself, but I don't want to be flying in the sky and not be able to see you..."

His words were so heartbreakingly mature yet childlike that I felt my own composure cracking. I had to blink rapidly to keep from crying myself.

"Sweetheart, I'm not leaving you! I'm just changing jobs!"

Ryan's face immediately brightened with hope. "Changing jobs?"

Orion moved behind Ryan's chair, gently wiping away his tears and placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Your teacher just won't be working at the kindergarten anymore. But she'll still come visit us all the time, and you can visit her house too."

"Really?" Ryan's voice cracked with emotion and relief. "You promise? You'll still be in my life?"

The combination of his childish phrasing and mature sentiment made my heart ache. "I promise I just won't be going to the kindergarten for work anymore. But I absolutely guarantee that I'll still be your very, very good friend!"

For a moment, Ryan just stared at me, processing this promise with the seriousness only a five-year-old could manage. Then his face transformed from worried to relieved, and finally to something that looked suspiciously like excitement.

Ryan wiped away the last of his tears and suddenly jumped down from his chair with renewed energy.

"Okay! Now it's time for me to announce my good news! Miss Aveline, I need you to sign something!"

Both Orion and I exchanged confused glances as Ryan disappeared briefly, then returned carrying what appeared to be a carefully folded piece of A4 paper covered in colorful drawings and stickers.

He presented it to me with the ceremony of someone delivering a state document.

Unfolding the paper, I discovered a hand-drawn contract titled in Ryan's careful printing: **"Official Godmother Agreement."**

The document was adorably thorough:

**Party A**: Godson Ryan Blackwell

**Party B**: Godmother Aveline Reeves

**Terms and Conditions:**

1. The Godmother (Aveline) must play with the Godson (Ryan) regularly (both indoor and outdoor activities) and has the right to receive gifts and kisses from the Godson.

2. The Godmother must attend all important events, including school performances and birthday parties.

3. **(Most Important Rule)** The Godmother **does NOT have to marry Daddy (Orion)**. If she wants to, she can have her own house. But she MUST come over every Friday night for "Family Movie Night."

4. In return, the Godson (Ryan) promises to practice piano every day and eat all the vegetables on his plate.

At the bottom were two signature lines decorated with dinosaur and star stickers.

Both Orion and I burst into laughter at the sheer thoughtfulness and legal precision of Ryan's contract.

"So this is what you wanted to tell me!" I said, grinning at the earnest little lawyer in front of me.

Orion whispered teasingly, "How did you end up making decisions about marriage arrangements?"

I whispered back, "That clause is the genius of this entire contract!"

Orion shook his head in amusement and knelt down to Ryan's eye level. "Do you understand what a godmother is?"

Ryan nodded seriously. "Not the super serious church kind, but the kind who has a really, really close relationship—like a mom, but different!"

He held out a pen to me with expectant eyes. "Miss Aveline, will you be my godmother?"

I ruffled his hair affectionately. "Well, this contract seems very reasonable, and I do want to spend lots of time with you."

As I signed my name with a flourish, I couldn't help but smile at how perfectly this little boy had solved all our complicated adult emotions with simple, honest affection.

"From now on," I announced, "I'm officially your godmother!"