The Billionaire's Bought Bride and Instant Mom Chapter 200

Vivian

I stared at Aveline's unconscious form slumped in her chair, her perfect posture finally broken, her face peaceful in a way that made my chest ache with guilt. The image of her deliberately drinking that wine—knowing, somehow knowing what I'd done, but choosing to trust me anyway—kept replaying in my mind like a horror movie on loop.

Grandmother would never forgive me. She'd probably disown me completely, and she'd be right to do it.

Panic overtook my paralysis. I grabbed my phone and quickly typed a message to Dwayne:

*Don't come yet. Still eating dinner. She's on an important phone call. Will contact you immediately when she's unconscious.*

His response came within seconds: *Perfect, baby! Our van is already stationed outside the restaurant. We're ready to move the moment you give us the signal. You're doing great.*

I looked at Aveline again, her breathing shallow but steady. She was completely helpless, and in a few minutes, Dwayne's people would be here to—

*No. No, I can't let this happen.*

I tried lifting her, but unconscious people were impossibly heavy. There was no way I could carry her to safety on my own, and even if I could, I'd run straight into Dwayne's arms.

The only person who could save her now was Orion.

I scrolled through my contacts until I found his number—information I'd gathered during my weeks of reconnaissance at Grandmother's house. My hands were shaking so violently I could barely dial.

"Who is this?" His voice was cold, businesslike.

I took a deep breath and disguised my voice, making it higher and more urgent. "Is this Orion? You don't need to know who I am. Listen carefully—Aveline is at Le Bernardin restaurant. She's been drugged and is currently unconscious. Dwayne Blackwell has people coming to kidnap her within the next ten minutes."

"What the fuck did you just say?" His voice exploded through the phone. "What happened to Aveline? Dwayne? Who the hell is this? If this is some kind of joke—"

"I'm sorry, there's no time to explain!" I interrupted. "Orion, this is the woman you love. I need you to appear here like magic and get her out. Right now. Her life is in your hands. The clock is ticking."

I hung up immediately and let out a shaky breath. But I knew that phone call alone wouldn't be enough to redeem what I'd done.

Almost immediately, another text from Dwayne: *What's taking so long? I'm getting impatient. Maybe we should just grab her now regardless.*

I typed back frantically: *Almost ready! She drank it! Drug hasn't taken full effect yet!*

A few minutes of blessed silence. Then: *You better not be fucking with me, Vivian. I've been patient long enough.* A pause, then another message: *You know what? I'm done waiting around. I'm sending two of my guys in to check on the situation. If you're lying to me...*

My blood turned to ice. I rushed out of the private dining room just as two massive men with visible tattoos and dead eyes entered the restaurant. The maître d' tried to approach them, but they brushed past him like he didn't exist, scanning the room with professional efficiency. They both wore earpieces and spoke in low, clipped sentences to whoever was on the other end.

When they spotted me, they walked over with the kind of purposeful stride that meant business.

I quickly led them to a secluded corner near the kitchen entrance, trying to keep them away from Aveline.

"Where is she?" one of them asked bluntly. "Job done?"

I forced myself to appear calm despite my racing heart. "Listen, we have a major problem! Orion Blackwell just showed up unexpectedly in the main dining room with his security team. If we move now, we'll blow everything!"

Both men immediately went rigid. One of them spoke rapidly into his earpiece, presumably updating Dwayne. After a brief exchange, he nodded to his partner.

"Boss says to wait," the first man told me. "We don't need that kind of heat right now."

"Exactly," I said, trying to project confidence I didn't feel. "He doesn't know Aveline is here either. You two should wait outside. The moment Orion leaves, I'll call you immediately."

They exchanged glances, then nodded agreement. "Don't take too long. Boss is already pissed about the delays."

The moment they disappeared through the restaurant's front doors, I heard a commotion in the main dining area. Suddenly, the entire space was flooded with men in black suits—not thugs like Dwayne's people, but professionals who moved with military precision. The restaurant staff immediately went into panic mode, with the manager rushing forward like he was greeting royalty.

Then Orion appeared, and the very air in the room seemed to change. He moved through the space like he owned it, his presence so commanding that conversations stopped mid-sentence. His suit was perfectly tailored, his expression was thunderous, and there was something almost predatory in the way he scanned the room. This wasn't just wealth—this was power, raw and undeniable.

I pressed myself against the wall, staying hidden but desperately hoping he'd find Aveline in time.

"Is Miss Aveline Reeves dining here tonight?" he asked the manager, his voice carrying easily across the now-silent restaurant.

The manager practically bowed as he checked his reservation system. "Yes, sir! Private dining room seven, sir!"

Orion and his security team disappeared down the hallway like a black tide. I held my breath, counting the seconds.

Two minutes later, Orion emerged carrying Aveline in his arms, her head resting against his chest. She looked so small and vulnerable against his broad frame, but she was safe. She was alive.

As he strode toward the exit, he paused and turned back to the terrified restaurant staff.

"This establishment owes me an explanation for what happened here tonight," he said, his voice carrying a threat that made the manager visibly pale. "I'll be in touch."

The moment they disappeared through the front doors, the entire restaurant erupted in panicked conversations between the staff, everyone trying to figure out what had gone wrong and who was to blame.

Relief flooded through me so intensely I almost collapsed. Aveline was safe. Whatever happened to me now, at least she was—

Strong hands grabbed my arms from both sides before I could finish the thought. The two tattooed men hauled me toward the exit with efficient brutality, ignoring my struggles entirely.

A white van was waiting at the curb, its engine running. They shoved me into the back seat, where Dwayne was lounging casually in the front passenger seat like he was out for a pleasant evening drive.

He turned to face me with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Well done, Vivian. Really excellent work tonight." His voice dripped with false praise that made my skin crawl. "Now, you lying bitch, want to explain to me what the fuck just happened in there?"