The Billionaire's Bought Bride and Instant Mom Chapter 214

Aveline

The moment Charles's words left his mouth, panic shot through me like ice water in my veins. I whipped around to stare at him, my heart hammering against my ribs.

Sera was sitting right beside Charles, and the bitch had the audacity to catch my eye and give me the most satisfied "I told you so" smirk I'd ever seen. Her expression screamed *This is what I was warning you about, darling.*

Charles rose slowly from his seat, savoring every second of the tension he was creating. "I believe the evaluation panel deserves to hear about certain... ethical concerns... before rendering their final judgment."

The five federal evaluators looked genuinely confused. The female panelist who'd been gushing over Orion moments before now appeared almost offended.

"Charles, you're a major shareholder and founding member of this company," she said sharply. "Are you seriously about to sabotage your own organization's biggest opportunity?"

Laughter and murmurs rippled through the Morrison-Clark and Titan sections. They clearly thought Charles had lost his mind.

But Charles just smiled that reptilian smile of his. "My principles can't be compromised by personal financial interests. I stand with the American people and this government's commitment to ethical standards."

*Oh, you sanctimonious piece of shit.*

The female evaluator rolled her eyes. "Come on, Charles. What's your angle here?"

I looked desperately toward the stage where Orion stood, hoping he'd shut this down immediately. Instead, he calmly took the microphone and spoke with maddening composure.

"It's fine. I'm sure Charles has his reasons for this... theatrical performance. Let's hear what he has to say."

The female evaluator stared at him incredulously. "You're actually going to let him derail your presentation?"

Orion nodded with that infuriating confident smile.

*Are you fucking insane?* I wanted to scream. *The evaluators are on your side right now! Shut him down before he destroys everything!*

But when Orion's eyes found mine across the auditorium, his smile was so assured, so completely unworried, that I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe he knew something I didn't. Maybe he had this under control.

*God, I hope you know what you're doing.*

The evaluators conferred briefly before Commerce Secretary Thompson stepped forward. "Alright. The federal government has an obligation to investigate any allegations of ethical misconduct. You may proceed, Mr. Ashford."

Charles straightened his tie and walked toward the stage like he was accepting an Academy Award. He took a microphone from one of the technicians and positioned himself directly across from Thompson.

"Secretary Thompson, you stated that the most crucial evaluation criterion today is 'the ethical standing and corporate responsibility of the contracting organization.' Is that correct?"

Thompson nodded curtly. "That's what I said."

Charles turned to face the audience with theatrical flair. "What if I told you that our CEO's ethical standing in this regard could only be described as abysmal?"

The auditorium erupted. Gasps, murmurs, and shocked whispers filled the air.

*Shit. Shit. SHIT.*

My mind raced, trying to figure out what angle he was playing. Ethical misconduct? What could he possibly—

And then it hit me like a freight train.

*Oh God. He's going to use our relationship against him.*

But that didn't make sense. Orion was single. We were both adults. There was nothing unethical about—

*Wait.*

*Wait, wait, wait.*

I was still technically married to that mysterious Mr. Sterling. I'd never finalized the divorce. Legally, I was a married woman having an affair with Orion Blackwell.

*Fuck. FUCK. This is it. This is how they destroy him.*

I watched in horror as Charles slowly approached Orion, who remained maddeningly calm despite the trap closing around him.

The five evaluators were leaning forward with undisguised curiosity, clearly invested in whatever drama was about to unfold.

*Please God, just deny everything. Say we're business associates. Say anything except the truth.*

Charles positioned himself directly in front of Orion, his voice carrying clearly through the microphone. "Before I reveal this shocking information, I'd like to ask you directly: What is your relationship with Dr. Aveline Reeves?"

Silence.

Complete, absolute silence.

Orion didn't hesitate. "We're friends."

*Yes! Good! Stick with that!*

But Charles pressed on with the persistence of a prosecutor. "Friends? Are you suggesting that all those intimate photographs in the media were fabricated? Do you think we're blind?"

Orion's smile didn't waver. "Our relationship has many facets and has evolved over time. I'm not sure which specific period you're referring to."

*Oh for fuck's sake, stop being clever and just say FRIENDS.*

Charles's smile turned predatory. "I'm referring to right now. This moment. What is your relationship with Dr. Reeves at this very instant?"

I gripped my legs so hard I was probably leaving bruises. *Just say friends. Say business partners. Say colleagues. Say anything except—*

Orion's voice rang out clear and strong: "She's the woman I love."

The auditorium exploded into chaos.

*NO. NO NO NO NO NO.*

My head dropped into my hands as the reality crashed over me. *God, I know you love me, you beautiful, stupid man, but you have no idea what you just walked into. You don't know I'm still legally married. This is exactly the ammunition they needed to destroy you.*

*We're so fucked.*