The Billionaire's Bought Bride and Instant Mom Chapter 215

Aveline

Charles's smile widened like a shark scenting blood in the water. "I'm sure Ms. Reeves shares these deep feelings for you as well," he said with mock warmth, his voice dripping with false sentiment.

I couldn't bear to watch anymore. My stomach was churning with a mixture of rage and helplessness as I stared down at my clenched hands. *I can't listen to this anymore. I just fucking can't.*

But a movement in my peripheral vision caught my attention. Ryan was sitting rigidly in his seat, his small hands gripping the armrests so tightly his knuckles had gone white. His dark eyes were fixed on the stage with an intensity that broke my heart—he clearly didn't understand the adult politics unfolding, but he could sense that something terrible was happening to his father.

Without thinking, I moved to the seat beside him and gently took his tiny hand in mine. "Ryan, if this is too confusing, we could step outside for a few minutes..."

But instead of the fear or confusion I expected, his eyes lit up with pure joy. "Miss Aveline! Daddy said you're the woman he loves! Does that mean you love him too?"

The innocent excitement in his voice hit me like a physical blow. How could I possibly explain to a five-year-old that this wasn't a romantic moment, but a calculated attack designed to destroy his father's career? How could I tell him that sometimes grown-ups used love as a weapon?

I squeezed his hand and managed a small nod, deciding to let him interpret this nightmare however brought him comfort.

On stage, Orion was responding with maddening calmness. "I believe she can feel my love, and I'm confident that she's growing to love me in return."

Heat flooded my cheeks despite everything. *You beautiful, clueless idiot! This isn't the time for romantic declarations! You have no idea what trap they're about to spring!*

Orion turned toward the evaluation panel with an almost sheepish smile. "I apologize for using this professional venue for such a personal revelation."

The female evaluator was practically swooning with romantic sentiment. "Oh my God, don't apologize! That was like something out of a fairy tale! I'm about to cry!" She fanned herself dramatically. "In thirty years of government service, I have never seen such a beautiful, spontaneous declaration of love!"

She then turned on Charles with visible fury. "Now what on earth could you possibly have to say that's more important than what we just witnessed? If you're just here to waste our time, sit down and let us crown this magnificent man!"

Charles's expression turned predatory, his voice taking on the tone of a prosecuting attorney delivering a death blow. "Ah yes, young love is indeed beautiful—when it doesn't involve adultery, deception, and the complete destruction of sacred marriage vows." His eyes gleamed with malicious satisfaction. "But what we have here, ladies and gentlemen, is a sordid affair that makes a mockery of family values and everything this government stands for."

A collective intake of breath rippled through the auditorium. Every eye was now focused on Charles with the kind of fascinated horror usually reserved for car accidents.

*Here it comes. Oh God, here it fucking comes.*

Charles reached into his jacket pocket with theatrical slowness, withdrawing a folded document like a magician revealing his final trick. He walked deliberately toward the projection equipment at the side of the stage, his expensive shoes clicking against the polished floor with metronomic precision.

"This so-called 'relationship,'" he announced as he placed the document on the overhead projector, his voice dripping with theatrical disgust, "is nothing but a tawdry affair that spits in the face of matrimonial sanctity. We're looking at a man who seduces married women and parades his conquests in public like some kind of modern-day Casanova!"

The document began to appear on the massive screen behind him—the distinctive official seal, the formal language, the unmistakable layout of a marriage certificate.

I couldn't look. I physically could not force myself to look at that screen and relive the most humiliating day of my life. Ryan was leaning forward with wide-eyed curiosity, trying to understand what the adults were getting so worked up about.

But before the details became clear, Orion moved with lightning speed. He strode across the stage, snatched the document from the projector, and tore it into pieces with calm determination.

"Charles," he said pleasantly, as if he were commenting on the weather, "I'd appreciate if you'd respect Ms. Reeves's privacy. This is a public forum, and I believe your actions are causing her unnecessary distress. Some experiences are best left undisturbed."

Charles laughed with genuine delight. "No problem at all—I have copies." He reached toward his pocket again.

"Actually," Orion interrupted with that maddeningly confident smile, "let me save you the trouble. I'll share this secret myself."

The auditorium fell into absolute silence. Even the air conditioning seemed to hold its breath.

"Ms. Aveline Reeves is indeed a married woman," Orion announced clearly. "She has been married for six years."

*What the fuck? How do you know about that? HOW DO YOU KNOW?*

Secretary Thompson's face immediately darkened with disapproval. The other evaluators began whispering among themselves, their earlier warmth toward Orion evaporating like morning mist.

Charles was practically salivating with vindictive pleasure. "Thank you for making this so easy, Orion. You've just confessed to the entire federal government that you're a home-wrecker, an adulterer, a man who destroys families for his own selfish desires." He gestured dramatically toward the evaluation panel. "This is the kind of moral bankruptcy that should disqualify any company from federal consideration!"

He spun toward Secretary Thompson with the fervor of a religious zealot. "Secretary Thompson, this man has just admitted to corrupting a married woman, to making a mockery of marriage vows, to behavior that would make him unemployable at any decent organization. Surely this eliminates any possibility of—"

Thompson's expression was grim as he slowly shook his head. "I'm afraid that under these circumstances, we'll need to... reconsider our evaluation."

The words hit me like a sledgehammer to the chest. This was it. We were finished. Weeks of work, billions of dollars in potential revenue, Orion's entire future—all destroyed because of my legal status that I'd been too distracted to resolve.

Ryan's small hand slipped out of mine. When I looked down at him, his eyes were bright with unshed tears, and his expression was filled with a five-year-old's version of disappointment and confusion.

"Miss Aveline," he whispered, his voice trembling, "if you have a husband, does that mean you can't spend time with me and Daddy anymore?"

The innocent heartbreak in his question nearly destroyed me. The murmur of shocked conversations filled the auditorium as reporters frantically scribbled notes and competing companies exchanged satisfied glances.

That's when Orion finally raised his hand, interrupting Charles's tirade with calm authority. His smile was unlike anything I'd ever seen—not just confident, but absolutely radiant with triumph.

"Charles," he said pleasantly, "you're absolutely right that the full truth should be revealed." His voice carried clearly through the stunned auditorium. "Ms. Reeves is indeed a married woman. She has been married for six years, and I take full responsibility for her marital status."

He paused, letting Charles's anticipatory grin reach its peak before delivering the knockout blow.

"Because I'm her husband. We've been married for six years."

*WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?*