The Billionaire's Bought Bride and Instant Mom Chapter 217

Orion

Getting Ryan home was like trying to contain a small tornado fueled by pure joy and sugar. The kid was practically bouncing off the car ceiling, chattering nonstop about having "a real mommy now" and planning all the activities we'd do as a family. Mitchell deserves a raise for managing to wrangle him into the house while he was still vibrating with excitement.

Once the chaos died down, I finally had a moment to approach Aveline. She was still sitting in the same spot, staring into space with the kind of shell-shocked expression usually reserved for natural disaster survivors. The mixture of emotions on her face—bewilderment, anger, hurt, and something that might have been wonder—made my chest tight.

I extended my hand toward her with what I hoped was a reassuring smile.

"I think my wife might have a few things she'd like to discuss with me in private," I said quietly. "Shall we go?"

The moment the word 'wife' left my mouth, she snapped back to reality like someone had slapped her. Her face flushed with indignation, and before I could react, her fist connected with my shoulder.

"How dare you orchestrate that entire theatrical performance without warning me!" she exploded, though there was something almost playful in her anger. "And you've known this whole time! Are you serious? You actually paid someone to pose as you, all to drag out the divorce. You lying, manipulative, scheming—who said I was your wife anyway?"

She was gesticulating wildly now, her voice rising with each accusation, and I couldn't help but grin at the sight. This was the Aveline I'd fallen in love with—fierce, passionate, completely unafraid to give me hell when I deserved it.

I let her take a few more swings at me while I gently wrapped my arm around her waist, steering her toward the exit despite her protests.

"Are you even listening to me?" she demanded, still swatting at my chest. "I'm having a complete emotional breakdown here!"

As we passed the area where Charles and Devan were slumped in their seats looking like their entire world had collapsed—which it had—I couldn't resist one final twist of the knife.

"By the way," I said loud enough for them to hear, my voice dripping with false concern, "there's a company-wide celebration tomorrow. You're both welcome to attend—it might be your last opportunity to visit the office as employees." I paused for dramatic effect. "Oh, and we're having a board meeting afterward to settle our little wager. I'd hate for you to miss that."

I didn't look back, but I could practically feel their despair radiating behind us.

*****

Outside, Aveline was still maintaining her righteous indignation, standing beside my car with her arms crossed like she was staging a one-woman protest.

"I'm not getting in that car with you until you explain everything," she announced.

Instead of arguing, I stepped closer and kissed her—not passionately, just a soft, quick brush of lips that made her breath catch. Before she could process what was happening, I scooped her up in my arms, ignoring her surprised shriek.

"Orion Blackwell, put me down this instant!"

"Not happening, Mrs. Blackwell," I said, settling her into the backseat and closing the door before she could escape.

I slid into the driver's seat and started the engine, expecting her to resume her tirade the moment we were moving. Instead, she'd gone quiet again, that distant look returning to her eyes.

"What's wrong?" I asked, glancing at her in the rearview mirror. "Are you that devastated to discover I'm your husband?"

She shook her head slowly, then fixed me with a searching look that made me want to pull over and hold her.

"Are you really my husband?" she asked, her voice smaller than I'd ever heard it. "This isn't just some elaborate con to destroy your uncle, is it?"

The vulnerability in her question hit me like a physical blow. I'd been so focused on the victory, on finally being able to claim her openly, that I hadn't fully considered what this revelation meant to her.

"Honestly?" I said, catching her eyes in the mirror. "I wish it were fake. I wish I could start over and court you properly, without all this baggage." My voice grew serious. "I never wanted to be the man who deceived you, who made you feel abandoned and worthless. I know how much you hated your mysterious husband."

Something in her expression softened at my confession.

"Good," she said with a bitter laugh. "Because I spent years despising that 'sickly weakling' who couldn't even be bothered to meet his own wife. He gave me insomnia and trust issues. Every time I tried to move on, I felt like I had this curse hanging over me, keeping me from being truly free."

Her words were like knives, each one a reminder of the pain I'd inadvertently caused. I gripped the steering wheel tighter, focusing on the road ahead.

"I know I owe you more than I can ever repay," I said quietly. "Which is why I'm going to help you with something that might make up for some of the damage."

She laughed, though there was no humor in it. "What could possibly compensate for years of confusion and heartbreak? And don't you dare say you'll throw me some fancy wedding."

I felt heat rise in my cheeks at the mention of a wedding—because yes, I was absolutely planning to give her the most spectacular celebration of our love that money could buy. But that wasn't what I meant.

"Of course I'm going to give you the wedding of your dreams," I said, unable to keep the smile out of my voice. "But that's not what I'm talking about."

"Then what?"

I took a deep breath, hoping this news would be received better than my marriage revelation. "Before we went into the auditorium today, I had a quick conversation with Walsh. He told me his investigation into your biological parents has made significant progress."

The silence that followed was deafening.

"What the fuck, Orion?" she finally exploded. "You took it upon yourself to hunt down my birth parents? Without asking me?"

I winced. This wasn't going as well as I'd hoped.

"You don't sound thrilled," I said weakly.

"What if they abandoned me on purpose?" she shot back, her arms crossed defensively. "What if they're terrible people? What if they don't want to be found?"

I hadn't considered that possibility. In my mind, I'd imagined some tragic separation, star-crossed lovers forced apart by circumstances, desperately searching for their lost child. I hadn't thought about what would happen if the reality was less romantic.

"Maybe... maybe they lost you by accident?" I offered lamely. "Maybe they've been searching for you too? Besides, they couldn't possibly be worse than Richard and Monica, right?"

She was quiet for a long moment, staring out the window at the city lights blurring past.

"Fine," she said finally, with a sigh that seemed to come from her soul. "I suppose if I can handle discovering my asshole husband, I can probably deal with finding my asshole parents too."