The Billionaire's Bought Bride and Instant Mom Chapter 28

Aveline

The drive back toward the city was quieter than our earlier conversation, both of us seeming lost in our own thoughts. I kept stealing glances at Orion's profile, trying to gauge his mood, searching for the right opening to broach the subject that had been eating away at me.

Maybe this was my chance. Maybe after today—after he'd shown such thoughtfulness and concern for my well-being—I could find a way to have an honest conversation about that night. If I approached it carefully, explained the circumstances, expressed my genuine remorse...

"Can I ask you something?" I said finally, my voice carefully casual.

"Of course."

"About Catherine..." I paused, choosing my words with extreme care. "I mean, she's probably not fundamentally evil, right? She might make mistakes, but I think... whatever she did, it might not be completely unforgivable. After all, everyone makes mistakes. I... I make mistakes too."

My voice trailed off uncertainly, and I could feel my cheeks burning with the weight of my own hypocrisy.

Orion's expression remained blank for a few seconds, as if processing what I'd said, then his face turned cold as stone. He stared straight ahead at the road, his voice completely emotionless.

"Unfortunately, she made the mistake of targeting the wrong person. Though I suppose she was lucky—she caught me in a good mood. Taking care of my son all these years has really mellowed me out."

The ice in his tone made me shrink back immediately. "Uh, yes... you're right. Some things really are unforgivable."

Orion glanced at me, studying my innocent expression with those dark, penetrating eyes. "Actually, you just said you make mistakes too. I'm curious—what kind of mistakes could someone as simple and pure as you possibly make?"

Simple? A flash of irritation shot through me. I wasn't some naive little girl who'd never seen the world. I had a doctorate, I'd lived independently across Europe for years, I'd built my own career from nothing. I opened my mouth to defend myself, to tell him exactly what I thought about his condescending assessment—

The car's Bluetooth system picked up the call automatically.

"Daddy?" Ryan's voice filled the car, high-pitched with concern. "Where's Miss Aveline? She wasn't at school this afternoon and I got worried!"

Orion's entire demeanor shifted, his expression softening into something warm and paternal. "Miss Aveline had to take care of some important things, buddy. She'll be back at school tomorrow."

"But I wanted to see her today!" Ryan's voice took on that particular whine that only five-year-olds could master. "It's not fair! She has to come to dinner tonight! I already asked Mitchell to make her favorite food!"

I could hear the smile in Orion's voice. "You can't just invite people to dinner without asking first, Ryan."

"But I want her to come! Please, Daddy! Can you ask her? Please please please?"

Orion glanced at me with raised eyebrows, clearly passing along the invitation. "Ms. Reeves, would you like to join us for dinner? I promise Ryan won't take no for an answer."

I hesitated for a moment. If I was ever going to figure out how to handle the situation with Orion—how to coexist in the same space without this constant terror—I needed to stop running away from him. I needed to prove to myself that I could be around him normally, that I could move past that night.

"I'd love to," I said, surprised by how steady my voice sounded.

"Did you hear that, Ryan? Miss Aveline is coming to dinner."

The excited squeal that came through the speakers was so loud it made both of us laugh.

An hour later, I found myself seated at the Blackwell family's formal dining table, surrounded by more luxury than I'd seen outside of museums. Crystal chandeliers cast warm light over china that probably cost more than my monthly salary, and Mitchell had outdone himself with a meal that looked like it belonged in a five-star restaurant.

Ryan sat beside me, chattering animatedly about his day while managing to actually eat his food—a minor miracle for any five-year-old. Orion sat across from us, and I found myself stealing glances at his face, trying to read his expression.

"You have beautiful eyes," he said suddenly, catching me in one of those glances.

I felt heat rise in my cheeks. "Thank you."

"They're very... honest. Clear. It's refreshing."

The irony of him calling my eyes honest when I was harboring such a massive secret made my chest tight with guilt. But I forced myself to maintain eye contact, to not look away like I usually did.

"It's been so long since we've had a woman join us for dinner," Mitchell said as he refilled our water glasses, his voice warm with obvious pleasure. "It feels quite natural, doesn't it? Like a proper family."

"Yes!" Ryan piped up, beaming at me. "Miss Aveline is just like a mommy! She takes care of me and she's pretty and she smells nice!"

The temperature in the room dropped by about twenty degrees.

Orion's fork paused halfway to his mouth, his expression going carefully blank. "Ryan," he said quietly, "Ms. Reeves is your teacher. Not your mother."

"But she could be!" Ryan continued, oblivious to the danger. "She's perfect! And she likes me just the way I am!"

"Ryan." Orion's voice had taken on a warning edge. "That's enough."

"Why can't she be my mommy?" Ryan asked, his lower lip starting to tremble. "I want a mommy like the other kids have!"

"Because you don't have a mother," Orion said sharply, his composure finally cracking. "You never will have a mother. And if you continue this behavior, Dr. Reeves won't be able to be your teacher anymore either."

Ryan's face crumpled completely. "That's not fair!"

"Life isn't fair," Orion replied coldly. "And I will not allow you to use that word again. Do you understand me? Mother is not a word we use in this house."

The harshness in his tone was like a physical blow. Ryan burst into tears and ran from the room, his small sobs echoing down the hallway.

I started to rise from my chair. "Ryan, wait—"

"Let him go," Orion said firmly. "He needs to learn."

I turned to face him, anger flooding through me at his callousness. "Learn what, exactly? That his father will reject him for having perfectly normal emotional needs?"