The Billionaire's Bought Bride and Instant Mom Chapter 45

Aveline

The morning sunlight streaming through my bedroom window was absolutely glorious, and I stretched like a cat who'd gotten into the cream. Last night's dramatic conclusion still made me smile—after my little window-climbing performance, I'd been treated to the most satisfying family meltdown in recent memory.

Vivian had spent the entire night ranting about her humiliation at the Blackwell celebration, alternating between fury over being thrown out by security and outrage that I'd refused to help her. "How could you just sit there and say you didn't know me?!" she'd shrieked through my bedroom door. "After everything this family has done for you!" Monica had tried to back her up with lectures about "family loyalty," but both women's voices had carried an undertone of fear—they knew I'd witnessed Vivian's public disgrace, and they had no idea what connections I might actually have with the Blackwell family.

Funny how quickly attitudes changed when people realized the balance of power had shifted.

But today, I had bigger fish to fry than family drama. I was getting seriously tired of catching cabs everywhere and cramming onto subway cars like some broke college student. Especially when I kept finding myself in situations where I needed to make quick exits or show up looking like a competent professional. Plus, I couldn't shake the memory of Orion's assumption that I needed financial help, the way he'd looked at me like some charity case who couldn't manage her own expenses.

Time to remedy that particular misconception.

The Prestige Motors showroom in Midtown was exactly what I'd expected—all gleaming marble floors, dramatic lighting, and cars that cost more than most people's houses. The moment I walked through the glass doors, a well-groomed salesman materialized at my elbow.

"Good morning, miss. I'm Todd. How can I help you today?"

"I'd like to buy a car," I said simply, wandering toward the nearest display.

The first thing that caught my eye was a sleek black Aston Martin DB11, its curves so perfect they looked sculpted rather than manufactured. The placard beside it read "$248,000 - 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds, twin-turbo V8 engine producing 503 horsepower."

Next to it sat a Bentley Continental GT in deep navy, all understated luxury and hand-stitched leather. "$230,000 - W12 engine, quilted diamond interior, handcrafted in Crewe, England."

Further along, a white Maserati Quattroporte gleamed under the showroom lights. "$105,000 - Ferrari-built V6 engine, Italian craftsmanship, top speed 177 mph."

I could see Todd's eyes light up with dollar signs as I moved from car to car, examining each one with obvious appreciation.

"Excellent choices, all of them," he said, practically rubbing his hands together. "Were you thinking of something for daily driving, or perhaps weekend leisure?"

"Actually," I said, pausing beside a red Ferrari 488 Spider whose price tag made me blink, "do you have anything a bit more... cute? Maybe smaller? Something fun rather than intimidating?"

Todd's expression shifted from eager to confused to barely concealed disappointment. He looked me up and down, clearly reassessing my purchasing power based on my request.

"Oh," he said, his voice losing its earlier enthusiasm. "Well, I suppose we could look at some of our more... economical options. Though I have to ask, why waste time looking at the premium vehicles if you're interested in budget models?"

I ignored the condescending tone and smiled sweetly. "Just curious about what's available."

With obvious reluctance, Todd led me to a corner of the showroom where several Mini Coopers were displayed. His attitude had shifted completely—gone was the attentive service, replaced by the kind of perfunctory politeness reserved for customers who probably couldn't afford anything decent.

But the moment I saw the mint green Mini Cooper Convertible, my heart skipped. It was absolutely adorable—compact and curvy, with white racing stripes and a convertible top that promised endless sunny drives. The interior was cream leather with mint green accents, and everything about it screamed fun rather than pretension.

"This one," I said immediately.

Todd barely glanced at the car, his tone growing even more dismissive. "The Cooper Convertible. Base model starts at $32,000, though this particular one has some upgrades that bring it closer to $38,000. Look, miss, if you're shopping in this price range, maybe you should consider our certified pre-owned section—"

"I'll take it," I interrupted.