The Billionaire's Bought Bride and Instant Mom Chapter 97

Aveline

She laughed, a sound that was somehow more musical than usual. "Is it that obvious?"

"Honey, you're practically glowing. Either you've discovered the fountain of youth, or someone very special has been putting a smile on your face."

We started walking through the mall, past designer storefronts and bustling crowds.

"You know I've always just been the girl behind the counter at the bakery," Luna said, her cheeks pinking slightly. "But there's this customer who's been coming in every day for the past few weeks. He's completely obsessed with our French bread—orders baguettes, pain de campagne, brioche, you name it."

"Let me guess," I interrupted with a grin. "He's French?"

"How did you—yes! And oh my God, Aveline, he's nothing like American men. This guy is so dramatic and romantic it's almost ridiculous. Dark hair, these incredible green eyes, and this accent that makes me want to melt every time he speaks. But it's not just that—he brings me handwritten poetry about bread! Actual poetry! And flowers every single day, different kinds each time with little notes about what they mean."

I blinked in surprise. That level of theatrical romance sounded exactly like... but no, it couldn't be. Could it?

"He sounds pretty intense," I said carefully.

"Intense doesn't even begin to cover it! He started asking about the baking process, complimenting the texture, the flavor profiles, talking about bread like it's high art. And then he started finding excuses to linger in the shop. Yesterday he asked me out for dinner, but not just any dinner—he wants to cook for me at his place. Says he's been learning to make some family recipe just for me."

"And you said yes?"

"I already did," she admitted with a shy smile, her cheeks turning an even deeper shade of pink. "Is it crazy that I'm this excited about a first date? And honestly..." She paused, fidgeting with her hands and looking away bashfully. "The way he looks at me, the way he talks about wanting to 'worship every inch of my beauty'—God, I can't help but wonder what it would be like when we... you know." She trailed off, covering her face with her hands in embarrassment.

"Luna!" I gasped, but I was grinning mischievously. "Look at you getting all flustered! Sounds like someone's already planning ahead."

"Aveline!" Luna gasped, her face now completely red as she smacked my arm. "Don't tease me! We haven't even gone on our first date yet!"

"I'm just saying, when you do get to that point, enjoy yourself. Life's too short not to appreciate good-looking men who know what they're doing," I said with a knowing wink.

As the words left my mouth, an unbidden image flashed through my mind—Orion's intense dark eyes, the way his hands had felt when he'd untied me from that chair, the controlled strength in his movements. Heat crept up my neck, and I had to clear my throat to dispel the suddenly charged atmosphere my own thoughts had created.

"Speaking of men getting what they deserve," Luna said, either not noticing my momentary distraction or politely ignoring it, "have you heard about Dwayne lately?"

My attention snapped back to her immediately. "What about him?"

Luna lowered her voice conspiratorially as we paused outside a jewelry store. "Word around the neighborhood is that he's in serious trouble. Like, life-or-death serious trouble."

"What kind of trouble?" I asked, though I suspected I already knew.

"The kind that involves the Kozlov family," Luna whispered. "You know, the Russian guys who run half the underground business in the city? Apparently, they're hunting him down for something he did. Some people say he fled the country, others think he's hiding in some bunker somewhere, but either way, he's scared shitless."

A fierce satisfaction bloomed in my chest. Orion had moved quickly and definitively. The fact that he'd involved serious criminal elements meant he wasn't playing games—he wanted Dwayne to suffer real consequences for what he'd done.

*Good,* I thought vindictively. *I hope they find him. I hope he spends every remaining day of his miserable life looking over his shoulder.*

"Why are you smiling like that?" Luna asked, studying my expression with curiosity. "You look almost... predatory."

"Do I?" I asked innocently. "I was just thinking that some people get exactly what they deserve."

Before Luna could ask for clarification, I steered us into the nearest high-end boutique—a leather goods store with handbags that cost more than most people's monthly rent.

"Ooh, these are gorgeous," Luna breathed, running her fingers over a buttery soft Hermès bag. "But way out of my price range."

I plucked three different bags from the display—a classic Birkin in camel, a sleek Constance in black, and a colorful Kelly bag in rose gold—and handed them to the hovering sales associate.

"I'll take all three," I said casually.

"All... all three?" the saleswoman stammered. "Ma'am, these are quite expensive—"

"I'm aware," I cut her off, pulling out my credit card. "Please wrap them up."

Luna's eyes had gone wide. "Aveline, what are you doing? Those bags cost more than I make in six months!"

"Exactly," I said with a smile. "Which is why you're going to let me buy them for you. Consider it a 'congratulations on your new romance' gift."

"I can't possibly accept—"

"You can and you will," I said firmly, signing the receipt the sales associate placed in front of me. "I've been very fortunate lately, and I want to share that good fortune with the people I care about."

As we walked out of the store with our shopping bags, Luna shook her head in amazement.

"I still can't believe you just spent twenty thousand dollars on handbags like it was nothing. How is this my life right now?"

I laughed, feeling lighter than I had in days. "Sometimes good things happen to good people, Lu. You deserve beautiful things, and now you have them."