Our Wedding Was Ruined and I Found a Husband 39

Instead, he came back three days later. 

He found me in the NICU. Standing over Ava’s incubator. 

“She’s beautiful,” he said quietly. 

I startled. Nearly knocked over the hand sanitizer dispenser. 

“I’ve been thinking,” William continued, “about what you told me. About Vanessa and her request.” 

“If you’re going to turn me in-” 

“I’m not.” He looked at Ava. “Vanessa asked you to protect her sisters. That’s exactly what she would’ve done.” 

“So, you’re okay with me lying to everyone?” 

“I’m okay with you honoring a dying woman’s wishes.” Pause. “And I think you and your daughter need someone in your corner.” 

“Why would you help me?” 

“Because Vanessa would want me to. And because…” He swallowed hard. “Because I loved her. I can’t do anything for her anymore. But I can do this.” 

So, he had. Three years running. Showing up for birthdays, school events. Being the support I desperately needed. 

Never asking for anything back. 

“Mama? Did you hear me?” 

I blinked. Ava was staring at me expectantly. 

“Sorry, baby. What’d you say?” 

“I said Uncle William brought me a new coloring book! Look–unicorns!” 

“That’s wonderful.” 

William stood, stretched. “I should probably let you two get ready for the doctor’s rounds. But I’ll stop by later?” 

“You don’t have to-” 

“I want to.” He squeezed my shoulder. “Besides, I have meetings in the area all week. It’s no trouble swinging by with dinner.” 

We walked to the doorway together. Ava was already absorbed in her coloring book, tongue poking out in concentration. 

“How are you really doing?” William asked quietly. “With the work situation.” 

I’d texted him last night with a brief update about Sheila’s power play and my one–month death sentence. 

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Chapter 19 

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“Managing. Barely.” 

“Let me make some calls. I know people who-” 

“No.” I cut him off gently. “I appreciate it, William. But I need to do this myself.” 

“You are capable, you know. You’ve been running that company successfully for three years.” 

“Tell that to my board of directors.” 

He studied my face. “You’re sure? One phone call could secure you three major contracts.” 

“I’m sure. If I can’t do this on my own, then maybe Sheila’s right.” 

William looked like he wanted to argue. But he nodded instead. “Okay. But promise me—if you really need help, you’ll ask.” 

“Deal.” 

He pulled me into a quick hug. Brotherly, comfortable, safe. 

“You’ve got this, Laila. I know you do.” 

The sound of my real name, spoken so casually. A gift I didn’t deserve. 

After he left, I returned to Ava’s bedside. She was coloring a purple unicorn with intense concentration, her little tongue still poking out. 

“Uncle William’s nice,” she said without looking up. 

“He is.” 

“He brings you coffee the way you like it. And he knows my favorite pastries without asking.” 

“That’s because he pays attention.” 

Ava set down her crayon. Looked at me with those too–knowing eyes that saw everything. 

“Mama? Are you sure you’re not going to marry Uncle William?” 

The question knocked the air clean out of my lungs. 

“What? No. Honey, we’re just friends.” 

“But he takes care of us. And he makes you smile for real. Isn’t that what daddies do?” 

God. How did I explain this without breaking something? 

“Uncle William is family. But not that kind. He’s more like a brother. Or a really good friend who helps us when things get hard.” 

“Oh.” She processed this, went back to coloring. 

Movement in the doorway caught my attention. 

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Chapter 19 

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My heart stopped dead. 

Jason stood in the hallway. Watching us through the window. 

How long had he been standing there? What had he seen? 

His eyes met mine–dark and intense. Calculating in a way that made my stomach drop straight through the floor. 

He’d witnessed everything. William’s arrival. The easy affection. 

And now he was putting pieces together in that sharp mind of his. 

I forced myself to hold his gaze. Refused to look away first, even though every instinct screamed at me to run. 

But inside, panic was building like a tsunami. 

Because I could see the questions forming in his expression. 

And I had no good answers to give him. 

None at all. 

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