Our Wedding Was Ruined and I Found a Husband 41

Chapter 41 

“You make Mommy nervous,” she said matter–of–factly. 

“Yeah?” 

“Uh–huh. She gets all stiff when you’re aroun 

I didn’t know what to do with that observation. 

“Who was that guy?” I asked, keeping my 

Like she’s trying really hard to remember something important.” 

“Uncle William!” She said it like I’d act ice casual. “Uncle William?” 

we got chocolate croissants!” 

Every day. Naturally. 

“Your mom’s friend?” 

who the president was. “He brings me breakfast every single day. Today 

“Mommy’s best friend. He’s been around since I was tiny” tiny.” 

Since she was born. 

She went back to her coloring. “Like, since I was born 

This man had witnessed everything. Earned the title “Uncle” through years of showing up. 

‘I shouldn‘ 

“Does Uncle William visit be interrogating a six–year–old. This wasn’t remotely my business. 

But I couldn’t stop myself. 

“Uh–huh. Sometimes he takes me to the park. And he helps Mommy when work makes her stressed.” Ava picked at her hospital bracelet. “Mommy says he 

family.” 

Family. 

My wolf despised that word. 

“Is he…” I hesitated. “Is Uncle William your daddy?” 

Ava’s expression turned contemplative. 

“No,” she said simply. “I asked Mommy th 

like brother–family.” 

“Do you want him to be?” 

once. She said Uncle William is family, but not daddy–family. More 

“I dunno.” She twisted the blanket between small fingers. “Sometimes I wish I had a daddy like other kids at 

school. Uncle William is really nice1117 

“But what?” 

“He doesn’t look at Mommy the way d. 1ook at mommies on TV.” She delivered this with startling matter–of 

-factness. “He looks at her like… like she’s his friend who he worries about constantly.” 

Perceptive kid. 

“Maybe that’s because they care about each other in different ways,” I offered. 

“Maybe.” Ava didn’t sound convinced. 

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Before I could respond, footsteps approached. 

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Vanessa appeared in the doorway, slightly breathless. between us suspiciously. “Everything okay here?” 

aught him just as he was getting in his car.” She looked 

“Perfect,” I said, standing. “We were just talking about coloring books.” 

Ava giggled. “No, we weren’t.” 

“Ava.” Vanessa’s tone carried warning. 

“What? We were talking about daddies and-” 

“Ava. Enough.” Vanessa’s expression had gone carefully blank. She turned to me. “I think you should go now, Jason.” 

“Of course.” I moved toward the door, paused beside her. Kept my voice low. “For what it’s worth, you’re doing an incredible job with her.” 

Something flickered in her eyes. Surprise, maybe. Or pain. 

“Thank you,” she said quietly. “But you still need to leave.” 

In the hallway, my phone buzzed. Marcus. 

“Hey, I’m outside. Ready to head to the office?” 

“Yeah. Be right there.” 

I made my way to the parking lot where Marcus leaned against his car. He glanced up when I approached. 

“How’d it go with Vanessa?” 

“Fine.” I climbed into the passenger seat, my mind still spinning. 

Marcus started the engine but didn’t pull out. “You alright? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” 

“William Chen was there.” 

“Chen?” Marcus’s eyebrows shot up. “The automotive guy? What was he doing at the hospital?” 

“Visiting Ava. Apparently he’s Vanessa’s best friend. The kid calls him Uncle William.” 

Marcus let out a low whistle. “Well, that’s unexpected.” He studied me carefully. “You gonna have a problem working with him? We just signed that partnership deal.” 

I forced myself to consider the question objectively. Did I like that William Chen had some kind of family relationship with Vanessa and her daughter? Hell no. Did I trust the possessive instinct making my wolf pace restlessly? 

Absolutely not. 

But business was business. 

“My personal feelings won’t affect my professional judgment,” I said firmly. “Chen’s company is solid. Whatever his relationship with Vanessa is, that’s separate.” 

“You sure about that?” 

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“I’m sure.” I met his gaze steadily. “I don’t have to like the guy to work with him.” 

Even if saying those words felt like swallowing glass. 

Marcus nodded slowly. “Alright. Chen’s been professional so far. I’d hate to lose that partnership over…” He trailed off. 

“Over nothing,” I finished. 

“Right.” 

But as Marcus pulled out of the parking lot, I couldn’t stop thinking about William Chen’s hand on Vanessa’s 

talked a shoulder. The easy familiarity between them. The way Ava’s face lit up when she him. 

Nothing, I told myself again. 

My wolf didn’t believe it for a second. 

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