Flynn took in the sight of the girl in old pajamas with cartoon prints—washed so many times they'd faded into something almost sad. His nose wrinkled, but he couldn't stomach the lumpy couch, so he lowered himself onto the bed beside her.

In thirty years, he'd never once shared a bed with anyone. And now it was with a girl barely out of her teens. The thought twisted something inside him, leaving him deeply conflicted.

He had to find a way to get her to show her true colors fast, so *she'd* be the one to push for a divorce.

As if she trusted him completely, Julissa sank into sleep almost instantly, her breathing evening out into a soft, steady rhythm. She looked… oddly comfortable.

Flynn, on the other hand, was wide awake. He'd braced himself for some sort of seductive move, but instead got nothing but the quiet, innocent breathing of a girl who was clearly out cold.

*Damn it.* She couldn't care less about his physique. Or maybe…

Was he not good-looking enough?

Flynn plunged into a pit of insecurity.

---

The next morning, when Julissa woke, Flynn was already gone. She sat up, eyeing the empty space beside her, and her cheeks flushed a sudden shade of pink.

He really was considerate—a husband who actually respected his wife.

Maybe it was the restful sleep, but Julissa felt lighter than air that morning. With plans to take Abel and Kori to preschool, she hurried to wash up and pull together some breakfast.

To her surprise, Flynn was already at the table, dressed sharply, leisurely munching on a bagel and sipping his coffee.

When he spotted her, he said coolly, “Get the kids ready. After they eat, take ’em to preschool.”

Julissa herded her little brother and sister through washing up, then settled them down to eat. Abel beamed at Flynn. “Morning, brother-in-law!”

“Morning,” Flynn replied, his tone casual. He rose after finishing his meal and told Julissa, “I’ve already sorted out the preschool. The tuition’s covered; you just need to drop them off with the teacher. I’ve got to head to work now. Call me if anything comes up.”

Checking the time, Julissa nodded. “Okay, take care.”

Before leaving, Flynn added, “Oh, and leave the dishes—I’ll handle them after work.” He’d ordered breakfast delivered because cooking was, in his book, a colossal hassle.

Julissa couldn’t believe her luck. She’d landed a husband who barely expected anything from her—just looking after the kids. As she fed Kori a slice of spiced honey cake, she caught herself smiling, watching Flynn walk away.

At the door, Flynn paused and turned back. “You haven’t touched the card I gave you?”

He’d set up spending alerts and hadn’t gotten a single notification. Was Julissa too nervous to spend his money, or just waiting for the right moment?

Julissa glanced up. “No, I’ve still got some savings, and I just got paid. I haven’t needed it.” She hadn’t even checked the balance; the card was still untouched in her purse.

Flynn’s jaw tightened, his handsome face unreadable. He’d pegged her as a gold-digger, so the fact that she wasn’t spending a dime stung his pride.

“Use it,” he insisted. “I’ve noticed you don’t have many clothes. After you drop the kids off, go grab yourself some new stuff—and pick up a few things for them, too. If you need more money, just say so.”

He was dead certain she’d jump at the chance to go on a shopping spree.

Not wanting to hold him up, Julissa nodded quickly. “Okay, I’ll go shopping after I drop them off.”

With that, Flynn left. Julissa refocused on the little ones. After feeding them and dropping them at the nearby preschool, she hurried home to tidy up before heading to work.

On her way, her phone rang. It was her cousin, Gabriela. “Julissa, I heard from my mom that you up and got married?”

Julissa had a decent relationship with Gabriela, even though her cousin was timid and overly obedient to her parents. During the year Julissa had lived with them, Gabriela hadn’t been able to help her much.

Knowing she was just concerned, Julissa didn’t bother denying it. “Yeah, I got married.”

“Why the rush? My mom’s saying you married some older guy who’s divorced with a kid?”

Julissa frowned. *Divorced?* As far as she knew, this was a first marriage for both of them. Just another one of her aunt’s wild assumptions. Still, if her aunt got wind that she was doing okay, she’d probably try to wring a bride price out of Flynn. So Julissa answered lightly, “Mm-hmm, my husband’s older and has a kid, but he’s super caring.”

“Julissa, this is so hasty. Did you do this because you couldn’t stand living with us anymore, or to get away from the guy my mom wanted to set you up with? Do you even know this man? How much older is he? Are you sure this isn’t a mistake?”

Gabriela’s worry was real, but she knew she was powerless to help. She had her own mess to deal with—her parents were forcing her into a marriage just to get the dowry they demanded. Overwhelmed, Gabriela buried her face in her hands and started to cry.

Julissa didn’t pick up on her cousin’s distress. “My husband’s ten years older. We haven’t known each other long, but he’s a good guy. Don’t worry, Gabriela—I’m fine, and Abel is too.”

“Okay. I’ll try to visit when I can. But keep your location a secret, okay? If my mom finds out where you are, she’ll come after you.”

Julissa agreed. “Got it. I’m heading to work now—gotta go.”

After hanging up, she rushed to catch the subway. She worked at a high-end luxury hotel downtown. Even though she hadn’t gone to college, her knack for languages was a huge plus with international guests, and her looks sure hadn’t hurt during the interview.

The hotel was super swanky, with killer pay and benefits. The shifts were flexible, so she worked nine-to-five—which suited her, even though the pay was lower than the night shift. Her base salary was around $700 a month, plus bonuses.

Julissa was content with her job, which was why she’d taken a week off rather than quitting.

When she reached the hotel, she quickly changed into her uniform and slipped discreetly behind the front desk. Her two close work friends were already there.

They spotted her and greeted her like a long-lost sister. “Did you run off and elope or something? You were gone for an entire week!”

Julissa laughed. “Yeah, I went home and got hitched.”

“Oh, come on! But seriously—is your sister feeling better?”

They knew she’d taken leave because her sister was in the hospital. One of them, Alora, suddenly remembered something. “Wait, I thought you had a brother? How come you’re also taking care of a sister? Don’t tell me you’ve got both?”

Julissa nodded. “Yeah, I’ve got a brother and a sister.”

“Oh, honey, that’s gotta be so tough. With your parents gone, looking after them both… Julissa, if you ever need anything, we’re here for you.”

“Yeah, and if you ever need cash, don’t be shy,” came a muffled voice from under the counter.

Leaning down, Julissa spotted her other colleague, Elodie, tucked out of sight from the security cameras, chomping on a sandwich like she hadn’t eaten in days.

Julissa chuckled. “Aren’t you worried the manager will bust you?”

“What’s to be scared of? Worst-case scenario, I get canned!” Elodie shrugged, still munching contentedly.

That wasn’t surprising, given that the hotel actually belonged to her cousin. School had never been her thing, so her parents had foisted her onto Flynn for some real-world work experience.

At Amazon's headquarters, Dalton Williamson stepped into the office and saw Flynn Greene completely lost in his work, totally oblivious to the time. Dalton walked over and gently reminded him, "Boss, it's quitting time. You heading back to the mansion or the townhouse?"

Hearing Dalton's voice, Flynn glanced at the clock on his computer screen. The workday was indeed over. He swiftly wrapped up his tasks and told Dalton, "I'll head to the townhouse."

After all, he'd just gotten married, and leaving Kori with Julissa at the hospital for a week without so much as checking in was already damn neglectful. If he didn't go home and act like a husband, he'd be no better than his own father—who'd checked out early, in more ways than one.

No matter why Julissa had married him, Flynn was determined to do right by her.

Dalton hesitated, then added, "But the estate called earlier. They're expecting you tonight."

"Why?" Flynn asked as he grabbed his coat and strode purposefully toward the door, Dalton scrambling to keep up.

"Not sure on the details. It was at your mother's request."

"I'll call her back," Flynn decided, dialing his mom's number once they were in the car.

His mother picked up on the first ring, her voice as calm and steady as ever. "Flynn, are you on your way home?"

"No, I haven't had a chance to swing by lately. Is something up?" Flynn asked patiently.

His mother spoke in that gentle, soothing tone of hers, like a quiet stream. "It's about your grandmother being willing to accept little Kori. Why don't you bring her home?"

Flynn's father had once been hell-bent on divorcing his mother, even if it meant cutting ties with the family to marry another woman. Despite the deep hurt he'd caused, his mother saw no point in holding grudges against someone who was no longer alive.

Now, with a three-year-old child left behind outside the family, she thought it was wrong not to take her in. After some thought, Flynn's grandmother agreed the child should be welcomed home.

Flynn fell silent, stunned his family was open to accepting Kori. But wouldn't it tear his mother apart to see her? His father hadn't treated her well when he was alive, and even in death, he'd left behind a mess for the family to untangle. Why the hell should Flynn let that happen?

The kid was innocent, sure, but as her brother, Flynn would rather take care of her himself than drag her into family drama. With those thoughts, he told his mother, "I'll look after Kori on my own, so there's no need to bring her back. Tell Grandmother she'll be raised right—as part of this family."

Sensing her son's concern for her feelings, his mother didn't push it. She went on, "Alright, if you'd rather handle it yourself, I'll respect that. Your grandmother also wanted you back to meet a young lady from the Collins family."

The whole dating thing worried her—Flynn was already thirty and still single, after all.

Flynn frowned, realizing this was about some setup. But having just gotten hitched, he said, "Mom, you don't need to stress over my love life. I'll find someone I genuinely click with. When I do, I'll bring her to meet you."

His mother sighed, a trace of helplessness in her voice. "Flynn, if you actually made that a priority, your grandmother wouldn't be riding my case all the time. Your cousins aren't seriously looking either, and as the eldest, you should set an example."

Knowing how swamped he was running the corporation and now caring for his father's child, his mother didn't press further. "Alright, if you're not coming, I'll let your grandmother know. Take care of yourself, and don't overdo it. For once, delegate something to your cousins."

"I know," Flynn replied before ending the call. Leaning back into the car seat, he felt a mix of ease and duty, mulling over his mother's advice about finding a partner. His thoughts drifted to the girl he'd just married.

He checked his phone and saw a notification for a measly thousand-dollar charge. What could she possibly buy with that?

Turning to Dalton, he asked, "Why do you think she hasn't dropped more money?"

Dalton mused, "Maybe she knows how hard it is to earn, dealing with car payments and a mortgage?"

Flynn scoffed. "What girl is that considerate these days?"

"Maybe she is," Dalton insisted. "Could be Julissa just wants a stable life with someone who treats her right."

Flynn let out a skeptical laugh. A girl that young, not even focused on her studies—she couldn't possibly be into a quiet, simple life. He stayed suspicious, convinced she was holding out for something bigger.

Tonight, he decided, he'd figure out what the hell she was really after.

Flynn got home at seven. Julissa, who'd picked up the kids after work and shopped for some clothes, was in the kitchen making dinner. Hearing the door, she peeked out, spotted Flynn in his sharp business suit—every inch the man in charge—and grinned, waving the spatula. "You're back!"

As Flynn kicked off his shoes, he saw her in that apron, and glanced at the kids playing quietly in the living room. After hanging up his coat, he made a beeline for the kitchen.

"Didn't I say leave the chores to me?" Flynn said, taking the spatula from her hands. "Take off the apron and help the kids with their homework. I'll cook."

Julissa hesitated. "I wanted to make dinner for you. The kids are behaving great, no trouble at all. See how quiet they are?"

"No," Flynn insisted, stepping behind her to untie her apron and fasten it around his own waist. "Go on."

Left with no choice, Julissa left the kitchen but lingered in the doorway, teasing, "Why won't you let me cook? Scared it'll taste like crap or I'll burn the place down?"

Flynn, sleeves rolled up, had already started prepping the meal. Without looking back, he answered, "A man doesn't marry a wife just to cook and clean. Your job is to take care of those two little ones—don't worry about anything else."

Men don't marry wives just to handle chores...

Julissa felt her heart flutter at her husband's words. She had to admit, she didn't fully get the man in front of her—now turned away, busy working. Still, his actions gave her something she hadn't felt in a long time: peace, and a quiet sense of security.

She even felt a little lucky. Rushing into marriage, only to end up with a man who genuinely cared. With a shy smile, she turned happily toward her brother and sister.

Flynn picked things up fast. After that first meal, he felt way more confident about the next. Julissa had already made two dishes earlier, so he quickly set out four more and a stew.

After dinner, Flynn still refused to let Julissa touch the dishes. Once the kids were down and she'd finished tucking them in, he called her into the living room and pressed a bank card into her hand.

Julissa looked up at him, curiosity swimming in her eyes. "What's this for?"

"Your aunt was going on about a dowry, wasn't she? There's thirty grand in here. Take it."

Realization hit. She stared at the card in his hand, hesitating, feeling uneasy about taking it. Her face shifted. "I don't need it."

"You sure?" Flynn arched a brow, baffled. Who in their right mind turned down money? Unless she thought thirty grand wasn't enough?

Julissa met his eyes. "I told you—I don't owe my aunt a thing. Don't let her get to you. Besides, you've got car payments, a mortgage. How'd you come up with thirty grand that fast? You borrow it?"

Flynn pressed his lips together, scrambling for an excuse. "Didn't I mention? I closed a new deal, got paid. Every bride deserves something. So just take it, okay?"

He tried handing it over again, but Julissa took it only to shove it back. "Even if you made some money, you should put it toward your loans. No need to give it to me."

"Why not? It's not enough?" Flynn's frustration was mounting. He'd never met someone so damn hard to please. Impatience crawling in, he cut to the chase. "Just name your price, and I'll wire it all at once."

Those words blindsided Julissa, igniting a hot flash of anger. Her big eyes, bright as stars, swam with hurt. "You think I married you for money? Is that really what you think of me?"

Remembering the thousand bucks she'd dropped on clothes for her siblings today, humiliation washed over her. She pulled the household card out of her purse and handed it back. "I only spent a little over a grand on clothes today. But I won't touch your money again. I can make my own."

Turning away, eyes reddening, she refused to look at him, fighting back the tears. Sure, she picked this husband, but she couldn't control what he thought of her. Fine. From now on, they'd just split everything fifty-fifty.

Flynn was stunned—he hadn't realized he'd wounded her pride. Seeing her on the verge of tears, eyes red, left him helpless. He reached out, wanting to turn her around, but caught himself and pulled back, trying to clarify. "Maybe I said it wrong. Look, we're married, so you deserve the same as any wife. Whatever others have, you should have, too."

"There's no need. I didn't marry you for a dowry. I just wanted a man who treats me right, and who accepts my brother." Still stinging, Julissa got to her feet. "I'm going to bed. You have work tomorrow—get some sleep."

Flynn watched her retreat into the bedroom, card in hand, utterly confused. What'd he do wrong? Wasn't a dowry a part of every marriage? Then why'd she get so upset when he tried to give it to her?

As he mulled it over, he noticed the household card she'd returned—giving him more to chew on.

She came back out, thrusting the receipts at him. "Here. The receipts for the clothes I bought my sister and brother. $1,070 total."

She set the receipts on the table and turned to go again, but Flynn wasn't having any of it. "Hold up. Sit. We need to talk."

Julissa stopped, sitting reluctantly, still visibly upset.

Flynn tossed the receipts straight into the trash and held out both cards again. "Take them."

"I don't want them. From now on, we go fifty-fifty on everything. I'll buy the groceries, you cook, and I'll do the dishes." She wanted things fair—didn't want anyone feeling taken for a ride. She had a job. Her salary was enough for her and her brother.

Seeing how pissed she was, Flynn felt helpless but had to get his point across. "You need to get that, legally, we're married. Have you ever seen a marriage where everything's separate? At least for me, my wife should be taken care of by me. If you're gonna insist on splitting everything—what's the point of this marriage, then?"

Flynn was torn. Here he thought she'd married him for his money, but she was turning it down—and getting pissed about it. It bruised his ego.

Julissa dropped her head, letting it all out. "I married you because you seemed mature. Stable. I never once thought about a dowry. I told you—don't worry about my aunt. But you still tried to pay me off tonight, like you had to keep me happy. If I wanted money, I could've asked before the wedding. Was he really that clueless? Obviously, there was something about him she actually liked, or she wouldn't have married him. He was being unreasonable."

Flynn was perplexed. Did she think he was too old or something? He was only thirty. Refusing to argue further, he stuck to his guns. "Regardless, take the money. It's a matter of principle. You can do whatever with it. Don't give it back, or I'll have to rethink this whole thing between us."