All Chapters of LOST IN THE BILLIONAIRE'S SCANDAL: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Maya's PovI tried not to freak out.Tried to breathe, to think.Lee's skin burned under my hand, her small body twisting against the bed. Her dark curls were slicked with sweat to her forehead, and every shattered whimper of hers shattered my heart further open.I ran to the bathroom, grabbed a cloth, and plunged it into cold water, then pressed it gently to her forehead. Her eyelashes fluttered, her lips shaping something I couldn't hear."It's okay, baby. Mommy's here," I whispered, even though I had no clue if anything I was doing was working.I searched through my bag with trembling hands for the fever medicine for children. I always kept one incase of emergencies like this. My hands closed around the almost-full bottle, but even as I tilted it over onto the spoon, doubt crept in. Would it be enough? Was it too late already?Lee whined, folding in on herself, her face flushed burning hot, angry red.A wave of helplessness washed over me. I couldn't fix this.Not alone.I pressed

Adam cursed and yanked his phone out of his pocket, his hands fumbling all over the screen.I walked Sami over to the couch and set him down gently. My hands fumbled for a cloth, something, anything and I finally grabbed one in the TV basket. I sprinted to the kitchen, dipped it in cold water, and ran back.Carefully, I pressed the damp cloth against Sami's forehead, then wrists, and his neck, wherever I could cool him. His skin was so hot it felt like it might burn my hands."Come on, sweetheart," I whispered, rubbing the wet cloth across his burned skin. "Stay with me. You're going to be fine. You're very brave, aren't you?"Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Adam pacing up and down like a zoo animal, phone pressed hard against his ear."Pick up, pick up," he moaned in distress.Finally, someone answered."Nathan, it's Adam," he said quickly, his voice strained. "I need you... Sami's having a fever. He was fine this morning, but now…"He halted, listening. I kept wiping Sami do

Adam gave a strained smile at Lee's innocent question, running a hand through his rough hair.He looked uneasy but his voice was casual, his tone almost drawling with fatigue."Your mommy is very nice, Lee," he said, his voice relaxed, like it wasn't meant to say anything.I smiled warmly but said nothing. I just leaned forward and planted a kiss on the top of Lee's head. “Let me go freshen up a bit," I said lightly. "I'll be back in a minute."Lee nodded, her fingers still playing distractedly with the edge of her blanket.I slipped quietly out of the room, not shutting the door completely behind me but I didn't go far, just out into the hall, in need of some air.Shortly After, Adam came out with an excuse that he had to rush to the office to fix something real quick. I assured him the kids will be alright and nudged him to go but as he left, I couldn't help but marvel at how fast things had changed. How this childrens illness had been the game changer. Or was he just being like thi

I woke up strangely too energised considering how late I had slept. Even after putting Lee into bed last night, sleep came nowhere near me so I decided to read a book.I looked at my "Bride for rent" beside the bed and smiled. Reflecting beyond the female protagonist Raya and how similar we were… she didn't have a mute child to cater for, nor was I married to and man because of money but we had one thing in common– A suffering boss. One who was too closed off and too immersed in loss to notice the effect of his character on others. Luckily for her, her husband/boss later fell in love with her so she didn't have to continue struggling with his obnoxious attitude but for me, that would never be the case.I smiled quietly. Adam was not just emotionally unavailable, he was off-limits. A fortress of sorrow and silence. And I wasn't looking for a happily ever after anyway. I was here for one thing; to rescue Sami, and to make enough money to keep Lee safe and in comfort.Still…"That's it,

The engine of the GLE purred below me, a smooth, persistent beat that was a stark contrast to the tempest in my head. The Abuja sun shone through the tinted glass, sending momentary shadows dancing across the dashboard. The leather steering wheel was cool beneath my palms, but my hands were sweaty, revealing the commotion inside.Lee's words echoed, "Mommy gives me double love."She sure gave her all the love she had. Everything was deep and uncomplicated. Maya had come into our lives quietly, but her reality was impossible to ignore. She navigated the silence of my son, Sami, gently, never intruding, yet always present. Her presence lit the chill atmosphere in the corners of our house, refusing to let me wallow in the loss I'd so meticulously constructed.I remembered the early days after… after everything. The house was a mausoleum of memory. I missed Elena. I had built walls, not just around the house but around my heart as well. Maya's arrival was like a soft knock on those wall