All Chapters of THE ROSE TATTOO, The Billionaire Secret Heir: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

ANDREA’S POVI sat beside Lily’s bed, tracing small circles on the back of her hand while the monitors beeped their steady rhythm. Afternoon light filtered through the half-drawn blinds and cast soft shadows across her peaceful face. She had woken up twice already, managed a few sips of water, and even asked for her stuffed bear. The doctors called her progress remarkable. I called it a miracle. My shoulders still carried the heavy ache from days of tension, but watching her breathe on her own brought a fragile peace I clung to.Ryder paced near the window, his phone tucked away for once. He had stayed glued to the room since the surgery, only leaving for quick showers and coffee runs. Something weighed on him today beyond the usual worry. I could see it in the set of his jaw and the way he kept glancing at me when he thought I wasn’t looking. He stopped pacing and dragged a chair closer to mine. The metal legs scraped against the floor. Lily stirred but settled back into sleep. Ryd

ANDREA’S POVI checked my reflection one last time in the hallway mirror. The simple white blouse and jeans felt comfortable for a full day of shopping. A couple of days had passed since the hospital conversations, and Lily continued to improve with each passing hour. Blair’s arrival this morning added a new burst of energy to the house. The doorbell rang again, and I opened it to find my best friend standing there with two large tote bags slung over her shoulders and determination written all over her face. “Are you ready to turn this small ceremony into something unforgettable?” Blair asked as she stepped inside and hugged me tightly. Her perfume, a mix of vanilla and citrus, wrapped around me like comfort. “I took the week off from client fittings. We have work to do.” I laughed and closed the door behind her. “I keep telling everyone I want something tiny. Close friends, family, maybe in the garden if Lily feels strong enough. No big production.” Blair dropped her bags on the c

ANDREA’S POVI stood in the middle of my living room the next morning, surrounded by half-filled cardboard boxes. Sunlight streamed through the familiar windows and landed on the worn couch where Lily had taken her first steps five years ago. The house felt smaller now, every corner crowded with memories I was about to pack away. Grandfather had insisted I move in with Ryder immediately rather than wait until after the wedding. He worried about how it would look to the press if we only shared a roof after the honeymoon. I had argued at first, but his logic won out in the end. So here I was, folding clothes and wrapping dishes, preparing to leave the only real home Lily and I had known. Blair moved through the hallway with another empty box in her arms. She had stayed over last night to help, and her presence kept me from drowning in the silence. She set the box down near the coffee table and wiped her hands on her jeans. “Which room is next?” she asked cheerfully. “I can tackle the

ANDREA’S POV I stared at the stack of documents in my lap, fingers tracing the official seals and my own name printed clearly as the sole owner. The house I had cried over yesterday while packing now belonged to me completely. Ryder had bought it outright and placed it in my name without a single word of discussion. My hands trembled slightly as I flipped through the pages again, reading the legal language that confirmed everything. The living room felt suddenly smaller, the weight of this gesture pressing down on me in the best and most overwhelming way.“Why did you do this?” I asked, my voice coming out softer than I intended. I looked up at Ryder, searching his face for answers. “This must have cost a fortune. You did not have to buy my old house.”Ryder shifted closer on the couch until our knees touched. He took the papers gently from my hands and set them on the coffee table before taking both of my hands in his. His palms felt warm and steady, grounding me in the moment.“I o

ANDREA’S POVThe drive home passed in heavy silence. I stared out the window at the passing streets, my mind trapped in loops I could not escape. The confrontation with my father replayed constantly. His angry words, the public humiliation, the old wounds ripped open in front of Ryder and Lily. Even when Lily reached from her car seat and squeezed my hand, trying to get me to play our usual road trip game, I could only manage a weak, fake smile.“Are you okay, Mommy?” she asked for the third time, her small voice full of worry. “I am fine, sweetheart,” I lied, squeezing her fingers back. “Just a little tired.” Ryder glanced at me from the driver’s seat. He said nothing, but I felt his concern like a physical weight. He knew. Of course he knew. The man noticed everything.When we finally pulled into the driveway, Ryder turned off the engine and looked at me. “Go upstairs and rest. I will handle Lily tonight.” I wanted to argue, to say I could manage, but the exhaustion sat too deep