Julissa took a bite of Flynn's cooking and was genuinely taken aback by how amazing it tasted. She smiled at the man across the table. "This is seriously good. Are you sure this is your first time cooking? Doesn't taste like it at all."

Flynn picked up the serving tongs, dropping some pulled pork into Kori's bowl and then Abel's, before his gaze returned to Julissa. "Cooking's easy if you've got hands, right? What's so hard about it?" His confidence was impossible to miss.

Julissa let out an awkward chuckle, thinking that cooking definitely wasn't that simple. She remembered the countless times she'd failed before finally getting something right. Even now, she could only manage basic dishes. The braised ribs Flynn had made were totally out of her league. She felt a wave of gratitude for her capable husband. Sure, he could be cold at times—maybe it was just his nature—but he still seemed caring enough. With a quiet smile, she kept eating, noticing that even the plain bread rolls had an oddly sweet taste today.

Abel, beside her, looked like he was starving, wolfing down his food without a single complaint. Kori, on the other hand, had stopped mid-bite, tiny spoon in hand, just watching her brother eat without taking a bite herself.

Flynn noticed and snapped, his patience running thin, "What are you staring at? Eat what's in your bowl."

Kori ignored him completely, still fixated on Abel, spoon not moving an inch.

Julissa quickly stepped in to coax her. "Kori, finish your food and then we can go outside and play, okay?"

"It's gross. I don't wanna eat it," Kori shot back defiantly, dropping the spoon and sliding off her chair to cling to Abel. "Abel, let's play hide and seek," she whispered.

Abel set his fork down and gently took his sister's hand. "But we gotta eat first. Eating good food helps you grow big and strong."

Seeing Flynn's irritated expression, Julissa quickly scooped Kori up and settled her on her lap, trying again. "Come on, Kori. Let me help you eat."

"But it tastes yucky," Kori whined.

Kori was notoriously picky, and even though Flynn's cooking was perfectly seasoned, it just didn't appeal to her. It was a direct hit to Flynn's usually unshakable confidence, his brow creasing in frustration.

Julissa glanced at him and shifted Kori on her lap, keeping her voice bright. "It really is yummy, just give it a try."

Abel, sweet as always, grabbed another piece of pulled pork and put on a show, acting like it was the best thing ever. "This is soooo good, Kori! I've never had a meal this amazing. Better try some before I eat it all up."

Motivated by her brother, Kori reluctantly took a tiny bite, but she still wasn't impressed. She ate just a little before hopping off Julissa's lap to wander around the room.

Julissa trailed after her, plate in hand, sneaking in a bite every time Kori paused. Kori's picky eating was clearly getting on Flynn's nerves, and he said coolly, "If she won't eat, leave her be. When she gets hungry enough, she'll eat."

But Julissa felt Kori was just too little, and being finicky was normal. She kept at it patiently, eventually managing to get half a plate into her by the time dinner ended, even though the food had gone cold.

As Julissa started clearing the table, Flynn took the dishes right out of her hands. "Sit down. I'll handle the cleanup."

Guilt washed over her, and she protested, "I should do it. You cooked, so I'll do the dishes. It's only fair."

"Your job here is to look after the kids. You don't need to worry about anything else," Flynn stated firmly, already heading to the kitchen with the dishes in hand. He hated the time-consuming chores, but he'd rather do them himself than add to her load while she had her hands full with Kori.

Julissa watched him go, a fluttering, unexpected joy blooming in her chest. Taking his advice, she returned to the living room to spend time with the kids.

Just as Flynn finished wiping down the kitchen, his phone buzzed. It was Dalton. "Boss, I looked into it. The woman at the hospital really is Ms. Greene's aunt. After Ms. Greene's parents died in that crash a year ago, their house got sold to cover debts, and the siblings have been living with her since."

"Her aunt's a real piece of work. She showed up at the hospital demanding Ms. Greene come back home because of some thirty-thousand-dollar dowry. When I blew her off, she started haggling over the cash. Should we just pay her?" Dalton asked.

Flynn hadn't expected the hospital scene to be legit. His jaw tightened. "Pay up, of course. But why the hell should her aunt get a dime?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'll hand the money over to Julissa. She can decide what to do with it. As for her aunt? There's no need to cater to her demands."

Ending the call, Flynn stood on the balcony, gazing at Julissa as she played with the kids on the sofa. Their laughter filled the room, a warmth he couldn't deny. Yet, the cynic in him warned against being fooled by appearances. Sometimes the most innocent faces hid the biggest agendas. Why else would someone so young rush into marriage if not for a safety net?

He'd wait. Her true colors would show themselves sooner or later.

Julissa, catching Flynn's eye, picked up Kori. "They didn't really get proper baths at the hospital. I'm gonna give them a good wash now."

Flynn nodded, settling onto the small living room sofa in the cozy space. Despite the modest surroundings, his presence felt larger than life, almost out of place.

Julissa's heart brimmed with contentment as she herded the kids to the bathroom. Two hours passed before they were done, and it was nearly ten p.m.

Abel darted over to Flynn, eager to sneak a peek at his phone. Julissa quickly called out, "Abel, bedtime. You've got school tomorrow, early."

Abel obediently slid off the sofa, following her but stopping to ask, "Sis, there are only two beds. Where am I sleeping?"

Julissa decided quickly, "You'll sleep with Flynn, and I'll take Kori."

Abel glanced back at Flynn, who sat there stony-faced, glued to his phone. Unnerved by his stern look, Abel shook his head firmly. "No way. I wanna sleep with Kori. You sleep with your husband."

His words brought a rush of heat to Julissa's cheeks. Her gaze darted to Flynn instinctively, and he looked up at that exact moment, their eyes locking. His stunningly handsome face sent her heart racing.

Caught in his direct stare, Julissa quickly averted her eyes and insisted to Abel, "Abel, be a good boy. Sleep over here."

"Nope. I like sleeping with Kori. You go sleep with Flynn," Abel replied, waving his hands before pulling Kori close and whispering, "We'll sleep together, okay? Let them share a bed, and maybe they'll make us a little sibling to play with. How about that?"

Kori's eyes lit up at Abel's idea—it sounded like a fun game to her. She giggled and nodded eagerly. "Sure! I want a little monkey."

"Alright then, off to bed we go."

Without even a backward glance at his sister and brother-in-law, Abel took Kori's hand and led her into the second bedroom. As he closed the door, he shot the adults a mischievous grin. "Goodnight, you two. Go make that little monkey!"

Julissa and Flynn were left in a sudden, awkward silence—caught somewhere between discomfort and amusement.

Julissa finally broke the silence, drawing in a deep breath before turning to Flynn with a tentative smile. "You can take the master bedroom. I'll squeeze in with Abel and Kori."

It wasn't that she was against sharing a bed with her husband. She'd only just met him, though, so everything felt a little too fast. Better to let things happen naturally.

Just as Julissa was about to slip away to the second bedroom, Flynn's quiet voice stopped her in her tracks. "The bed's not that big. How exactly are you planning to fit in with them? We're married now—aren't we past the whole shy-about-sharing-a-bed thing?"

Julissa froze, her feet rooted to the floor as uncertainty took hold. Flynn assumed she was waiting for him to make the first move. Was she playing hard to get? If he caved first, she might get bold enough to start making demands.

Not about to give her that satisfaction, Flynn simply said, "I'm going to shower," and brushed past her into the bathroom.

As the bathroom door clicked shut, an image flickered through Julissa's mind—a tall, gorgeous man standing under the shower, water streaming over his sculpted face and toned body. The thought was so vivid it sent warmth rushing to her cheeks, and she quickly shook it off.

She took a steadying breath. Sleeping beside a man she'd just met? Intimidating didn't even cover it. When she tried to join Abel and Kori, she found them already cuddled up in the small double bed, taking up every inch. There was no room for her.

So with no other option, Julissa headed back to the master bedroom. She sized up the bed—it was big enough for two, plenty of space to keep a respectful distance.

Steeling herself, she slipped under the covers on one side and waited for Flynn to finish his shower. They were married, after all. No point in pretending at propriety now. It was just... practical.

Flynn stepped out of the shower wrapped in a bathrobe and found the living room empty. Towel-drying his hair, he walked into the master bedroom and stopped short at the sight of Julissa already tucked under the covers.

He stood at the foot of the bed, just watching her. He could sense she was waiting for him. Mixed emotions churned in his chest, almost making him second-guess himself.

Julissa's soft voice broke through his thoughts. "Do you want me to find a hairdryer for you?"

"No, I'm fine," he said, hesitating. But why should he leave? This was his house, his bed. Was he really about to end up on the couch?

Determined to figure out her real intentions, Flynn started to change right then and there, not bothering to be discreet.

Julissa caught on to what he was doing and fought the urge to look away. She knew full well she had every right to watch—he was her husband—but a fierce blush still burned her cheeks. In the end, she gave in to the embarrassment and ducked her head under the covers, hiding her eyes.

Flynn noticed her retreat and let out a soft chuckle. He didn't mind. He quickly pulled on his pajama pants and climbed into bed beside her, tugging at the blanket. "Seriously? You're just gonna sleep like that?"

"No," Julissa murmured, peeking out from beneath the cover. She risked one quick glance at Flynn, then turned over, giving him her back, and whispered, "Goodnight."

Flynn felt a little thrown. That was it? No move to reach out or break the ice? Could she really be that restrained? He found it hard to believe. Bet by the end of the night, she'd be shifting closer, maybe even touching him.

Should he stay? Or was the couch the smarter move after all?

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.