That night, Layla Jensen spent the night right by Avianna's bedside. Thankfully, Avianna's stomach trouble didn’t return, and she slept soundly till morning. After helping her get dressed and ready, Layla walked Avianna downstairs to find Sebastian Knight already at the dining table.

Layla ushered Avianna over and greeted him politely, "Good morning, Mr. Knight."

"Morning."

Sebastian didn't even glance at Layla. His gaze was locked on his little girl. "Avianna, are you feeling better?"

The little girl shook her head, her bright eyes darting to Layla. "With Mommy right next to me, I feel awesome all over." She pointed to the chair beside her. "Mommy, sit next to me!"

Layla kept her eyes on Sebastian, taking a seat only after he gave a tiny nod. Throughout breakfast, she couldn't bring herself to look up. The man across from her, immaculate in his suit with the aura of a movie star, made her heart pound and her hands quiver.

Sebastian observed Layla's every little move, his thoughts cold and skeptical. She was really selling this innocent, naïve young woman act. As if he'd actually believe she was that pure and clueless. Yeah, right. This was the same woman who, right after saving his daughter, had straight-up proposed marriage and asked for a dowry the very first time they met. Innocent? Hardly. Sebastian was curious just how long she could keep this shy-girl act up.

"You should make time to get a driver's license. You'll need it to take Avianna to school and pick her up," he instructed, getting up from the table. "I'll pay for the lessons."

Layla was stunned. By the time she looked up, Sebastian had already left. She checked her phone and saw he'd already transferred $1,500 into her account. She was the one who needed the license—why should somebody else foot the bill? She was already in debt to him for $28,800. Adding more to that was the last thing she wanted.

Just as Layla was about to send the money back, her phone rang. It was her younger sister, Abby Davis. "Hey, Abby, what's up?" Layla asked patiently.

Abby hesitated, her voice apologetic. "Big sis, I really want to buy a computer, but I don't have the cash."

Layla sighed on the inside. A computer for a high school student? That could be a huge distraction, especially during crucial exam prep.

"But I need it to write and post my articles online. Please, sis, I swear it won't mess with my studies."

Layla knew Abby had a real gift for writing—she was always acing her English class. If Abby was serious about this, Layla didn't want to kill her creative spark. She remembered the money Sebastian had sent and decided to hold onto it. "How much do you need?"

"A good one runs around $1,200, but if that's too much, I can make do with a pre-owned one for about five hundred," Abby said softly.

"I'll send you the $1,200, but you have to promise it won't throw off your studies. Otherwise, I'll be really disappointed," Layla warned.

Abby's voice flooded with relief and happiness. "Thank you, big sis! I won't let you down."

Her sisters were always so responsible—Layla was sure they wouldn't waste the money. After hanging up, she transferred the $1,200 to Abby, then sent another $150 to Chloe, knowing her other sister needed money for daily expenses too.

After dropping Avianna at preschool, Layla rode the subway toward the hospital. She stared at her almost-empty bank balance, her chest squeezing with worry. She'd given her sisters the money and now had nothing left for driving lessons. If she didn't get her license, Mr. Knight would probably think she'd blown the cash.

But there was one way to earn some extra money at the hospital. Layla rushed to her shift, pulled on her white coat, and went to change Mathias Knight's bandages and hook up his IV. As she finished, she asked hesitantly, "Have you eaten breakfast yet? Do you want me to grab you something?"

Mathias pulled out his phone and sent her $75. "Sure, go ahead and get me something. Keep what's left as a tip," he said, adding more. "I've sent you money for lunch and dinner too," he went on, transferring another $300.

Watching the money flow in, Layla couldn't believe how clueless he was about money. $150 for a meal? It made her uneasy, so she protested, "Don't you think $300 for one day's meals is way too much?"

Mathias laughed. "Is it? I used to drop $1,500 a day. Just get whatever you want."

Layla was speechless. $1,500 a day to live on? What, do they eat gold? The gap between their lives was mind-blowing. Feeling a little better about it, she kept the money. Just as she turned to leave, a thought hit her, making her stop at his bedside. "That man who came to see you yesterday… was he your brother?"

If they were really related, taking money from both of them might look shady, even deceitful. What if they thought she was some kind of con artist?

Mathias grinned, looking totally relaxed. "Him? Oh, that's my uncle. He's a tough cookie. You should steer clear if you run into him."

"Okay," Layla said, and walked out.

She couldn't wrap her head around it—Sebastian, her husband, was Mathias's uncle. Which made her his aunt-in-law. The realization knocked the breath right out of her. She couldn't bring herself to take another cent from Mathias. If Sebastian ever found out, he'd for sure assume she was up to something.

Determined to find another way to make extra cash, Layla got back to her duties.

That evening, Layla Jensen was scheduled for a night shift at the hospital. That meant she couldn't pick Avianna up from school or help with her homework later. When the housekeeper brought Avianna home, her little heart sank the moment she realized Layla wasn't there.

When Sebastian Knight got back from work and found his daughter crying, he didn't waste a second. He tossed his suit jacket aside, scooped her into his arms, and gently wiped her tears away.

"What's wrong, my little star? Are you feeling okay?" he asked, his voice as soft as ever.

Avianna looked up at her father, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Daddy, did you make Mommy go away because she gave me ice cream and my tummy hurt? Why isn't she back yet?"

The little girl had never really had a mother. That empty space had always been there, a quiet ache. But ever since Layla came into her life and stayed by her side, Avianna had clung to her like a lifeline. Layla made her feel safe, seen, truly happy deep in her bones. Not being able to find her now, Avianna's first thought was that her daddy had sent Layla away—and the thought shattered her.

Sebastian checked his watch. It was already late. Where the hell was Layla? He turned to the housekeeper, his tone sharp. "Call her. Find out what's going on."

The housekeeper quickly made the call and returned moments later with the phone. "Sir, Mrs. Jensen says she's working a night shift at the hospital. She'll be back in the morning."

Sebastian faced his daughter again, keeping his voice calm. "She's working tonight, sweetheart. She'll be home in the morning."

Avianna's face crumbled even more. "Mommy works so hard, Daddy. I don't want her to be so tired."

Sebastian pulled his daughter close, soothing her gently. He'd married Layla for one reason only—to give Avianna companionship. If Layla's job kept her from being there for his little girl, then what was the point of this marriage? To ease Avianna's fears, he made a promise right then and there. "Okay, tomorrow I'll make sure she doesn't have to work like that anymore. She'll be with you every day. How does that sound?"

Avianna finally brightened, a tiny smile breaking through as she nodded eagerly. That night, Sebastian didn't bother Layla at all. The next morning, instead of heading straight to the office, he waited for her to come home.

Layla dragged herself home after her shift, completely worn out. All she wanted was to go upstairs and crash for a quick nap. As she stepped inside, she noticed Sebastian in the living room, sitting on the sofa in his crisp suit, laptop open on his lap, totally immersed in work. Even though exhaustion tugged at every muscle, she made herself go over to greet him. "Good morning, Mr. Knight."

Sebastian closed his laptop and looked up. He took in the tiredness written all over her face but didn't let any irritation show. He just motioned to the seat beside him. "Sit down. I need to talk to you about something."

Layla did as he said, sinking into the seat. Sebastian always looked so put together—impeccable three-piece suit, not a hair out of place. Early thirties and not a single sign of aging, no dad bod, no receding hairline. The guy was basically a walking distraction. She couldn't help stealing glances at him now and then. But Sebastian was all business, not even looking at her as he spoke. "I think you should quit your job. From now on, you'll take my daughter to school, pick her up, help with her homework, and play with her. If the three thousand I'm offering isn't enough, I'll bump it up to four. I seriously doubt you make four grand a month at that hospital."

Most employees at his company, working regular hours, barely pulled in one or two thousand a month. Four thousand was way more than generous, in his mind.

Layla would be lying if she said she wasn't tempted. Four thousand a month just to take care of a kid at home? That was a dream gig. But she wasn't stupid. If she wasn't married to Mr. Knight—if taking care of Avianna was just a straight-up job—she'd have jumped at it without a second thought. But as his wife, everything was different. Mr. Knight could toss money her way when he was in a good mood and cut her off the second he wasn't. Then what? Where would she be?

In a marriage, when a woman is always relying on a man for cash, she ends up with zero dignity, zero standing. Layla knew exactly where she stood in this household, and that's why she held onto her job like a lifeline. It was hers. Only hers. Something that gave her the guts to walk away if everything ever went sideways.

Looking straight at Sebastian, she said, "Thank you for the offer, Mr. Knight. I promise I'll spend more time with Avianna. But I don't want to quit my job."

Sebastian hadn't expected her to push back. His brows pulled together. "You think I'm not offering enough?"

Layla shook her head quickly. "No, you're offering like ten times my salary. It's more than tempting. But I don't want to be a housewife who's always depending on a man."

Once her position was made permanent, she'd be pulling in over a grand a month. Work hard enough, and retirement benefits would kick in later. Depending on some guy's money meant being at the mercy of his mood swings every single day. She'd already sacrificed her marriage for financial security once. She wasn't about to sign up for a life without dignity or control.

Sebastian studied her for a long moment, a silent scoff running through his mind. If she didn't want to rely on a man, why the hell had she married in the first place? She was a damn good actress, he'd give her that.

Running out of patience, he said flatly, "Suit yourself. Let's hope you can actually stick to that."

He wasn't about to waste his breath trying to convince someone who wouldn't listen. As for his daughter—well, as long as Avianna saw Layla every day, things should be manageable.

Sebastian stood and walked out, leaving Layla sitting there in the heated room, suddenly feeling a chill she couldn't shake. Had she somehow pissed him off? Were older guys really this touchy? Shrugging it off, she realized just how wrecked she was. She headed upstairs to take a bath and get some rest. She still had another shift at the hospital that afternoon.

Later, Sebastian paid a visit to his nephew Mathias at the hospital. Once he'd made sure the kid was doing okay, he also swung by the hospital director's office. By that afternoon, just as Layla was getting ready for her shift, the head nurse called.

"Layla, your shifts have been rearranged. You'll now work nine to four every day. No more night shifts."

Layla was stunned. "What? Why?"

Their nursing station always ran on a rotation. She'd been scheduled for at least two straight weeks of nights. How were her shifts suddenly flipped upside down? Did the hospital actually have policies this good?

Totally confused, she listened as the nurse spelled it out. "That's the call from higher up. Just follow the new schedule. No need to come in tonight. Report tomorrow morning."

Hanging up, Layla still felt a little lost. She had zero connections, no one pulling strings for her. Why would management suddenly hand her a schedule this sweet? Then it hit her—did Mr. Knight set this up? So she'd have more time for Avianna? Did he seriously have that kind of pull?

Who exactly had she married? Looking at the time, she hurried downstairs just as Monica was about to head out to pick up Avianna. Layla quickly went with her.

Avianna was absolutely thrilled to see Layla waiting for her after school. As they walked home, the little girl buzzed with energy and managed to coax Layla into the garden for a game of hide-and-seek.

That day, Layla decided against going to the hospital. She got a text from Mathias Knight asking her to bring him dinner. Since Mathias was Sebastian's nephew, Layla was wary of taking any more money from him, so she politely declined.

"I didn't work today, but I'll bring you food some other time—no need to pay me," she texted back. Though she was in dire need of cash, Layla was determined to save up enough for driving lessons. She couldn't exactly explain where the extra money came from if Sebastian ever asked. Taking handouts from his nephew? That would only complicate things.

When Mathias didn't reply, she didn't sweat it. She just tucked her phone away and focused on Avianna. At some point, the little girl found a scarf and thrust it into Layla's hands.

"Mommy, can you cover your eyes with this and try to find me?" Avianna asked eagerly.

Layla took the scarf, frowning. "Where did you get this? It's your daddy's, isn't it? We shouldn't be playing with his stuff."

Avianna shook her head hard, her big innocent eyes wide. "It's one he doesn't use. He said I could play with it. You have to cover your eyes, or it'll be too easy to find me!"

Layla sighed but made sure the garden gate was locked tight so Avianna couldn't dart outside. Once satisfied, she gave in. "Alright. I'll put this on and find you. But stay close, okay? I need to be able to actually catch you."

"Yay!" Avianna clapped her hands, bouncing with excitement.

The second Layla tied the scarf over her eyes, little giggles exploded around her as Avianna darted back and forth. "Mommy, over here!" and "You can't catch me!" taunted the tiny voice.

With the world gone dark, Layla chased the sound, hands outstretched, stumbling every few steps.

That's when Sebastian got home. As his car pulled into the driveway, he spotted Layla playing hide-and-seek with his daughter. He signaled the driver to stop, not wanting to break the spell of the moment.

From inside the car, he watched, captivated. A young woman, early twenties, blindfolded, playing with his five-year-old daughter, who was bouncing around, laughing like she didn't have a care in the world. They looked so carefree, so innocent, so... alive.

Sebastian couldn't ignore the transformation. This was the same little girl who once found it hard to even crack a smile. Dr. Webb had warned him that Avianna showed signs of mild autism. But the child he was watching now? She was just like any other bubbly five-year-old. She'd been starving for a mother's tender love.

For that, he was grateful to Layla. Without her, he would've never seen Avianna's smiles this pure, this joyful.

Not wanting to disturb the sweet moment between Layla and his daughter, Sebastian slipped out of the car, planning to sneak inside unnoticed.

But then Avianna darted right toward him, ducking behind his legs and calling out, "Mommy, I'm right here! What's taking you so long? Come get me, I promise I won't run!"

Sure that Avianna was right there, Layla lunged toward the voice, her hands clamping onto someone as she laughed in victory. "Gotcha! Now where do you think you're going?"

She yanked off the scarf—and her triumphant grin froze into sheer shock. She hadn't caught Avianna. Her hands had landed on Sebastian's... butt.

Heat flooded Layla's face. She jerked her hands away as if burned, stumbling backward. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry, Mr. Knight! I didn't mean to—I wasn't trying to—"

Awkwardness crashed over Sebastian in a wave. Her hand had been right on his most private area. Warmth rushed to his head, his body going rigid, suddenly way too hot. His ears burned like they were on fire.

But, holding himself together, he straightened up and said, coolly, "Carry on with your game," then strode into the house without another word.

Nearby, Avianna giggled. "Mommy, you didn't catch me! You grabbed Daddy's butt instead!"

Layla let out a breath. That mischievous little giggle—was this kid doing it on purpose? Why else would she lead her straight to grab... there?

But even through the embarrassment, Layla couldn't shake the feel of it—firm, with a surprising bounce. Oh God. She lightly slapped her own cheek. Stop it. No thinking about Mr. Knight like that.

He was her husband, sure, but there was zero affection between them. She didn't plan on sticking around forever, and she definitely wasn't having his babies. Her plan was simple: make enough to pay off her debt and get out. With that resolve, she grabbed Avianna's hand. "Okay, playtime's over. Let's go wash up for dinner."

Avianna obeyed and followed her inside.

Meanwhile, Sebastian stood under the shower spray, letting the water beat down on him, but his mind kept replaying the feel of Layla's hand on his—

He cursed under his breath. What was he, some desperate teenager, getting this worked up over a single touch? Was it his age catching up to him, making him crave a woman? But no. His wife was vain and manipulative. If he gave in to this lust, he'd be the one losing. It would only make her life easier.

He steeled himself. No matter how badly he might want a woman, he wasn't going to be ruled by his dick. She'd have to come to him willingly. And even then, he'd stay in control, even if it meant paying her off.

That evening, Layla and Avianna sat in the dining room, waiting for Sebastian. As the food cooled, Layla decided to call him down, hoping to save Monica the trouble of reheating everything.

She stood at the master bedroom door and knocked. "Mr. Knight, it's time for dinner."

He'd just finished his shower and gotten dressed, but he still felt overheated, on edge. When he opened the door and saw Layla's natural, stunning face, a flash of unwanted desire hit him. He shoved it back down, face blank.

"Let's go," he said, walking past her, his abs tensing involuntarily as if bracing for another "accident."

"Walk ahead of me," he ordered, a little paranoid.

Confused, Layla did as she was told but couldn't help asking, "Mr. Knight, are you okay? Your face looks a little flushed."

His expression darkened, a flicker of embarrassment crossing his eyes. He schooled his features and replied coolly, "I'm fine. Just mind your own business."