The Hospital.
Julissa had packed a lovely, home-cooked meal and brought her little brother along to the hospital. As they neared the door to the room, pitiful sobs spilled out into the hallway.
"Waa waa waa~~~ Brother, I want my brother… waa waa waa waa…"
"Quick—call Mr. Greene. If she keeps crying like this, the wound won't heal."
Julissa shot a quick glance at her brother, standing obediently beside her. "Abel, when we go in, try to cheer up your little sister, okay? We can't let her keep crying."
Abel nodded eagerly and bolted into the room ahead of her. Julissa followed, her voice soft but bright as she called to the tiny three-year-old squirming in the nurse's arms. "Kori, your big sister's here to see you."
The little girl was mid-sob, but the familiar voice cut through her tears. Her glossy, tear-filled eyes lit up the second they landed on the equally adorable boy at the foot of her bed.
But the pain hadn't gone anywhere. Tears rushed back all over again, and she stretched her little arms toward Julissa, whimpering, "Sissy… hug…"
"Okay, sweetie, I've got you." Julissa set down the insulated food bag and gently gathered the frail girl into her arms.
Kori Greene—Flynn's half-sister—was only three years old. Barely two when she'd been in the car accident that took her parents' lives. Five people died in that wreck, including both Kori's and Julissa's parents. Kori was the sole survivor, shielded by her parents' bodies. The crash left her fighting for her life, and she'd stayed in this hospital for an entire year before finally waking up.
Julissa held her close, murmuring soft reassurances until the crying faded. Once Kori quieted down, her big eyes shifted to Abel. Julissa smiled and introduced him. "Kori, this is your brother, Abel. You can call him Abel or just brother—whatever feels right. He's two years older than you, and he's gonna be here to look after you every day, okay?"
Kori didn't say a word. She rested her cheek on Julissa's shoulder and stared at Abel with quiet intensity. Abel reached up and touched her bandaged forehead with the lightest fingertips. "Does it hurt? You want me to kiss it better?"
Still silent, Kori didn't flinch away from his touch. That alone was huge.
Just then, Flynn appeared in the doorway. Even in casual clothes, his elegance was impossible to miss. He stood there, motionless, taking in the scene. The doctor noticed him and moved to greet him, but a single hard glance from Flynn stopped the man in his tracks.
Blood ties or not, Flynn felt nothing for his three-year-old sister. They were half-siblings—their father had remarried some younger woman, and Flynn had cut ties right then and there. Who knew their marriage would be so short-lived? And who knew they'd leave behind a two-year-old daughter for him to deal with?
At twenty-nine, the whole situation felt like a bad joke. A two-year-old sister? Especially one who woke up refusing to ask for her dead parents and only ever cried for him. Flynn didn't have time for childcare. He'd thrown money at the problem—nanny after nanny—but Kori hated every single one. Crying fits, tantrums, the works.
Yesterday, her screaming had ripped her wounds right back open. That forced Flynn to track down Julissa, the woman who'd once volunteered to donate rare blood for Kori. He'd noticed then that Kori went calm around Julissa. So he'd started toying with the idea of hiring her as a caregiver. But before he could even make the offer, Julissa threw a marriage proposal at him instead.
Flynn assumed she saw dollar signs. Refined looks, expensive taste—she clearly thought he was loaded. He hated gold diggers. But it was a deal that worked both ways: she wanted financial security, and he needed someone to keep his sister quiet. So they got married.
Now, he was honestly curious. Would she still want this marriage once she realized he was drowning in debt? And that, legally speaking, that debt was half hers now?
He strode into the room with purpose. "How's everything today?"
Kori lifted her head, her voice small and weak, begging, "Brother… hug…"
Julissa's eyes darted to Flynn, and something about his presence settled her nerves in a way she didn't quite understand.
Flynn ignored Kori's outstretched arms and focused on the doctor. The doctor quickly briefed him. "As long as she stays calm, she's doing well. It's a good thing Ms. Greene was able to soothe her. It would really be best if she could visit more often."
"She'll be visiting frequently," Flynn said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
He dismissed the medical staff with a nod and walked over to Julissa. "I appreciate your help."
Julissa smiled and shook her head. "It's no trouble, really."
She nudged her brother lightly. "Abel, say hi to your brother."
Abel tilted his head and beamed up at Flynn. "Hi, brother! I'm Abel Greene. I'm five!"
Flynn's gaze dropped to the boy, then flicked back to Julissa. "Brother? Shouldn't it be brother-in-law?"
Julissa's cheeks flushed pink as she hurried to correct Abel. "Call him brother-in-law, honey."
Abel's eyes went wide with curiosity. "Why do I have to call him brother-in-law? Is it like a brother?"
"Well… kinda. You can almost call him either," Julissa fumbled.
Not getting it, Abel just shrugged it off and turned his attention back to his adorable little sister, determined to make her smile.
Flynn watched Kori's calm expression for a long moment, then shifted his focus to Julissa. "I need to talk to you," he said, motioning her toward the window.
He stood in front of her, and at six-two, he towered over her five-three frame, making her look impossibly small. Up close like this, Flynn couldn't help thinking that if he hadn't seen her ID with his own eyes, he'd swear she hadn't even finished middle school. Petite. Baby-faced. And somehow… his wife. It stirred a weird, uncomfortable guilt he didn't want to name.
Looking down at her, he spoke plainly. "I'm closing a major deal. Once the payment comes through, I'll take care of all the medical bills. After the mortgage and car loans are cleared, I'll add your name to the property deed. In the meantime… would you be willing to quit your job and help look after my sister for a few days?"
Julissa blinked in surprise. "You're still paying off a mortgage and a car loan?"
Knowing his sister relied on him for everything, the weight of that stress finally clicked.
"Yeah," Flynn said flatly.
He watched her face carefully, waiting. The moment she heard how broke he really was—would she regret saying 'I do'?
