Savvy women know better than to get tangled up with a man drowning in debt. Julissa was no exception.
Yet, she glanced at the two kids playing quietly nearby and voiced her worry. "If I quit my job, won't that just pile more stress on you? I can manage looking after Kori and still work."
Flynn narrowed his eyes, caught off guard by what he saw as fake concern. "Kori needs someone there the second she wakes up, and you're the only one who can keep her calm. Trying to juggle work and Kori will run you into the ground. It's best if you quit. Don't sweat the money; I can take care of the three of you—unless, of course, you're used to living large."
Julissa quickly shook her head. "No, that's not me. I keep my expenses low. The only new cost would be enrolling my brother in the local preschool."
"Supporting the three of you won't be a problem," Flynn assured her, handing over a bank card. "I'll deposit money into it every month. You can leave your job and focus on Kori."
Julissa hesitated, eyeing the card he offered. She wasn't the type to lean on a man for support. But she couldn't ignore the fact that Kori needed care, and Flynn's demanding sales job left him no choice but to leave the little girl alone in a hospital. Once Kori was better, she could enroll her in preschool alongside Abel, and Julissa could go back to work. Taking the card, Julissa agreed, "Alright."
"I have a meeting to catch. I'm counting on you to look after Kori," Flynn said, already heading for the door.
Julissa suddenly remembered something and quickly tried to hand the card back. "You're still short on medical bills, right? Why not use this for the hospital? I've got some cash that should cover our living expenses."
Looking around the upscale hospital room, Julissa suggested, "We don't need such a fancy room for Kori. Maybe a standard room would be easier on the wallet."
Flynn paused, frowning slightly at the card. After a moment, he pushed it back toward her, his expression resolute. "Kori doesn't do well with crowds. If it weren't for my dad's passing and this financial mess, I wouldn't be in this situation. But I'm not cutting corners on Kori's care. I'll earn enough to pay off the loans and take good care of you all."
Turning to his sister, who was now giggling at Abel's antics, Flynn called out, "Kori, stay with your sister-in-law and brother, okay? I'm off to earn your medical bills."
With Abel keeping her company, Kori didn't miss Flynn as much. She nodded and went back to watching Abel do magic tricks.
Once Flynn was gone, Julissa reluctantly tucked the card away and pulled out the packed meal she'd brought for Kori. According to the doctors, Kori would be discharged within a week. Julissa couldn't just up and quit her job. Her salary was crucial—especially after shelling out $700 a month to live with her uncle's family, which left her with next to nothing.
If she quit, she'd be without any income, unable to depend entirely on Flynn. They were married now, and that meant facing challenges together.
After feeding Kori, Julissa pulled out her phone and called her manager to request a week off. Her manager, understanding and flexible, approved it.
Throughout the week, Julissa rarely went back to the apartment she shared with Flynn, careful not to disturb his work, keeping contact to a minimum. Flynn, for his part, had left the bank card with her and didn't ask for updates, rarely visiting the hospital. Yet, he kept a close watch on everything happening there.
A week later, at Greene Corporation Tower, in the CEO's office, his assistant Dalton placed surveillance footage from the hospital room on Flynn's desk. "Sir, I believe Ms. Greene is genuinely dedicated to caring for Kori."
Flynn sneered, his eyes fixed on the screen showing Julissa's image. "It's all part of her act. She's trying to win me over."
Dalton looked puzzled. "But as far as Ms. Greene knows, you're broke. Why bother trying to earn your trust?"
"She thinks I'm only pretending to be broke," Flynn speculated. What kind of young woman proposes marriage after just two meetings unless she thinks the guy is loaded? He was dead set on uncovering her true motives.
Dalton considered, "Could it be Ms. Greene was drawn in by your looks and felt a connection since you both share a similar tragedy?" Their parents had died on the same day. Julissa had her brother, and Flynn had his sister. Together, they'd formed a family, sharing each other's burdens.
Flynn shot Dalton a sharp look. "Good looks don't pay the bills."
"Uh, but those high-society ladies are all dying to marry you because of your handsome face," Dalton countered. "If I were living in a cramped apartment eating instant noodles, you think they'd still want me?" Flynn refocused on the screen. "Mark my words, she won't last a month before asking for a divorce."
His plan was to hire her afterward on a contract to take care of Kori. Once divorced, she'd no longer entertain any fantasies of being Mrs. Greene.
Noticing Kori's discharge time was approaching, Flynn instructed Dalton, "Arrange for us to go pick up Kori from the hospital." Dalton nodded. "Yes, sir."
At the hospital, after giving Kori breakfast, Julissa left Abel to watch over her. She grabbed the discharge paperwork and stepped out, only to spot her aunt, Savanna Russell, at the nurses' station asking questions. Instinctively, Julissa turned to leave, but Savanna, directed by a nurse, spotted her right away.
"Julissa Greene!" Savanna called out, quickly closing in on her. Julissa considered ducking back into the room and locking the door, but knowing Savanna wouldn't just go away, she decided to face her.
Agitated, Savanna grabbed Julissa's arm, fuming, "You think you can hide and I won't find you? Blocking your uncle's and my numbers—is that how you become independent?"
