The Billionaire's Rental Wife Is A Hot Shot

Sophia blinked in stunned disbelief, her mind spinning in shock. Her nails dug into the armrest of the chair, knuckles turning white. Today was supposed to be her day—when everything would finally go her way. But instead, it felt as though the universe had conspired against her.

"Did I wake up on the wrong side of the bed today?" Sophia muttered under her breath, the words barely audible. But the tension in the air was so thick, that everyone in the room caught it.

William’s brow furrowed, his usual calm demeanor slipping for just a moment. He glanced between Sophia and Annabelle, his eyes lingering on Evelyn for a heartbeat too long. Doubt flashed across his features— as if believing the kid’s words for a split second.

But before he could ponder further, Sophia quickly put on her damsel show. Tears welled up in her eyes, the perfect weapon in her arsenal.

With a theatrical sigh, she let them spill down her cheeks, her voice breaking just enough to sound believable. "Evelyn... do you hate me that much?" she whimpered, making sure her voice quivered with just the right amount of pain. "That you’d spread such vile lies about me in front of a child?"

Evelyn opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat. How was she supposed to counter that? But even if she did, William would only lash out at her like he did every damn time.

Sophia’s gaze flicked toward William, her voice dripping with sorrow, calculated to evoke pity. She knew how to manipulate him. She had done it for years, expertly weaving tales that would get her out of any situation, but today, the usual reaction wasn’t there. William seemed... distracted.

Before William could respond, Avery intervened. She stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on Kiana’s shoulder. "This is my fault. The kid must have mixed up the stories."

Kiana, feeling the weight of the situation, shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "I... I didn’t mean it like that," she whispered, her small voice cracking with guilt.

Elias also stepped into the fray, his voice cold with exasperation. "Yes, Mom. Don’t overreact to something so petty. She’s just a child."

Sophia’s heart sank, a frown tugging her lips. Elias, who always remained silent when she targeted Evelyn, unable to pick a side now seemed to openly side against her.

Kiana, meanwhile, shuffled her feet awkwardly, sensing the awkwardness her innocent remark had caused. "I’m sorry," she whispered again, turning her gaze to Sophia. The child, in her sincerity, said, "You just look like the witch in my storybook. I didn’t mean to make you fight."

Sophia’s jaw clenched visibly, and her grip on the chair tightened. Annabelle and Avery exchanged quick, amused glances, barely managing to suppress their laughter. Their bodies shook with the effort, but it was clear they were enjoying every second of this unintended jab.

Sophia’s face reddened in humiliation. If it weren’t for the fact that they were all gathered in William’s hospital room, she might have lashed out. She bit the inside of her cheek hard enough to draw blood, struggling to maintain her composure. They wouldn’t win. Not today. She would still come out on top as William would take her side.

The room was still thick with tension, but William’s light chuckle cut through the discomfort. The warmth in his tone surprised everyone. His gaze softened as he looked down at Kiana. "It’s alright, little one," he said, his voice gentle. "I suppose I’ve been called worse." His eyes crinkled at the corners as a small smile spread across his face.

Evelyn blinked in disbelief. William wasn’t scolding Kiana—or her. It was the first time in years that she hadn’t felt his usual cold distance. He seemed... different. Softer, somehow. And for a moment, the years of tension and hostility between them seemed to melt away.

Sophia, however, couldn’t believe it. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. William should have taken her side, should have defended her. He always did! But now, he was laughing with Kiana, as if the little girl’s innocent jab had no impact on him at all.

Kiana, blissfully unaware of the emotional undercurrents swirling around her, giggled and continued talking, her innocent chatter filling the room. "Worse? Nah, you are lying! They must be calling you a prince," she announced proudly, her eyes wide with excitement.

William’s eyebrows lifted in amusement. "A prince? Really?" he asked, playing along.

Kiana shook her head vigorously, her curls bouncing with the movement. "Yep, you are still handsome like a prince but a little less compared to my Daddy."

William laughed heartily, the sound rich and genuine. Evelyn couldn’t help but smile at the candid exchange. For a fleeting moment, it felt like a normal family gathering—no tension, no hidden resentments. Just laughter, warmth, and love.

The conversation flowed easily between the two, and the sun also began to set, casting a warm orange glow across the room, Evelyn found herself relaxing for the first time in what felt like forever around William. Kiana, tired from the day’s excitement, slowly dozed off beside William, her tiny hand resting on his arm.

Evelyn sat on the couch nearby, her heart heavy with memories. She couldn’t help but recall her childhood when William would coax her to sleep in the same way, his voice soft and reassuring. Seeing him do the same for her daughter now made the moment all the more bittersweet.

Soon, Zevian returned from his meeting, stepping into the room just in time to catch the heartwarming scene. His brow lifted in surprise at the sight of Kiana curled up next to William, her breathing soft and steady.

"I tried to move her to the couch," Evelyn explained quietly, not wanting to disturb Kiana’s sleep. "But he insisted she stay with him."

Zevian nodded, his gaze softening as he took in the sight. Just then, Sophia who had gone home returned, a bag slung over her shoulder, clearly ready to stay for the night. Elias followed close behind, his sharp gaze ever-watchful of his mother. Evelyn nodded toward Elias, signaling that it was time for them to leave.

Carefully, Evelyn leaned over to pick Kiana up from the bed. The little girl murmured in her sleep, her small arms wrapping tightly around Evelyn’s neck as she snuggled closer. Evelyn smiled softly and nodded toward William. "Good night. Take care," she whispered.

As she turned to leave, something unexpected happened. William’s hand shot out and grabbed hers, holding it firmly. The entire room froze in surprise. Sophia’s teeth clenched so hard her jaw ached, while Elias and Zevian smiled at his actions.

"Can you bring her again tomorrow?" William asked, his gaze shifting from Evelyn to Kiana, still fast asleep in her arms. His voice was gentle, almost pleading.

Evelyn blinked, momentarily stunned by his sudden affection. Her heart raced as she nodded slowly. "She has school tomorrow... but we’ll come in the evening."

William nodded, hesitating before speaking again. "You should rest too. You must be exhausted, running around since yesterday."

William had seen her running all around since he woke, talking with doctors, bringing nurses to tend him, and making sure he was well-treated and fine. And her pale expression, the eyebags under her eyes indicated she didn’t sleep at all last night, causing him to show concern.

Evelyn’s chest tightened at his words. She forced herself to nod, blinking back the tears that threatened to spill. This... This was the affection she had longed for all these years. But now that it was here, it felt too late.

Zevian, noticing her struggle to hold her emotions together, stepped in and gently picked up Kiana from her arms. With a nod to Elias, he guided Evelyn out of the room, supporting her as they left the hospital.

Once they reached the car, John opened the back door, helping to settle Kiana in the back seat. Her tiny head rested on a small pillow as Zevian adjusted her seatbelt, his movements gentle and deliberate. Evelyn watched him, feeling a wave of exhaustion roll over her. The day had been draining, but seeing Kiana peacefully sleeping somehow made it all worth it.

Zevian stood by the car, smoothing back Evelyn’s hair and adjusting her bangs. "You look so tired," he said softly, his voice filled with concern. "I’ll cook something for you when we get home."

Evelyn nodded with a small smile, grateful for the comfort. Fatigue had finally caught up to her, and all she wanted was to unwind. But just as she and Zevian were about to get into the car, a loud screech pierced the quiet night.

A car abruptly skidded to a stop just across from them, mere meters away. The sound was so jarring that Zevian instinctively pulled Evelyn behind him, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

The car door flung open, and a small figure darted out—a girl no older than thirteen. Her face was streaked with tears, her eyes burning with rage and grief. She stumbled toward them, her hands trembling as she raised a gun.

"You bitch!" the girl screamed, her voice cracking with raw emotion. Tears streamed down her face, but her grip on the gun tightened. "It’s all because of you! You ruined everything! I’m going to kill you today!"

Evelyn froze, her breath catching in her throat as she stared at the child. The girl’s hands were shaking so violently that the gun seemed too heavy for her to hold, but the hatred in her eyes was unmistakable. Before she could even process what was happening, the girl pulled the trigger and shot in their direction.