Unmatched Wife: Not His To Claim Anymore novel Chapter 38

Chapter 38

BIANCA

He helped me out with the same careful gentleness he’d shown before, one hand steady on my elbow while I found my balance. The dizziness Dr. Palmer had warned about chose that moment to hit, making the ground tilt slightly.

“Easy.” Rivera’s other hand came to my waist, supporting me. “Take your time. There’s no rush.”

“I’m fine,” I protested weakly, but I didn’t pull away from his support. The truth was, I needed it.

Louis ran ahead to unlock the front door, bouncing with excitement as he held it open for us. “Come see, come see!

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The interior of the house was just as impressive as the exterior. There were hardwood floors, high ceilings, and large windows that let in natural light without making the space feel exposed. But despite the obvious wealth, it felt lived–in rather than blank and sterile. Louis’s toys were scattered in the living room, books were piled on side tables.

“Your room is upstairs,” Rivera said, guiding me toward a wide staircase. “First door on the right. I had it prepared with everything you might need, but if something’s missing, just let me know.”

The stairs felt like climbing a mountain, each step requiring more effort than it should. By the time we reached the top, I was breathing harder than I wanted to admit, and the dizziness had intensified to the point where I had to grip the banister to stay upright.

“Okay, that’s enough activity for now.” Rivera’s voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. “Straight to bed with you.”

He opened the door to reveal a beautiful bedroom.

It was not too large, not too small, and it was decorated in soothing blues and grays that immediately made me feel calm. The bed was enormous and looked comfortable, with what appeared to be actual down pillows and a duvet that probably cost more than my monthly salary used to.

“I’ll get you settled, then leave you to rest,” Rivera said, helping me toward the bed. “Louis and I will be downstairs if you need anything. There’s a bell on the nightstand, just ring it if you need help, or you can call my cell. The number’s already programmed into your new phone.”

I sank onto the bed with a sigh of relief, my body practically sinking into the softness. It was exactly as comfortable as it looked.

“Thank you,” I said, meaning it more deeply than he probably realized. “For everything. The rescue, the clearance papers, this room, all of it. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

“You already did.” His expression softened as he looked at me. “You saved my son’s life. That’s a debt I can never fully repay, no matter how many rooms I prepare or strings I pull. So please, just rest and recover. That’s all I ask.”

Louis appeared in the doorway, clearly having run up the stairs despite probably being told not to. “Can I stay with Dr. Bianca for a little bit? Just to make sure she’s okay?”

Rivera looked at me questioningly, and I nodded. The kid’s enthusiasm was comforting, it was low–key a reminder that not everyone in the world saw me as a burden or an obstacle.

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Chapter 33

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“Just for a few minutes,” Rivera said. “Then Dr. Bianca needs to sleep. She’s been through a lot.”

He left us alone, and Louis immediately climbed onto the bed beside me, careful not to jostle me too much.

“Are you really going to be okay?” he asked, his small face serious. “You look really tired.”

“I am really tired,” I admitted. “But I’ll be fine with rest. Your dad and Dr. Palmer are taking good care of me.”

“Good.” He nodded firmly. “Because I need you to get better so you can finish breaking my curse. And also because…” He hesitated, looking down at his hands. “Also because I like you. You’re nice. And you don’t treat me like I’m stupid just because I’m little.”

Something in my chest cracked at his earnest words. “You’re not stupid, Louis. You’re smart and brave and very sweet.”

“That’s what Dad says too.” He smiled shyly. “He says you’re those things also. Smart and brave and sweet. That’s why he wants you to stay with us.”

“He said that?”

“Mmhmm. He told Uncle Marcus that you were special, and that we needed to take care of you the same way you took care of me. Like family.”

I didn’t know what to say to that. Family. The word felt foreign after four years of being tolerated rather than embraced, of being a wife in name only, of watching my own son choose another woman over me.

But here was this child I barely knew, claiming me as family, not even thinking about the complications of what that meant.

“Get some sleep, Dr. Bianca,” Louis said, carefully climbing off the bed. “I’ll check on you later, okay? And if you need anything, just call for Dad. He’ll come running. He always does when people need help.”

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