The Billionaire And His Son Want Me Back (Paisley)

Around the corner, Marissa lurked in the shadows, her face darkening as she caught every word of the Vanderbilts' conversation. She headed back to the kitchen and dialed Jack's number.

Jack picked up almost immediately.

Marissa took a deep breath and asked, "Jack, could you reach out to Mr. Vaire's assistant again for me?" "Look, Marissa, it's not that I don't want to help. I've tried everything, but they won't budge. The painting's not for sale, period. No amount of money's gonna change that," Jack said.

"It's fine if they won't sell. I just want to meet with Mr. Vaire, just once. That's all I'm asking." "Well..."

"Money's not a problem."

"It's not about the money..." Jack sighed. "Alright, I'll see what I can do."

"Thanks, Jack."

After hanging up, Marissa stood still for a long moment, her gaze fixed on nothing in particular, her eyes glinting with cold calculation. She'd noticed how the Vanderbilts were starting to feel guilty about Paisley.

*****

The first rays of morning sunlight played across Paisley's face, making her stir. The sound of rustling fabric caught her attention. Opening her eyes, she found herself curled up on the couch with a plush throw blanket draped over her.

Paisley bolted upright, flipping off the blanket with a frustrated groan. Hurrying to Paul's bedside, she checked his condition. Relief washed over her as she observed his steady breathing, strong pulse, and healthy color, with no signs of any complications.

The bathroom door clicked open, and Dominick walked out, his face and hair still damp from washing up. "Hey, you're up," he said, his voice smooth and gentle.

"When did I fall asleep? Why didn't you wake me?" Paisley demanded. If Paul took a turn for the worse and they didn't catch it in time, all her hard work would be wasted.

"Don't worry. I'm wide awake," Dominick said, grabbing some tissues to dry his face. "If Grandpa's condition changes, I'll wake you up right away."

Paisley glanced at Dominick, noticing the telltale redness in his eyes that came from pulling an all-nighter. "Thanks for staying up." She turned back to check Paul one more time. "He should be waking up soon." With that, Paisley retreated to the couch and sank down into it.

"You're the one who deserves thanks," Dominick said, tossing the tissues in the trash. "You've been here the whole time, doing everything you can to save Grandpa."

That was when Paisley noticed the pile of fancy takeout boxes stacked next to the trash can.

"You were already asleep when dinner arrived yesterday. They'll be bringing breakfast soon. We can grab something together," Dominick said.

"Sounds good." Paisley didn't object. Her stomach was definitely rumbling. Sure, she had those snacks Maria packed, but they were cold and stale by now. What she really wanted was something warm and fresh.

Thinking of Maria made her mind drift to Serena. Serena always slept curled up next to her at night. After being gone all night, Paisley wondered if her little girl had been asking for her.

As if on cue, Serena's call lit up her phone. "Hi, hi, Mommy. It's Rena."

The moment Paisley heard her daughter's voice, her whole face lit up, her pretty eyes crinkling into crescents, filled with pure warmth and love.

"Has my little girl been good for Maria?" Paisley's voice went soft and high, the way parents talk to young children.

"Yes, I was good. I went to bed when I was supposed to." Serena paused on the other end of the line. "I only cried a tiny bit, really."

Serena had still cried. Paisley's heart clenched at the thought. "Mommy will be back really soon, sweetheart," she promised.

Dominick stood there, watching Paisley talk to their daughter, and suddenly found himself lost in a memory. She used to talk to Grayson in that same sweet voice, smiling as she held him close. Dominick got so caught up in the memory that he didn't even notice when Paisley ended the call. Paisley looked up to find Dominick staring at her thoughtfully. She frowned, "What?"

Her sudden shift in attitude and icy tone snapped Dominick out of his daze, leaving a hollow feeling in his chest. "Do you love him, Paisley?"

"Who? Rena?" Paisley raised an eyebrow. Of course, she loved her daughter.

"I mean Serena's biological father," Dominick said.