The Billionaire's Widow

35

Paige’s POV

"I guess what I'm trying to tell you is... I've fallen for you."

It's 2:30 in the morning, and that sentence is still echoing in my head. Hailey’s voice, soft but sure, looping like a broken record I don’t want to fix. It’s everything I wanted to hear. Everything I thought I’d never hear. And yet, here I am—wide awake, heart pounding, overthinking every word.

Does she really mean it? Or was it just something she felt in the moment? God, Paige. Why did you even ask her what she wanted?

Maybe if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be lying here, staring at the ceiling like some love-struck idiot.

"Do you always have sleepless nights, or is this a special occasion?" my mom’s voice cut through my thoughts, making me jump.

I turned and saw her lying beside me. She was staying over for the weekend, and since I have a two-bedroom apartment but only one bed made up, we were sharing mine.

"Mom! You scared me," I whispered, holding my chest dramatically.

She chuckled. "You’ve been tossing around like a fish out of water. Hard to sleep next to a human earthquake."

"Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you."

"Too late. I’m already up," she said, turning onto her back. "So, what’s going on?"

"Nothing serious. Just... thinking about work."

Really, Paige? That was the best I could come up with?

She turned her head toward me. "You know, I was twenty-three once too. And whether you believe it or not, you’re just like me. So I know when you’re lying."

I groaned and flopped onto my back. "Why do moms know everything?"

"Because it’s our job," she said with a sly grin. "So, is this about someone?"

I hesitated. "...Yes."

She sat up slightly, eyes widening. "You met someone?"

I chuckled. "Yeah. But it’s not what you’re thinking. It's... complicated."

"Love usually is."

"It didn’t start that way. We were just having fun. No expectations. But then... it shifted. Feelings got involved. And now I don’t know what to do."

"So what’s the problem?"

I looked at her, then away. "I don’t know if it’s the kind of thing that can last. We started with sex. What if a relationship ruins everything? What if she gets bored? What if I mess it up?"

"Paige," she said softly, "I think it’s time I told you how your father and I met."

I glanced at her. "Wait... What?"

She smiled. "He was my one-night stand."

I blinked. "Excuse me?"

She laughed. "Yup. I was young, wild, and allergic to commitment. Then I met this ridiculously hot chef. We hit it off at a party. One thing led to another… and the next morning, I couldn’t stop thinking about him."

"You and Dad had a one-night stand?" I gasped.

"That’s how Amy happened," she said, chuckling. "I was too distracted by your dad’s perfect jawline to remember to take the pill."

I stared at her in disbelief. "Mom, what?"

"Yup. And when I told him I was pregnant, he didn’t run. We co-parented at first. Got to know each other. And eventually, we fell in love."

I was speechless.

She placed a hand on mine. "I’m telling you this so you know—you’re not broken, and I’m not judging you. Life doesn’t always start the way we expect. But that doesn’t mean it can’t turn into something beautiful."

I felt my eyes sting. "I love you, Mom."

"I love you too, honey. Now... tell me everything."

I took a breath. "Okay. First off, the car I have—it’s not from the company."

"I figured," she said casually.

"You knew?"

She nodded. "It was too sleek to be a company car. Then I overheard you on the phone with someone named Hailey. You thanked her for the 'gift.'"

I sighed. "So... you know."

"I know enough. Who’s Hailey?"

"My boss," I said carefully. "Hailey Anders."

Her eyes widened. "Wait, as in the Hailey Anders? The famous widow?"

I nodded, cringing a little. "Yeah. That one."

"But she was married to a man, wasn’t she?"

"She’s bisexual. I’m the first woman she’s ever been with."

Mom raised her eyebrows. "Oh."

"We’ve been... involved for a couple of months. It wasn’t supposed to be serious. But now it feels like it might be. And I’m scared."

She looked at me for a moment, then said, "Are you in love with her?"

I hesitated, then nodded.

"Then that’s all that matters."

"But what if it goes wrong?"

"Then it goes wrong. But at least you tried. Don’t live your life based on fear, Paige. If you do, you’ll miss out on the best parts."

I stared at her, letting her words settle into my chest like a warm blanket.

"Thank you, Mom."

She smiled. "You’re welcome, baby. Now let’s get some sleep. You’ve got work in the morning."

I curled up under the covers and whispered, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, sweetheart."

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