Paige's POV
“Girl, you look so fresh and happy. What are they feeding you in New Zealand?” Amy giggled.
“Stop it, Paige,” she smiled. “I’m still the same.”
“You look better though.” I giggled, settling down with my popcorn in one hand and phone in the other. “I miss you, sis.”
“I miss you too. And I miss New York.”
“You’ll be back in a few days. Don’t worry.” She nodded just as my work phone lit up—it was Hailey calling. “Hey, can we FaceTime again later?”
“Okay, bye.”
I answered the other call and put my personal phone aside. “Hailey?”
“Hey… um, I wa—” She sighed.
“Baby, are you okay? Is it Kiara again?” Just hearing that woman’s name annoyed me.
“She promised to make me pay. I just need you to know—it’s not going to be easy from now on. She swore she’d dig until she finds out who I’m seeing.” Her laugh was tired and bitter.
“A man?” I asked.
“She thinks it’s a man. Actually, everyone in the Anders family thinks so. I haven’t told them who you are—I wanted to check if you’re okay with them knowing.”
“I hadn’t even thought about that yet. But now that Kiara is stirring things up, everything’s happening faster than we expected. Of course they’d assume it’s a man, and once you correct them, it gives her an even bigger lead. It makes it easier for her to find me.”
“I know.”
“I wish she never came back from Australia.”
“That makes two of us.” Hailey giggled softly.
“Let’s run away,” I laughed. “Just disappear for a few days. No Kiara. No judgment. No pressure.”
“You’re joking, right?” she asked.
“I’m not. I mean… okay, I kind of am. But I get why you want to. Just a few days to breathe.”
“Exactly. I just want to relax.”
“I hear you. But my mom always told my sister, ‘Don’t run from your problems. Face them.’ A short escape sounds tempting, but you’ll have to come back. Kiara will still be here. Your kids too.”
She sighed. “I can’t leave them with Karen right now. I don’t trust Kiara not to say something or treat them badly.”
“I get it.” I softened my tone. “You’re stronger than you think, babe. After all you’ve been through, I know you’ll get through this too. And I’m here with you. We’ll fight her together. Let her think she’s protecting her dead brother—she’ll never win. Xavier would’ve wanted you to be happy.”
“I know.”
“Promise me you’ll ignore her stupid drama?”
“I promise. But why do you and Brooke always call her fights stupid?”
“Because they are stupid.” I laughed. “Seriously. How does she expect you to move forward if you don’t actually move on? Does she even get what it feels like to go without love—or sex—for five years?”
“None of that matters to her.”
“She’s full of it. You grieved for five whole years. If her husband died, I bet she wouldn’t have lasted one.”
The door creaked open—Jason walked in with his AirPods in, eyes fixed on his phone. I hadn’t seen him since yesterday morning.
“Babe, I’ll call you back. Jason just got in. Need to talk to him.” I hung up and followed him.
He headed straight to his room. I opened the door—he was lying on the bed, shoes still on.
“Oh, Paige. Hi.”
“Hi?” I crossed my arms. “Jason, where are you coming from?”
He pulled out his AirPods. “I was with a friend. The house was boring this afternoon, so I went to hang out.”
“Call the friend. Put them on speaker.”
He stared at me. “Are you serious?”
“It’s late, Jason. What if something happened?”
“But nothing did. I was safe. My friend picked me up and dropped me off.”
I reminded myself: He’s old enough. Calm down.
“Fine. Just don’t stay out that late again. I get worried. If you and your girlfriend want to chill and watch a movie, just do it here. I’ve got a TV in my room—you guys can have space.”
He gulped. “How’d you know it was a girl?”
I grinned and stepped into the room. “You’re not the only smart one in this family.”
He laughed. “So… you just assumed?”
“I noticed you’ve been out a lot lately.” I raised an eyebrow. “Mind telling me about her? I’m dying to know.”
He smiled, shaking his head. “Why are sisters always so nosy?”
“We’re not nosy,” I gasped.
“Sure.” He rolled his eyes playfully.
“Well?” I pressed.
“She goes to my school. Pretty. Popular. And for some reason, she likes the weirdest guy in school—me. Now everyone’s in my business.”
I softened. “I get that. Trust me.”
“You don’t think I’m weird?”
“Not at all.”
He smiled. “Thanks.”
“So, is she rich too? I’ve noticed in this city, popularity usually comes with a luxury car and a millionaire dad.”
“You’re right. Her dad’s a big businessman. Benedict Clark.”
That name sparked something. “Wait… Mr. Clark? That sounds familiar…”
It clicked. “Oh! I know him. He’s a friend of Hailey’s. I met him at a meeting once.”
“Not surprised.” Jason grinned.
“Well, you can invite her over if you want. You don’t have to sneak around or disappear.”
He nodded. I stood up.
“Anyway, I was watching something. Let me head back. Goodnight, Jay.”
“Goodnight, Paige.”
I smiled and walked out, closing the door gently behind me.
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YOU ARE READING
The Billionaire's Widow
RomanceHailey Anders After the death of her husband, the only thing that can keep Hailey going are her two little kids. They remind her that he still lives in them. Together with the company he left for her. Paige Carson Fresh out of college with impressi...
