Page 7 of Doctor Billionaire's Surprise Baby

I leaned forward slightly, brows raised, giving him my full attention. I could feel the energy in the room shift; the lighthearted banter was replaced by palpable tension.

"I’m not even sure I should say anything," he muttered, almost like he didn’t even want me to hear. "Okay, so this might sound a little... unconventional," he began cautiously, gauging my reaction. "But hear me out."

"Alright," I replied hesitantly, desperately searching his eyes for a clue.

“I just wanted to give you a heads up, but Hugo may ask you to marry him.” His voice was steady despite the hurricane-tornado-bomb that ripped through my heart and soul at those words, sending my entire being into glittery, anxious chaos.

Marry Hugo?

The words hung heavy in the air and everything blurred like a morning fog rolling in off the ocean. It was quiet and dense in the room, and all I could hear was the pounding of my veins.

“What? Marry…Hugo?” I finally managed to say out loud, barely a whisper. My body was laid out like I had been hit by a bomb. I was.

Seth nodded. I glanced down at my hands, fidgeting with the edge of a throw pillow as I tried to gather my thoughts. A soft sigh escaped my lips, betraying the anxiety that surged through me.

“What the hell are you even talking about, Seth? Why would I marry Hugo?”

Seth took a deep breath and dropped his head back on the sofa.

"He’s having some delays getting his green card and his current visa is going to expire soon," Seth said, his eyes closing and his lips in a tight line across his face.

"Isn't that a bit extreme, though?" I questioned, raising my eyebrows and meeting his gaze. "I mean, given everything he’s accomplished and the specialist knowledge that he has, there’s no way he’s going to get his green card denied. Sure, it might take longer, but it’ll happen without marrying me." I could feel the worry gnawing at the edges of my heart, afraid of the implications of Seth's suggestion.

Marrying me. Hugo marrying me.

The words swirled around my head, echoing and bouncing off the walls of my now-empty brain.

Seth shrugged.

"Probably. In the end, he’s unlikely to really have any problems. But from what he said, he's willing to make sure you get something out of this relationship, too. Like nursing school tuition. I know your program at UMass is starting soon and Iwantto help you more with tuition, but…you know.”

He shrugged again, looking down at the floor, barely lifting his shoulders from the cushion.

I knew he helped Mom and Nonna by sending them money monthly. Plus, he let me live here, essentially rent-free. Seth already did too much for all of us.

But, still. This wasn’t free tuition.

"But at what cost?" I shot back, my voice shaky with fear and anxiety. "I mean the legal ramifications alone… I’m surprisedyou’reeven talking about this. Couldn’t this get you disbarred?"

Seth nodded his head sullenly.

"Why were you all even talking about me?" I felt myself growing indignant about being discussed in their group.

"Look," Seth said, rubbing his temples, eyes screwed shut. "Really, you’ll have to talk to Hugo about all of this. I don’t know when he plans to talk to you, but I’m pretty sure he will. And just know that the discussions about you were respectful. I made sure of that. I wouldn't let anything bad happen to you, if I could help it. All my friends love you like a kid sister. You don't have to worry about that."

Seth opened his eyes and looked at me with the same warm brown shade that matched my own. He’d always been there for me, through thick and thin. But he wasn’t telling me not to do this, and I felt like that said a lot.

"I just wanted to give you a heads up," he said again. "But when you talk to Hugo and ask him questions. See if this is something you can see for yourself, and if it's something you even want. I will support your decision."

With a deep breath, I nodded slowly.

"Alright," I said, my voice barely audible as the weight of the decision pressed down on me. "I'll... I'll think about it."

"Sure," Seth said with another shrug.

"But Seth, what if we get caught? What if someone finds out that the marriage is just a sham? Hugo and I could face legalconsequences, not to mention the damage it would do to our reputations and careers."

Seth sighed, running his fingers through his hair as he considered my concerns.

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