His Pretend Wife, His Forbidden Desire

"I want another mommy." Jason's eyes shot open. He wasn't sleepy anymore. His heart clenched at the soft yet determined voice of his four-year-old daughter. He turned his head slightly on the pillow, blinking away the haze of sleep as he looked down at her small figure snuggled beside him. "Hmm, peanut?" His voice was low, still gruff from sleep. "I don't wanna go to school tomorrow." The tiny voice carried a sadness that made his chest tighten. Jason shifted onto his side, fully awake now. His daughter never resisted school. She loved her classes, her teachers, her little friends. "Peanut, why would you say that? Are you upset about something?" He stroked her black, silky-smooth bangs from her eyes. They had begun to grow longer—he noticed. He’d take her to Sally’s for a trim after school today. For a moment, she said nothing, only twisting the hem of her nightdress between her fingers. Then, in a small voice, she whispered, "Mommy’s not coming for my tea party, Daddy." Jason felt something deep inside him c***k. Had Ella not considered how this would make her feel before telling her she wouldn’t be there? Did she even care? His grip on the sheets tightened. But worse than his frustration was the helplessness that followed. The event was meant to be a mother-child tea party. Fathers weren’t allowed. Even if he wanted to, he couldn’t be there for her. A thousand possible responses ran through his mind, but none seemed right. "Daddy?" His heart clenched again at her soft call. He met her gaze—big, hazel-brown eyes framed by long sweeping lashes, filled with something that no child should ever feel—loneliness. "Yes, peanut?" He forced his voice to be steady. "I want another mommy." Jason froze. She was still looking at him, her tiny fingers gripping his shirt as if testing his reaction. Then, with a little chuckle—dimples deepening, baby teeth showing in an innocent smile—she added, "Just like Isobella in the bedtime story. I want a fake mommy." Jason exhaled slowly, stunned into silence. Where was he going to get a fake mother by tomorrow? Jason ran a hand down his face, exhaling slowly. He could already feel the headache forming. "Peanut, it's not that simple," he began, trying to be reasonable. "But Isobella’s daddy did it," she countered, her tiny brows furrowing in stubbornness. Jason let out a soft chuckle despite himself. "That was a fairy tale, sweetheart." She pouted. "But I don’t want my friends to laugh at me, Daddy." That did it. That tiny, heartbroken voice shattered whatever resistance he had left. Jason sighed and pulled her closer, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Alright, peanut," he murmured against her soft curls. "I’ll get you a fake mommy for the tea party." Her head snapped up instantly, hazel eyes now glowing with excitement. "Really?" "Really." A squeal of delight filled the room, and Jason barely had time to brace himself before she threw her little arms around his neck, squeezing as tight as her tiny strength allowed. "You're the bestest daddy ever!" He chuckled, hugging her back. "I try." But as he held her close, reality set in. Where the hell was he supposed to find a fake mother in less than twenty-four hours? He shook the thought aside for now. One problem at a time. "Alright, troublemaker. Time for school," he said, ruffling her hair as he sat up. She groaned dramatically. "But I don't wanna!" "You don’t wanna, or you’re just too comfy?" "Both." She grinned, snuggling deeper into the blanket. Jason shook his head with an amused sigh before scooping her up in one swift motion. "Daddy!" she squealed, giggling as he lifted her effortlessly into his arms. "No slacking today, peanut. You have a fake mommy to meet tomorrow," he teased, carrying her toward the bathroom. She gasped. "Really? Who is she? What’s her name? Is she pretty?" Jason chuckled. "Slow down, detective. I don’t have all the answers yet." "But you promised!" she reminded him, crossing her little arms as he set her down. "And I always keep my promises," he assured her, kneeling to her level. "Now, brush those tiny teeth before I tickle you into submission." She giggled but obeyed, grabbing her toothbrush. As Jason watched his daughter happily brushing, giggling, and chattering about the tea party, he made a silent vow. No matter what it took, she wouldn’t feel left out tomorrow. Now, he just had to find a woman crazy enough to pretend to be his daughter’s mother. And fast. --- The sleek convoy of black SUVs pulled up to the entrance of Parker Global Medical Group, drawing the usual attention. “Mr. Parker, good morning!” a nurse greeted, her voice a mix of respect and admiration. “Welcome, sir,” a doctor added with a polite nod. Jason responded with a small nod, his expression unreadable as he stepped out, flanked by five bodyguards. “Man, the boss looks intense today,” a security officer murmured to his colleague. “If you had his schedule, you’d look intense every day,” the other chuckled. Jason barely heard them. His mind was elsewhere—back in his daughter’s bedroom, hearing her tiny voice make the one request he couldn’t ignore. "I want another mommy… so my friends won't laugh at me." He exhaled, adjusting his cufflinks as he strode through the lobby. “Sir,” his assistant, Eric, caught up with him, matching his pace. “You have a board meeting at eleven, lunch with the investors at one, and—” “Reschedule the lunch.” Eric blinked. “Uh… sir?” “Move it,” Jason said, his tone leaving no room for argument. Eric hesitated but then nodded. “Understood.” Jason continued down the hallway, shaking a few hands, exchanging a few words, all while his mind churned. Where the hell was he supposed to find a fake mother by tomorrow? --- Meanwhile, inside the Kids’ Ward… “Miss Winter, do you know how many lollipops it would take to build a castle?” Isabella paused mid-charting, turning to the wide-eyed five-year-old looking up at her from his hospital bed. She tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Hmm… I’d say at least a thousand.” “No way! It’s gotta be a million,” he argued, grinning. “A million? That’s a lot of cavities, you know,” Isabella teased. The little boy giggled, and she smiled, ruffling his hair before moving to check on her next patient. “Miss Winter,” Jane, a fellow nurse, leaned in with a smirk. “Guess what?” “Tell me,” Isabella said, still flipping through a file. “The boss is here today.” Isabella lifted a brow. “Boss?” Jane gave her a look. “Jason Parker. The CEO. The billionaire. The one who makes everyone in this building straighten their posture when he walks past.” “Oh.” Isabella’s expression remained neutral. Jane rolled her eyes. “That’s it? Oh? The man is practically royalty in this hospital.” Isabella shrugged. “If I see him, I’ll curtsy.” Jane snorted. “Right. Let me know how that goes.” Before Isabella could respond, a sudden giggle rang through the ward. “Miss Winter! Catch me if you can!” Isabella turned just in time to see Mia—a four-year-old with bouncing curls—bolting down the hallway clutching a stuffed purple dinosaur. “Mia!” Isabella groaned, setting down the clipboard. “Not again!” With a resigned sigh, she took off after the giggling child. --- Jason had just turned the corner when he spotted movement ahead. A tiny girl, about his daughter’s age, was running at full speed toward him. He barely had time to react before a blur of blue scrubs dashed past him. “Gotcha!” Isabella scooped up Mia, twirling her in the air before attacking her sides with playful tickles. Mia shrieked with laughter. “Noooo! Miss Winter, stop!” Jason halted. Watching. Isabella’s laughter was just as genuine as Mia’s, her entire expression soft with warmth. She looked… natural. Effortless. Jason’s jaw ticked. The idea hit him so fast, he almost laughed at the sheer ridiculousness of it. This nurse. She was perfect. His eyes flicked to her name tag. Isabella Winter. He took a slow step back, unnoticed. Not yet. But soon. Because he had just found his fake mother. --- Isabella and Jane were just finishing with their morning rounds in the kids’ ward when Dr. Matthews, one of the senior doctors, strode toward them with a serious expression. “Isabella Winter?” His voice was calm but firm. She blinked. “Yes, sir?” “The CEO wants to see you.” Silence. Jane’s mouth fell open. Isabella felt her pulse quicken. “The CEO?” she echoed. Dr. Matthews nodded. “Yes. Right now.” Isabella’s heart pounded. The CEO. The man who owned this entire hospital chain. The one everyone whispered about in hushed, admiring tones. The same man who had walked past just moments ago. Her mind raced. Had she done something wrong? Had someone complained about her? Was this about Mia running down the hall? Jane grabbed her arm, whispering urgently, “What did you do?” “I—I don’t know.” Isabella swallowed hard, wiped her palms on her scrubs, and followed Dr. Matthews toward the unknown.