A Widowed Billionaire Thought His Triplets Would ... d v b

The rain was falling in heavy, steady sheets over the modest neighborhood of East Indianapolis.

In a small, two-bedroom bungalow, Avery Collins sat on her worn couch, wrapped in a knitted blanket. A mug of tea sat untouched on the coffee table in front of her. Her eyes were red and swollen from a night of endless crying.

She had packed her bags. She had left the Carmel mansion behind. She had told herself it was the right thing to do—that she was protecting Julian, protecting the boys, protecting her own heart.

So why did her chest feel like it had been carved out with a rusted knife?

Suddenly, a loud, urgent knock sounded at her front door.

Avery jumped. She didn't get visitors at nine o'clock on a rainy Friday morning.

She walked slowly to the door, wiped her eyes, and pulled it open.

Standing on her porch, soaked to the skin, his expensive suit ruined by the rain, was Julian Harlow.

Behind him, parked at the curb, was a massive black SUV. And through the rain-streaked windows of the back seat, three tiny, excited faces were pressed against the glass, waving wildly.

Avery gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "Julian?"

Julian didn't wait for an invitation. He stepped onto the porch, took her face in his broad, warm hands, and leaned down, kissing her deeply, fiercely, with all the hunger, relief, and devotion that had been building inside his heart for months.

Avery was stunned for a fraction of a second before she melted into the kiss, her hands wrapping around his wet lapels, pulling him closer, crying against his lips.

When Julian finally pulled back, breathing heavily, his hands remained framed on her cheeks, his thumb gently wiping away a tear mixed with rain.

"Julian... what are you doing here?" she whispered, trembling.

"I’m fixing a broken system," Julian said, his voice choked with emotion, hazel eyes locked onto hers with absolute, unyielding intensity. "I spent my whole life fixing companies, Avery, but I didn't know how to fix my own soul. You came into my sad, dark house and you didn't run away. You gave my sons their voices back. You gave me my life back."

"Julian, your world—"

"My world is in that car!" Julian shouted over the sound of the falling rain, pointing toward the SUV where Oliver, Reid, and Mason were bouncing up and down in their seats. "My world is those three boys, and my world is you! Marcus Vance is gone. The board is dealt with. The grief center in East Indy has its full funding approved as of an hour ago. There is no one left to fight, Avery. Except for us."

Avery looked at him, fresh tears streaming down her face, but this time, they weren't tears of grief—they were tears of overwhelming, radiant joy.

"You funded the center?" she sobbed.

"Of course I did," Julian smiled, a warm, genuine, breathtaking smile that transformed his entire face. "I need my wife to have her dream project close to home."

Avery blinked, her heart executing a sudden, wild flip. "Your... your what?"

Julian dropped to one knee right there on the wet wooden boards of her porch. He reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a small, velvet box, opening it to reveal a stunning, elegant sapphire ring surrounded by diamonds—a ring that caught the gray morning light like a beacon.

"Avery Collins," Julian said, his voice deep, strong, and brimming with unshakeable love. "I am not afraid of sad houses anymore, because as long as you are with us, our home will never be sad again. Will you marry me? Will you stay with us and be the mother my boys adore, and the woman I love for the rest of my life?"

Avery let out a half-sob, half-laugh, dropping to her knees on the porch right in front of him, throwing her arms around his neck so hard they both tumbled against the front door.

"Yes!" she cried, kissing his cheeks, his forehead, his lips. "Yes, Julian! Yes!"

The door of the SUV parked at the curb slammed open, and three small boys in raincoats came charging up the driveway, splashing through puddles, shrieking with pure, unfiltered delight.

"SHE SAID YES! SHE SAID YES!" Reid yelled.

"THE RED HORSE IS COMING HOME!" Mason shrieked.

Oliver reached the porch first, throwing his arms around both Avery and Julian in a fierce, tight hug. Reid and Mason piled on top a second later, a chaotic, laughing, tearful heap of love in the pouring Indiana rain.

Julian wrapped his strong arms around all four of them, pulling them close against his chest.