The Rebirth of My Dead Billionaire Wife

Chapter 276

Avery and Ryan strolled hand-in-hand through a picturesque neighborhood, the crisp autumn air carrying the faint scent of leaves and woodsmoke. The excitement of finding a bigger home for their growing family was palpable. Sunny trotted happily beside them, her leash held by Ryan, as they approached the first house on their list.

“You realize this is the start of a new chapter, right?” Ryan said, glancing at Avery with a grin. “The house where we’ll bring our baby home, where Sunny will dig up the yard, and where you’ll finally beat me at Scrabble.”

Avery rolled her eyes, laughing. “I beat you once, and you’ve never let it go. But yes, this feels… big. Monumental, even.” She rubbed her growing belly absently, her smile softening. “I want this house to feel like a home.”

“It will,” Ryan said confidently, squeezing her hand. “Let’s find the perfect one.”

The real estate agent, a cheery woman named Linda, greeted them in the driveway of a charming Cape Cod-style house with a crisp white exterior and dark shutters.

“This one’s a three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath,” Linda began, gesturing to the home. “And it’s got the backyard you mentioned wanting.”

As they walked inside, Avery took in the open-concept living room with its vaulted ceilings and cozy fireplace. The hardwood floors gleamed, and the large windows let in plenty of light.

“This is nice,” Avery admitted, walking over to the kitchen. The granite countertops and stainless steel appliances caught her attention. “I can already see us having family dinners here.”

Ryan nodded, but his focus was on the backyard. He stepped outside, where a small patio overlooked a neatly manicured lawn surrounded by a white picket fence.

“This yard is great,” he called out. “Sunny would love it.”

Avery joined him, running her fingers along the fence. “It’s beautiful, but… I don’t know. Something feels like it’s missing.”

Ryan tilted his head, studying her expression. “What’s missing?”

Avery shrugged. “I can’t put my finger on it. Maybe it’s just not ‘us.’”

Linda smiled knowingly. “That’s okay. Finding the right house is like finding the right pair of shoes—it has to fit perfectly. Let’s move on to the next one.”

The second house was a sprawling modern build with sharp angles, floor-to-ceiling windows, and sleek finishes. As they stepped inside, Avery immediately felt overwhelmed by the scale of it.

“This place is huge,” she said, her voice echoing slightly in the massive foyer.

“Four bedrooms, four baths, and a bonus room,” Linda said with a grin. “Plenty of space to grow.”

Ryan ran his hand along the marble staircase. “It’s impressive, but… it feels a little cold, doesn’t it?”

Avery nodded. “Yeah. It’s beautiful, but I don’t see us living here. It’s not cozy enough for a baby.”

They thanked Linda and moved on, laughing together as they imagined Sunny getting lost in the cavernous halls.

By the time they reached the third house, Avery was starting to feel a little discouraged. But as they pulled up to the two-story Craftsman-style home, her spirits lifted.

The house was painted a soft sage green with white trim, and the front porch featured a charming swing and flower boxes brimming with autumn blooms.

“Oh,” Avery breathed, stepping out of the car. “This feels… right.”

Ryan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Let’s check it out.”

Inside, the warmth of the home enveloped them immediately. The living room had built-in bookshelves flanking a brick fireplace, and the kitchen featured white cabinetry with a farmhouse sink and butcher block countertops.

Avery ran her hand over the kitchen island, already imagining baking cookies with their future son. “This is perfect.”

Ryan wandered through the house, peeking into the spacious bedrooms and the nursery-sized room painted in soft yellow. Upstairs, he found the master bedroom with its en-suite bathroom and private balcony.

“Babe, come see this,” he called out.

Avery joined him, her eyes widening at the view from the balcony. The backyard stretched out below, complete with a wooden playset, a small garden, and plenty of space for Sunny to roam.

“This is it,” she said, her voice soft. “This is the one.”

Ryan nodded, pulling her close. “Yeah, it is.”