The Rebirth of My Dead Billionaire Wife

Chapter 265

Avery Kane Deveraux sat silently in the passenger seat of Ryan Hayes’s car, staring out the window as they left the hospital. The world outside looked so normal—people walking their dogs, children laughing in a park—but everything in her own world felt shattered.

Ryan glanced at her every few seconds, his hazel eyes filled with worry. He wanted to say something comforting, but every word that came to mind felt inadequate. Instead, he reached over and squeezed her hand.

“You okay?” he asked softly.

Avery didn’t look at him. Her voice was flat as she replied, “I don’t know.”

Ryan nodded, respecting her space. “We’ll take it one day at a time,” he said, his voice steady. “And you don’t have to do it alone.”

When they arrived at their apartment, Sunny was waiting at the door, her tail wagging excitedly. The golden retriever puppy barked happily, jumping up on Avery with her usual energy.

Avery bent down and gave Sunny a weak pat, but her usual joy wasn’t there. Sunny seemed to sense something was wrong and curled up by Avery’s feet, resting her head on her paws.

“You’ve got a little nurse,” Ryan said, attempting a lighthearted tone. “She won’t leave your side.”

Avery gave him a faint smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m going to lie down,” she said quietly, heading to the bedroom without waiting for a response.

Ryan watched her go, his chest tightening. He wanted to help, to fix this, but he didn’t know how.

The next afternoon, Janice showed up unannounced, carrying a bag of Avery’s favorite snacks and a thick blanket.

“Where’s my girl?” she asked Ryan as he opened the door.

“She’s in the bedroom,” Ryan said, his voice heavy. “I don’t know what to do, Jan. She won’t talk much, and she hasn’t eaten more than a few bites since we got back.”

Janice placed a hand on his shoulder. “You’re doing your best, Ryan. This is going to take time. Let me try.”

Janice walked into the bedroom to find Avery lying on her side, staring blankly at the wall. She sat on the edge of the bed, placing the blanket over Avery’s shoulders.

“Hey, Aves,” she said gently.

Avery blinked but didn’t turn to face her. “Hey.”

Janice didn’t push, letting the silence linger for a moment. Then she said, “I brought snacks. And a terrible rom-com we can make fun of together. What do you say?”

Avery let out a soft sigh. “I’m not really in the mood, Jan.”

Janice nodded, her tone still light. “Okay, no movie. But you’re getting out of this bed, even if it’s just to sit in the living room. You need a change of scenery.”

Reluctantly, Avery sat up. Janice helped her to the living room, where Ryan had set out tea and a small plate of food.

A few days later, Ryan gently brought up the idea of therapy.

“Aves,” he said, sitting beside her on the couch, “I think it might help to talk to someone—someone who can guide you through this.”

Avery’s first instinct was to brush him off, but the sincerity in his eyes made her pause.

“I don’t know if I’m ready for that,” she said softly.

Ryan nodded. “That’s okay. But when you are, I’ll be right here to support you.”

After another week of encouragement from both Ryan and Janice, Avery finally agreed to see a therapist.

Walking into the therapist’s office, Avery felt a wave of anxiety. The room was warm and inviting, with soft chairs and shelves lined with books and plants.

“Hi, Avery,” the therapist, Dr. Lynn Parker, greeted her with a kind smile. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

Avery sat down, her hands twisting nervously in her lap. “I don’t really know where to start,” she admitted.

“That’s okay,” Dr. Parker said. “There’s no right or wrong way to do this. Why don’t you tell me how you’ve been feeling lately?”

Avery hesitated, then said, “Empty. Sad. Like I’ve lost a part of myself. I can’t stop thinking about what could’ve been.”

Dr. Parker nodded empathetically. “It’s natural to feel that way after a loss like this. It’s important to let yourself grieve, but also to remember that you don’t have to go through it alone.”

By the end of the session, Avery felt a small sense of relief, like a tiny weight had been lifted.

Over the following weeks, Avery began to slowly regain her footing. She continued therapy, where she learned ways to cope with her grief and process her emotions.

Ryan and Janice remained by her side, offering love and support without pressuring her to move faster than she was ready.

One evening, Avery sat on the couch with Ryan, Sunny curled up between them.

“Thank you,” she said suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence.

Ryan looked at her, surprised. “For what?”

“For being here. For everything,” she said, her voice thick with emotion.

Ryan wrapped his arms around her, kissing the top of her head. “I’ll always be here, Avery. No matter what.”