<b>Chapter </b>45


    -CELINE-


    I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.


    I was justing to check on Caesar. Just doing what I always do–making sure he wasn’t in someone’s way, wasn’t touching something too expensive, wasn’t being…too much.


    But I heard it.


    The tiny, innocent voice that belonged to my entire world. And the stunned silence that followed.


    “Maybe you can be my daddy?” <fn2995> This update is avable on find?novel</fn2995>


    My breath caught so hard it hurt.


    I watched Hunter freeze. I watched the panic flicker across his face, the way his body tensed like he’d been shot. And then-


    He bolted. Like he couldn’t get away fast enough.


    I press a hand against my chest. It’s stupid. I know it’s stupid to feel this kind of hollow.


    But it still stings. More than it should.


    I step into the study, my movements robotic. Caesar sits there on the floor, smiling like he didn’t just blow up the one ce we were safe in.


    “Did I do something bad, Mommy?” he asks..


    His little face tilts up at me, worried.


    I blink back the sting behind my eyes and force a smile. <b>“</b>No, baby,” I whisper. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”


    I


    Because he didn’t. Because he’s just a boy who deserves,the world, and somehow I keep handing him se


    I kneel and gather him into my arms<b>, </b>pressing my face against his soft hair.


    Hunter’s scent is still faint on him…something clean, something sharp….and it makes my throat close.


    “You’re perfect,” I murmur into his hair.


    And it’s not a lie. Not even a little bit. I pull back, ruffling his hair. “Why don’t you go <b>show </b>Miss Caroline what you built, huh?”


    He nods, excited, and scrambles up, blocks spilling from his arms as he races out of the study.


    Alone in Hunter’s study, <b>I </b>allow myself to look around for the first time. <b>Dark </b>wood shelves lined with leather–bound books.


    A massive desk that probably costs more than a year’s sry. Everything was neat, precise, controlled–just like him.


    Except for the tower of blocks still sitting on his Persian rug.


    I sink into his chair, the leather still warm from where Caesar had been sitting,


    1203 THIET


    The scent of Hunter’s cologne clings to the air–sandalwood and something darker, richer.


    Swallowing the feeling that I should have known better. That I always should know better.


    Men like Hunter don’t stay, Not for girls like me, Not for boys like Caesar, I wipe at my face, standing stiffly.


    Fine. If he’s ufortable, he won’t have to worry. I’ll make it easy for him.


    I always do.


    The sound of footsteps in the hallway jerks me out of my thoughts, I stand quickly, not wanting to be caught in Hunter’s chair.


    But it’s not Hunter. It’s Fabian, one of the contractors.


    “Oh,” he says, looking surprised to find me there. “Sorry, I was looking for the boss.”


    “He’s not here,” I say, stating the obvious.


    Fabian nods, lingering in the doorway. “Are you okay? You seem…”


    “I’m fine,” I cut him off, perhaps too sharply. “Just cleaning up.”


    He nces at the block tower, then back at me. A small smile tugs at his lips.


    “Hunter was building blocks with your kid?” I don’t answer. Don’t need to.


    Fabian’s smile widens. “Interesting”


    “it’s not what you think,” I say quickly.


    “I’m not thinking anything,” he <b>replies</b>, but his expression says otherwise. “Just surprised. Hunter doesn’t usually connect… with


    people.<b>” </b>


    I move past him toward the door. “I should find Caesar


    Fabian steps aside to let me pass, but his voice follows me. “Hunter gave me a warning today. About you.”


    I freeze, turning slowly. “What?”


    “Told me to stay away from you.” Fabian’s eyes hold mine. “Said you weren’t some ‘<b>side </b>project. That you’d been through hell”


    My heart pounds against my ribs. “He said that?”


    Fabian nods. “Never seen him that protective before.” He pauses. “Makes more sense now, seeing him with your son.”


    “It’s not “I begin, but the words die on my lips. What’s the point in denying it? The resemnce is undeniable to anyone who. looks closely enough.


    “Your secret’s safe,” Fabian <b>says </b>quietly. “Not my business anyway.”


    He <b>walks </b>away, leaving me standing in the hallway, feeling more exposed than ever


    “Mommy, Hunter showed me how to build a castle!” Caesar’s voice floats down the hallway as I follow him toward the kitchen,


    <b><i>2/5 </i></b>


    12:08 Thu 31 Jul


    My steps slow when I see Ana, the head maid, giving me that familiar look of disapproval. Her eyes dart to Caesar, then back to me


    “Control your child,” she hisses as she passes. “This isn’t a daycare.”


    I clench my jaw but say nothing. She’s been making my life hell since I started, but I can’t afford to lose this job.


    The kitchen is warm, filled with the scent of chocte chip cookies. Caesar races ahead, already climbing onto a stool at the


    counter.


    “Hey, little man!” Caroline’s voice rings out as she sweeps into the room.


    “Miss Caroline! I built a castle with Hunter Caesar announces<b>, </b>beaming


    Caroline’s perfectly shaped eyebrow arches. “With Hunter? In his study?”


    I nod slightly, not meeting her eyes.


    “Well, that’s unexpected,” she says, shooting me a curious look


    Cook slides <b>a </b>cookie toward Caesar, his face already smeared with chocte from previous ones.


    “Hunter said I’m smart,” Caesar continues proudly, swinging his legs.


    Caroline’s expression softens as she looks at him. “Of course you are. You’re the smartest three–year–old I know.”


    She pulls me aside while Caesar demolishes his cookie. “He looks like him, you know,” she says quietly.


    The floor seems to shift beneath my feet. “What?”


    “Caesar,” she rifies, though we both know who she means. “Same eyes. Same little scowl when he’s concentrating.”


    I don’t deny it. Can’t find the words.


    my arm gently. “Hunter’s not as cold as he pretends to be. Just so you know.”


    Caroline squeezes my


    Before I can respond, the back door opens and Hunter himself walks in. Our eyes lock. For a moment, ther of us breathes.


    “Hunter” Caesar calls out. “Come see my cookie!”


    Hunter’s gaze shifts to Caesar and something in his expression softens almost gradually. But then it’s gone, reced by the cool


    mask I’vee to know.


    “Not now, kid,” he says, his voice deliberately neutral.


    He turns to Caroline. “I need the Stevens file. And call Vincent–tell him the meeting’s moved up.”


    Caroline rolls her eyes dramatically. “I’m not your secretary, asshole,” she says, but there’s no real heat in it. “But I’ll do it for that extra pay you offered.”


    Hunter’s mouth twitches–almost a smije. “You’re impossible.”


    “It’s gic,” she fires back, already reaching for her phone


    Hunter nces at me one more time before turning to leave, his eyes cold.


    <b>-3/5 </b>


    “Hunter” Caesar calls after him, his voice small and disappointed.


    Hunter pauses his back to us, shoulders tense. For a second, I think he might turn around. Instead, he walks out without another. word.


    Caroline sighs, watching him go. “He’s…plicated.”


    “He’s an ass,” I mutter, too low for Caesar to hear.


    Carolineughs. “That too.” She studies my face. “But something is going on with you two. I’ve never seen him look at anyone the <b>way </b>he looks at you.”


    <b>“</b>With contempt?” I ask bitterly..


    <b>“</b>With fear,” she corrects. “Like you might see right through him.”


    I shake my head. “Well, he doesn’t need to worry. We’ll be out of his way.”


    Caroline frowns “Celine-”


    “It’s fine,” I cut her off. “This job was never going to be forever anyway.”


    <b>Thelp </b>Caesar clean his face<b>, </b>ignoring Caroline’s <b>concerned </b>gaze. My phone buzzes in my pocket–a–text from ke: ‘How’s the fancy house? Too good to text old friends back?!


    I smile despite everything. ke had been a good friend when my family threw me out. When Caesar was born. When I struggled to make ends meet at The Aurelia.


    Sorry, I type back, ‘Been busy. Long story.”


    <b>Her </b>response is immediate: ‘Spill it all when we see. My ce. Wine for me, ice cream for you.”


    My smile fades. What would I even say? “Hey, remember that mystery guy from three years ago who got me pregnant? Turns out he’s my multi–millionaire boss who just figured out Caesar is his son.”


    “Miss Caroline, can we y on the piano?” Caesar asks, chocte finally cleaned from his face.


    Caroline’s eyes light up. “Of course, little prince. I’ll show you how to y that song you liked.”


    <b>She </b>leads him toward the music room, ncing back at me with a look that says our conversation isn’t over.


    I sigh, leaning against the counter. Cook gives me a sympathetic smile.


    “That boy’s bringing life into this house,” she says quietly. “First time <b>I’ve </b>seen Mr. Maxwell smile in years.”


    I don’t know what to say to that. Don’t know what to do with the hope it sparks.


    Because I know what’sing. The questions. The usations. The truth I’ve been running from since the moment I saw those blue eyes staring back at me from a positive pregnancy test.


    The question isn’t if Hunter will confront me.


    It’s when


    And what happens to Caesar and me when he does?