Five years ago, I believed Xavier Ricciardi was the man I was going to marry. I was wrong. He cheated on me. His family arranged his marriage to another woman. And his grandmother looked me in the eye and told me I would never be worthy of standing beside a Ricciardi before ordering me to get rid of the baby growing inside me. So I left. I walked away from Boston, from Xavier, and from the only man I'd ever loved. I took our secret with me. Our daughter. Five years later, I've built a life no one can take away from me. My café is one of New York City's favorites. My name finally belongs to me. And my entire world begins and ends with Iris, my four-year-old daughter, who has Xavier's face, Xavier's smile, and just enough of my stubbornness to make the universe laugh at me every single day. I thought the past was buried. Until a scandal threatened to destroy everything I’d worked for. Until I flew home to Panama for my adopted sister’s engagement party. Until I looked up... ...and found Xavier standing beside her. Then he saw Iris. I recognized that look instantly. I told him to stay away from my daughter. He answered the only way Xavier Ricciardi knew how. With power. He could erase my scandal overnight. Or he could make it so much worse that my café, my reputation, and the life I'd built would never recover. His offer was simple. He would save everything. In return, I would come whenever he called... and I would never stop him from seeing Iris again. I hate him more than I've ever hated anyone. He doesn't care. Because in Xavier's mind, I can keep pretending he's nothing more than my ex, but I can never pretend Iris isn't his daughter. So how do I protect the little girl who means everything to me... ...when the only man powerful enough to save us is the same man who shattered my heart five years ago?