THE BILLIONAIRE’S HIDDEN HEIR

Calla Monroe’s POV The sound of laughter echoed through the small apartment, a soft, high-pitched giggle that had become the center of my world. I glanced over my shoulder, catching sight of Lucas sprawled on the living room carpet, toy cars scattered around him. His little head of dark curls bent low as he made racing noises with his lips. My chest tightened in that familiar ache—equal parts love and fear. He looked so much like him. Damian Vale. The name alone was enough to send a shiver down my spine, even after five years. I tore my gaze away, shaking off the thought as I carried two mugs of cocoa to the couch. This life I had now was far from the glittering, dangerous one I’d once touched by his side. My world was small, safe, and quiet. Just me and my boy. That was enough. It had to be. “Mommy, watch this!” Lucas scrambled up, holding his toy aloft like it was a trophy. His eyes sparkled, the same stormy gray that used to pin me in place every time Damian looked at me. I smiled, pushing the ache down deeper. “That’s amazing, baby.” He grinned, so innocent, so unaware that his very existence was the greatest secret I had ever kept. The knock at the door startled me. I frowned, glancing at the clock. Eight p.m. Too late for visitors. Lucas didn’t notice, too busy lining up his cars again. I padded over cautiously, heart thudding harder than it should. Old instincts never left you, especially when you’d once been burned by a man who had more enemies than friends. I opened the door a crack. Relief flooded me when I saw Emma, my neighbor, clutching a bag of groceries. “Sorry, Calla,” she said breathlessly. “I forgot you lent me sugar earlier, so I grabbed you some.” I exhaled a laugh, stepping aside. “You scared me half to death.” But even as I shut the door behind her, I couldn’t shake the unease. Because fear like mine didn’t vanish with time. It only went dormant, waiting for the moment to strike again. And that moment came sooner than I ever expected. Five Years Ago The rain was relentless, drumming against the glass windows of Vale Enterprises as I stood shivering in the lobby. My hands trembled, clutching the envelope tighter. My last shred of dignity. I’d worked for Damian Vale for almost two years, first as a secretary, then as his personal assistant. That’s what I had been on paper. In reality, I’d been his everything—his confidante, his lover, the woman he pulled into his arms late at night when the weight of his empire threatened to crush him. And then I’d been nothing. His words were seared into my soul: “You’re not enough, Calla. You were never supposed to be more than a distraction.” I pressed the envelope of resignation harder to my chest, as if it could shield me from the memory. When the elevator doors slid open, Damian stepped out like a storm personified. Impeccably dressed in a charcoal suit, his presence devoured the room. People shrank back instinctively, his power palpable. His gaze, sharp and calculating, landed on me—and for a second, his stride faltered. “Calla.” His voice was smooth steel, enough to unravel me even now. I lifted my chin, swallowing hard. “I came to deliver this.” His eyes flicked to the envelope, then back to me. For a heartbeat, something unreadable crossed his face, but it was gone just as fast, replaced by cold indifference. “You’re leaving,” he said flatly. I nodded. “There’s nothing left here for me.” What I didn’t tell him was the truth screaming inside me: There’s someone inside me. Yours. I walked away that night. And I swore I’d never look back. Present Day “Calla? You okay?” Emma’s voice pulled me from the memory. She was peering at me curiously as she placed the groceries down. I forced a smile. “Yeah. Just tired.” She gave me a knowing look. Everyone in this small town knew I carried unspoken scars. None of them knew the full story. None of them knew about Damian Vale. After Emma left, I tucked Lucas into bed, his small body curled beneath the blanket. I kissed his forehead, lingering as my heart swelled with fierce love. “Goodnight, baby.” “Night, Mommy.” His voice was muffled with sleep. I slipped out of the room, closing the door gently. My phone buzzed on the kitchen counter. Unknown number. My breath caught. No one ever called me from unknown numbers anymore. My life was predictable, carefully controlled. With shaking fingers, I answered. “Hello?” The voice on the other end was deep, commanding, unforgettable. “Calla.” I froze, the phone slippery in my grip. It couldn’t be. But it was. Damian Vale. My past. My downfall. The father of my child. And he had finally found me.