The Billionaire's Secret Desire

Chapter 1: The Weight of a Vow The hospital room smelled cold and clean, but the steady beep of the heart monitor was the only sound keeping my world together. I gently smoothed the blanket over my little sister Maya’s hands. She looked so small in the big hospital bed, her breathing quiet and her skin pale. The doctors had told me straight out: the surgery she needs cannot wait. Without it, her heart will stop. And the cost? It was an amount of money I could never make in a lifetime. That desperation is the only reason I took a job as a maid in the massive Vale mansion. "You're late, Yvonne." The cold voice of Mrs. Gable, the head housekeeper, pulled me back to reality. I quickly wiped a tear from my cheek and turned around. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Gable. Traffic was bad," I lied, fixing my uniform. Mrs. Gable narrowed her eyes. "The master doesn't like excuses, and neither do I. Tonight is a big dinner party, and his room needs to be spotless. Do your job, don't look anyone in the eye, and stay away from the private rooms." Too late for that, a voice in my head whispered. Even now, after escaping his bedroom earlier, I could still feel the heat of Damian's touch. The memory of him pinning me against the wall while his fiancée showered just feet away made me shiver. He was dangerous, arrogant, and completely off-limits. A billionaire playboy who played with people just to break them. "Did you hear me, girl?" Mrs. Gable snapped. "Yes, ma'am," I said, staring at the floor. "Good. Grab your cart and start on the third floor." As I pushed the cleaning cart down the long, bright hallways, I tried to calm my racing heart. I was here for Maya. Just a few more months of dealing with Damian Vale, and we would be safe. I just had to survive him. And make sure his warnings never came true.