HER SECRET BILLIONAIRE

CHAPTER THREE

MAYA'S POV

Saturday morning started with Aria climbing into my bed at six AM, patting my face.

"Mommy, is today the park day?"

I'd told her we were meeting someone special tomorrow. Now she couldn't stop asking.

"Tomorrow, baby. Today we need to get ready." I pulled her close. "The person we're meeting is very important."

"Is it a princess?"

"No, sweetheart. His name is Luca." I sat up. "Aria, do you remember when you asked me about your daddy?"

She nodded seriously.

"Well, Luca is your daddy. He had to go away before you were born, but now he wants to meet you."

"Why did he go away?"

"Sometimes grown-ups have to do things they don't want to do."

"Did I do something bad?"

My heart shattered. I pulled her onto my lap. "No, baby. You didn't do anything wrong. You're perfect, and he's going to love you so much."

"Will he stay this time?"

I didn't have an answer. "I don't know, sweetheart. But we're going to meet him and see."

She looked up with those Santoro eyes. "Does he know about my butterfly collection?"

"Not yet, but you can show him tomorrow if you want."

My phone buzzed. "Is there anything Aria particularly likes? I want to bring her something. -Luca"

"She likes butterflies and books. Nothing expensive."

His response came immediately. "Thank you."

Sofia came over that afternoon.

"Nothing about this is normal, Maya. Are you sure you're ready?"

"No. But I'm doing it anyway."

Sofia took my hands. "Just promise me you'll watch him carefully. If anything feels off, you end it immediately."

That night, I couldn't sleep. At two AM, I searched for information about Luca Santoro.

I found an article from three years ago about a hostile takeover. The Santoro family had crushed a competitor, leaving hundreds unemployed. Luca's photo was alongside his father's, both looking ruthless.

This was who wanted to meet my daughter. Not Lucas Green who'd helped me move furniture. Luca Santoro who destroyed businesses.

I almost called it off. But Aria deserved to know her father.

LUCA’S POV

I spent Saturday trying to find the perfect gift.

Marco accompanied me to three toy stores.

"She's three. Children that age are easily pleased."

"She's my daughter. Everything here is wrong. Too generic."

Finally, in a bookstore, I found it. A children's book about butterflies. And next to it, a delicate butterfly pendant necklace, child-sized.

I called my father, lying about business meetings.

"Isabella wants to join you," Vittorio said. "She thinks you need supervision."

"I'm handling everything. I'll be back in Milan by Wednesday."

"See that you are. We have the Moretti deal to finalize."

Reality pressed down. I had three days to meet my daughter and keep my family from finding out.

My phone rang at midnight. Isabella.

"You're being evasive. What are you really doing in America?"

"Working. Just like I told Father."

"I'm watching you, Luca. If you're planning something stupid, I'll know."

I texted Marco after she hung up. "Isabella is suspicious. Increase security protocols."

"Understood. We're clean for now."

Sunday morning arrived too fast. I dressed in jeans, a sweater, and boots.

I arrived early and waited on a bench. Other families were there. Fathers pushing daughters on swings.

Then I saw them.

Maya walked across the grass holding a small girl's hand. Aria wore purple, dark curls bouncing. Even from a distance, I could see the Santoro features.

Aria looked up at Maya, asking something. Maya bent down, then pointed toward me. Our eyes met for the first time.

She studied me with intense focus and curiosity.

I stood slowly. Maya led her over.

"Aria, this is Luca. This is your daddy."

Aria tilted her head. "You're really tall."

I smiled. "You're really small."

"I'm not small. I'm three and a half." She held up three fingers, then added part of another.

I crouched down with the gift bag. "Your mommy told me you like butterflies. I brought you something."

She looked at Maya for permission. Maya nodded. Aria pulled out the book first, eyes wide.

"Mommy, look! It has real butterfly pictures!"

Then she found the necklace and gasped. "It's a butterfly necklace!"

"Do you like it?"

She nodded, then stepped forward and hugged me, quick and spontaneous, before running back to Maya.

"Can I wear it now, Mommy?"

Maya's eyes were wet. "Of course, baby."

I stood, overwhelmed.

"Thank you," Maya said quietly. "For asking what she liked."

"Can I help you with that?"

Aria held out the necklace, and I knelt, fastening it around her neck. She touched it, then looked up.

"Are you going to stay now? Or do you have to go away again?"

I looked at Maya. "I'm going to try very hard to stay. But sometimes grown-ups have complicated situations."

"My mommy says that means things are hard but not impossible."

"Your mommy is very smart."

Aria took my hand, pulling me toward the playground. "Come on! I want to show you how high I can swing!"

Maya followed at a distance.

Aria climbed onto a swing. "You have to push me. That's what daddies do."

"I've never pushed anyone on a swing before."

She giggled. "It's easy!"

Each time she swung back, she laughed.

"Higher, Daddy! Higher!"

The word 'Daddy' nearly broke me.

Maya approached, standing beside me. "She doesn't usually warm up to people this fast."

"Maybe she knows I'm her father."

We stood in silence, and for a moment it felt almost normal.

Then my phone buzzed. Isabella.

"I know where you are."

I looked up, scanning the park. Across the playground, I spotted one of my family's security team. Isabella's.

"Maya." My voice was urgent. "We need to leave. Now."

She saw my expression and moved toward the swing. "Aria, time to go, baby."

"But I'm not done swinging!"

"Now, Aria."

I helped Aria off. She sensed the tension. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. But your mommy needs to get you home."

Maya picked up Aria, moving quickly toward the parking lot. I followed, keeping myself between them and Isabella's guard.

Aria started crying. "I didn't get to show you my favorite slide!"

"Next time," I promised.

We reached Maya's car. "What's happening?"

"My sister found me. Her people are here."

"Will they hurt us?"

"No. But they'll report back to my father." I touched Aria's cheek. "I'm so sorry, little butterfly."

"It was perfect," she said through tears. "You pushed me really high."

Maya faced me. "What do we do now?"

"You go home. I'll handle my sister."

"And then what? She knows about Aria now."

"She saw me at a park with a woman and child. She doesn't know who you are or what Aria means to me. Not yet."

"How long before she figures it out?"

"I don't know. But I'll buy us time. I'm sorry."

"Just tell me one thing. Was any of today real?"

I pulled her close and kissed her forehead. "Every second with her was the realest thing in my life."

She pulled away, tears streaming. "Then find a way to fix this, Luca. Because I can't let her love you and then lose you."

"You won't. I'll fix this."

She drove away. Through the window, Aria was crying, holding her butterfly book.

I turned to face Isabella's guard. He approached, phone out.

"Isabella's going to want answers."

"Then she can ask me herself."

My phone rang. Isabella.

"Who was that woman?"

"No one important. Just someone I met at a coffee shop."

"You're lying."

I climbed in the car. "Believe what you want. I'm heading to the airport. I'll be back in Milan tonight."

"If you're hiding something, I'll find out. And when I do, there will be consequences."

The line went dead.

Marco glanced at me. "We have a problem."

"I know."

"What's the plan?"

"I don't have one yet. But I'm not giving up on them."

"Can you arrange for surveillance on Maya's apartment? Just protection. I need to know she and Aria are safe."

"That could draw more attention."

"I don't care. Do it. And find out how much Isabella knows."

My phone buzzed with a text from Maya: "She won't stop crying. She wants to know when she can see you again. What do I tell her?"

I typed back: "Tell her I'll see her again soon. I promise."

Maya's response: "Don't make promises you can't keep."

But it was too late. I'd already made the promise.

Marco's voice broke through. "Sir, we have another problem. There's a second car following us."

I looked back and saw the black SUV. "Isabella's people?"

"Unknown. But they've been on us since we left the park."

"Lose them."

Isabella wasn't just suspicious anymore. She was actively investigating.

I had seventy-two hours before I had to be back in Milan. Seventy-two hours to figure out how to protect Maya and Aria from my family.

And I had no idea how to do it.