THE BILLIONAIRE'S SECRET NANNY

Chapter 10: The DNA Test and Proposal

The envelope came at 9am.

Plain white. No return address. Just my name written in sharp black letters.

Elena Carter

I was in the kitchen making Lily breakfast when Mrs Hale handed it to me.

It is for you miss she said.

My hands were still wet from washing strawberries.

Who is it from

Mrs Hale shook her head. The courier did not say.

I took it upstairs to my room. My heart was pounding.

Inside was one sheet of paper.

DNA PATERNITY TEST RESULTS

Alleged Father: Damian Sterling

Child: Lily Carter Sterling

Result: 99.99 percent probability of paternity.

Positive.

Lily was Damian's.

I sat on the bed and read it three times.

A knock on the door.

Elena Damian's voice.

Come in I said.

He walked in. He looked tired. He had not slept. None of us had.

What is it he asked.

I handed him the paper.

Damian read it. His face did not change.

Then he looked up at me.

So it is official he said.

Yes I whispered.

Damian set the paper on the dresser.

Elena he said.

Yes

Can we talk

Of course.

He sat next to me on the bed. Not too close. Not touching.

For five years I did not know she existed he said.

I know.

And for six months you were in my house and you did not tell me.

I know.

I am angry Damian said.

My chest hurt.

I know.

But I am not angry at you Damian said. I am angry at myself. For not seeing it. For not asking. For not being there.

Tears started falling.

Damian reached out and wiped one away with his thumb.

Do not cry he said.

I cannot help it I whispered.

Elena Damian said.

Yes

I want to do this right.

How

With lawyers. With papers. With a schedule. With holidays and birthdays and doctor appointments. I want to be her father. And I want you to be her mother. With me.

I nodded.

But Damian said.

Yes

I do not want us to be just co parents.

My breath caught.

What do you mean

I mean I want more Damian said. I mean I have spent 35 years building an empire and I have never wanted anything as much as I want this. You. Her. Us.

He stood up and walked to the window.

When Lily got sick I realized something Elena.

What

That I would burn the whole world down if it meant keeping you two safe.

Damian turned back to me.

And I realized I do not want to go home to an empty house anymore. I do not want to do birthday parties alone. I do not want to do 3am fevers alone.

Damian.

I am in love with you Elena.

The room went silent.

I love you Damian said again. I do not know when it happened. Maybe when you sang to her when she had a nightmare. Maybe when you yelled at me for working too late. Maybe when you looked at me like I was not just a billionaire but a man.

I could not speak.

Say something Damian said.

I am scared I whispered.

Of what

Of this being real. Of you changing your mind. Of Vanessa. Of everything falling apart.

Damian crossed the room and knelt in front of me.

Then let me prove it to you every day he said.

He reached into his pocket.

And pulled out a ring.

It was not big. It was not flashy. It was a simple gold band with a small diamond.

Elena Carter Damian said. Will you marry me

I started crying.

Is that a yes or a no Damian asked and smiled a little.

Yes I said. Yes.

Damian slid the ring on my finger.

It fit perfectly.

He kissed me then.

Soft. Careful. Like I might break.

When he pulled back he rested his forehead against mine.

We are going to tell Lily together he said.

Okay.

And then we are going to tell the world.

Okay.

And then I am going to take you on a honeymoon.

Damian I laughed.

What

We just got engaged

Exactly Damian said. We have time to waste.

We found Lily in the playroom building with blocks.

Lily baby Damian said.

Lily looked up. Yes Daddy

We have something to tell you I said and sat on the floor with her.

Damian sat too.

Your mom and I are getting married Damian said.

Lily's eyes went wide.

Really

Really I said.

Lily screamed and threw herself at us.

Best day ever she said.

Damian picked her up.

You are going to be my flower girl he said.

Can I wear sparkles Lily asked.

All the sparkles Damian said.

That afternoon we called a press conference.

Damian and I stood together. Lily between us holding both our hands.

I am here today with my fiance Elena Carter and our daughter Lily Damian said. We are a family. And we are asking for privacy as we start this new chapter.

Cameras flashed.

Are you going to sue Miss Whitmore a reporter asked.

We are considering all legal options Damian said. But right now we are focused on our family.

Vanessa did not show up.

The next week was a blur.

Wedding planning. Lawyers. Lily picking flowers.

Damian wanted a small wedding. Just us and close friends.

I wanted the same.

We set the date for one month from now.

The night before the wedding I could not sleep.

Damian came to my room.

Nervous he asked.

Yes I said.

Me too Damian said.

I thought you did not get nervous

Only about things that matter Damian said.

He sat on the bed.

Elena.

Yes

I know we started messy.

I nodded.

But I want you to know. I choose you. Every day. Even on the messy days.

I choose you too I said.

Damian kissed me.

Get some sleep he said. Tomorrow is a big day.

The wedding was in the garden.

White flowers. String lights. 50 people.

Lily walked down the aisle first throwing petals and wearing a dress with sparkles.

Then me.

Damian was waiting at the altar in a black suit.

When he saw me he smiled.

The real smile. The one that reached his eyes.

Do you take this man Damian asked the officiant.

I do I said.

Do you take this woman

I do Damian said.

You may kiss the bride.

Damian kissed me.

And the whole world cheered.

At the reception Lily made a speech.

My mom and dad are getting married she said into the microphone. And now I have two parents who love me. The end.

Everyone cried.

That night in our hotel suite Damian held me.

We did it he said.

We did I said.

Are you happy

So happy.

Good Damian said. Because this is forever now.

Forever I agreed.

Six months later

I was 8 months pregnant.

We were sitting on the balcony. Lily was inside watching cartoons.

Boy or girl Damian asked and rubbed my belly.

Surprise I said.

Damian laughed.

I love you he said.

I love you too.

The doorbell rang.

It was a package.

From Vanessa.

Inside was a card.

_Congratulations. You win._

And a check.

For 1 million dollars.

Donation to Lily's school.

In Vanessa's name.

Damian looked at me.

What do we do

We cash it I said. And we use it for the kids.

Damian nodded.

And we never speak to her again.

Never I agreed.

That night we sat in the nursery painting the walls yellow.

For our baby Damian said.

For our family I said.

Damian kissed me.

Thank you for choosing me he said.

Thank you for choosing us I said.

Outside the moon was full.

And inside, we were home.

End of Chapter 10