Chapter 1
I'd stood by Julian Kane for 7 years. I ran the entire Kane family fortune, cared for his seriously ill father, and everyone in Yvermont City's elite circles called me Mrs. Kane.
Everything fell apart on my daughter's 6th birthday.
We were at the law office to set up the family trust when the lawyer crossed her name off the documents right in front of everyone.
"My apologies. Under Kane family rules, any child born to unmarried parents without official birth registration is considered illegitimate."
I froze. That was when I learned the marriage certificate we'd gotten all those years ago was a fake.
That night, Julian wrapped his arms around me from behind like he always did.
"It's just a stupid piece of paper. You run the entire Kane family operation, and I come home to you every night."
He thought I was tied down by our daughter, with no choice but to stay hidden as his mistress he could never acknowledge.
The final straw came at the Kane family's annual Christmas banquet.
Julian ordered me to take Josie and sneak in through the back door while he walked his legal wife through the front entrance of the main estate, hand in hand.
I turned around, scooped up Josie, and headed straight for the mansion of the wheelchair-bound tycoon who was considered the richest man in Yvermont City's elite circles.
I knocked on the door. The man who answered was sitting in a wheelchair, his eyes fixed on me.
I met his gaze without flinching.
"Mr. Cross, you once told me that if I ever chose to come back, the doors of the Cross family would always be open to me. Does that promise still hold?"
*****
Landon Cross's eyes swept over my rain-soaked face before settling on Josie, who was trembling beside me.
"The Cross family never goes back on its word. That promise still stands."
He turned his wheelchair aside, clearing a path through the entryway.
"Come inside. Don't let the little one catch a cold."
The housekeeper immediately stepped forward, wrapping Josie in a blanket before bringing me a steaming cup of water.
Josie's face was deathly pale, her little fingers clutching the hem of my shirt.
"Mommy, don't we have a home anymore?"
The question cut straight through my heart.
"This is your home now," Landon said, his voice low and steady. "If that's what you want, it'll always be your home."
Before his words had even faded, frantic pounding erupted at the front door.
Julian's furious roar came from the other side.
"Mia Sterling! Get the hell out here right now! What the hell do you think you're doing, bringing my daughter to another man's house in the middle of the night?"
Seconds later, Julian stormed into the living room, reeking of alcohol.
His hair was soaked through, and he was still wearing the expensive suit he'd had on earlier that day. A garish smear of lipstick stood out against his collar.
Back to the day he'd slipped a simple band onto my finger himself, he'd pulled me into his arms, his eyes rimmed red as he promised me, "Mia, once my father recovers, I'll give you and Josie the wedding of your dreams."
7 years.
I'd poured every ounce of my blood and sweat into those 7 years. And all I got in return was one careless phrase from his lawyer, "Illegitimate daughter."
Julian lunged at me and clamped a hand around my wrist so hard I thought my bones would snap.
"Mia, you've gotten pretty bold, haven't you? You've stayed at the family estate every Christmas for 7 years. And today, I only asked you to use the back door to avoid gossip. That's enough to make you take the kid and run off?"
Josie let out a loud, frightened cry.
I tore my wrist from his grip with all my strength.
"Julian, watch your mouth. We never had a real marriage license. Josie isn't your legitimate daughter. She's just an illegitimate daughter. Those were your lawyer's exact words."
Julian gave a cold laugh, his eyes filled with disdain.
"So what if she's illegitimate? Have I ever let her go hungry? Have I ever left her without clothes? I'll put money aside for her trust fund later. The Frost family is investing $1 billion in the company. I have to give Claire the title she deserves! The bigger picture comes first!"
He lunged forward and reached for Josie's arm.
"Come back with me! Stop making a scene here! Landon's just a cripple. What good do you think clinging to him will do you?"
I drew back my hand and slapped Julian hard across the face.
His head snapped to the side, a vicious look twisting across his features. He raised his hand, ready to wrap it around my throat.
"You little b***h! How dare you hit me?"
Suddenly, a hand shot out and seized his wrist.
Landon sat in his wheelchair, his gaze dark, like a bottomless pit. His fingers tightened around Julian's wrist, little by little.
Julian grunted in pain as the veins in his arm bulged beneath his skin.
"Julian, this is my house. You don't get to come in here and run wild," Landon said coldly.
Julian stumbled back two steps, clutching his red wrist as he glared at us.
"Mia, if you dare stay here tonight, I'll cut off Josie's heart medication first thing tomorrow! And she'll never set foot in an elementary school anywhere in this city! I'd like to see how the two of you survive without me!"
With that, he slammed the door and stormed away.
Dead silence settled over the room.
Josie buried her face in my shoulder, her little body shaking with sobs.
Landon held out a cup of warm milk. "Don't be scared. I'm here."
Just then, the phone on the coffee table began buzzing violently.
I picked it up, and Josie's attending doctor spoke in a panicked voice on the other end, "Ms. Sterling! Something terrible has happened! Mr. Kane just sent people to intercept the refrigerated medical transport that was supposed to pick up Josie's imported medication from the airport! If she doesn't get that medicine tonight, she might have an attack!"
