The Billionaire’s Secret baby
Three years ago, Elara Vance had a passionate whirlwind romance with Julian Sterling, a man she didn't know was the heir to a global empire. When she discovered his true identity and heard his cold views on family and "accidents," she realized she couldn't tell him she was pregnant. She vanished without a trace, moving to a small town to raise her son, Leo, alone. Now, Elara’s son needs an expensive surgery, and her only choice is to return to the city and take a high-paying job as an executive assistant. On her first day, she walks into the office and comes face-to-face with her new boss: Julian Sterling. Julian is bitter and demanding, convinced Elara left him for money. He vows to make her life difficult as "revenge" for leaving him, but the old chemistry between them is still explosive. The secret shatters when Julian shows up at Elara’s apartment unannounced and sees Leo—a boy who is the spitting image of himself. Furious at the deception, Julian sues for custody, leading to a "fake engagement" or a forced marriage to keep the child’s legitimacy intact for the Sterling shareholders. Through the forced proximity of living together, Julian discovers the true reason Elara fled, and Elara realizes that Julian has changed. They must protect Leo from Julian's corporate rivals while learning to trust each other again.
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Chapter: 7:The Empty CradleThe coldness in Julian’s eyes was worse than his anger. He didn’t shout. He didn’t make a scene. He simply walked away, leaving Elara standing in the center of the ballroom, a golden bird trapped in a room full of vultures.Lydia’s triumphant laughter rang in her ears, but Elara didn’t stay to defend herself. A sudden, cold dread—sharp as an ice pick—settled in her gut. It wasn't about the money. It wasn't about Julian’s father.It was the man she had seen in the shadows.She remembered the way he had looked at her—not with judgment, but with the calculated gaze of a predator waiting for the alpha to leave the pack."Leo," she whispered, her voice a strangled gasp.She didn't wait for Julian. She didn't wait for the car. She hitched up the heavy silk of her gown and sprinted toward the exit, ignoring the gasps of the socialites and the blinding flash of the paparazzi’s cameras. She burst into the night air and frantically signaled a taxi."The Sterling Grand! Fast!" she screamed at th
最終更新日: 2026-01-17
Chapter: 6:The Golden CageThe dressing room was larger than Elara’s entire apartment. Racks of silk, chiffon, and velvet lined the walls, all curated by Julian’s personal shopper in a matter of hours. Elara reached for a simple black slip, but her hand stopped on a gown that seemed to glow under the recessed lighting. It was liquid gold—a floor-length silk masterpiece with a plunging back and a neckline that demanded confidence she didn't feel.When she finally stepped out into the bedroom, Julian was waiting. He had changed into a midnight-black tuxedo, his cufflinks glinting like cold stars. He was pouring a glass of scotch, but the moment he heard the rustle of her dress, he turned.The glass nearly slipped from his fingers.The dress clung to Elara like a second skin, highlighting every curve he had memorized three years ago. Her hair was pinned up in a sophisticated, loose bun, leaving her neck bare and vulnerable."You look..." Julian’s voice failed him for a second. He cleared his throat, his eyes darke
最終更新日: 2026-01-17
Chapter: 5: The Queen of the EmpireThe penthouse of the Sterling Grand was less of a home and more of a museum. It sat atop the city like a crown, cold and shimmering. As the elevator doors slid open directly into the foyer, Elara clutched her purse, her heart sinking.Leo was still tucked into Julian’s shoulder, his small fingers curled into the expensive fabric of Julian’s suit. He had fallen back asleep, exhausted by the sudden move."Julian, you’re late for the gala," a sharp, melodic voice echoed through the marble hallway.Elara froze. Standing in the center of the living room, framed by the sparkling lights of Manhattan, was Victoria Sterling. The matriarch of the family looked like she had been carved from ice. She wore a deep emerald gown, her silver hair pulled into a bun so tight it looked painful.Victoria’s eyes traveled from her son to the sleeping toddler in his arms, and then finally to Elara. Her expression didn't soften; it hardened into a mask of pure disdain."I see the rumors from security were tru
最終更新日: 2026-01-17
Chapter: 4:The King and the PrinceThe drive to Elara’s apartment was silent, the air in the back of Julian’s Maybach thick enough to choke on. Julian stared out the window, his jaw tight. He was a man who planned every merger, every hostile takeover, and every penny of his wealth. But he hadn't planned for the feeling of his heart trying to claw its way out of his chest."He’s sleeping," Elara whispered as they pulled up to the curb of her modest building. "Please, Julian. Don't wake him up with a scene. He’s sensitive."Julian didn't answer. He simply opened the door and stepped out into the humid night air, his polished Italian shoes looking wildly out of place on the cracked pavement.They climbed the narrow stairs in silence. When Elara unlocked the door, the scent of lavender and baby cereal hit Julian like a physical blow. It was so... human. So unlike the sterile, marble halls of his own life."Wait here," Elara commanded, but Julian ignored her. He followed her into the small bedroom illuminated by a dim, star
最終更新日: 2026-01-17
Chapter: 3:The Price of a SecretThe silence in the office was deafening. Julian’s gaze was fixed on the tablet screen, his thumb tracing the pixels of the little boy’s face. Leo’s eyes—the same storm-cloud gray that looked back at Julian in the mirror every morning—seemed to stare through the digital image and into his soul."He’s three years old," Julian whispered, his voice dangerously calm. It was the calm before a hurricane. "The math... the math is perfect, Elara.""Julian, please—" Elara started, her voice trembling, but he slammed the tablet onto the desk with a sound like a gunshot."Don't lie to me!" he roared, rounding the desk. He grabbed her by the shoulders, not to hurt her, but because he looked like he might collapse if he didn't hold onto something. "How could you? You let me believe you left because you found someone else. You let me think you were just another gold-digger who got bored with the chase. But all this time... you were hiding my son?""He’s my son," Elara sobbed, finally breaking. She p
最終更新日: 2026-01-17
Chapter: 2:The Ghost in the FilesThe heat of Julian’s touch lingered on Elara’s skin long after he pulled away. He returned to his desk, his movements sharp and predatory."The HR department sent your resume up as a ‘special recommendation,’" Julian said, flicking a folder across the mahogany surface. "I didn't realize they were recommending a ghost."Elara reached for the folder, her fingers trembling slightly. "I have the qualifications, Julian. I’ve spent the last three years working in administrative design. I need this salary.""Why?" Julian’s eyes narrowed, scanning her modest blazer and the slight shadows under her eyes. "Where did all that 'independent spirit' go, Elara? The girl I knew wouldn't have come crawling back to a Sterling for a paycheck.""The girl you knew grew up," Elara snapped, her protective mother instincts flaring. "People have responsibilities. Expenses.""Expenses," Julian repeated, his voice dripping with skepticism. He leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving her face. "Fine. You
最終更新日: 2026-01-17
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