Chapter 1

ZURI'S POINT OF VIEW

“Nanny Tams—take Summer straight home after school, okay? And please, please don’t speak to strangers.”

“Is everything alright, Ms. Zuri?”

I paused mid-zip of my bag, caught off guard by the question. Of course she’d noticed—I was practically vibrating out of my skin, and that was not like me.

“Everything’s fine. Just… do as I ask, please.” She nodded, and I turned to my daughter, who sat quiet as a mouse on the sofa. “Hey, baby. Mommy has to go now, okay?”

She looked up, her lips forming a perfect pout. “Can’t you stay home today? Please?” She batted her big blue eyes at me—god, that look always made me want to give in.

But I couldn’t. I had to go to work—especially now. If I skipped, Helios would only grow more suspicious. Normalcy was my only shield.

“I’m sorry, love. But Mommy needs to go in today. You saw my boss yesterday, right? He’d be furious if I missed work.” Her face lit up.

“Your boss with the same eyes as me?”

My throat tightened. “Yes.”

Ever since Summer could talk, she’d asked why her eyes were the color of a summer sky—electric blue—when mine were warm brown. Now she’d finally seen someone who matched. Because of course she had. Those eyes were all Helios, the only piece of him she’d inherited.

After a few more gentle pleas, she let me go. But I didn’t head straight to the office. Instead, I drove to my best friend’s coffee shop, pushing through the door before I could change my mind.

“Whoa, girl—you’re here early. Did you break into my place to steal pastries?” Jenica grinned as I slid into a corner booth.

“Jen… he saw her.” My lips trembled, and I buried my hands in my hair. “He saw Summer.”

Tears spilled over before I could stop them. No. He can’t take her from me. She’s all I have.

“Whoa, hold up.” Jenica shoved a handful of tissues across the table. “You’re acting like a lunatic—crying out of nowhere. What are you even talking about?”

“Helios saw my daughter.”

The words hung in the air. Jenica’s eyes went wide, her hand flying to cover her mouth. She opened and closed it three times like a fish out of water. I rolled my eyes.

“You’re the one acting crazy now.”

“O. M. G. Helios? As in Helios Gallagher? The father?!”

I slapped my hand over her mouth. Damn it. What if one of Gallagher’s people was lurking nearby?

“Want me to get you a megaphone while I’m at it?” I hissed.

“Sorry—sorry—I can’t breathe.” She fanned her face, still gaping.

I rolled my eyes again. “Are you Summer’s mom, or am I?” I waited until she’d calmed down, then pushed a glass of water toward her.

“Okay, okay—spit it out. What happened?”

I told her everything from the day before: Summer wandering off, finding her by the theater screen, the way Helios had looked at her—like he’d seen a ghost. And the question that still echoed in my head. “Do you think he suspects?”

“I don’t know.” But who was I kidding? He wouldn’t ask if he didn’t have reason to wonder. Not when Summer’s eyes were a carbon copy of his own. He was probably already digging into her life as we spoke.

“So what’s your plan?”

The question stopped me cold. My plan? He’d find out the truth soon enough—Helios always got what he wanted. And when he did, he’d take her away.

“I’ll hide her.” My voice cracked as I said it.

“Run away again? Do you really think he won’t look for you this time? Last time he didn’t know you were pregnant—but now? If he finds out he has a kid, he’ll turn the world upside down to find you.”

“He doesn’t love me.” The words felt like a shield. “He doesn’t care about me. But she’s his daughter—why not just let him be part of her life? Maybe he’ll agree to share custody.”

I shook my head. I knew Helios Gallagher better than most—saw him every day at work, watched how he ruled his empire with an iron fist. The second he learned about Summer, he’d take her. Lock, stock, and barrel.

“Zuri… what really happened? How did you even end up pregnant with his kid? He’s the devil in a business suit—you can’t tell me it was just a one-night mistake that spiraled out of control.”

I looked at Jenica—my oldest, truest friend. She’d never asked for details before, but maybe it was time she knew why I’d hidden Summer away for five years.

I took a deep breath, and began.

“It all started with a charity gala the Gallaghers hosted.” A night I’d thought would be just another work event. A night that changed everything.