Chapter One – The Boy in the Portrait

Nora Hayes had been inside the Sterling mansion for less than five minutes when she realized she had made a terrible mistake.

Not because the house was intimidating.She had expected that.

Everyone in London knew the Sterling family. Their name was attached to skyscrapers, luxury hotels, private hospitals, and companies worth more money than Nora could comprehend. The mansion itself was exactly what she had imagined—massive windows, polished marble floors, expensive paintings, and furniture that looked as though nobody was allowed to breathe near it.

What unsettled her was the feeling that she had been here before.

She stood in the enormous entrance hall, clutching the leather portfolio against her chest as she looked around.

“Miss Hayes?” Nora turned. A middle-aged woman in a navy dress approached her with a polite smile.

“Yes?” “I’m Mrs. Collins. I manage the household.”

“Nice to meet you.” “The lawyer said you would arrive at ten.” “I’m sorry. The traffic was terrible.”

Mrs. Collins smiled. “London traffic is rarely kind to anyone.”

Nora returned the smile, though her nerves hadn't settled. She had spent the entire morning reminding herself that this was simply a job.

A good job. A very good job.

The interior renovation project at the Sterling family's West London property could give her the experience she needed to finally establish herself as a designer. After years of studying, working on small projects, and taking whatever jobs she could find, this was the first opportunity that felt like a real step forward.

She needed it. She needed the money. And, more importantly, she needed a chance to prove to herself that her life had moved forward.

Five years ago, she had believed her life was over. She didn't think about that time anymore. At least, she tried not to.

“Mr. Sterling is expecting you,” Mrs. Collins said. Nora's fingers tightened around her portfolio.

“Mr. Sterling?” “Adrian Sterling.” Her heart skipped. She looked at Mrs. Collins. “The owner of the house?”

“Yes.” Nora forced a small smile. Of course. She should have known.

The project was connected to Sterling Holdings. Naturally, the owner would want to meet the designer personally.

Still, something about hearing his name made an uncomfortable feeling settle in her stomach. Adrian Sterling.

She hadn't heard that name spoken aloud in years. It was ridiculous. London was full of people named Adrian.

And there was no reason to believe this was the same Adrian. Nora followed Mrs. Collins down the hallway.

She was halfway to the study when she heard laughter. A child's laughter. She stopped. Mrs. Collins looked back.

“Is everything alright?” “Yes.” Nora smiled faintly. “I just wasn't expecting a child.” “There is a young master in the house.”

Before Nora could respond, a small figure suddenly appeared at the end of the hallway.

A little boy. He couldn't have been more than five or six. He was wearing a white shirt, dark trousers, and tiny sneakers that looked far too expensive for a child who was currently running through a mansion.

He stopped when he saw Nora. Nora stopped too. The boy stared at her. She stared back.

Something about his face made her chest tighten. It wasn't recognition. That was impossible. She had never seen him before.

Yet there was something strangely familiar about him. The boy slowly walked toward her.

Mrs. Collins smiled. “Leo, what are you doing here?” He ignored her. His eyes remained fixed on Nora.

When he reached her, he tilted his head. “You're new.” Nora smiled. “Yes. My name is Nora.”

He studied her for another moment. Then he asked, “Do I know you?” Nora laughed softly. “I don't think so.”

The boy frowned. “But you look familiar.” Something inside Nora twisted. She crouched down so they were at eye level.

“Maybe I just have one of those faces.” He shook his head. “No.” His answer was so serious that Nora almost laughed again.

“Then what do I look like?” The boy didn't answer immediately. Instead, he reached out and touched a strand of her hair.

“My mummy had hair like yours.” Nora's smile disappeared. She swallowed. “Your mummy?”

The boy nodded. “She left.” There was something in the way he said it that made Nora's heart ache.

She glanced at Mrs. Collins. The woman's expression had suddenly become uncomfortable.

“Leo,” she said gently. “You shouldn't be bothering Miss Hayes.” “I’m not bothering her.” He looked back at Nora.

“I like her.” Nora smiled despite herself. “Thank you.”

“Leo.” A man's voice came from behind them. Deep. Controlled. Cold. Nora's entire body went still. She knew that voice.

She hadn't heard it in five years, but some memories did not need permission to return.

Slowly, she turned around. A man stood at the other end of the hallway. He was taller than she remembered. Or perhaps it was simply because five years had passed.

His dark hair was neatly styled, his black suit fitted perfectly across his broad shoulders, and his grey eyes were fixed on her with the kind of cold intensity that made people instinctively straighten their backs.

Nora couldn't breathe. Adrian Sterling. The man from that night. The man she had promised herself she would never see again.

For a moment, the mansion disappeared. The marble floor beneath her feet disappeared. She was back in that hotel room five years ago.

Rain tapping against the windows. A half-empty bottle of whiskey on the table. A broken man sitting across from her.

His voice rough with pain as he told her he was tired of being treated like a piece on his family's chessboard.

She remembered the way he had looked at her. The way he had held her. The way she had believed, for one foolish night, that perhaps two lonely people could find comfort in each other.

Then morning had come. And he had left. Nora had never expected to see him again.

Yet here he was. Looking directly at her. Adrian's expression didn't change. There was no recognition in his eyes.

Nothing. Not even the slightest hint that he remembered the woman who had shared his bed.

Nora felt something painful twist inside her. Of course he didn't remember Why would he?

To him, it had been one night. To her, it had been the beginning of a life she had never gotten to live.

“Mr. Sterling,” Mrs. Collins greeted. Adrian barely acknowledged her. His gaze remained on Nora.!“You're the designer?”

Nora forced herself to look away from his eyes. “Yes.” She lifted her portfolio slightly.

“Nora Hayes.” He nodded once. “Adrian Sterling.” “I know.” The words slipped out before she could stop them.

His eyebrow lifted. Nora quickly corrected herself. “I mean, I know who you are.” Something unreadable passed through his eyes.

Before he could respond, Leo suddenly ran toward him. “Daddy!” Adrian's expression softened almost imperceptibly.

He bent down and lifted the boy into his arms. Nora watched them. There was something tender in the way Adrian held him.

It didn't fit the man she remembered. Then she turned to Adrian. “I'm sorry.” “For what?”

“For whatever I walked into.” “You didn't walk into anything.” His voice was colder now. “Let's discuss the project.”

Nora nodded. They walked toward the study. She tried to focus on the job.On the drawings in her portfolio.

On the measurements. On the renovation plans. Anything that would stop her from thinking about the man sitting across from her.

But Adrian Sterling was sitting only a few feet away. And every time Nora looked at him, memories she had buried for five years came rushing back.

She had thought she was over it. She had thought she had healed. She was wrong.

The meeting lasted almost forty minutes. When it ended, Nora gathered her papers. “I'll send the revised designs by Friday.”

Adrian nodded. “Good.” She stood and walked toward the door.

Then a voice stopped her. “Nora.” She turned. Adrian was still sitting behind his desk. “Have we met before?”

Her heart slammed against her ribs. For a moment, she couldn't speak. Then she forced a smile..“No.” Adrian watched her carefully.

“You seem familiar.” Nora's throat tightened. “I get that sometimes.” She opened the door.

But before she could leave, Leo's laughter sounded from upstairs.

Nora glanced toward the staircase. She didn't know why. She didn't know what had drawn her attention.

But as she looked up, Leo appeared at the top of the stairs. His hair was slightly messy.bHe smiled at her.

And then he turned his head. A small crescent-shaped birthmark was visible beneath his left ear.

Nora stopped breathing. The portfolio slipped from her fingers. Papers scattered across the floor.

She didn't notice. She couldn't move. She knew that mark. She had seen it once.

Five years ago.On the tiny body of the baby she had held against her chest before the doctors told her he was dead.

Her eyes filled with tears. No. It couldn't be. There was no way. Leo looked down at her innocently.

Then he smiled. “Mummy?” Nora's heart shattered.

And somewhere behind her, Adrian Sterling slowly stood up.