Chapter two “I’m your father “

Emily’s hand froze on the doorknob.

For reasons she couldn’t explain, her heart began to pound against her ribs.

She looked at Mrs. Martha.

The older woman’s face had gone pale.

“Go on,” she whispered gently.

“He’s been waiting.”

Emily let out a nervous laugh.

“I still think you’ve got the wrong girl.”

Mrs. Martha didn’t answer.

Instead, she pushed the office door open.

The room was strangely quiet.

Sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting long shadows across the polished wooden floor.

Standing before the glass was a man.

Tall.

Broad-shouldered.

Dressed in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit that looked like it had never known a wrinkle.

His hands rested behind his back as he stared out the window.

He didn’t turn around immediately.

For a moment…

Neither of them spoke.

Emily frowned.

That’s him?

She had expected an old social worker.

Maybe a lawyer.

Definitely not…

…this.

Even from behind, the stranger carried an air of authority that made the room feel smaller.

The silence stretched.

Then, as if sensing her presence, the man slowly turned around.

Their eyes met.

Everything stopped.

His breathing hitched.

The confident businessman who had negotiated billion-dollar deals without blinking suddenly forgot how to breathe.

It’s her…

The eyes.

The same colour has his

The smile.

Even the stubborn tilt of her chin…

She looked exactly like the child he’d spent fifteen years trying to look for

No…

Trying to find.

His fingers trembled ever so slightly before he curled them into a fist.

Fifteen years.

He had imagined this meeting thousands of times.

He had rehearsed every word.

Yet now…

His mind was completely blank.

Emily shifted awkwardly.

“Um…”

She waved a hand.

“Hello?”

The man blinked, as though waking from a dream.

“I’m sorry.”

His voice was deep and calm.

“I’m Adrian Kingsley.”

Emily’s eyebrows shot up.

Kingsley?

Even she knew that name.

Everyone did.

Kingsley Group wasn’t just another company.

It was one of the biggest business empires in the country.

Its CEO had appeared on magazine covers more times than movie stars.

She looked him up and down again.

“You don’t look like the type of person who gets lost.”

A faint smile tugged at Adrian’s lips.

“No.”

“So…”

Emily tilted her head.

“Why are you here?”

His smile disappeared.

“I came to see you.”

“Why?”

“Because I’ve been looking for you.”

Emily laughed.

“I’m pretty sure we’ve never met.”

“We haven’t.”

“Then why would you spend fifteen years looking for a complete stranger?”

Adrian didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he reached into the inside pocket of his suit jacket.

Emily instinctively took a step back.

He noticed.

A flicker of pain crossed his face.

He slowly pulled out…

A photograph.

The edges were worn from years of being carried around.

He held it out to her.

Curiosity got the better of her.

She accepted it.

The picture showed a young woman with bright eyes and a gentle smile.

She was holding a baby wrapped in a pink blanket.

Emily stared at it.

Something about the woman felt…

Familiar.

But she couldn’t explain why.

“Who’s this?”

Adrian looked at the photograph as though it were the most precious thing he owned.

“Her name was Sophia.”

Emily looked up.

“…Was?”

A shadow crossed his face.

“She died fifteen years ago.”

“I’m sorry.”

“So am I.”

Silence settled between them.

Emily handed the photograph back.

“I still don’t understand.”

“What does this have to do with me?”

Adrian’s fingers tightened around the photo.

“Everything.”

He took a slow breath.

The next words were the hardest he had ever spoken.

“Fifteen years ago…”

“The woman in this photograph gave birth to a little girl.”

Emily waited.

“Then she disappeared.”

“My investigators searched every city.”

“Every orphanage.”

“Every hospital.”

“There was never a trace.”

Emily folded her arms.

“I’m sorry that happened…”

“…but I still don’t see why you’re telling me this.”

Adrian’s eyes locked onto hers.

“Because…”

“I believe…”

“…that little girl is you.”

The room fell silent.

Emily stared at him.

Then…

She laughed.

Not because it was funny.

Because it was ridiculous.

“Mr. Kingsley…”

“I think your investigators need a refund.”

“I’ve lived here my entire life.”

“No billionaire has ever come looking for me.”

“You’ve made a mistake.”

Adrian didn’t argue.

He simply reached into his briefcase.

This time…

He placed a sealed envelope on the desk between them.

“What is that?”

“A DNA report.”

Emily’s smile slowly faded.

“I didn’t ask for one.”

“I know.”

“I had one done.”

“…Without my permission?”

“No.”

His voice remained steady.

“The orphanage agreed after I showed them the court order.”

Emily turned to Mrs. Martha.

The older woman lowered her eyes.

“It’s true.”

Emily suddenly felt the room spinning.

Court order?

DNA?

Why would anyone go that far?

She looked back at Adrian.

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

He met her gaze.

Every word carried the weight of fifteen lost years.

“I’m not here to ruin your life.”

“I’m here because…”

His voice broke for the first time.

“…there’s a chance…”

“…that I’m your father.”

Emily’s fingers tightened around the edge of the desk.

Her lips parted.

But no words came.

Behind the office door…

A second black luxury car rolled into the orphanage.

And the man stepping out had no intention of letting Adrian claim Emily first.