All Chapters of THE BILLIONAIRE'S SECRET HEIR : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Three AM. The apartment is dark except for the nightlight. Evan has been crying for two hours. I did everything I could, nothing’s working. My body's still healing from the C-section. Incision burns, breasts sore from feeding. I haven't slept more than an hour at a time in two weeks. This is motherhood. This is what they don't tell you. I hold him and walk in circles. The kitchen, living room, bedroom, and back. "Please stop. Please. I don't know what you need." He screams louder. I check everything again. The diaper is dry, he just ate. He's not hot or cold. Nothing wrong. Except he won't stop crying. And I don't know how to help him. I sit on the floor with my back against the couch and hold him against chest. "I can't do this. I'm failing you. You need more than I can give." Tears falling. His and mine. I think about calling Caleb. The number is still blocked. But I know it. I could unblock it and call. He might come and help since he's been trying to. But No. I

*LENA*Evan's seven months old and crawling, sort of. More like dragging himself across the floor. All determination, no technique. But he's moving. Exploring.I watch him from the kitchen. He wants his blocks. He reaches and grabs one. Straight to his mouth."No, baby. Not for eating."I take it away. He screams like I've committed murder. Welcome to seven months.The court ruled last month. Supervised visitation. Two hours weekly starting when Evan turns one. Four more months. Four months until I share my child with the man who walked away.I don't want to think about it. I'll focus on what I can control, the foundation. My office is bigger now. Three rooms. Small staff. Sienna full-time. Two case managers.I helped forty families in six months. Rent, legal aid, childcare, job training. Marcus's million stretching but won't last forever. I need sustainable funding. Hence the gala.Eight weeks away. One hundred guests. Fifty single mothers we've helped. Fifty donors. Real stories. N

*LENA*Thirteen months old and Evan's walking. Not well, wobbling. Falling every third step.But walking.Saturday morning. Another visit, new supervisor. Linda. Court-appointed officer. Older woman. Rebecca's gone.It took two weeks after I filed the complaint. Two weeks of Sienna's evidence showing Rebecca's fake notes. Her bias and lies. The court reviewed everything and removed her.Small victory.Caleb's apartment now for visits. The court said it's fine. More normal than the center. His place is nice and clean. Evan's room painted blue with dinosaurs on the walls. Toys everywhere. Books stacked by the bed.He built this for our son.Linda sits in the living room and observes from a distance. Takes notes but doesn't hover. I watch Caleb with Evan. Teaching him to stack blocks. Patient when Evan knocks them over.Evan laughs. Caleb laughs back. Same laugh. They look identical. My chest hurts watching them. This is what I kept from them for six months. This bond.Was I protecting

*LENA*Eighteen months old and Evan said "Dada" for the first time. During their weekend visit. Caleb texted me immediately with a video. Evan pointing at him, saying "Dada, Dada." Caleb scooping him up, laughing like he'd won the lottery.I watched it three times and cried every time. Not because Evan said his first word. Because it wasn't Mama.Court granted unsupervised visits last month based on Linda's glowing reports. Now Caleb gets every other weekend. Friday night to Sunday afternoon. Forty-eight hours without my son. First handoff was hard. I stood in Caleb's doorway clutching Evan's bag."I packed extra diapers. His favorite blanket, the blue one. He won't sleep without it.""I know.""And his stuffed bear for naps. Bedtime is seven-thirty, not eight, or he's cranky."Caleb took the bag, patient. "I've got this."Evan reached for him. "Dada!"That word again. Like a knife."He's been saying that all week," I said, trying to sound happy."I know. It's amazing.""Yeah. Amazin

Two and a half years old and Evan is starting preschool. Standing outside Little Stars Preschool, Evan's hand grips mine so tight it hurts."Mama, I don't want to go.""I know, baby. But you're going to make friends and play with toys and learn so many new things.""I want to stay with you."My heart breaks. "I'll pick you up in just a few hours. I promise."His teacher crouches down, young with kind eyes. "Hi Evan. I'm Miss Sarah. Do you want to see our dinosaur station? I heard you love dinosaurs."Evan looks at me, uncertain."It's okay, sweetheart. Go look."He takes one step toward Miss Sarah, then another, glancing back before finally going inside.I watch through the window as he joins the other children. My baby. Growing up. Not needing me every second.Another mother approaches, designer workout clothes, perfect ponytail. "First day?""Yeah.""My daughter Sophia has been here since last year. She loves it." She glances at my paperwork. "I'm Jennifer. Is Evan's father in the p