C1 Chapter one: The man from Her past
THE BILLIONAIRE’S SECRET BABY
“Mommy, why are you staring at that man?”
Elizabeth Carter froze.
Across the marble lobby of the Sterling Grand Hotel in Manhattan stood the one man she had spent five years trying to forget.
Alexander Hayes.
The billionaire who had once held her like she was his entire world.
The man who had destroyed her heart without ever knowing what his rejection had cost her.
He looked older now, more powerful, and just as devastatingly handsome in his black suit. A silver watch glinted at his wrist as he listened to an executive beside him.
Then he turned.
Their eyes met.
Alexander stopped talking.
“Elizabeth?”
She tightened her grip on her five-year-old daughter's hand.
“Hello, Alexander.”
His expression hardened.
“What are you doing here?”
She almost laughed. Five years apart, and that was the first thing he had to say to her.
“I have a job interview.”
“At my hotel?”
“I didn't realize the building had your name written across every door.”
His jaw tightened. “You haven't changed.”
“Neither have you.”
Grace tugged at her mother's coat.
“Mommy, is he your friend?”
Alexander's gaze shifted to the little girl.
For a moment, something in his expression changed.
Grace had blonde hair, a small nose, and striking blue eyes. She looked up at him with innocent curiosity.
“Who's this?” he asked.
“My daughter.”
“What's her name?”
“Grace.”
Alexander studied the child again.
“How old is she?”
Elizabeth's heart began to pound.
She had imagined this moment so many times, but never expected it to happen in a hotel lobby before a job interview.
“She's five.”
Alexander went completely still.
“Five?”
“Yes.”
He looked at Elizabeth, his eyes narrowing as if he were trying to solve a puzzle he suddenly wished he had never seen.
“When was she born?”
Elizabeth swallowed.
“Why do you care?”
“Answer the question, Elizabeth.”
The old command in his voice brought back memories she desperately wanted to forget.
Five years ago, she had fallen in love with Alexander Hayes. Their relationship had been brief, intense, and more meaningful to her than anything she had ever experienced.
Then he accused her of betraying him.
He believed she had ruined an important business deal connected to his family, and he swore he would never see her again.
Three months later, Elizabeth discovered she was pregnant.
She tried calling him. She sent messages and begged for a chance to explain.
But his stepbrother, Richard Hayes, intercepted her attempts to reach him.
Richard told her Alexander wanted nothing to do with her. He said Alexander was getting married and that Elizabeth needed to disappear from his life.
Heartbroken and humiliated, she left the United States.
She never told Alexander about the baby.
Now, standing before him, Elizabeth wondered whether she should finally tell him the truth.
But one look at his cold expression reminded her why she had left.
“You lost the right to ask me personal questions a long time ago,” she said.
Alexander stepped closer.
“Are you telling me that little girl is—”
“Mommy?” Grace interrupted. “Are we going to be late?”
Elizabeth looked down at her daughter.
“No, sweetheart. We're fine.”
She turned back to Alexander.
“I have an interview to attend. Excuse me.”
She started walking away.
“Elizabeth!”
She stopped but refused to turn around.
“Five years ago, you made it clear that you never wanted to see me again,” she said quietly. “I'm simply respecting your wishes.”
Then she walked toward the elevators with Grace.
Alexander remained in the middle of the lobby, staring after them.
Five years.
Grace was five years old.
And suddenly, a possibility he had never considered began to take shape in his mind.
He pulled out his phone and called his private investigator.
“I need information on Elizabeth Carter,” he said. “Everything you can find.”
He paused, watching the elevator doors close behind her.
“And find out who the little girl is.”
Because if his suspicion was correct, someone had kept the biggest secret of his life from him.
And Alexander Hayes intended to discover who.
