Chapter 1
📖 CHAPTER 1 — THE MAN SHE NEVER FORGOT
Three years.
Three long years had passed since Amara Williams had seen Damian Blackwood.
Yet one look at the newspaper that morning was enough to bring every painful memory rushing back.
She stared at the photograph on the front page.
DAMIAN BLACKWOOD — BILLIONAIRE CEO RETURNS TO BLACKWOOD CITY
His face hadn't changed.
The same sharp jaw.
The same dark eyes.
The same cold expression that had once made her heart beat faster.
Amara quickly folded the newspaper.
She didn't want to see him.
She had spent three years learning how to live without him.
“Mommy?”
A tiny voice came from behind her.
Amara turned.
Her five-year-old son stood in the doorway, holding his favorite toy car.
“What's wrong?”
She forced a smile.
“Nothing, sweetheart.”
The little boy walked toward her.
“Why are you crying?”
Amara touched her cheek.
She hadn't even realized tears were falling.
She quickly wiped them away.
“Mommy is fine.”
The boy studied her face.
Then he smiled.
“Daddy says you're always strong.”
Amara froze.
Her heart stopped.
She slowly lowered herself to her son's level.
“Who told you about Daddy?”
The boy shrugged.
“You told me.”
“I did?”
“Yes.”
Amara swallowed hard.
She had always known this day would come.
The day her son would ask about his father.
She had never told him the truth.
She had never told him that his father was Damian Blackwood.
The most powerful man in the city.
The man whose name appeared on buildings, newspapers, television screens—and now, unfortunately, back in her life.
Amara hugged her son tightly.
“Your father is far away.”
“Will he come back?”
She closed her eyes.
“I don't know.”
A sudden knock came at the door.
Amara stood.
“Stay here.”
She walked toward the entrance.
Another knock.
This time, louder.
She opened the door.
A tall man in a black suit stood outside.
“Mrs. Williams?”
Amara's heart began racing.
“Yes?”
“I work for Mr. Blackwood.”
Her blood ran cold.
“Why are you here?”
The man handed her an envelope.
“Mr. Blackwood wants to see you.”
Amara didn't take it.
“I have nothing to say to him.”
The man lowered his voice.
“He knows about the child.”
Silence.
Amara's entire body went cold.
“What did you say?”
“He knows.”
She grabbed the envelope with trembling hands.
The man turned and walked away.
Amara shut the door.
Her fingers shook as she opened the envelope.
Inside was a single photograph.
Her son.
Taken earlier that morning.
Amara's heart nearly stopped.
Someone had been watching them.
At the bottom of the photograph were six words.
DAMIAN BLACKWOOD KNOWS HE IS HIS SON.
Amara dropped the photograph.
Her secret was no longer a secret.
And somewhere across the city, the billionaire she had spent three years running from was already coming for his son.
TO BE CONTINUED…
