"Please tell me you're not pregnant." Emma Carter froze. She stared at the two pink lines on the pregnancy test in her trembling hand, then slowly looked at her best friend, Lily. For several seconds, neither woman spoke. "Emma?" Lily called softly. Emma swallowed. "I think there's been a mistake." Lily glanced at the test. "A mistake? That thing has two lines!" Emma dropped onto the edge of the bed. Five weeks. It had been five weeks since that night. Five weeks since she had woken up in an unfamiliar hotel room with a terrible headache, a missing dress button, and a stranger sleeping on the other side of the bed. A stranger whose name she barely remembered. And now, she was pregnant. --- FIVE WEEKS EARLIER "Emma, if you don't stop looking at that phone, I'm throwing it into the swimming pool." Emma raised her head. Lily stood in front of her, looking beautiful in a red dress. "I'm waiting for a call," Emma explained. "From who? Your future husband?" "From the woman who promised to pay me for the extra work I did." Lily rolled her eyes. "You're at a luxury hotel, surrounded by wealthy people, and you're still thinking about money." "Because wealthy people don't pay my bills, Lily." Lily laughed. "Tonight, you're going to relax. No work, no worrying, and absolutely no checking your bank account." Emma shook her head. She wasn't used to places like this. The ballroom was filled with expensive decorations, beautiful gowns, and men wearing suits that probably cost more than everything she owned. She had only agreed to attend because Lily had insisted. Besides, she needed a break. Just one evening without worrying about rent, unpaid bills, or what she would eat the following morning. "Come on," Lily said, pulling her towards the crowd. "Let's get something to drink." Emma followed reluctantly. Across the ballroom, a man in a black suit stood near the VIP section. Alexander Hayes. At thirty-two, he was one of the youngest and wealthiest business executives in the country. He was known for his sharp business instincts, cold attitude, and inability to tolerate nonsense. Women admired him. Men respected him. And his employees feared disappointing him. Tonight, however, he looked unusually bored. "You're not even pretending to enjoy yourself," his friend Daniel commented. Alexander glanced at him. "Should I start dancing on the table?" Daniel laughed. "That would certainly make the headlines tomorrow." "Then I suppose I'll stay where I am." Daniel shook his head and walked away. Alexander picked up his glass. He had no intention of staying at the event for long. Unfortunately, his evening was about to become far more interesting. --- Emma was returning from the restroom when someone accidentally bumped into her. "Oh! I'm sorry!" She quickly stepped backwards. A little drink had spilled onto the man's suit. "Wonderful," the stranger said, looking down at his jacket. Emma's eyes widened. "I'm really sorry. I didn't see you." He looked at her. For a moment, neither spoke. He was tall, handsome, and dressed in an expensive black suit. His expression was unreadable. "Do you normally walk around with your eyes closed?" he asked. Emma frowned. "Do you normally stand in people's way?" His eyebrows lifted. Interesting. Most women who approached him were usually too busy trying to impress him. This one was arguing with him. A faint smile touched his lips. "What's your name?" "Why?" "Because I'd like to know the name of the woman who just ruined my jacket." Emma folded her arms. "Then you can remember it as the woman who apologized." For the first time that evening, Alexander laughed. A real laugh. Before he could respond, Emma walked away. Daniel, who had witnessed the exchange from a distance, approached him. "Who was that?" Alexander watched the woman disappear into the crowd. "I have no idea." "She just insulted you." "I noticed." "And you're smiling?" Alexander took another sip of his drink. "Don't make it a habit of studying my face, Daniel." --- By midnight, the party had become louder. Emma had lost track of Lily, who had disappeared with some friends. She had also made the mistake of accepting more drinks than she normally would. Alexander wasn't doing much better. He had spent most of the evening listening to business discussions and pretending to be interested. When Emma stepped into the hotel corridor, she nearly lost her balance. "Careful." A familiar voice came from behind her. She turned. It was the man with the expensive jacket. "You again?" she muttered. He glanced at her. "You're welcome." "I didn't ask you to help me." "You're right. Next time, I'll let you argue with the floor." Emma stared at him before unexpectedly laughing. He smiled. For the next few minutes, they stood talking. They exchanged jokes, discussed the boring party, and complained about people who thought having money made them important. It was the first time that evening Alexander had spoken to someone without thinking about business. And Emma, for once, wasn't thinking about her financial problems. They were both drunk. Neither was thinking clearly. When Alexander suggested that they continue their conversation somewhere quieter, Emma agreed. She should have called Lily. She should have returned to her room. But she didn't. --- The following morning, sunlight slipped through the curtains of Room 1808. Emma slowly opened her eyes. Her head throbbed. She stared at the unfamiliar ceiling before sitting up. Then she noticed the man beside her. The same man from the party. Her breath caught. "Oh, my goodness." Alexander opened one eye. "Good morning." Emma grabbed the bedsheet. "Who are you?" He looked at her for a moment. "That's an interesting question to ask after spending the night together." Emma's face turned red. "Don't say that!" He sat up, rubbing his forehead. "Believe me, I'm not particularly proud of my headache either." She looked around desperately for her clothes. "Where's my dress?" "Probably somewhere in this room." "You're not helping!" Alexander almost smiled. He reached for his phone on the bedside table. Emma found her handbag and hurried towards the bathroom. A few minutes later, she emerged fully dressed. "I have to go." Alexander looked up. "At least tell me your name." She hesitated. "Emma." "Alexander." She nodded. Neither asked for a phone number. Neither discussed what had happened. And neither imagined that this brief encounter would follow them for years. Emma walked out of the room. Alexander returned to his phone. By the time he finished getting dressed, she was already gone. He didn't know her surname. He didn't know where she lived. And he certainly didn't know that the woman who had just walked out of his life would one day return carrying the biggest secret of his life. --- PRESENT DAY Five years later. "Mommy!" Emma looked up from the small pile of clothes she was folding. Her five-year-old son came running into the room, holding a piece of paper. "What happened, sweetheart?" "I drew my daddy!" Emma's hands stopped moving. She slowly looked at the drawing. It was a picture of a little boy standing beside a tall man wearing a black suit. "That's nice, baby." "Look! He has my eyes." Emma forced a smile. "Yes, he does." "And my nose!" "Yes." The boy tilted his head. "Mommy, why don't I have a daddy like the other children?" Emma felt something tighten in her chest. She pulled him closer. "You have me, sweetheart." "I know. But I want a daddy too." Before she could answer, her phone rang. It was the hospital. "Hello?" "Good morning, Mrs. Carter. We're calling to remind you about your son's appointment tomorrow. We need to run some additional tests." Emma sat up. "Is something wrong?" "We would prefer to explain everything when you arrive." Her heart began beating faster. After the call ended, she looked at her son. He was still studying his drawing. "Mommy?" "Yes, baby?" "Do you think my daddy is rich?" Emma stared at him. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Why would you ask that?" The little boy shrugged. "Because I want him to buy me a dinosaur. A very big one." Emma laughed softly and kissed his forehead. If only her son knew how complicated that question was. Because somewhere in the same city, a billionaire was preparing for his wedding. And he had absolutely no idea that he had a son. A little boy who had his eyes. His smile. And almost his entire face. And tomorrow, five years of silence would finally come to an end.

"Mommy, I have a serious question." Emma Carter looked away from the small pile of clothes she was folding. Oliver was sitting on the floor, surrounded by his toy cars. His little eyebrows were pulled together as though he was about to discuss something important. "What's your serious question?" "Why are we poor?" Emma stopped folding. For a moment, she simply stared at him. "Where did you hear that?" "At school." Emma sighed. She had hoped her son was still too young to notice the difference between their lives and those of other children. "Who told you that?" "Nobody told me. I just noticed." Oliver picked up a blue toy car and pushed it across the floor. "Joshua said his daddy bought him a new bicycle. Daniel said his daddy bought him a big television. My daddy hasn't bought me anything." Emma slowly placed the clothes on the bed. She sat beside him. "Oliver, listen to me." He looked up. "You have a mommy who loves you very much. And even though we don't have everything other people have, that doesn't mean we're unhappy." Oliver thought about it. "Can you buy me a bicycle?" Emma laughed despite herself. "That's what you got from everything I just said?" He nodded seriously. "A red one." "Let me first pay our electricity bill, Mr Oliver." "Okay. But don't forget." Emma kissed his cheek. "I won't." --- By eight o'clock, Emma was already preparing breakfast. Their apartment wasn't particularly large. It had one bedroom, a small sitting room, and a kitchen that was barely big enough for two people. But it was clean. And it was home. Emma placed a plate of eggs and bread on the table. "Come and eat." Oliver appeared a few seconds later, dragging his little schoolbag behind him. "Mommy, I don't want eggs." "You ate eggs yesterday." "Exactly. I've already eaten them before." Emma looked at him. "Oliver Carter." He quickly climbed onto his chair. "Okay. I'll eat." She shook her head, smiling. Sometimes she wondered where he got his confidence. He talked to everyone, asked questions about everything, and had an answer for almost anything. He was also very good at making her forget how difficult life could be. After breakfast, Emma helped him put on his school uniform. "Where's my other shoe?" "Under the sofa." "Why?" "Because you took it off there yesterday." Oliver looked at her. "Mommy, you remember everything." "Someone has to remember things in this house." He giggled. --- After dropping Oliver at school, Emma headed to the small restaurant where she worked. She wasn't earning much, but the job helped her pay their bills and keep food on the table. "You're late," her supervisor, Mrs Parker, said when she entered. "I'm sorry. My son's school bus was delayed." Mrs Parker looked at her for a moment before handing her an apron. "Just get to work. We have customers waiting." Emma tied the apron around her waist. "Thank you." She spent most of the morning serving customers, cleaning tables, and helping in the kitchen. At lunchtime, she finally had a few minutes to sit down. Her phone vibrated. It was a message from Oliver's school. She opened it immediately. Dear Parent, This is a reminder that the outstanding school fees must be settled before the end of the week. Kindly contact the school office if you need further assistance. Emma closed her eyes. Another bill. She checked her bank balance. The amount displayed on her screen made her sigh. She had enough to buy groceries and pay part of the rent, but the school fees were another problem. "Everything okay?" Emma looked up. Her colleague, Rachel, was standing beside her. "Yes. Just a little problem." Rachel sat down. "Money?" Emma gave a tired laugh. "Is it that obvious?" "Emma, we work together. I know that face." Emma locked her phone. "I'll figure something out." Rachel nodded. "You always do." --- At exactly three-thirty, Emma arrived at Oliver's school. She found him standing near the gate with his teacher. The moment he saw her, his entire face brightened. "Mommy!" He ran towards her. "Hello, my baby." "Guess what happened today!" "What happened?" "I got into trouble." Emma blinked. "Oliver!" "But I didn't do anything bad!" His teacher approached them, smiling. "He spent ten minutes explaining to the class why dinosaurs would make better security guards than dogs." Emma covered her mouth. "I'm sorry." "Don't be. He's very imaginative." Oliver folded his arms. "I'm just saying, Mommy. Nobody will steal anything if a dinosaur is guarding the house." Emma shook her head. "Let's go home before you give the school another problem." --- That evening, Emma sat on the sofa helping Oliver with his homework. He was supposed to draw his family. He had drawn himself, Emma, and a very tall man standing beside them. Emma stared at the paper. "Who's that?" "My daddy." Her fingers paused. "Why did you draw him?" "Because the teacher said we should draw our family." Emma swallowed. "And why is he so tall?" Oliver shrugged. "Because daddies are tall." She forced a smile. "Not all of them." He looked at his drawing again. "Mommy, do you know what my daddy looks like?" Emma's throat tightened. She had spent five years avoiding that question. She didn't know how to explain that she barely knew the man herself. She didn't know how to explain that one night had resulted in the most important person in her life. And she didn't know whether the man would even care if he knew. "Finish your homework, sweetheart." Oliver looked disappointed but nodded. A few minutes later, he suddenly raised his head. "Mommy?" "Yes?" "When I grow up, I'll buy you a big house." Emma smiled. "Really?" "And a big car." "That's wonderful." "And I'll buy myself a dinosaur." She laughed. "Of course you will." Oliver returned to his drawing. Emma watched him quietly. He was growing up so quickly. And although she tried to give him everything he needed, there were some questions she couldn't answer. Especially the ones about his father. --- Later that night, after Oliver had fallen asleep, Emma sat alone at the kitchen table. An unpaid bill lay beside her phone. She picked up an old photograph from her drawer. It was the only thing she had kept from that hotel night. A photograph of herself and Lily at the event. She stared at it for a long time. She remembered the music, the expensive ballroom, and the handsome stranger who had made her laugh. She remembered waking up in his hotel room. But she couldn't remember his surname. She had never seen him again. Sometimes she wondered whether he even remembered her. Her phone vibrated, interrupting her thoughts. It was a message from the hospital. Your son's appointment has been confirmed for tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. Please arrive early. Emma placed the phone on the table. Tomorrow would be another long day. She stood, switched off the kitchen light, and walked towards the bedroom. She had no idea that her ordinary life was about to become very different. But for tonight, she was simply a mother trying to make sure her little boy had a better tomorrow. And that was enough.

Alexander Hayes hated being disturbed when he was working. Unfortunately, his mother had never cared about that rule. "Alexander." He kept his eyes on the documents in front of him. "Alexander Hayes." "I'm listening, Mother." "Then look at me when I'm speaking to you." He finally raised his head. Margaret Hayes stood in front of his desk, holding a small handbag. She was an elegant woman in her late fifties, always dressed neatly and never afraid to speak her mind. "Good morning to you too," he said. "Don't start." A small smile appeared on his face. "I haven't said anything yet." Margaret shook her head and sat down. "We need to discuss your wedding." Alexander leaned back in his chair. "Again?" "Yes, again. Your wedding is approaching, and you are behaving as if someone else is getting married." "I have a company to run." "And you have a fiancée." "Victoria knows I'm busy." "Victoria is not the problem. You are." He looked at her for a moment before returning his attention to his laptop. Margaret sighed. "Sometimes I wonder whether you understand what marriage means." "It means sharing your life with someone." "Exactly. And that requires more than signing papers and attending ceremonies." Alexander closed his laptop. "Mother, I agreed to marry Victoria. What else do you want from me?" "I want you to look happy about it." He didn't answer immediately. Margaret studied his face. "Do you love her?" Alexander's expression remained calm. "She's a good woman." "That wasn't my question." Before he could respond, his office door opened. Daniel walked in without knocking. "Sorry to interrupt this family meeting." Alexander gave him an annoyed look. "You have a strange habit of entering rooms without permission." Daniel ignored him and greeted Margaret. "Good morning, Mrs. Hayes." "Good morning, Daniel. Please tell my son that getting married is not a business transaction." Daniel looked between them. "Honestly, I don't want to get involved in this." "Wise decision," Alexander said. Margaret stood up and adjusted her handbag. "Just remember, Alexander. A wedding can be planned, but a marriage needs effort." She walked towards the door. "And please don't forget dinner at the house this weekend. Your father expects you." "I'll try." "Don't try. Come." She left before he could argue. Daniel waited until the door closed. "Your mother is becoming more frightening than your board of directors." Alexander opened his laptop again. "At least my board knows when to leave my office." Daniel laughed and took the chair opposite him. "So, how is the future husband?" "Busy." "That bad?" Alexander gave him a warning look. Daniel raised both hands. "Alright. I'll behave." He picked up a file from the desk. "By the way, Victoria called earlier. She wants you to meet her at the wedding venue this afternoon." "What for?" "Apparently, there is a problem with the flower arrangements." Alexander stared at him. "She called me about flowers?" "Don't look at me. I didn't choose the flowers." Alexander rubbed his forehead. "Tell her I'll meet her." Daniel nodded. "Good. Maybe she'll finally stop calling me to find out where you are." Alexander gave a quiet laugh. For a moment, the conversation moved back to business. But when Daniel mentioned the wedding again, Alexander's attention drifted. He wasn't unhappy. He wasn't particularly excited either. He simply felt that his life had become a series of responsibilities, meetings, and expectations. And he had become very good at fulfilling them. --- Victoria Sinclair stood near the entrance of the wedding venue when Alexander arrived. She wore a cream-coloured dress and held a tablet in one hand. "There you are," she said, walking towards him. "Sorry I'm late." "Only twenty minutes." He glanced at his watch. "That's not too bad." Victoria smiled, though she clearly wasn't amused. She showed him pictures of the decorations she had selected. "I was thinking of changing the flowers near the entrance. These ones look better." Alexander studied the pictures. "They're fine." "Fine?" "They look good, Victoria." She lowered the tablet. "Sometimes I wish you would get excited about something." "I am excited." "About what?" He looked around the beautifully decorated hall. "The fact that the wedding won't be held in my office." Victoria stared at him before laughing softly. "You're impossible." "That's what Daniel says." She slipped her hand into his. "Come on. I want to show you something else." Alexander followed her. To everyone watching, they looked like the perfect couple. A wealthy businessman and a beautiful woman who would soon become his wife. Nobody could have guessed that, five years earlier, a little boy had been born who carried Alexander Hayes's face. And Alexander had no idea. Not yet.