-HUNTER'S POV She doesn't know I saw her watching me . Or maybe she does . Celine thinks she's quiet . Tucking her chin down , shifting her eyes away just in time . But I'm not a stranger to hiding . I know what it looks like when someone is trying not to feel something . And right now , she's doing a shit job pretending . She's trying to clean , Wiping down the same corner of the banister for the last three minutes . I know because I've been watching her instead of the blueprint Vincent's holding out in front of me . " Earth to Hunter , " Vincent says , snapping his fingers in front of my face . " You gonna pretend to care about this support beam , or should we all just stand around and admire the help ? " I look at him , deadpan . " You're not funny ." Vincent shrugs with a cocky smirk . " She's hot , man . I'm just saying what we're all thinking . Right , Fabian ? " Fabian , the new guy I had Cole replace with clears his throat beside me . Doesn't answer . But I see it - the hint of his gaze toward her . Staying too long My jaw clenches . " Can we focus ? " I snap Vincent lifts his hands in mock surrender . " Relax . You don't see me dragging her into a closet . " He glances at Celine again . " Yet " Fabian speaks then , low and quiet . " She seems ... strong, Like she's been through shit and didn't break . " That makes me freeze . Because he's right . And I don't want him to be the one to notice that . I look back at Celine . She's kneeling now , organizing something near the bookshelf . Caesar sits in the corner with Caroline , coloring with one hand and nibbling on a cracker with the other . Caroline doesn't seem to mind him , which surprises me . She hates crumbs . Hates noise . But right now , she's smiling like Caesar is made of magic and she's never seen light before . Celine glances up and meets my eyes . For a second , she doesn't look away . There it is again . That tight pull in my chest like someone's twisting something inside me just to see if it hurts Vincent bumps my shoulder . " Dude . You good ? " I force my attention back to the plans . " Fine . " But I'm not . Not even close . Because five feet away , Fablan is still watching her . And I'm one second away from making it crystal fucking clear that she's not a free - for - all 1/5 Chapter 44 Even though she's not mine . Even though I haven't earned that right . Later , when the others move toward the patio to argue over material costs and finish dates , I stay back Watching as Celine leans over Caesar , whispering something that makes him giggle . Her hand rests gently on his back . There's something about her like that - unguarded , soft - that hits in a place I've kept locked for years . I step closer . She senses it . Straightens slowly . Doesn't face me , but I know she knows it's me . " You're a distraction , " I murmur . She turns her head slightly . " Excuse me ? " I should walk away . I should shut the hell up . But instead , I lean in just enough to feel the heat between us spike . " To the work , " I clarity . " Everyone keeps looking at you . " She raises an eyebrow . " Including you ? " My throat tightens . I don't answer . She smiles , but it doesn't reach her eyes . " Then maybe I should stop coming in the room . " " You do that ," I say quietly , " and I might start going to the room you're in . " Her breath catches . Just barely . But I hear it . And I hate how good that makes me feel . Vincent calls my name again from outside . Celine slips away before I can say more . But as I walk toward the terrace , I glance back . She's watching me this time . And she doesn't look away . Fabian's leaning against the hood of his car , tapping something into his phone when I find him alone in the driveway . The others are still inside , debating tile samples like their lives depend on it . I should be in there . I should care about tile . About blueprints . About getting this job done . But I don't , Not right now . " Fabian , " I say , flat . He looks up , the phone still in hand . " Hey , man , Everything good ? " I nod once . Step closer . Just enough that he has to shift his weight . " You like working here ? " He blinks at me . " Yeah . It's a good gig . Better than most . " I stare at him . Long enough to make the silence feel like a third person in the conversation . " Then don't fuck it up ." His brows pinch . " What ? " I fold my arms across my chest . " You're smart . You've got a good eye for design . You're fast with numbers . You keep things moving Apause . " But you've also been looking at the maid like she's something to unwrap " He stiffens . " Celine ? " 2/5 12:02 100 , 31 JUN Chapter 44 I don't answer . I don't need to . He laughs once , dry . " Wow . Okay . I didn't realize you ... " " I don't , I cut in . " She works here . She's got a kid . She's been through hell , and she still shows up every damn morning like she doesn't weigh the world on her back . " Fabian quiets . I take a step closer . " She's not some side project or a way to kill time between builds ," I say , voice low . " So whatever you're thinking ? Stop . " He exhales . Not defensive . Just ... surprised . " I wasn't gonna do anything . " " I know , " I say . " Because I'm telling you now - you're not going to . " There's a long beat of silence . Fabian finally nods , hands raised . " Got it . Loud and clear . " I turn to leave , but he calls out behind me . -So what is she to you , then ? " I pause . He doesn't ask it like an accusation . It's worse he asks it like he wants to understand . But I don't have an answer for him . Because I don't even know myself . So I just keep walking , I was supposed to be working . Tax reports . Property assessments , Contractor agreements . The usual shit that keeps my empire . running Instead , I'm staring at a three - year - old sitting in my leather chair , his legs swinging freely as he flips through a first - edition art book worth more than most people's monthly rent . How the hell did he get in here ? My study was off - limits . Everyone knew that . A rule I'd never had to enforce because no one was stupid enough to test it . Until now Caesar turns another page , his small fingers tracing over a Rembrandt like it's a children's coloring book . I should be pissed . should call for Celine to come get her kid . Instead , I find myself leaning against the doorframe , watching him . " You know , that book is worth more than your toys , " I say , expecting him to startle , maybe even cry . Caesar looks up at me , those blue eyes - my blue eyes - wide but unafraid . Then he grins . " Then it must be boring " I blink . Once . Twice . And then something strange happens , I laugh . Not a chuckle or a smirk , but a real laugh that seems to come from some forgotten part of me . Caesar's grin widens , showing off a missing tooth I hadn't noticed before . He seems utterly at ease in my space . No fear, No hesitation . Like he belongs here . 3/5 12:02 Chapter 44 " Caesar , what the hell are you doing there- " A maid appears behind me , then freezes . Her eyes dart between me and the kid , clearly waiting for the outbreak . I wave her off . " It's fine . Eve got him . " Her eyebrows shoot up , but she backs away without comment . Smart girl . I turn back to Caesar . " I need to work . You should go find your mom . " He nods solemnly , closing the book with unexpected care . He slides off the chair , his sneakers barely making a sound on the hardwood floor . I expect him to leave . To run off and find Celine or Caroline . Instead , he disappears for exactly ninety seconds - I count them - before returning with a plastic container of building blocks . " What are you doing ? " I ask as he plops down on the rug in front of my desk . Caesar dumps the blocks out , creating a small rainbow of plastic chaos on my imported Persian rug . " Building " he says simply like that explains everything . I should tell him to leave . I should call Celine . I should do a million things that don't involve watching a toddler construct a wobbly tower on my office floor. But I don't . Instead , I observe him struggle with a particularly stubborn piece , trying to force it where it doesn't belong Without thinking , I'm on the floor beside him . " That doesn't go there , I muttered , adjusting the misplaced piece . Caesar stares up at me , those eyes - my eyes - full of curiosity . " How do you know ? " " Because I used to build things like this , " I answer , surprised by how easy the words come . How natural it feels to be sitting here with him . Caesar beams at me . " You're smart ! " I let out a small , almost reluctant chuckle . " I suppose . " We work in silence for a few minutes , his small hands occasionally bumping against mine as we create a structure that vaguely resembles a castle . Or maybe a spaceship . It's hard to tell . " Why don't you like Mommy ? " Caesar suddenly asks , his voice innocent but his question is anything but . " She's nice . " I stiffen , caught off guard . My throat tightens , " It's ... complicated ," I manage . " Maybe you should just say sorry , Caesar suggests like it's the easiest thing in the world . Like three words could fix something I'm not even sure has a name . I don't respond . Can't respond . Because how do you explain to a three - year - old that sometimes saying sorry doesn't fix what's broken ? Instead , I reach out and ruffle his hair . It's soft . Exactly the same shade of black as mine . He looks up and smiles , and something i 4/5 K12 : 02 Thu ; 31 JUG Chapter 44 my chest cracks open . Caesar tilts his head , studying me with an intensity no child his age should possess . " Maybe you can be my daddy ? " I freeze . My hand is still on his head . My lungs forget how to work . " What ? " " Mommy said my real daddy isn't around . " He says it so matter - of - factly like he's telling me the sky is blue . " You're nice to me . So can you be my daddy ? " My mouth goes dry . I study him again - really study him . The way his little brows furrow just like mine do when I'm thinking . The set of his jaw . The shape of his eyes . It's like looking at an old photograph of mysell . " Caesar ! What are you- " Celine's voice cuts through the moment . She stands in the doorway , cheeks flushed from searching , relief , and something else washing over her face as she takes in the scene before her . And then she hears Caesar's question . Her breath catches , and for a moment , our gazes lock . I see it there - the fear . The truth . The secret she's been keeping since the day I met her . I stand abruptly , nearly knocking over the tower we've built . " I have work to do , " I say , my voice harder than I intended . I brush past Celine without meeting her eyes again , I can feel her watching me as I walk away , and can almost hear the unspoken words hanging between us . But I keep walking . That night , as I lie in bed staring at the ceiling , I catch myself smiling - remembering the way Caesar had so casually invaded my space . The way he'd looked at me without an ounce of the fear or respect or calculation I'm used to seeing in people's eyes . The smile disappears as quickly as it came . I scowl in the darkness . What the hell was this kid doing to me ? And worse - what was I going to do about the fact that I was almost certain he was mine ? AD Comment Send gift No Ads 12.03 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!