1.I WALKED INTO A BILLIONAIRE'S BROKEN MANSION WITH MY LITTLE SON—THEN HIS TWIN BOYS HANDED ME A TEST THEIR FATHER HAD FAILED FOR YEARS

The diner was a run-down, greasy-spoon establishment near the old highway, surrounded by swirling snow and grey slush.

I stepped inside, my wool coat pulled tight around my neck.

Julian sat in a booth at the far back, wearing a scuffed leather jacket, nursing a cup of black coffee. He looked older, thinner, with yellowing teeth and sharp, greedy eyes that instantly locked onto me.

I walked over and sat across from him, keeping my distance.

"You look great, Maya," Julian sneered, sliding his coffee cup aside. "Billionaire life suits you. Where’s the envelope?"

I placed a thick, white envelope on the table, resting my hand firmly on top of it.

"There is twenty thousand dollars in here," I said, my voice dead cold, devoid of the fear I felt inside. "It is every penny of my personal savings. You take this, Julian, and you sign a legally binding non-disclosure agreement drafted by my attorney, and you leave New York forever."

Julian looked at the envelope, then raised an eyebrow with a cruel laugh. "Twenty grand? Maya, your new boyfriend is worth four billion dollars! You're offering me pocket change!"

"William's money is not mine!" I snapped, leaning across the table. "I earned this money myself! If you try to blackmail William, he won't pay you, Julian. He will use his power to crush you like a bug! He will put you back in prison before you can even finish a sentence to a reporter!"

Julian’s face darkened into a nasty glare. He reached across the table, grabbing my wrist in a tight, painful grip.

"Don't threaten me, you little bitch!" Julian growled, pulling me closer. "You owe me! I made you who you are!"

"Let go of her."

A voice like thunder echoed through the quiet diner.

Julian froze.

William Carter stood in the aisle of the diner, dressed in a long black cashmere overcoat, flanked by two towering private security officers. His face was a mask of sheer, murderous fury, his blue eyes flashing like cold steel.

Beside William stood two uniformed New York Police officers.

Julian instantly let go of my wrist, pulling his hands back as if he had touched red-hot iron. "Who the hell are you?"

William didn't answer him. He stepped past the table, pulled me up from the booth, and wrapped his broad arm around my shoulders, drawing me tightly against his side. He checked my wrist, his thumb gently smoothing over the red mark Julian’s grip had left behind.

"Are you okay, Maya?" William asked softly, his tone completely transforming into tenderness.

"I'm okay," I whispered, relief washing over me so intensely I almost collapsed against his chest. "How did you find me?"

"You left your tablet open on the desk with the diner address," William revealed gently. "And you should know by now, Maya... you never have to fight a battle alone again."

William turned back to Julian, looking down at the scumbag with absolute disgust.

"Julian Lin," one of the police officers said, stepping forward with handcuffs drawn. "You are under arrest for felony extortion, parole violation, and criminal harassment."

"What?!" Julian shrieked, backing into the booth corner. "She brought me money! It was a gift!"

"We recorded the entire phone call you made to her at 3:30 PM, Mr. Lin," William said coolly, holding up a small digital recording device. "My security team tapped Maya’s line the moment your name popped up on her call log. You're going back to prison for a very long time."

As the officers hauled Julian out of the diner in handcuffs, screaming obscenities into the snowy air, William wrapped both arms around me, holding me tight against his heart in the middle of the quiet diner.

"Why didn't you tell me, Maya?" William whispered into my hair.

"I was afraid," I admitted, tears finally spilling down my cheeks. "I was afraid his mess would ruin what we have."