A woman hides the child she conceived with a comatose mafia don, raising the baby alone in secret. Years later, the powerful father wakes and discovers the truth, forcing a collision between the family she built and the dangerous world he belongs to.
Shane led a group of men in black and stormed in. Charlie had brought dozens of guards with her. She was always getting into trouble, so Shane rarely let her go anywhere alone. This time, she'd snuck out.
She'd hidden a tracker in my bag. Otherwise, she never would have found me so quickly. I wrapped an arm around Charlie and tried to get up, but my vision suddenly went white.
It hit me that I hadn't eaten anything since last night. The last thing I saw before I blacked out was Shane's face. When I woke again, I was lying in a bedroom at the Whitmore Estate. Charlie was beside me.
Auntie, you're awake? She excitedly crawled into my arms. I touched her head without speaking. Mrs. Hart?
I looked toward the bedroom door. Shane stood there in a sharply tapered dark suit. His features were cold and untouchable. He spoke calmly.
Serena and I are no longer engaged. My mind went blank. I could only stare at him. Don't listen to your mother.
This was between our families. It had nothing to do with you. I'm sorry I didn't teach Charlie better. What happened at the party put you in a tough spot.
This is compensation. Shane took out a check. Five hundred thousand dollars. I didn't dare take it.
I was afraid he'd accuse me of extortion later. Shane looked down at me. His expression was impossible to read. The room was so quiet that I could hear us breathing.
After a moment, Shane put the check away. Charlie likes painting.