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Chapter 1 Back Into His Life

Lena Carter stood at the massive wrought-iron gates of the Hale estate, her fingers tightening around the strap of her worn leather bag. A cold breeze swept through the morning air, sending a chill down her spine, but she wasn't sure if it was the weather or the weight of what she was about to do.

She shouldn't be here this was the last place she should have ever set foot. Yet, here she was, staring up at the towering mansion that belonged to him. It was grand, imposing, and cold-much like the man who owned it. Damien Hale.

"Your name?"

The voice jolted her from her thoughts. She turned to the security guard by the gate, his expression uninterested as he examined her.

"Lena Carter," she said, keeping her voice even, the name still felt strange to her.

The guard glanced at his tablet, confirming, then gave a short nod to someone out of her view. Then, a after two seconds, the gates swung open with a slow, mechanical groan.

"That way," he instructed, gesturing for her to follow the marble stone pathway leading up to the mansion. Lena inhaled deeply and forced herself forward. As she walked, she thought about if she was making the right choice, if she had really thought this through

The offer had come out of nowhere. A live-in nanny position for a wealthy businessman. High pay, private accommodations, no background checks required.

That last part had made her suspicious. Not a lot of billionaires hired complete strangers to care for their children.

Yet, here she was. It was reckless and dangerous but she knew sha had to take it because no matter how much she had tried to bury her past, it was still chasing her; debt, an eviction notice, consistent low paying jobs, the gnawing ache of what she had lost, the circling loan sharks. She didn't have the luxury of choice anymore.

Even if it meant walking back into the one place she swore never to go again---into Damien Hale's life

It had been two years. Two years since she had disappeared from his life.

Since she had found out about his engagement-the one he had never mentioned in the months they spent together.

Since she had run before she could tell him the truth, a truth that changed the course of her life forever.

She was pulled from her thoughts by the sound of the massive double doors of the mansion as they swung open, revealing a middle-aged woman in a crisp black uniform.

"You must be Miss Carter," the housekeeper said. "Follow me."

Lena forced a polite smile and stepped inside.

The interior was exactly what she expected-sleek, modern, soulless. Everything was monochrome. Nothing in this house had warmth.

"Mr. Hale is in his study," the house keeper said. "He'll want to meet you before you see Ethan."

Lena's chest tightened. Ethan, his son. She had never known about him back then. Damien had never mentioned having a child. There was so much she had never known.

She barely had time to steel herself before Angela stopped in front of a pair of large double doors and knocked twice before pushing them open.

Damien.

Time folded in on itself, dragging her backward-back to another life, another version of herself.

He looked different. Harsher. The last time she had seen him, he had been intense but alive. There had been something in his eyes, something dark but burning.

Now? They were just dark.

His sharp features were even sharper, his dark hair shorter, his suit as pristine as the rest of him. His amber eyes scan her, assessing the woman who stood before him.

Lena had shoulder-length black hair, sleek and straight, framing her sharp cheekbones. Her eyes hazel with intensity. She was petite but carried herself with quiet strength, her slender frame dressed in a simple white blouse and fitted black slacks. Her lips, naturally full, pressed together in a firm line, and her pale skin contrasted sharply with the dark strands of her hair. She looked composed.

No recognition. A knot twisted in her stomach. She had changed everything when she left; cut her long, waves into a shoulder-length bob, dyed it darker, changed her style and even her name. Still, a part of her had feared-no, hoped-that he would know her anyway.

That some part of him would recognize the woman who had fallen asleep in his arms severally.

He didn't, that should have been a relief. Instead, it felt like a punch in the guts.

"Miss Carter?" His voice was smooth.

Lena swallowed and forced herself to breathe. "Yes."

Damien's gaze lingered on her from behind his massive mahogany desk before gesturing for her to take a seat across from him. He flipped open the file on his desk. "Punctual, that's a good start. You've worked as a nanny before?"

"Yes," she said, gripping the fabric of her skirt beneath the desk to keep her hands steady. "For the past couple of years."

His eyes flicked up. "Before that?"

Her pulse quickened. "I worked in hospitality," she answered smoothly. "Then I realized childcare suited me better."

Damien didn't react. Just kept watching her. He held her gaze for another moment. He closed the file and leaned back. His expression was unreadable, his tone clipped when he spoke again.

"I have one rule," he said. "No personal involvement. You are here to care for Ethan. That is all."

Lena barely stopped herself from flinching. No personal involvement. She had once been an exception to his rules, now, she was nothing more than an employee.

She shouldn't care. This was what she had wanted---no, what she needed---to stay hidden, to survive. Still, it felt like she had just been dismissed from something she was never even offered.

Her throat felt tight, but she nodded. "Understood."

Damien watched her for another long, slow moment. His next words sent a chill down her spine.

"Have we met before, Miss Carter?"

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