BENEATH THE BILLIONAIRES SECRET

CHAPTER ONE

Five Years Later

The rain had started without warning.

Methane Williams stood by the window of her small apartment, watching the drops race down the glass as she checked the time on her phone for what felt like the tenth time.

4:37 p.m.

The twins should have been home by now.

She frowned.

Their school wasn't far from the apartment, and their usual bus arrived before four-thirty.

Something wasn't right.

Her phone suddenly rang.

"Hello?"

"Mrs. Williams?"

Methane immediately straightened.

"Yes. Who is this?"

"This is Greenfield Academy. There has been a minor accident involving the school bus."

Her heart stopped.

"What?"

"Please, don't panic. The children are safe, but-"

Methane didn't wait to hear the rest.

She grabbed her bag and rushed out of the apartment.

Across town, Kendrick Blackwood had just finished a business meeting.

He sat behind the wheel of his black car, his fingers tapping impatiently against the steering wheel as the rain continued to fall.

His phone wouldn't stop ringing.

He ignored it.

He needed silence.

Five years of building his company had taught him one thing: emotions were distractions.

He had no time for them.

As he approached an intersection, he suddenly noticed a crowd gathered ahead.

Cars had stopped.

People were standing in the rain.

Kendrick slowed down.

A school bus had collided with another vehicle.

He immediately pulled over.

"Damn."

He stepped out of the car and walked toward the accident.

A teacher was trying to calm several frightened children.

Kendrick looked around.

"Is everyone okay?"

"Yes," the teacher replied quickly. "There are a few minor injuries, but we're handling it."

Then Kendrick noticed two children sitting together on the pavement.

A little boy and a little girl.

They looked frightened, but neither was crying.

Kendrick crouched in front of them.

"Are you two okay?"

The boy nodded.

"My sister is scared."

The little girl immediately grabbed her brother's hand.

Kendrick gave them a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry. Your mother will be here soon."

The boy looked at him.

"How do you know?"

"Because mothers always come."

The little girl smiled faintly.

For some reason, Kendrick found himself staring at the children.

There was something familiar about their faces.