Five weeks since she had woken up in an unfamiliar hotel room with a terrible headache, a missing dress button, and a stranger sleeping on the other side of the bed.
A stranger whose name she barely remembered.
And now, she was pregnant.
---
FIVE WEEKS EARLIER
"Emma, if you don't stop looking at that phone, I'm throwing it into the swimming pool."
Emma raised her head.
Lily stood in front of her, looking beautiful in a red dress.
"I'm waiting for a call," Emma explained.
"From who? Your future husband?"
"From the woman who promised to pay me for the extra work I did."
Lily rolled her eyes.
"You're at a luxury hotel, surrounded by wealthy people, and you're still thinking about money."
"Because wealthy people don't pay my bills, Lily."
Lily laughed.
"Tonight, you're going to relax. No work, no worrying, and absolutely no checking your bank account."
Emma shook her head.
She wasn't used to places like this.
The ballroom was filled with expensive decorations, beautiful gowns, and men wearing suits that probably cost more than everything she owned.
She had only agreed to attend because Lily had insisted.
Besides, she needed a break.
Just one evening without worrying about rent, unpaid bills, or what she would eat the following morning.
"Come on," Lily said, pulling her towards the crowd. "Let's get something to drink."
Emma followed reluctantly.
Across the ballroom, a man in a black suit stood near the VIP section.
Alexander Hayes.
At thirty-two, he was one of the youngest and wealthiest business executives in the country.
He was known for his sharp business instincts, cold attitude, and inability to tolerate nonsense.
Women admired him.
Men respected him.
And his employees feared disappointing him.
Tonight, however, he looked unusually bored.
"You're not even pretending to enjoy yourself," his friend Daniel commented.
Alexander glanced at him.
"Should I start dancing on the table?"
Daniel laughed.
"That would certainly make the headlines tomorrow."
"Then I suppose I'll stay where I am."
Daniel shook his head and walked away.
Alexander picked up his glass.
He had no intention of staying at the event for long.
Unfortunately, his evening was about to become far more interesting.
---
Emma was returning from the restroom when someone accidentally bumped into her.
"Oh! I'm sorry!"
She quickly stepped backwards.
A little drink had spilled onto the man's suit.
"Wonderful," the stranger said, looking down at his jacket.
Emma's eyes widened.
"I'm really sorry. I didn't see you."
He looked at her.
For a moment, neither spoke.
He was tall, handsome, and dressed in an expensive black suit. His expression was unreadable.
"Do you normally walk around with your eyes closed?" he asked.
Emma frowned.
"Do you normally stand in people's way?"
His eyebrows lifted.
Interesting.
Most women who approached him were usually too busy trying to impress him.
This one was arguing with him.
A faint smile touched his lips.
"What's your name?"
"Why?"
"Because I'd like to know the name of the woman who just ruined my jacket."
Emma folded her arms.
"Then you can remember it as the woman who apologized."
For the first time that evening, Alexander laughed.
A real laugh.
Before he could respond, Emma walked away.
Daniel, who had witnessed the exchange from a distance, approached him.
"Who was that?"
Alexander watched the woman disappear into the crowd.
"I have no idea."
"She just insulted you."
"I noticed."
"And you're smiling?"
Alexander took another sip of his drink.
"Don't make it a habit of studying my face, Daniel."
---
By midnight, the party had become louder.
Emma had lost track of Lily, who had disappeared with some friends.
She had also made the mistake of accepting more drinks than she normally would.
Alexander wasn't doing much better.
He had spent most of the evening listening to business discussions and pretending to be interested.
When Emma stepped into the hotel corridor, she nearly lost her balance.
"Careful."
A familiar voice came from behind her.
She turned.
It was the man with the expensive jacket.
"You again?" she muttered.
He glanced at her.
"You're welcome."
"I didn't ask you to help me."
"You're right. Next time, I'll let you argue with the floor."
Emma stared at him before unexpectedly laughing.
He smiled.
For the next few minutes, they stood talking.
They exchanged jokes, discussed the boring party, and complained about people who thought having money made them important.
It was the first time that evening Alexander had spoken to someone without thinking about business.
And Emma, for once, wasn't thinking about her financial problems.
They were both drunk.
Neither was thinking clearly.
When Alexander suggested that they continue their conversation somewhere quieter, Emma agreed.
She should have called Lily.
She should have returned to her room.
But she didn't.
---
The following morning, sunlight slipped through the curtains of Room 1808.
Emma slowly opened her eyes.
Her head throbbed.
She stared at the unfamiliar ceiling before sitting up.
Then she noticed the man beside her.
The same man from the party.
Her breath caught.
"Oh, my goodness."
Alexander opened one eye.
"Good morning."
Emma grabbed the bedsheet.
"Who are you?"
He looked at her for a moment.
"That's an interesting question to ask after spending the night together."
Emma's face turned red.
"Don't say that!"
He sat up, rubbing his forehead.
"Believe me, I'm not particularly proud of my headache either."
She looked around desperately for her clothes.
"Where's my dress?"
"Probably somewhere in this room."
"You're not helping!"
Alexander almost smiled.
He reached for his phone on the bedside table.
Emma found her handbag and hurried towards the bathroom.
A few minutes later, she emerged fully dressed.
"I have to go."
Alexander looked up.
"At least tell me your name."
She hesitated.
"Emma."
"Alexander."
She nodded.
Neither asked for a phone number.
Neither discussed what had happened.
And neither imagined that this brief encounter would follow them for years.
Emma walked out of the room.
Alexander returned to his phone.
By the time he finished getting dressed, she was already gone.
He didn't know her surname.
He didn't know where she lived.
And he certainly didn't know that the woman who had just walked out of his life would one day return carrying the biggest secret of his life.
---
PRESENT DAY
Five years later.
"Mommy!"
Emma looked up from the small pile of clothes she was folding.
Her five-year-old son came running into the room, holding a piece of paper.
"What happened, sweetheart?"
"I drew my daddy!"
Emma's hands stopped moving.
She slowly looked at the drawing.
It was a picture of a little boy standing beside a tall man wearing a black suit.
"That's nice, baby."
"Look! He has my eyes."
Emma forced a smile.
"Yes, he does."
"And my nose!"
"Yes."
The boy tilted his head.
"Mommy, why don't I have a daddy like the other children?"
Emma felt something tighten in her chest.
She pulled him closer.
"You have me, sweetheart."
"I know. But I want a daddy too."
Before she could answer, her phone rang.
It was the hospital.
"Hello?"
"Good morning, Mrs. Carter. We're calling to remind you about your son's appointment tomorrow. We need to run some additional tests."
Emma sat up.
"Is something wrong?"
"We would prefer to explain everything when you arrive."
Her heart began beating faster.
After the call ended, she looked at her son.
He was still studying his drawing.
"Mommy?"
"Yes, baby?"
"Do you think my daddy is rich?"
Emma stared at him.
She didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Why would you ask that?"
The little boy shrugged.
"Because I want him to buy me a dinosaur. A very big one."
Emma laughed softly and kissed his forehead.
If only her son knew how complicated that question was.
Because somewhere in the same city, a billionaire was preparing for his wedding.
And he had absolutely no idea that he had a son.
A little boy who had his eyes.
His smile.
And almost his entire face.
And tomorrow, five years of silence would finally come to an end.
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