Chapter 4 The Girl Who Saved My Son

The Girl Who Saved My Son.

Benjamin

I pride myself on control.

Control of my empire.

Control of my schedule.

Control of my emotions.

It is how I survived losing my wife without falling apart in front of my children.

So when I saw her again, standing in my garden like an accusation wrapped in a wrinkled blouse, my first thought was not romantic.

It was deeply, profoundly inconvenient.

I recognized her instantly.

Same eyes.

Same voice that had screamed at me on a cliff like I was seconds away from leaping to my death.

Same woman who had introduced a plank of wood to my skull and then fled the scene like a startled deer.

Hannah Milton.

The universe, it seemed, was not done with me.

Joe had warned me the tutor candidate was arriving. I'd agreed to the interview out of obligation, not interest. The file said she was intelligent. Reliable. Highly recommended.

The woman limping toward me did not look reliable.

She looked like someone who had fought gravity and lost.

When our eyes met, I saw it-recognition, horror, resignation.

Ah. Good.

We were both suffering.

"Miss Milton," I said calmly, because screaming you hit me felt unprofessional.

"Mr. Walton," she replied, smiling too tightly.

Her posture was stiff, her movements careful. She was clearly in pain, and not hiding it well.

My gaze dropped to her leg.

Professional concern, I told myself.

"Are you injured?"

Her answer came far too quickly. "No."

A pause.

Then, "This is just how I walk."

I stared at her.

She sighed. "Okay, yes. I'm injured. But I promise I'm not contagious."

I exhaled slowly, already exhausted.

This woman had been drunk on a hiking trail. Had assaulted me. And now she stood before me visibly hurt, claiming she was fine in the universal language of people who were absolutely not fine.

This was exactly why I hadn't wanted to hire her.

"Sit," I said, gesturing to the bench.

She hesitated, then obeyed.

I studied her quietly.

The limping.

The flushed cheeks.

The defensive humor.

Everything about her screamed instability.

And my children needed stability. Not chaos.

"I reviewed your file," I began. "Your qualifications are impressive."

Her shoulders relaxed slightly.

"But," I continued, because there is always a but, "this role requires responsibility."

She nodded eagerly. "I'm very responsible."

My eyebrow lifted.

She winced. "Usually."

I folded my hands on my chest. "The incident on the trail-combined with your condition today-raises concerns."

Her eyes widened.

"I wasn't drunk today," she said.

That stopped me. Does she usually gets drunk? Maybe she's an alcoholic and if she is, she's definitely not going to be around my children.

"I didn't accuse you of anything," I said carefully.

"You were about to," she replied, too perceptive for her own good.

I hesitated.

I shouldn't have. But I did.

Because the truth was... I had assumed.

The limp.

The disheveled appearance.

The previous incident.

I'd connected dots that may not have belonged together.

"I can't afford chaos around my children," I said finally. "They've lost enough." Ever since their mother died, its been tough on them and I can't put them through another pain.

Her expression shifted then-not angry, not defensive.

Hurt.

"I had a bad night," she said quietly. "One night. I made a mistake. That doesn't define me."

I felt an unexpected flicker of discomfort.

Still, I made my decision.

"I'm sorry," I said. "I don't think this will work."

She nodded once, pride stiffening her spine.

"Thank you for your time."

She stood-and nearly fell.

Instinctively, I stepped forward.

But she caught herself and turned away.

And then-

"Daddy!"

Adam's voice cut through the garden like a bell.

My youngest son came running toward us, face bright, energy unrestrained.

"It's her!" he shouted excitedly. "She saved me!"

I froze.

"What?" I asked sharply.

Adam reached her side, grabbing her hand like she belonged there.

"She saved me from the car," he said proudly. "She fell and hurt her leg but she still made sure I was okay."

The world tilted.

I turned to Susan, who had gone pale.

"Sir," she said carefully, "she's the woman I mentioned earlier. The one who rescued Adam this morning."

I looked back at Hannah.

Slowly.

"You," I said. "That was you?"

She lifted her chin. "Yes. Though I prefer reckless hero to public menace."

The words hit harder than I expected.

Because suddenly, everything made sense.

The limp.

The pain.

The timing.

Shame crept in-unwelcome, but deserved.

"You're bleeding," I said, stepping closer.

She glanced down. "I know. I was hoping to ignore it until it went away."

"That's not how injuries work."

"I'm learning that."

Against my will, a sound escaped me.

A laugh.

Quiet. Surprised. Real.

I hadn't done that in a long time.

"Sit," I said firmly. "Before you fall and give me more reasons to worry."

Susan helped her back onto the bench. Adam hovered nearby, beaming like he'd orchestrated this entire moment.

I crouched slightly to examine her leg, keeping a respectful distance.

"You should have gone to a hospital," I said.

"I had an interview," she replied.

I shook my head. "Unbelievable."

"Yes," she agreed. "I get that a lot."

I straightened, meeting her eyes.

"I owe you an apology," I said. "I made assumptions."

Her lips parted in surprise.

"And," I added, because apparently today was about personal growth, "I owe you thanks. You saved my son."

She smiled then.

Not triumphant.

Not smug.

Just... warm.

"I'd do it again," she said simply.

That did something to my chest.

"I'd like to offer you the position," I said. "If you're still interested."

Her smile widened. "I'd be irresponsible to say no."

Adam cheered.

Susan's jaw tightened.

And I realized-too late-that hiring Hannah Milton was going to change everything.

Because she wasn't careful.

She wasn't quiet.

She wasn't predictable.

And somehow...

She already mattered.

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