Chapter 3 3

"I'll get the door," Zaya whispered, tightening the belt on her robe as she padded barefoot across the small living room.

She opened the door-and nearly choked on her breath.

"Oh... holy shamoly," she muttered under it, eyes widening.

There he stood.

Tall, striking, too freaking handsome for this hour of the night. Jet-black hair slightly tousled, a tuxedo shirt unbuttoned just enough to show a sliver of toned chest and an expensive-looking tattoo curling beneath his collarbone.

He looked like he walked straight out of one of those rich-men-you'll-never-meet-in-real-life magazine covers. And Zaya had just been staring at his pictures a few hours ago.

Now he was standing in front of her. In the flesh.

Before she could say a word, his voice hit her like a whip.

"Where the hell is my kid ?"

"I-" Her mouth opened, but nothing came out.

"You kidnapped him?" he said sharply, stepping inside like he owned the place.

Zaya stumbled back a step, blinking.

"No! No, I-I didn't! He was lost, and I-I found him and-he asked me not to leave him-"

"I don't care what story he gave you." His eyes narrowed, sharp as glass. "You took him. That's kidnapping."

Her chest tightened. "Wait, please-he was alone. I couldn't just leave him there! He didn't know where his dad was, and-"

"That's what you typical gold diggers do," Killian snapped, voice laced with venom. "Taking billionaire kids for a little fortune."

Zaya blinked, stunned. Her chest tightened, heat rushing to her face.

"Excuse me?" she said, stepping forward. "I literally saved your son. You were too careless to keep an eye on him!"

His jaw clenched. "Don't you dare," he growled. "You have no idea who you're talking to."

"No, I don't," she fired back. "But I know a scared little boy who couldn't find his dad because his so-called rich father was too busy to notice he was gone!"

He took one hard step forward, his presence almost swallowing her small apartment. "Get me my son," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "I need to freaking get out of this slum."

"Fine," she said, crossing her arms. "But you owe him more than just picking him up and storming out like this."

Zaya rushed into the room, her heart still pounding from the storm at the door.

"Tristan," she whispered, gently shaking him awake. "Your dad's here. Let's get you out of here, okay?"

His eyes fluttered open and lit up instantly. "Yayyy!" he squealed, jumping off the couch barefoot and running toward the front door with the kind of excitement only a five-year-old could have.

Zaya followed behind slowly, still stunned. How did he even find us?

As soon as the little boy saw Killian, he squealed louder, "Daddy!" and leapt into his arms.

Killian dropped to one knee, catching him with ease, wrapping him in a firm hug. His expression, which had been stone-cold minutes ago, softened-just slightly-as he pressed his lips to Tristan's hair.

Zaya stood by the doorway, arms folded. She couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips as she watched the tender moment.

But then-

"I'm not leaving without her," Tristan announced, pointing back at Zaya with stubborn determination.

Killian stood, holding him. His face hardened again. "Come on, son. It's late. She's not coming with us."

"But why?"

Killian didn't answer right away. He just stared at Zaya like she was the problem and muttered, "She's evil. She only wants money from you."

Zaya rolled her eyes so hard they nearly stuck. "Right. Because I asked your son to drop from the sky at midnight with zero child support and a tiny backpack."

Tristan twisted in his father's arms. "No, Daddy! She saved me. Twice. She's not evil."

Killian looked caught off guard for a second.

Then Tristan's voice dropped. "And Daddy... remember? Yesterday was my birthday... and you haven't got me a present yet."

Killian exhaled. "Yes, son. I promised you a trip to Disneyland. That's what the jet is for. Can we please get going?"

"I don't want that anymore." Tristan folded his arms now, mimicking his dad's scowl.

Killian's brows shot up. "You don't... what?"

"I want a mommy instead."

Zaya's mouth dropped slightly.

Killian massaged his forehead like this whole conversation was giving him a migraine. "Tristan..."

"Daddy, please. Can she be my mommy ?"

Killian blinked. The billionaire, who walked into her apartment like he owned the world, now stood frozen... floored by the one human he couldn't say no to.

Killian had been dreading this exact moment for years.

Not the knock at some random woman's door.

Not the confrontation.

But the question-"Can she be my mommy?"

That word. Mommy. It hit him in places no business deal ever could. It reminded him of what he'd lost...

Killian Wolfe was known in every circle-corporate, luxury, fashion, real estate-you name it. Ruthless. Untouchable and off limits. Women chased him. Men envied him.

His charm was sharp, cold, and clean like a diamond blade. He didn't do emotions. Didn't do attachments. And definitely didn't do relationships.

The press called him irresistible.

But he called himself unavailable.

And Tristan? Tristan was the only exception. His little boy was his only soft spot. A secret he guarded like a vault. Very few knew he had a child.

The media had no clue. There were no baby pictures, no baby mama drama, no tabloids with 'Killian Wolfe Spotted With Son' headlines. Because Killian didn't allow it.

Tristan's location was always tracked-custom GPS bracelet, emergency chip, and a silent bodyguard never too far. He wasn't careless. He couldn't afford to be.

But life wasn't perfect. And earlier that day, he made a mistake.

He'd picked Tristan up from school himself, something he rarely did. Just them. No team. No staff.

Just father and son for once. They had stopped by a café because Tristan wanted pancakes. Killian stepped out to take a call-two minutes, tops-and came back to an empty seat and a missing boy.

His chest still tightened just remembering it.

So when his security finally pinged his son's location and it led him to this narrow, dimly-lit building in a street his Rolls-Royce never belonged... he was already on edge.

And now here stood this woman-Zaya-folding her arms like she hadn't just flipped his world upside down.

His son wanted her.

Called her mommy.

And Killian Wolfe... had no idea how to react.