Falling for the Billionaire Boss

Elarie gasped as a sharp pain shot through her abdomen, jolting her awake. The dark room around her was still and silent. And the only sound was her ragged breathing as she clutched her stomach. It was the middle of the night. So it was far too late for anyone to be awake in the Newton household. But the pain was unbearable now. And she knew she couldn't wait any longer.

Her eyes darted to the bag she had prepared for this exact moment. She had packed it days ago as she was anticipating the arrival of the one thing she had kept secret from everyone, especially her father. Grimacing, she swung her legs off the bed and forced herself to stand. She took deep breaths as she willed herself to move through the pain. Then she grabbed the bag and slipped out of her room, careful not to make any noise.

Each step down the hallway felt like a monumental task as she struggled to breathe through the pain. Reaching the front door, she hesitated only briefly before slipping outside.

She didn't know that Stephanie was standing at her bedroom balcony, gazing down at the quiet street. She saw Elarie step out of the house. She noticed how stiff and hurried her movements were. She watched as her stepsister made her way down to the road. Stephanie's eyes narrowed in suspicion as she leaned forward slightly, catching sight of Elarie waving down a cab that had just pulled up to the curb. She couldn't hear what Elarie said to the driver. But something about the way she clutched her stomach made Stephanie's heart skip a beat. Whatever Elarie was up to, it wasn't just a midnight stroll.

Meanwhile, Elarie managed to get inside the cab.

"To the hospital, please," she told the driver, sinking back into the seat.

As the car sped through the quiet streets, Elarie's mind began to drift, replaying the events that had led her to this moment. She had been so careful to keep it all hidden. The night that had changed everything was supposed to be a fun one. A rare moment where she felt like she truly belonged. One of her classmates had invited her to a birthday party. And for the first time, she had allowed herself to relax. It was meant to be a happy occasion.

But after one drink, everything went wrong.

Her vision blurred. And her head spun. Then soon, darkness claimed her. When she woke the next morning, she was alone in a strange bed, naked under the sheets. She had no idea what had happened or who had been with her. But the reality became painfully clear when, weeks later, she discovered she was pregnant.

The pregnancy had thrown her life into turmoil. She couldn't let anyone find out, especially her father. Alexander Newton was a strict and imposing man. And Elarie knew that if he ever learned the truth, he would never forgive her. At first, she considered ending it. Abortion seemed like the only way out. She had even made it to the clinic once. But when the moment came, she couldn't go through with it.

Despite everything, she couldn't bring herself to take the life growing inside her. Instead, she hid the pregnancy for months, wearing loose clothes and coming up with excuses to keep her father, stepmother, and stepsister from noticing. She avoided family dinners and school events, spending more and more time alone in her room.

But now, it was too late to hide anymore. Her time had come.

The cab pulled up to the hospital. Elarie clutched her stomach as another wave of pain hit. She paid the driver and hurried inside. After what felt like an eternity, she was admitted. And hours later, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

"Daniel..." she named him. The moment she held him in her arms, all the fear and doubt melted away. He was hers. And she loved him more than her life.

Exhausted, Elarie was taken to a ward to rest. She fell into a deep sleep, relieved that the hardest part was over. But when she woke up, the sight that greeted her filled her with dread.

"Dad!" The word escaped her lips in a gasp as her eyes widened in shock.

Elarie's heart pounded in her chest as her eyes flickered open, slowly adjusting to the sterile, white surroundings of the hospital room. She was still groggy, but she couldn't be mistaken.

Her father, Alexander Newton, was standing at the foot of her bed. He didn't move. His eyes were fixed on her with a gaze colder than she had ever seen. Elarie thought she might still be dreaming, but the tension in the air confirmed that this was no dream.

"Dad..." Elarie's voice trembled as she shifted. "I-I can explain."

Her words barely left her lips before her stepmother, Gladys, stepped forward. Shock and disgust was written all over her face. "Explain?" Gladys cut in sharply. "What's there to explain, Elarie? You got pregnant while still in school! Do you even realize what you've done?"

Elarie flinched as her eyes welled up. She had wanted to tell them. She had planned to, after the birth. But everything had spiralled out of control. "I was going to tell you... after Daniel was born," she whispered with her voice cracking. "I was afraid... afraid you'd be mad."

"Mad?" Stephanie's voice chimed in from the doorway. Her stepsister's were arms crossed as she leaned against the frame with a smirk of self-satisfaction. "If I hadn't seen you sneaking out in the middle of the night, no one would have known, would they? All this time, you've been pretending to be perfect. And here you are... proving exactly what I knew all along."

Elarie's heart sank as Stephanie's words dug deeper into her already fragile spirit. She had always felt judged by Stephanie, who never missed an opportunity to point out her flaws, but this was different. This was an attack on her and her son, Daniel.

"Stephanie, please," Elarie pleaded softly. She shook her head. "I wasn't trying to hide it forever. I just... I didn't know how to tell you."

Gladys stepped closer. Her eyes narrowed as she continued her tirade. "And what exactly was your plan, Elarie? Keep this a secret until when? Until you could no longer hide the consequences of your careless decisions? How could you do something like this?"

Tears now rolled down Elarie's cheeks. Her chest tightened with guilt and anxiety. "I was going to tell you. I just... I was scared," she repeated.

"You should have been scared," Alexander's voice broke in, finally speaking. Elarie met his eyes, hoping for some sign of understanding, but there was none.

"You should have gotten rid of it," Alexander said flatly.

Elarie's breath got caught in her throat. The words hit her like a punch to the gut. "W-What?" she whispered. "What did you say?"

"You heard me," Alexander continued. "You should have gotten rid of the baby instead of giving birth to it. This will ruin us, Elarie! Do you understand that? This will taint our family's reputation!"

The room fell into silence. Elarie couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her father... her own father... was suggesting that she should have terminated her pregnancy to protect their family's image. She felt the room spin as disbelief coursed through her.

"Dad, no," she gasped while she shook her head. "You don't understand. Daniel is my son. He's your grandson. How can you say that?"

Alexander's eyes narrowed. "What happened to you will stain everything I've built! You're young, and you've made a mistake. But this?... This is not something we can undo. It's a problem that could have been prevented."

Elarie was speechless. Her hands trembled as she tried to process what was happening. The man standing in front of her was a stranger, not the father she had grown up with. "He's not a problem," she finally said. "He's my son. I love him."

Alexander's face crumpled further, if that was possible. "You should have thought about the consequences before you ruined your future and ours," he snapped. "But now, it's too late."

"Too late for what?" Elarie's voice cracked as her tears flowed freely. "Too late for you to love your grandson? Too late for you to care about me?"

Alexander didn't answer. Instead, he turned his back to her, looking at Gladys and Stephanie. "We're leaving. She's made her bed. And she can lie in it."

Elarie's heart shattered as she realized what was happening. "No, Dad, please," she sobbed. "Please don't leave me like this. Don't abandon us."

"I don't have a daughter who's a slut like you!" His voice thundered in the ward. "You've made your choice, Elarie. And now, you'll live with it."

With that, Alexander turned and walked out of the room. Gladys followed close behind without another word. Stephanie lingered for a moment. Her gaze flicked at Elarie. But even she eventually left without saying anything more.

The door clicked shut. And Elarie was left in silence. Her body was trembling as she hugged herself close. They had left her. Her father had disowned her. Her family had turned their backs on her when she needed them the most.

***

An hour later, a nurse entered the room. "Ms. Newton, I'm afraid you've been discharged."

Elarie blinked in confusion, still shaken from the conversation with her father. "What? Discharged? I... I don't understand."

The nurse nodded. "I'm sorry, but your hospital bills haven't been paid. And no one has come forward to cover them."

Panic flooded Elarie's chest. "No, that can't be right. I have money, I saved up-" She reached for her bag, frantically searching for the pouch she had kept her savings in. But as her fingers fumbled through the fabric, her heart sank.

The pouch was gone. All the money she had saved over the past months... was all gone. Even the small coins she had stored were missing.

"No, no, no," Elarie muttered. Her voice shook as she rummaged through the bag in disbelief. "It was here. It was right here..."

"I'm sorry," the nurse said apologetically, "but the policy is clear. If the bills aren't paid, you'll have to leave."

"Please," Elarie begged. Her eyes widened in desperation. "Please! Just give me some time. I can find a way to pay. I just need more time."

But the nurse shook her head. Sympathy filled her eyes. "I'm really sorry. But we can't make exceptions."

That night, Elarie found herself standing outside the hospital. The rain was pouring down in relentless sheets. She huddled under a small waiting shed near the entrance with Daniel bundled tightly in her arms. Exhausted and broken, Elarie tried to keep her son warm as the cold wind whipped around them. The events of the day had drained her of everything-emotionally, physically, and mentally.

Eventually, sleep claimed her. And she drifted off with Daniel still cradled in her arms.

When she woke the next morning, the dampness and cold were gone. Instead, she found herself lying in a soft bed. The sheets were warm and luxurious. Blinking in confusion, Elarie sat up slowly. Then she scanned the room. This wasn't the same hospital.

A doctor entered the room a moment later with a kind smile plastered on her face. "Good morning, Ms. Newton. How are you feeling?"

"I-where am I?" Elarie stammered, still trying to make sense of what had happened.

"You're in a private room," the doctor replied. "Your son is in the newborn nursery. He's being taken care of."

Elarie's heart swelled with relief, but confusion still lingered. "W-Who brought us here?"

The doctor shook her head gently. "I'm afraid I don't know. The person who brought you here didn't leave a name."

Elarie leaned back against the pillows.

Who had brought them here? And why?

Five years had passed since Elarie's world had come crashing down. But now, her life revolved around a new center-Daniel, her son. It wasn't the life she had imagined for herself. But it was a life she had embraced with all the love she had to give.

It was late afternoon when Elarie stood by the kitchen counter, carefully decorating a small cake. It wasn't much, just a simple vanilla cake with a few colorful sprinkles, but she knew it would bring a smile to Daniel's face. Beside the cake sat a plate of spaghetti, his favorite dish. Today was his birthday. And despite the tight budget, she had managed to pull off this small surprise.

Moments later, the door clicked open, and Daniel bounded into the apartment. His bright, five-year-old energy filled the room. Elarie smiled at the sight of him. His backpack was nearly as big as he was. She had picked him up right after finishing her shift at the café. She was already tired but was happy to see her boy.

"Happy birthday, Daniel!" she exclaimed, stepping forward with the cake in her hands.

Daniel's eyes lit up as he saw the cake and spaghetti. "Mommy! Is that for me?" he asked with his little voice full of excitement.

Elarie chuckled and nodded. "Of course, it's for you! I wanted to surprise you on your special day."

Without another word, Daniel rushed into her arms, wrapping his small arms around her neck and hugging her tightly. "Thank you, Mommy! I love it!" He pulled back slightly and kissed her on the cheek, then planted another kiss on her forehead. Elarie laughed as he continued showering her with kisses, giggling in pure joy.

Elarie stroked his hair. Her heart was swelling with love. "I'm sorry I couldn't get you a gift this year, sweetheart," she muttered. "Things have been a little tough lately."

But Daniel shook his head. "It's okay, Mommy. I don't need a present. This surprise is the best ever!" His face beamed with innocence and understanding, making Elarie's heart ache with both pride and sadness.

They sat down together at the small dining table, sharing the spaghetti and cake in celebration. The small apartment was far from the grand mansion she had grown up in, but it was filled with love. And for Daniel, that was enough. He didn't ask questions about his father or the family Elarie had left behind. For him, it was just the two of them, and that was their whole world.

After dinner, Elarie tucked Daniel into bed. "Did you have a happy birthday, sweetheart?" she asked as she pulled the blanket up to his chin.

"It was the best, Mommy," Daniel replied sleepily. His eyes were already starting to droop.

Elarie leaned down and kissed his forehead. She brushed a hand through his soft curls. "Goodnight, my love."

"Goodnight, Mommy," he mumbled. Then a while later, he already drifted off into sleep.

Once Daniel was sound asleep, Elarie quietly slipped out of the room and made her way back to the small dining area. She cleaned up the remnants of their modest birthday dinner. Once the dishes were done, she poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down at the table. She stared blankly at the steam rising from the cup.

The truth weighed heavily on her mind. Her regular job at the café was coming to an end because the business was closing its doors for good next week. All she had left now was a part-time job at a local grocery store. But the hours weren't enough to cover rent and bills. She couldn't afford to fall behind, especially not with Daniel in school now. The thought of losing their apartment, of not being able to provide for him, kept her awake at night.

Her hands trembled slightly as she picked up her phone, opening her email. She had spent countless hours updating her CV and sending it out to every company she could think of, hoping and praying for a chance. But so far, nothing had come through.

Elarie sighed deeply, taking a slow sip of her coffee. Five years ago, when she had been disowned by her father and banned from their estate, she had never imagined how difficult things would become. She had begged him for help, desperate and afraid, but her father had turned his back on her completely. Since then, it had been a long, grueling fight to keep her head above water. She worked any job she could find, living paycheck to paycheck, all for Daniel.

She glanced at the pile of bills sitting on the table. Her chest tightened with anxiety. "God, please help me," she whispered. She needed a miracle. Something to keep her and Daniel afloat. She couldn't let him down. He deserved so much more than this.

As the night wore on, Elarie finally dragged herself to bed, exhausted but still unable to quiet her mind. She had to find a way. There had to be something out there.

One week later, after she sent Daniel off to school with a kiss and a lunchbox in hand, Elarie sat down with her laptop, determined to keep trying. She opened her inbox. Her fingers were ready to send out more applications, but then something unexpected caught her eye. A notification flashed at the top of her screen.

An email from Scott Corporation.

Her breath hitched as she clicked it open.

"Dear Ms. Newton," the email began, "We would like to invite you for an initial interview for the secretarial position you applied for. Please confirm your availability..."

Elarie's eyes widened as she read the words. She could hardly believe it. She had applied to Scott Corporation a week ago, one of the many companies she had reached out to in a desperate bid to find something stable. But she had never expected to hear back, especially not from a company as prestigious as Scott Corporation.

Her heart pounded in her chest as the realization set in. This was the chance she had been waiting for. The position wasn't just a part-time gig. It was a full-time job with benefits, something she hadn't had in years. If she got this job, it could change everything. She could finally give Daniel the stability he deserved.

Without thinking, Elarie screamed in excitement, jumping out of her chair. Her hands flew to her mouth in disbelief. "Oh my God," she whispered, pacing around the room in a daze. "This can't be real. This can't be real!"

Her mind raced with possibilities. If she aced the interview, she could finally stop worrying about how she would pay the rent each month. She could afford to get Daniel new clothes, maybe even save up for a small vacation one day.

Elarie quickly typed her response, confirming her availability for the interview. As she hit send, a wave of hope surged through her. She had been fighting for so long, working tirelessly to keep their little family afloat. And now, finally, it felt like things were starting to turn around.

She stood by the window, looking out at the busy street below. Then smiled to herself. This was the break she needed. Maybe things were finally about to get better.