Pregnant And Abandoned: The Billionaire's Second Chance At Love

New York City, USA.

"You have to get an abortion!" the man demanded in a forceful voice.

The words struck Vanessa like a physical blow to the chest.

"Excuse me?" She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

She had traveled for almost five hours, making the long trip from the university-where she had earned a scholarship to study Business Administration-just to reach her boyfriend's office.

On her way there, she had been thinking about how to rearrange her schedule to dedicate more time to taking care of her baby.

Vanessa had truly believed that Raúl Bautista, the man who claimed to love her, would be thrilled by the news. After all, he had seemed so deeply in love with her that night when he begged her to skip protection. She had hesitantly agreed, trusting him because he swore he would take full responsibility.

"I can't handle a kid right now!" he snapped in annoyance. "Look, Vanessa, you're too young. You're going to cut your studies short."

He rubbed his temples in frustration. "Besides, I'm at the peak of my career. A baby would only block my promotion."

"We're talking about a human being!" she yelled, throwing her arms up. "About your child!"

"Just do as I say. Get an abortion, and nothing will change between us, okay? I'll still love you." He dropped his voice, terrified of drawing a crowd, desperately trying to contain and manipulate her.

It was lunchtime, and many of Raúl's coworkers were filing out of their offices. A few nodded at him in greeting, but he was too embarrassed to even turn around. He couldn't afford anyone finding out he had knocked up a college student and was refusing to step up.

Vanessa looked at the people around them, then shoved him hard in the chest. She yanked herself free from his grip and fired back, refusing to lower her voice.

"I could never love a man who wants to kill his own baby. You disgust me!"

"You're crazy! Lower your voice! What do I have to do to make you keep it down at my workplace?" He hissed the words, his tone dripping with reluctance and irritation.

Scanning the hallway with a deep scowl, Raúl pulled his wallet out, snatched a fifty-dollar bill, grabbed her hand, and forced the money into her palm.

"Take it, here's some cash. We can't keep doing this right now. Go wait for me at the coffee shop next door, and we'll talk later. I have to go upstairs, I'm in a rush..."

"What could possibly be more important than this, Raúl?!" Vanessa exclaimed.

But the words had barely left her mouth before he disappeared into the ground-floor lobby.

***

An hour dragged by. Vanessa stood there, her heart shattering. Still, she decided to give her boyfriend one last chance, hoping he would come to his senses. She checked her watch impatiently, but he never showed up. She finally called his cell phone, ready to say goodbye to him once and for all; she was absolutely determined to keep the baby. When Raúl didn't answer, she decided to go find him herself.

Vanessa hurried over to the receptionist.

"Excuse me, what floor is Mr. Raúl Bautista's office on?" she asked. "I'm his girlfriend. He told me to wait here for him, but he isn't answering my calls."

The receptionist, clearly sensing the drama from their earlier argument, didn't ask any further questions.

"You'll find him in the large office on the tenth floor. Office number one, on the right."

Vanessa sprinted toward the elevator.

When the doors opened on the tenth floor, she hurried down the hallway. She had barely turned the corner when a woman's loud moan echoed through the corridor. "Oh, oh, please, Raúl, faster..."

Could it be him?!

The thought screamed in her mind. Her heart pounded violently against her ribs.

"Raúl?!" Vanessa gasped. Gripping her purse tightly, she quickened her pace, following the sound until she reached an office door left slightly ajar. She didn't hesitate to push it open.

There he was. Her boyfriend, the father of her child, sweating profusely as he pinned a topless blonde against the desk, thrusting into her with aggressive urgency.

"So this is why you wanted me to wait?" she asked, her voice trembling as she stared at him with absolute disappointment. "I see. Goodbye forever, Mr. Bautista."

Raúl scrambled backward, shoving the bombshell blonde away as he hastily zipped up his pants and chased after her.

"Vanessa, wait! I can explain!"

"I'll say this one last time: the baby in my womb is mine alone, and I won't let anyone kill it!"

Because she had shouted the word "baby," several employees returning from their lunch break stopped and stared. Realizing they had an audience, Raúl's mind raced for a way out. A scandal would ruin him.

"You've gone completely crazy!" he bellowed, making sure his voice carried down the hall. "I don't even know who you are, you insolent girl! Go pin that brat on some other idiot who'll buy your lies!"

Vanessa parted her lips in shock. She looked at the coworkers whispering around her, then stared at Raúl with pure contempt. She didn't say another word; she had been humiliated in the worst possible way.

Turning on her heel, she ran from the building, desperate to escape the suffocating air. She burst out onto the street, sobbing inconsolably. After walking blindly for several blocks, she leaned heavily against a streetlamp and wrapped both hands protectively around her belly.

"Even though I haven't met you yet, you're the best thing I have," she whispered through her tears. "I won't let your father hurt you. I don't know how, but we'll get through this together. I'll watch over you day and night. I'll be your father and your mother. We'll be fine, my baby. And we'll never have to see that awful man again."

****

San Francisco, California.

Two months had passed since Vanessa moved to San Francisco. That morning, she had an interview for a new job.

All her hopes were pinned on landing this position, as the hours perfectly fit her study schedule.

She clutched several folders to her chest, holding her resumes and recommendation letters like a shield.

Minutes earlier, across town, Ryan Knight had slipped away from the wedding guests and walked out of the church. He had ripped off his bow tie, tossed it onto the manicured lawn, and, with clenched fists, climbed into his Lamborghini.

"I am never coming back to this place," he vowed silently. Pressing the accelerator to the floor, he sped away, desperate to escape the wedding that was tearing him apart.

Vanessa smiled, a spark of enthusiasm returning to her eyes. She spotted the building where her interview was being held. Just to be sure, she ducked her head to check the exact address on her phone and stepped into the crosswalk, completely missing the red light.

Suddenly, the deafening shriek of tires tore through the air. The papers in her hands exploded upward like confetti as she was thrown to the ground. A sharp, blinding pain flared in her hip and leg. Her eyes fluttered shut the moment her body hit the pavement.

"Fuck!" Ryan cursed. His heart stopped for a terrifying second as he watched the girl crumple to the asphalt, and then his pulse skyrocketed.

He knew the accident wasn't his fault-she had stepped right into moving traffic without looking. Still, panic seized him. He scrambled out of the car, raking a hand through his hair as he sprinted toward her lifeless form.

"Miss! Somebody call an ambulance, please!" he shouted, dropping to his knees. His heart hammered against his ribs as he leaned in to check if she was still breathing.

He touched her neck, searching for a pulse. "Are you okay?" he demanded, praying for an answer.

To Vanessa, the man's voice sounded muffled, as if she were underwater. When she forced her heavy eyelids open, the only thing she saw was a pair of striking green eyes, shadowed by a deep, unexpected anguish.

"My baby... please don't let anything happen to my baby..." she begged, her voice barely a whisper. Blindly, she sought his hand and gripped it with surprising strength. "It's all I have left..."

Then, the darkness pulled her under. A violent shudder ripped through Ryan at the sweet-looking girl's desperate plea. He squeezed his eyes shut. He was a cold man-life had forced him to be-but he wasn't heartless enough to carry the death of a woman on his conscience, let alone an unborn child.

The second the ambulance arrived, he ordered the paramedics to take her to the best hospital in the city, making it clear he would cover every expense. But he had no intention of staying in San Francisco a minute longer than necessary; being here was destroying his sanity.

He couldn't stomach the sight of Paige-his ex-girlfriend, the only woman he had ever truly loved-in his brother's arms. Today, she had officially become his sister-in-law. That was the wedding he had just fled.

But he couldn't just leave her alone. He was not a monster. He studied the injured woman's pale, delicate face.

Despite the ice in his veins, he climbed into the back of the ambulance to accompany her. He stayed at the hospital until the doctors assured him she was out of danger, having rummaged through her purse to find her ID for the registration desk.

"Family members for Miss Vanessa Johnson?" a doctor called out.

Ryan stepped forward immediately.

"I'm not family. I'm the one who was involved in the accident. How is she?" he asked, a tight knot forming in his throat.

"She's going to recover, but she needs strict bed rest for several weeks. We managed to control the internal bleeding from the impact, and the baby is perfectly safe. She sustained a deep laceration on her leg, which will heal with time. She just can't be on her feet for the next few days."

"I understand," Ryan replied, his voice dry as he dragged both hands down his face. "Poor girl." While searching her purse, he had found past-due eviction notices and a stack of unpaid bills. His chest had tightened at the sight, his mind flashing back to his own childhood-to the days when his mother had desperately juggled pennies just to survive, all while his biological father refused to acknowledge him as a Knight.

How many times had they been thrown out on the street? The memory squeezed his heart, and he made a quiet decision to compensate the girl, even though the accident hadn't been his fault.

****

A few minutes later, a nurse permitted him to check on her. He stood in the doorway, watching quietly. She was fast asleep, her hand resting protectively over her belly even in her unconscious state. The sight made something shift inside him. She looked incredibly young, her pale features radiating a quiet sweetness.

But he didn't have time to linger. Stepping into the room, he cautiously reached out and gently brushed his fingers against her hand. Her skin was remarkably soft. He let out a heavy sigh.

"I hope you recover soon."

And just like that, as quickly as he had swept into her life like a hurricane, he was gone-leaving no name and no way for Vanessa to ever find him.

When Vanessa finally woke up, her first and only thought was of her baby.

Panic clawing at her throat, she frantically asked the attending nurse what had happened to her child. A profound wave of relief washed over her when she was assured her baby was safe and sound.

She blinked against the bright lights, and as her vision cleared, she finally took in her surroundings. She was in a high-end, luxurious private hospital room.

"But I don't have the money to pay for this," she whispered in horror. Then the memory hit her-by stepping into the street so carelessly, she had completely missed her job interview.

"What am I going to do?" she choked out, her whole body trembling. She had no idea how she was going to survive, or who had even brought her here.

Tears spilled over her lashes and tracked down her cheeks. "I'm going to be evicted..."

"Hey, calm down," the nurse said softly, stepping up to the bed. "Don't get yourself worked up, it isn't good for the baby. You need to rest."

"Rest?!" Vanessa cried, a sob tearing from her throat. "No, I can't. I have to find a job. You don't understand-places reject me the second they see I'm pregnant, and the ones that don't demand hours that make it impossible to finish my degree. I owe rent, groceries, gas, electricity..."

She buried her face in her hands, weeping in sheer defeat.

The nurse's heart ached for the desperate young woman. Reaching into her scrub pocket, she pulled out a thick yellow envelope.

"This was left for you," she said gently.

Vanessa wiped her tear-stained face, her brow furrowing in confusion as she took the envelope.

"What is it?" she asked hesitantly.

"The man who brought you in the ambulance. He paid your entire hospital bill in full, and he asked me to give this to you." The nurse gestured to the envelope.

"He was gorgeous, by the way. Wearing a full tuxedo. I don't know if he was the groom, or just running late to a wedding when the accident happened. But he refused to leave until he knew you and the baby were safe."

Vanessa shuddered, a strange pang echoing in her chest.

What if he missed his own wedding because of her? Guilt formed a heavy lump in her throat. She desperately needed to know who this man was, to apologize for ruining his day, and to thank him for his incredible kindness. With trembling fingers, she tore the envelope open.

Her eyes widened in absolute shock. Inside sat several thick stacks of hundred-dollar bills, along with a handwritten note.

"I am very sorry for you. The doctor informed me that you must remain on bed rest for the sake of your baby. I am leaving this money so you won't have to worry about expenses while you recover. Please be more careful when crossing the street."

Fresh tears streamed down Vanessa's face. She reached inside, thumbing through the stacks. She couldn't even calculate the exact amount-it had to be at least five thousand dollars, maybe more.

She shook her head in disbelief. She had never been the type to accept handouts, but right now, she was in such a desperate situation that this mysterious man felt like a literal guardian angel. She had to find out who he was and thank him in person.

"Excuse me," she called out to the nurse. "Do you happen to know the gentleman's name?"

"He didn't want to leave a name, but let me check the system. Whatever name he used to pay the bill has to be on file. I'll be right back."

Vanessa nodded, a small, fragile smile touching her lips.

Moments later, the nurse returned and informed her that her generous savior's name was Ryan Spencer.

To ensure his family couldn't track his whereabouts or tie him to the injured girl, Ryan had paid entirely in cash and registered the billing information under his mother's maiden name.

"I hope one day I can find him and thank him properly." She gently stroked her stomach. "We're going to save this money, little one, and one day, we'll pay him back."

She let out a long, shaky sigh.

Neither Ryan nor Vanessa could have possibly imagined that destiny wasn't finished with them yet, and that it would one day bring them together again.

Eleven years later.

San Francisco, California.

"Ava Johnson, do you want to be late for school again?" Vanessa called out to her ten-year-old daughter. "It takes you hours to put on your uniform. Hurry up. I have an important meeting this morning."

Ava trudged out of her bedroom, huffing. She was still in her pajamas.

"I don't want to go to school," she grumbled. "I want to meet my dad. My best friend, Hope Knight, has a real family. Her dad always picks her up, and at school events, they're always together."

She bit her lip, her eyes defiant. Vanessa felt a familiar, sharp pang in her chest. It broke her heart every time Ava asked about her father.

How could she tell her that the man didn't want her to be born? How could she tell her that she was naive enough to fall for a jerk? Her chest burned with the unspoken truth.

"We've talked about this, Ava. Your dad has a lot of work. He lives in Europe, and he can't just visit," she lied, the words tasting like ash.

Ava glared up at her, her green eyes flashing.

"Liar!" the girl shouted. "Tell me the truth! My classmates say he doesn't exist, or that he just doesn't love me." A sob tore from her throat.

Tears pricked Vanessa's eyes. She stepped forward, reaching out to hug her, but Ava yanked away, sprinting back into her bedroom and slamming the door. The lock clicked.

These arguments had become a grueling routine. Vanessa had even taken Ava to a child psychologist, but nothing seemed to help. Defeated, Vanessa sank into a plush armchair.

When she finally decided to leave Raúl, she had requested a transfer for her scholarship and moved to San Francisco, desperate to put as much distance as possible between herself and the man who had fed her nothing but lies. Discovering that Raúl had a wife and a two-year-old son had been the brutal wake-up call she needed to realize he wasn't worth it.

She could have returned home to her mother in Fresno, but she had chosen to face the consequences of her mistake head-on. The path hadn't been easy, but thanks to her sharp mind and relentless drive, she had clawed her way up. She had started as a retail worker in a clothing store while taking online university courses. She refused to give up, proving that being a single mother wouldn't stop her from achieving her goals. Now, she was the Vice President of Sales at B&G Motors, a major automotive dealership.

After taking a few minutes to compose herself, Vanessa walked back to her daughter's door.

"If you don't go to school, you won't get to see Hope today. You'll miss out on playing with her," she coaxed softly, opening the door.

Ava blinked up at her. Hope was her absolute best friend; they shared everything, and they hated being apart even for a day. They shared a bond that neither wanted to break.

"Okay, I'll go," Ava mumbled. She knew she was Hope's only real friend, since the girl struggled to connect with anyone else.

***

Hours later, at school.

"Hope Knight to the principal's office," a teacher announced, interrupting the class.

Ava's eyes widened. A jolt of unease ran through her. Hope was a model student-Ava often joked that she was the teachers' favorite because she never misbehaved and always turned in her assignments on time.

Why would the principal call her? Ava wondered nervously.

Hope turned her frightened green eyes toward Ava.

"But I haven't done anything wrong," she whispered.

Ava frowned and reached out, squeezing her friend's hand in support. She half-stood, ready to accompany her, but a stern look from the teacher forced her back into her seat.

"Why would the principal call you?" Ava asked, chewing her lip. "I'm getting nervous just thinking about it. You'd better go see what they want."

Hope's stomach was tied in knots. She walked slowly toward the classroom door, glancing back at Ava over her shoulder until she stepped out into the hall. She made her way down the gleaming corridors to the principal's office. When she walked in, she froze in surprise. Her great-grandmother, Rose Knight, was waiting for her.

"Sweetheart," the older woman said softly.

"What are you doing here?" Hope asked. She noticed her great-grandmother's eyes were red and glassy. A cold knot of dread formed in Hope's chest.

Rose almost never cried. She was a woman who gave orders and scolded anyone who dared to cross her. Seeing her look so devastated felt wrong. Hope watched her closely, realizing the older woman was struggling to hold back tears.

"Why are you crying?" Hope asked, her small voice trembling.

"My darling, a terrible tragedy has occurred," Rose said, her voice cracking. "Your parents..."

She let out a choked whimper. "They have been in a terrible accident."

Tears instantly welled in Hope's eyes.

"I want to see my parents!" she cried out desperately.

Rose stepped forward and pulled the girl into a tight hug.

"That won't be possible. Your parents... they're gone, sweetheart. They've died."

A sob ripped from Hope's throat. Pulling away, she bolted out of the principal's office, her heart hammering against her ribs. She didn't know where she was going, only that she had to run. Down the hall, classroom doors were opening for recess, and students were spilling out.

"Hope!" Ava shouted, spotting her friend sprinting blindly down the corridor. She immediately chased after her. "Wait!"

Hope skidded to a halt, blinded by her tears. She looked at Ava just as the principal and her great-grandmother called her name from down the hall. The sheer weight of the shock was too much. Hope's eyes rolled back, and she collapsed right at Ava's feet.

"Hope!" Ava screamed, dropping to her knees and bursting into tears. "Wake up!"

A teacher rushed over, scooping the unconscious girl up and carrying her to the nurse's office. Ava clung to them, refusing to leave her friend's side. Seeing the sheer panic in Ava's face, the staff didn't have the heart to send her away.

When Hope finally fluttered her eyes open, Ava leaned over.

"I don't know what I'm going to do," Hope choked out, tears spilling down her pale cheeks. "I don't have my parents anymore. They're gone forever." She sobbed, telling Ava everything her great-grandmother had said.

Tears streamed down Ava's face. She wrapped her arms around Hope, holding her tight, and the two girls stayed like that for a long time.

Hope refused to leave the room to face her great-grandmother. Right now, the only person she trusted in the world was Ava, the one friend willing to sit with her through the worst pain of her life.

***

Madrid, Spain.

Knight Paradise Center.

Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window of his imposing office, Ryan shoved his hands into the pockets of his tailored navy-blue suit. His sharp gaze swept over the sprawling construction site below, watching his latest architectural masterpiece take shape.

At thirty-two, he had built a reputation as a world-renowned architect-and he had done it entirely without his family's help. He had forged his own empire, designing and constructing luxury shopping centers across the United States. Now, he was expanding into Europe.

"Sir, everything is ready for your flight to Berlin," his assistant announced, stepping into the office.

"Thank you," Ryan replied, his tone clipped, his expression as unreadable as ever. "Is the boardroom ready?"

"Yes, sir. Everything is organized for the meeting. The Spanish investors will be arriving shortly."

"Very well."

Ryan walked over to his desk. A stack of business magazines sat neatly on the corner, but one cover in particular caught his eye. It featured a photograph of his family's company alongside its main competitor: B&G Motors.

He didn't hate his family, nor did he love them. His feelings toward the Knights were complicated, which was exactly why he preferred to keep his distance.

Eleven years ago, his then-girlfriend, Paige, had dumped him. A month later, she had married his older brother, Roger, and announced she was pregnant. The humiliation had been suffocating. On the day of the wedding, Ryan hadn't even stayed for the reception; he had walked out without a word to anyone and never looked back.

As the family's illegitimate son, it hadn't exactly shocked him that Paige had chosen his brother, the legitimate heir. Heartbroken and bitter, he had sworn off the family business entirely. No matter how much his grandmother pleaded, he never attended another family event.

Over the years, he had severed almost all ties with his relatives. He spoke to Roger occasionally, mostly when his brother bragged about profit margins, though Ryan knew that over the past year, sales at Elliot Knight Cars had taken a steep dive.

Settling into his black leather chair, Ryan flipped open the magazine and skimmed the article. His eyes lingered on a photograph of an attractive woman representing the very company that had been crushing his family's legacy.

Vanessa Johnson, current Vice President of Sales at B&G Motors, had spearheaded a new sales strategy, overseeing the acquisition of new commercial truck fleets set to hit the market soon.

Ryan studied the woman in the photo. She was young and slender, with long, light-brown hair and delicate features. Her light green eyes held a gaze that was striking- sharp, yet somehow tender. He stared at her beautiful face, a faint frown touching his brow.

The name sounded familiar, though he couldn't quite place it.

"So, you're the one making Knight Industries sweat," he murmured, a smirk playing on his lips. "My family must absolutely loathe you."

His private phone suddenly rang, shattering the quiet of the office. Frowning, he picked it up.

As he listened to the voice on the other end, the color drained from his face. He reached up, yanking at the knot of his tie as if he suddenly couldn't breathe.

"I understand, Grandmother. I'll be there today," he said hoarsely, sinking back into his chair.

"Are you alright, sir?" his assistant asked, stepping back into the room to fetch him for the meeting.

"I need to be alone," he ordered, his voice tight. "Cancel the flight to Germany. Have the jet prepped immediately. I'm going back to San Francisco."

His assistant nodded quickly and slipped out of the room.

"It can't be," Ryan muttered to the empty room, dragging both hands down his face.

Hours later, Ryan stepped through the heavy doors of the Knight mansion, dressed in a stark black suit. His expression was stone-cold as he stared at the two polished caskets resting in the center of the grand living room. Inside his pockets, his hands curled into tight fists.

He pulled off his sunglasses and walked toward his grandmother, who was holding a little girl in her arms. It wasn't hard to guess that the child was his brother and sister-in-law's daughter.

"Good evening," he said quietly.

"My boy," Rose breathed. Her eyes were red and swollen, with dark bags beneath them. She looked frail, having aged a decade since he had last seen her. "Your brother is gone."

"I'm sure you would have preferred it to be me in that box," Ryan thought bitterly, his jaw tightening.

"I'm sorry," he managed, clearing his throat.

"This is Hope. Your niece." Rose gestured to the little girl with blonde hair and green eyes.

Hope clearly didn't want to look at anyone. She buried her face in her great-grandmother's chest, but Rose-using that same iron-clad tone that used to make grown men shudder-insisted she greet her uncle.

The little girl pulled back, her eyes red and puffy from crying. She stood up straight, obeying Rose's silent command, and lifted her chin to stare at the tall stranger who was supposedly her family.

Ryan stared back at her, his expression unreadable as a ghost from his past stared back at him.

The girl looked exactly like Paige.

Ryan studied the little girl. She was a carbon copy of Paige, his ex-girlfriend. He had never had any desire to meet his niece, knowing she was a living reminder of that betrayal. But now, seeing her in person-meeting those wide eyes filled with bewilderment, fear, and despair-something shifted inside him.

The memory of the day his own mother died flashed through his mind. As strange as it felt, he saw himself in Hope. Both of them had been left entirely unprotected as children.

Driven by a sudden impulse-perhaps some deep familial instinct-he reached a hand out to her. But to the little girl, her uncle was a complete stranger. She had seen the initial coldness in his gaze just minutes ago. Trembling, she shrank back, clinging to her grandmother and burying her face against the older woman's side.

"Please hurry, Ava," she pleaded silently. She desperately wanted to run, terrified by this stranger's presence. "I want to go with you, Ava. Take me to your mom." The silent begs looped in her mind as her tears continued to fall.

Not wanting to distress the girl further, Ryan withdrew. He retreated to a row of empty chairs near the middle of the hall. He had no desire to mingle or accept condolences; he had never been good at stomaching pity.

A short while later, while quietly firing off business directives to his assistant, a movement caught his eye. He looked up to see Hope sitting with a woman and another little girl.

The woman was young and striking, with long, light brown hair cascading over her shoulders. She was leaning in close to his niece and the other girl. He couldn't hear the words, but he could see her speaking softly to Hope.

There was something undeniably familiar about her face, though he couldn't quite place it.

He watched his niece cling to the woman, then turn to hug the other little girl.

Who were they? He wondered, struck by the obvious bond between the three of them.

He was so absorbed in the scene that he didn't notice his grandmother approaching until she took the seat beside him. Across the room, the woman and the little girl settled into chairs flanking Hope, offering quiet comfort.

"Now that your brother is gone, I expect you'll finally take charge of the family business," Rose murmured.

Ryan rolled his eyes, letting out a heavy exhale. "This isn't the time or the place."

"I suppose you're right, dear," his grandmother sniffed. "Now that I'll be taking care of Hope, I'm going to transfer her to a new school."

She cast a look of pure disdain toward the woman comforting her granddaughter.

Ryan turned, leveling a hard look at the old woman. She just couldn't stop controlling people's lives.

"Why?" Ryan asked.

"I don't approve of Hope's friendship with the daughter of that... woman. She's a single mother, and heaven knows what kind of lifestyle she leads. That child is a terrible influence. Besides..." Rose gestured sharply toward her. "She works for our competitor. She holds a high-level position at B&G Motors."

Interesting, Ryan mused. The pieces instantly clicked into place. This was Vanessa Johnson. He knew the name well.

He studied her again. Vanessa was standing now. She was tall and slender, dressed in an understated black designer dress that was perfectly tailored to her elegant figure. Her hair was pulled back in a sleek ponytail, and the look she gave Hope was entirely tender.

She reminded him of someone. He racked his brain. Unable to place it, Ryan shook his head and headed for the terrace. He needed some air.

Meanwhile, Rose took the opportunity to approach Vanessa. She scowled, tapping her cane sharply against the marble floor to demand attention.

Vanessa met the old woman's glare evenly, completely unintimidated.

"I demand that you leave this house. You and your daughter are not welcome here," Rose snapped.

Vanessa's hands curled into fists.

"Listen, ma'am, this is hardly the time for a fight. Your granddaughter needs my daughter's company right now. Just look at her."

She gestured toward the girls, where Ava was currently wrapping her arms around a trembling Hope.

Vanessa's stomach churned with disgust. It was sickeningly ironic. Little Hope had just lost her parents and was seeking refuge with her friend, while her own great-grandmother cared only about throwing her weight around. The old woman was entirely blind to the inconsolable child crying just feet away.

Rose sneered, her nose wrinkling in distaste.

"This is a respectable family, not a place for your kind." Stepping forward, she grabbed little Ava by the arm. "Let go of my great-granddaughter!" she hissed.

Vanessa's eyes flared as her blood boiled. She lunged forward, seizing the old woman's wrist and forcefully prying her away from Ava.

"Don't you ever touch my daughter," she warned, her voice dropping to a dangerous register. "Old woman or not, I will not hesitate to kick your ass."

Ryan had just stepped back into the hall. Catching sight of the altercation and hearing the girls' frightened sobs, he strode over immediately.

"What is going on here?" he demanded, his deep voice cutting through the tension.

Vanessa spun around, her chest heaving. She lifted her chin, her gaze locking with the cold-eyed man who had just spoken. Her skin prickled under the sheer intensity of his stare.

Ryan saw his own reflection in her striking green eyes. The sheer fire in her gaze shook him, though he couldn't explain why.

"This insolent woman-she struck me, Ryan!" Rose cried out in a feigned sob, dramatically clutching her arm.

The shrill sound of his grandmother's voice snapped Ryan out of his daze. He glanced down to see the old woman rubbing her wrist.

"That's a lie. You grabbed my daughter first," Vanessa shot back. "And I don't let anyone-"

"Enough," Ryan cut in smoothly. "This is a funeral. I expect some decorum. Besides, your shouting is upsetting the children."

He leveled a hard look at her. Vanessa glared at him, her brow furrowing. She had no idea where this man fit into the Knight family tree, but she immediately decided he was just as bad-if not worse-than Roger and Rose.

"I expect the exact same decorum, Mr.-"

"Knight. I'm Ryan Knight," he said.

Of course, another Knight.

"We only came to support Hope. We care about her deeply," she stated firmly, holding both Ryan's and Rose's gazes.

"Well, my great-granddaughter doesn't need your friendship," Rose snapped. She raised a hand, signaling for the estate guards to come and throw Vanessa out.

"Grandmother," Ryan intervened, catching the old woman's gesture. "That won't be necessary. I'll personally escort the lady and her daughter out."

Rose offered a smug smile. She assumed his years away from the family had finally taught him some loyalty.

"Thank you, dear."

Ryan reached out and gripped Vanessa's arm. She instantly glared daggers at him.

"Don't touch me," she seethed, her chest rising and falling with rapid breaths.

"It's better if you just leave by yourself," he advised in a low voice.

"Don't threaten me, Mr. Knight. We haven't done anything wrong." She jerked her arm out of his grasp, meeting his stare head-on. "I shudder to think how miserable little Hope is going to be under the care of such callous relatives."

"Ma'am, if you don't lower your voice, I will have security drag you out."

"Do you honestly think I want to stay here a second longer?" She planted her hands on her hips, her chin tipped in defiance. "Even I can see how badly you're neglecting that little girl. She needs my daughter right now. Kicking us out is only going to traumatize her further!"

She glanced back at the two girls, who were now sobbing uncontrollably. "Girls, it's okay. Shh, don't cry," she soothed, her tone instantly softening. She knelt in front of Hope. "Don't be scared, sweetheart. You can always count on us."

She pressed a gentle kiss to the child's forehead.

"I said don't touch her!" Rose screeched. She shoved her way between them, forcibly ripping Hope away from Vanessa. The old woman jabbed her cane toward Vanessa's chest, her eyes bulging with rage.

Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Ryan seized Vanessa's arm again. Gathering little Ava, he practically marched the two of them out of the hall.

Vanessa fought him the entire way, cursing under her breath as she tried to wrench her arm free.

"You're just as much of a hypocrite as that old witch, Mr. Knight!" she snapped as they reached the exterior doors. "I don't give a damn how you treat me, but did you even look at your niece? Did you see how desperately she was crying? You people don't care about her at all!"

Ryan stared down at her, taking in the blazing fury in her eyes. It hit him then-this woman more about his niece's well-being than he or his grandmother ever did.

If the girl didn't look exactly like Paige, maybe he could...

"Let go of me!" Vanessa demanded, ripping her arm from his loosened grip. He had zoned out for a fraction of a second, and she used the opportunity to step back, glaring at him with absolute venom. "Don't you ever touch me again."

"Look, I was actually saving you from my grandmother's wrath, but think what you want," he retorted. "There's a cab pulling up. Take it and leave."

Vanessa let out a harsh laugh.

"Arrogant jerk. I have my own car. I don't need anything from you, least of all your protection. I can handle myself just fine. Understood?"

To emphasize her point, she jabbed two fingers hard against his chest. Ryan looked down at her hand, then back up to her eyes. She was stunningly beautiful and had a lot of spirit. In a swift motion, he caught her hand, his fingers wrapping around her soft skin.

A strange jolt went through him. He felt as though he had known this exact warmth before. But that was impossible. He had never met a woman as fiery as Vanessa, even if her name had been circling in the back of his mind.

Vanessa felt a strange, electric tingle shoot up her arm. She immediately snatched her hand back.

"Don't come back here. Or I assure you, my grandmother will set the dogs on you."

Vanessa scoffed.

"I'm not afraid of her," she declared. Grabbing Ava's hand, she turned on her heel and marched toward where her Lexus was parked.

Ryan stood on the steps, watching the confident sway of her hips as she walked away. A faint, unbidden smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he thought about how fearlessly she had stood up to his overbearing grandmother.

***

Two days after the funeral, Ryan and his grandmother sat in the mansion's main study for the reading of Roger's will.

The family lawyer began listing the distribution of assets.

"Upon my death, it is my wish that my brother, Ryan, take full control of the family business," the lawyer read from one of the clauses.

"Out of the question," Ryan snapped, running a hand through his hair in annoyance.

"Let's just continue," Rose instructed the lawyer. The lawyer cleared his throat.

"At my wife Paige's request, we have decided that, should we both pass away, legal guardianship of our daughter, Hope, will be granted to my brother, Ryan."

Ryan shot to his feet.

"Are you out of your minds?!" he exploded. "I don't have time to raise a child! I run a massive corporation. I'm a busy man!" He paced the floor, his jaw clenched tight. He couldn't fathom why Paige-of all people-would leave her daughter to him.

"Calm down, dear," his grandmother soothed. "You can simply hire a nanny to handle the day-to-day, or I could take her off your hands."

Ryan let out a harsh breath, fixing his grandmother with a deadpan stare.

"It would be infinitely simpler just to send the girl to a boarding school in Europe."

***

A boarding school?

Europe?

Out in the hallway, Hope stood frozen, her ear pressed flat against the heavy oak door. She trembled violently at her uncle's words, hugging her favorite stuffed doll tightly to her chest.

"No, I don't want to go away. I don't want to leave Ava," she whimpered. "Why did Mommy and Daddy have to die?"

She clamped a small hand over her mouth to muffle her sobs. Backing away from the study, she turned and sprinted up the stairs to her bedroom. She had to run away. She had to go live with Ava and her mom.

Moving quickly, the little girl stuffed a few changes of clothes into her school backpack. She smashed her ceramic piggy bank on the floor and scooped up all her saved allowance. Creeping down the back stairs, she made sure none of the estate staff saw her as she slipped out through the sprawling gardens. Once past the gates, she ran down the street, tears streaming down her face, completely unsure of where to actually go.

"Don't be scared, Hope," she told herself, wiping her eyes. "Think about what Ava would do."

Then, it hit her. She remembered the name of the company where Ava's mom worked. Spotting a yellow cab at the corner, she waved it down. When the driver rolled down the window and asked if a kid her age had money to pay the fare, she silently held up her wad of crumpled bills.

Satisfied, he unlocked the door and drove her straight to B&G Motors.

Back at the Knight Mansion, the argument in the study raged on.

"You have to be reasonable, Ryan. I'm an old woman. I can't manage the family business and raise a little girl at the same time," Rose argued.

"Then find someone else to do it, because I'm not taking her," Ryan shot back. "I have my own company and my own life. I don't need this kind of complication."

"Mrs. Knight!" a frantic maid cried out, bursting through the study doors without knocking.

Rose scowled. "What? Why are you barging in here?"

The maid gasped for breath, her face pale. "It's little Hope, ma'am. She's gone. She's run away!"