Return To The Mansion.

The car stopped in front of the Sterling mansion, and my hands were already sweaty. We'd ended up choosing to meet up at the Sterling mansion instead and he'd sent a driver to pick me up.

I dried them against my dress, but it didn't matter. The mansion loomed before me, all stonework and glass, as if it had been built as a warning against anyone daring enough to try.

The door swung open. I exited, and the smell of pine and salt filled the air. The Hamptons felt too groomed and polished.

“Miss Moreau?” The butler waited at the door, straight-backed and polite.

I nodded at him, my throat tight. The house swallowed me as I stepped inside. The marble floors, the sweeping staircase, it was all exactly as I remembered. And then—

“Emilia!”

A blur of curls and skinny arms flew down the stairs. Sweet Clara. She was bigger now, six years old instead of two. But she was still the same little girl I'd come to adore.

“Clara…” I breathed. She got me with full force, wrapping her little arms around my waist where she could reach. My knees went weak and I crouched down and hugged her.

“You look beautiful.” She said into my shoulder. “I've missed you.”

I laughed through tears I hadn’t expected. “You’re so tall now. Look at you.” I held her face in my hands. “You’re beautiful too.”

She beamed. “I miss you every day.”

I kissed her forehead, ignoring the lump in my throat.

Alexander's voice cut through the moment. “Clara..”

We both turned. Alexander was standing at the bottom of the stairs with one hand in his pocket and the other resting on the banister. He was wearing a dark suit with no tie..

I stood quickly, wiping my cheeks. “Mr. Sterling.”

“Alexander,” he corrected.

I swallowed. “Alexander.”

He gave a small nod then looked down at Clara. “Sweetie, go to your room for a little while. I need to speak with Emilia.”

“But—” the little girl looked worried.

“Clara, please...” his tone was softer but it left no room for argument.

She frowned then hugged me one more time. “Stay, okay?”

“I’ll be here,” I whispered. When she left, he closed the distance between us.

“Take a seat, Emilia.” He gestured toward a sitting room.

I followed. The living room was as pristine as I remembered. White couches, glass tables, and not a single pillow out of place. I perched on the edge of the sofa, while Alexander stayed standing.

“You know my ex-wife,” he said flatly.

“Yes,” I muttered. “What about her?”

“She’s filing for full custody.”My head snapped up. “What? Over the phone the other day, you said she gave you full custody.

Was that a lie too?”

Alexander sighed and his shoulders sagged slightly. “She asked for something I don't care to part with. So now she went back to court, claiming I'm unfit. That Clara needs a stable mother figure.”

He finally moved, sitting across from me. I let out a shaky laugh. “And how do you think I can help with that?”

His eyes stayed on me, and he leaned forward slightly. “If the court sees Clara thriving with you—”

I cut him off, standing fast. “Stop. Whatever you're suggesting, the answer is no.” I didn't like the tone he was taking.

He rose too and for the first time I noticed he was a good looking man. I looked away quickly before I could have any more thoughts.

“I'm asking you to marry me, Emilia.”

Wtf? I stared at him, sure that I'd misheard. “Huh?”

“We'll be married on paper. I guess what I'm saying is, I'm offering you a contract and nothing more.” he sounded like he was talking with a client.

“You can't be serious.” I opened and closed my mouth, overwhelmed.

“Very Serious. Look, you care about my daughter and she cares about you too. It'd make things easier.”

I shook my head. “No…no…no. I've been married before. I won't–” I started to say but my voice cracked. I pressed a hand over my mouth and turned away.

“You’d have protection. A bodyguard if you're so scared of Veronica.”

“Do you hear yourself?” I spun back to him. “You think you can just…just hire me? As your wife?” I wiggled my finger in the air, then pointed it at him. “So you think I am afraid of what Veronica would do to me physically? No. My job is on the line here.”

He shrugged. “You'll be properly compensated with $5M at the end of the contract. I don't believe you plan to be an au pair for the rest of your life.”

My chest rose and fell, and I opened and closed my fists. “I don't need your money. I said no.”

His jaw tightened. “Then she goes to Veronica. Is that what you want?” he dragged his fingers through his hair. “Veronica isn't a good mother and you know that. To think of what Clara might have to go through with her—” he huffed and then sighed.

“Don’t put this on me,” I snapped.

For a moment, we just stared at each other. His dark eyes kept searching mine and it made my heart skip a beat. I dragged my eyes away from his, fixing them on the table.

I grabbed my bag. “Look, I love Clara, but I can't do this.” I strode toward the door, and he followed. The moment I stepped outside, a flash exploded. Then another.

“Mr Sterling!” voices shouted. “Are you seeing someone new?”

“Hey! Look this way!!” another one shouted. There were at least a dozen paparazzi outside the gate, their cameras held high and taking pictures.

I lifted a hand but it was useless against the glare. Alexander moved beside me, “Inside. Now.” His hand brushed the small of my back as he guided me back into the house.

I was all too aware that he was touching me.

“No,” I hissed, jerking away. “I’m leaving.”

“They’ll follow you.”

“Then let them,” I muttered, and pushed past him, down the steps. The cameras followed me all the way to the car.

By the time I slammed the door shut, my phone started going wild with notifications.

A surprising headline stared back at me in bold letters. “Sterling's Mystery Woman. Is this the reason his ex-wife had filed for custody of their child?”

My hands shook as I read and reread it. My anonymity was gone.