There's something wrong with Richard.
We aren't that close, yet he's acting like we're lovers. Okay, this is weird, but I love the attention. I think I should just tell him everything. Maybe he'll be able to help me find my birth parents.
I opened my bag and pulled out his card. My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears.
"Mr. Richard," I said, stretching my hand toward him, "here's the card you gave me three months ago."
"I-I… umm… I used one million dollars," I stammered. "I'm sorry. It was urgent, and you weren't around. I didn't have your contact, so that's why I used the card. I'm really sorry. Please, I'll work and pay it back after I give birth—"
Before I could finish, Richard placed his hand gently over my mouth, stopping the rush of words.
"Claudia," he said calmly, his voice steady and warm, "I gave you that card three months ago as payment for your service. It was yours to use. Even if you emptied it completely, I wouldn't hold it against you."
"You're not angry that I used your card?"
"Why should I be?" He looked genuinely surprised. "You're carrying my child, Claudia. If anything, I should be angry with myself for not giving you enough money to take care of yourself properly."
His words hit me like a warm wave. I stared at him, blinking back the sudden sting in my eyes. No one had ever spoken to me like that, like I actually mattered. Like the baby inside me wasn't just a transaction.
I swallowed hard. "There's…. something else."
His brows furrowed with concern. "You can tell me anything," he said softly, reaching out to take my hands in his.
I slowly pulled my hands away and brought out the necklace and the small piece of paper with the address my adopted mom had given me.
"I'm adopted," I began. "I'm not the real daughter of the Larsons. Their biological daughter got lost when she was a baby, so they decided to adopt me to fill the void. But after my adopted dad died five years ago, my adopted mom and her son turned my life into a living hell.
"I had to work to pay my own bills and even help her son start his business. I paid for my tuition myself. Three months ago, I took a part-time job at the club where we met."
I paused and glanced at his face. He nodded gently, encouraging me to continue.
"My brother gambled away all the money and bankrupted the business. Then they tried to sell me off to Mr. Williams for a million dollars." I paused, taking a deep breath to steady myself. "This morning, I got a call from my adopted mom. Mr. Williams is threatening them and demanding the one million dollars back. She had the orphanage address and the necklace the orphanage had left with her when they adopted me.
"I had to go back to the hospital to get the card I'd forgotten there, then go to the Larsons' house to collect the necklace and address. I also used part of the money to pay off their debt so I could cut ties with them completely."
Before I could take another breath, Richard pulled me into his arms and hugged me tightly.
"I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that," he whispered, gently patting my head. "But remember, you don't have to face any of it alone anymore. I'm here now, and I'll never let you suffer like that again."
I nodded against his chest, then pulled back slightly to look at him.
"I want to ask if you could help me investigate my real parents' whereabouts."
Richard didn't hesitate. His dark eyes softened as he brushed a stray lock of hair from my face.
"Of course," he said without a second thought. "I'll have my best investigators on it immediately. We'll find them, Claudia. I promise."
A fresh wave of tears threatened to spill over. I quickly looked down and forced it back.
"Thank you," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I don't even know where to start. The orphanage address is all I have and this."
He took the necklace gently from my fingers, examining it for a moment before slipping it back into my palm and closing my hand around it.
"We'll start there. Tomorrow, if you're feeling up to it, we can visit the orphanage together. Or I can go alone if you prefer. Whatever makes you comfortable."
I shook my head. "I want to go with you."
A small, genuine smile tugged at the corners of his lips the first real smile I'd seen from him since we met again. It made something warm bloom in my chest.
"Then it's settled," he said. "But for now, you need to rest. You've had a long, stressful day, and I won't have you or my child getting exhausted."
He stood up and offered me his hand. When I took it, he helped me to my feet with such care, as if I were made of fragile glass. His other hand instinctively moved to rest lightly on my still-flat stomach, a protective gesture that sent butterflies fluttering through me.
"Come on," he murmured. "Let me take you home,my home. No more hiding, no more struggling. From tonight, you stay with me."
"Your home?" I asked, confused. "Isn't this your home?"
He smiled. "This is just one of my private properties. I brought you here to keep you away from my family. I wasn't going to be around for a month, so I needed to make sure no one would find you while I was gone."
He paused, then added, "Lia is the only one who knows about this place. That's why she came. But I made sure she won't come back while I'm away."
"Wow," I said, shocked. "I thought this was where you stayed."
"So where are we going?" I asked.
"My real home, where my mom stays." He paused for a moment before continuing. "After my dad died, I had to move in with her. Lia was in college then and barely came home, so I was the only one available to take care of Mom. I came here because she was bothering me about marriage and forcing me to marry Lia."
The mention of marriage made my heart stutter. Would his mother accept me, or would she fight to keep me away? Maybe I was overthinking things. Why would he want to marry a girl like me when his family could easily find someone more suitable — someone from their social circle who wouldn't cause a scandal?
I don't know what will become of me after I give birth, but for now, I need to focus on keeping my baby safe.
He squeezed my hand gently, his eyes searching my face as we stood in the quiet room.
"Let's go home, Claudia," he said.
I wanted to protest, but the exhaustion and the safety I felt in his arms won. "Okay… Richard."
As we left, his arm wrapped securely around my waist, I felt something I hadn't felt in years: hope.