Chapter three: The billionaire's secret

Three months later, Luna stood outside a gleaming high-rise building, staring up at its towering height. Her heart pounded in her chest, every nerve screaming for her to turn around.“What am I even doing here?” she muttered under her breath, gripping the strap of her worn-out handbag.The slip of paper in her hand—the address Kira had helped her find—felt like it weighed a thousand pounds. It had taken weeks of searching, late nights spent combing the internet and asking every shady contact Kira could dig up. But they’d finally found him: Dante Cross.Billionaire. Shadowy businessman. Owner of half the city’s properties.And the man who had unknowingly turned her life upside down.Luna felt her stomach churn. She had no idea what she was going to say. “Hey, remember me? The waitress you slept with one night? Surprise—you’re going to be a dad!”It sounded insane.But she had no choice. She couldn’t let pride or fear stop her. The baby growing inside her deserved to know the truth—and Dante deserved to know, too.Taking a deep breath, Luna pushed through the revolving doors and stepped into the pristine lobby of Cross Enterprises. Marble floors gleamed under the bright lights, and men in perfectly tailored suits bustled around, too busy to notice her.She approached the front desk, her heart racing. A polished receptionist looked up with a tight smile. “Good afternoon. Do you have an appointment?”Luna swallowed hard. “I… I need to see Dante Cross.”The receptionist’s smile faltered as her eyes flicked over Luna’s appearance—her worn jeans, oversized sweater, and scuffed sneakers. Luna could practically hear the judgment.“Mr. Cross doesn’t take unscheduled visitors,” the receptionist said briskly. “If you’d like to leave a message—”“No.” Luna’s voice came out stronger than she felt. “This is personal. I need to see him. Please.”The receptionist looked unimpressed. “I’m sorry, but Mr. Cross is very busy.”Luna opened her mouth to argue, but before she could speak, a deep, familiar voice echoed from behind her.“Let her through.”Her breath caught in her throat. She turned slowly, and there he was.Dante Cross.He stood a few feet away, dressed in a sharp black suit that hugged his broad shoulders perfectly. His golden eyes were just as piercing as she remembered, locking onto her like a predator sizing up prey.Luna’s heart thudded wildly, and for a moment, she forgot how to breathe.“Mr. Cross—” the receptionist began, but Dante silenced her with a flick of his hand.“It’s fine,” he said, his gaze never leaving Luna. “I’ll handle this.”He motioned for her to follow him, and Luna’s legs moved on instinct, carrying her toward the private elevator he stepped into. The doors slid shut behind them, sealing them in.The silence was suffocating. Luna could feel his eyes on her, studying her.“You,” he finally said, his voice low and unreadable. “I didn’t expect to see you again.”Luna turned to face him, summoning every ounce of courage she had. “I didn’t expect to come back.”Something flashed in his eyes—curiosity, maybe—but his expression remained cold. “Why are you here?”Her palms felt clammy. She clenched her fists to keep her voice steady. “We need to talk. It’s important.”The elevator dinged softly as it reached the top floor. The doors opened, revealing an expansive office with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. It was sleek, modern, and intimidating—just like Dante himself.“Sit,” he said, gesturing to a leather chair near his desk.Luna hesitated before sitting down. Dante removed his suit jacket and loosened his tie, his movements smooth and controlled as he leaned against the edge of his desk, crossing his arms.“Talk,” he said simply.Luna’s throat went dry. She couldn’t believe this was happening—that she was actually face-to-face with him again.“I… I don’t know how to say this,” she admitted.“Try,” he replied coolly.She took a deep breath, forcing herself to meet his gaze. “I’m pregnant.”The room went silent. Dante didn’t move, didn’t blink. He just stared at her, his expression unreadable.“And?” he said finally, his voice dangerously calm.Luna frowned. “And… it’s yours.”His golden eyes narrowed, a flicker of something—anger, disbelief—crossing his face. “Is this a joke?”“No!” Luna shot up from the chair, her voice rising. “Why would I joke about something like this? I’m telling you the truth.”Dante pushed off the desk, his presence suddenly overwhelming as he took a step closer. “Let me get this straight,” he said, his voice cold and clipped. “You show up here, months later, claiming to be pregnant with my child. A child from a night I barely remember?”Luna flinched, the words like a slap. “I didn’t plan for this to happen. I didn’t come here to trap you or… or ask for money. I just thought you had a right to know.”Dante stared at her, his jaw tight. “You’re serious.”“Yes,” she said softly.He turned away, running a hand through his dark hair. For the first time, he looked unsure of himself, and it startled her.After a long pause, he spoke, his voice quieter. “You should’ve stayed away.”Luna blinked, taken aback. “What?”He turned back to her, his golden eyes hard. “You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into. You shouldn’t have come here.”Anger flared in Luna’s chest. “What is that supposed to mean? I didn’t ask for this! I didn’t ask for you. I’m just trying to do the right thing for my child.”Dante’s expression darkened. “Your child?”Luna stepped forward, refusing to back down. “Yes. My child. I’m going to keep this baby, with or without you.”Dante stared at her for a long moment, his gaze unreadable. Finally, he let out a slow breath and turned back toward the windows.“Fine,” he said quietly. “I want a paternity test.”Luna’s heart sank, but she nodded. “That’s fair. I’ll do whatever it takes to prove I’m telling the truth.”He didn’t look at her as he spoke. “If the child is mine… we’ll figure something out.”Luna swallowed hard, feeling a mix of relief and unease. “Okay.”Dante finally turned to face her again, his golden eyes burning into hers. “But understand this: my world isn’t safe. If you’re going to bring me into this, you’d better be ready for the consequences.”His words sent a chill down her spine, but Luna squared her shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on.“I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my baby,” she said firmly.For a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension crackling like electricity in the air.Luna knew she’d just stepped into something far bigger than she could imagine. But no matter what came next, she wouldn’t back down.Not for herself.And definitely not for her child.