~CELINE~  

"What do you mean by fired, sir?" I asked, my voice trembling as I squeezed the envelope in my hands. Surely, I'd heard him wrong.  

Why was this happening?  

"Yes, Miss Brown, you heard me correctly. You're fired," he said, his tone cold and dismissive. "Gather your things and leave the premises."  

The words struck me like a physical blow, and my hands began to shake. My grip tightened on the envelope, its edges biting into my palm. This couldn't be real.  

This had to be Hunter's doing.  

But why? Earlier in the hallway, he hadn't seemed angry. If anything, he was indifferent-polite even-when he asked about Caesar. Why would he do this? Was it some twisted feeling of control or punishment?  

None of this made sense. None of it was fair.  

"Miss Brown, you might want to take your leave," the manager said sharply, breaking through my spinning thoughts.  

His voice was cold, unbothered, as though throwing out someone's livelihood was normal for him.  

Anger bubbled inside me, a mix of humiliation and frustration. I wanted to scream at him, to ask for an explanation, to curse Hunter Reid for his heartlessness.  

But I couldn't.  

The words caught in my throat, and my feet moved before I could summon a response.  

I stood, legs stiff as I walked to the door. My grip on the handle tightened until my knuckles turned white. My chest felt like it was giving in, my breath rough as I bit down hard on my lower lip to keep the tears from spilling.  

Not here. Not in front of him.  

I twisted the knob and stepped into the quiet hallway.  

The air felt stuffy, and suffocating, and the fluorescent lights above buzzed faintly, casting a harsh glow over everything. Each step I took felt heavier than the last as I walked willy-nilly, the world around me blurring.  

I needed to get out. I needed to breathe.  

Somehow, I ended up in the restroom. The stark white tiles and buzzing lights made the space feel cold and sterile. I struggled to the sink, gripping the edge as I stared at my reflection.  

My face was turned red, my eyes glistening with unshed tears. My chest heaved, and my breathing came in shallow, ragged gasps.  

Not now. Not here.  

I froze as faint voices drifted in from the hallway, growing louder. Someone was about to come in.  

Panic flooded through me, and I hurried into a stall, locking the door behind me. I sank onto the closed toilet seat, burying my face in my hands.  

All the emotions I'd been holding back hit me like a tidal wave. My chest ached as I tried to keep the panic at bay. Hot tears streamed down my cheeks, unstoppable and relentless.  

What was I going to do?  

This job had been everything-my lifeline. The only thing keeping Caesar and me afloat.  

I looked down at the crumpled envelope in my hand. My "final paycheck." A bitter laugh escaped me, muffled by my trembling lips. It wasn't even enough to cover half of what I needed this month.  

This couldn't be happening. Not now. Not like this.  

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to breathe. Caesar would be waking up soon. He couldn't see me like this. He needed me to be strong, even if I felt like I was falling apart.  

A sharp voice pierced the quiet.  

"Did you see her? Acting like she owns him," someone said, their tone cutting.  

I froze, the tears forgotten as I strained to listen.  

"She's so annoying. I can't believe Hunter Reid has taken an interest in her," another voice chimed in, dripping with disbelief and spite.  

"It's obvious she forced herself on him," someone else scoffed. "You all know how Charlotte gets. With her many scandals, I still don't understand why Aurelia keeps using her face."  

"For her pretty face, of course," a fourth voice added, laced with venom. "Isn't that all she's known for?"  

Their laughter echoed off the tiled walls, sharp and cruel.  

Each chuckle felt like a dagger, slicing through the weak composure I'd been trying so hard to maintain.  

I bit my lip to keep my breathing quiet. My nails dug into my palms as anger and humiliation churned inside me.  

Why was I sitting here, hiding, listening to them?  

My mind drifted back to Hunter Reid-his cold unconcern in the hallway. He was probably out there enjoying his perfect life, surrounded by admirers. Meanwhile, I was here, in a restroom stall, drowning in the mess he'd created.  

The laughter faded as their voices grew distant, leaving me alone in suffocating silence.  

I exhaled shakily, leaning back against the cold metal door. Frustration and helplessness pressed down on me like a heavyweight.  

Eventually, I made my way to the laundry room, the sound of Caesar's laughter cutting through my haze. It was a lifeline, pulling me out of my suffering.  

Pausing outside the door, I wiped at my face, taking a deep, steadying breath.  

"Mummy!" Caesar's voice lit up the room as I walked in. His little face broke into a bright smile, and for a moment, the world didn't feel so heavy.  

Blake, who was sitting on the floor with him, looked up and frowned as she stood.  

"Hey, what took you so long? I was starting to get worried," she said, her tone gentle but concerned. "What happened?"  

I didn't answer. I couldn't. I brushed past her, heading to my locker. My hands shook as I unlocked it, grabbing my belongings and shoving them into my bag.  

Blake watched me, her concern growing.  

"Celine," she said softly, stepping closer. "Why are you packing your stuff? What happened?"  

I finally met her gaze, my tears spilling over despite my best efforts.  

"He fired me," I choked out.  

Her eyes widened in shock. "Oh... Celine, I'm so sorry."  

She pulled me into a hug, and I let myself cry on her shoulder.  

Through my tears, my gaze drifted to Caesar. He was watching us, his innocent face filled with curiosity. That look broke me all over again.  

It wasn't long before I pulled myself together. My bag was packed, and I was ready to leave.  

"So, what are you going to do now?" Blake asked, anger simmering in her voice. "I can't believe Hunter Reid could be so petty... that heartless bastard! And to think I was crushing on him-" She stopped, wincing.

 "Sorry."  

"It's okay," I said, forcing a weak smile. "I shouldn't have brought Caesar to work in the first place."  

"But still!" she shot back. "Do you know how hard it is to find a job these days? Especially with... well, your situation."  

Her words stung because I knew she was right. Finding another job wouldn't be easy.  

I sighed, slinging my bag over my shoulder. I knelt in front of Caesar, brushing my fingers through his soft hair.  

He smiled at me, and I couldn't help but return it, though mine was tinged with sadness.  

"Come on, little champ," I said softly. "Let's go."  

"Are we going home?" he asked, his speech slightly unclear but still understandable.  

"Yes, sweetheart," I whispered, pressing a kiss to his forehead. 

"We're going home."

~HUNTER~  

Three years away, and now I was back home. Back to the very place I had sworn never to return.  

It's strange how, despite everything that happened between my father and me, he never failed to remind me why I was able to enjoy the life I was living.  

"Everything I own is yours," he had once said.  

Well, now I planned to leave my mark everywhere until my father's name became nothing but a memory.  

A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. I didn't bother turning away from the floor-to-ceiling window in front of me, my gaze fixed on the New York skyline.  

The sun was setting, its orange hues flooding the room in a warm glow. It was beautiful, almost peaceful.  

"Come in," I said, my voice sharp but low.  

The door creaked open, and Mr. Tallace, the manager of this hotel branch, stepped in cautiously.  

"Yes?" I asked coldly, not moving from my spot.  

He stammered, clearly nervous. "I... I've carried out your instructions, sir. Miss Brown has been fired."  

At the mention of the name, I arched a brow. "Miss Brown?" I asked, finally turning to face him. I walked to my chair and sat down, my eyes never leaving the trembling man before me.  

"The young woman with a child," he explained, his voice faltering. "The one you asked me to get rid of."  

Ah, yes. Her. How could I forget? Those eyes of hers-tired, hopeless, and scared-were carved into my memory. But it wasn't her that stayed in my mind the most. It was the boy.  

His face was a mirror of my own as a child, and I hated it.  

Hated being reminded of the broken boy I used to be.  

I should have been furious at the hotel staff for hiring her in the first place-a young mother with a child in tow. "The Aurelia" and its staff were supposed to symbolize perfection.  

I had worked too hard to secure our spot among the top ten globally for them to hire just anyone.  

"Who authorized her employment?" I asked, my tone icy. "A mother and her child in my hotel? Imagine what the guests would say if they found out. Some might even call it abuse."  

Mr. Tallace visibly flinched under my gaze, his knees buckling as he fell to the floor. His head bowed low, his voice trembling.  

"I'm so sorry, sir. It was a mistake on my part. I didn't know she would bring her child to work," he stammered.  

"So, you're saying she outsmarted you?" I asked, scoffing in disbelief.  

The girl I'd seen earlier was weak, fragile, and terrified. Those were traits I hated, but watching her scramble in fear had given me a perverse sense of satisfaction.  

It wasn't enough.  

I wanted to see her break even more.  

I hadn't felt anything since I arrived back here-not anger, not pain, not even joy. Just a hollow, numbing void. 

Dr. Logan, my therapist, had once told me it was due to my unresolved childhood traumas. He had advised me to open up to people, try dating, find hobbies, or at least stop burying myself in work.  

But I wasn't the type to listen.  

"That weak thing outsmarted you?" I repeated, the corner of my mouth twitching into a cold smirk. "It seems I need to start cleaning the house. Incompetent workers have no place here. You're fired."  

"What?" Mr. Tallace gasped, his voice filled with disbelief. "But... but, sir, I did nothing wrong!"  

"Nothing wrong?" I echoed, standing as I moved back to the window. "You allowed a liability into my hotel. That, in itself, is wrong. See yourself out, Mr. Tallace, or I'll call security to drag you out."  

Silence hung in the air for a moment before the sound of scrambling footsteps filled the room. Mr. Tallace had no choice but to leave, the soft click of the door signaling his exit.  

Once again, I was alone.  

The sun had almost disappeared now, the room growing darker as the skyline sparkled with city lights.  

I clenched my fists, staring into the glass until my reflection blurred.  

I hated that boy. The one who had stared back at me through the child's innocent eyes.  

I hated them both.  

And I wouldn't stop until everything in this place-everything my father once held dear-was mine to destroy.

~CELINE~

A week had passed since I was fired from "Aurelia." Seven days of dragging Caesar from one hotel to another, filling out applications, and hoping for even the smallest chance of employment.  

The answer was always the same: "We'll get back to you."

Some of them did. Only to tell me I didn't get the job.  

I sat in a small café near Caroline's workplace, fingers wrapped tightly around a lukewarm cup of coffee. It wasn't much, but it was all I could afford. The last thing I needed was for Caesar to notice how close we were to being out of money.  

At least Caroline was thriving. Her family's wealth and connections had paved the way for her to live her dream life. She'd called me earlier to meet her for lunch. Not like I had anything else to do.  

"What can I get for you and this little prince charming?"  

A cheerful voice broke through my thoughts. I looked up to see a brunette waitress smiling warmly at me, her notepad suspended in her hand.  

"Oh, hello," I said softly, managing a faint smile in return. I picked up the menu, but the words blurred together. Nothing on it seemed affordable.  

"Your son is adorable," the waitress said, her voice tinged with genuine admiration.  

I lowered the menu slightly, glancing at Caesar. He was happily engrossed in his toy truck, humming a little tune to himself. For a moment, my heart eased.  

"Thank you," I said, my voice quieter now.  

"He has such striking features," the waitress added, glancing toward something behind me. "He reminds me of him. Is he the father?"  

Her words froze me mid-breath. Slowly, I lowered the menu completely and turned to follow her gaze.  

It landed on a billboard across the street.  

Hunter Reid.  

His face dominated above the city, larger than life, as though he owned every corner of it. My chest tightened, anger bubbling beneath the surface. That smug, arrogant face haunted me even when I wasn't looking for it.  

He was the reason I'd been fired. The reason I was here now, sitting in this café with no job and decreasing hope.  

I scoffed internally. Caesar didn't look like him, not even close. And even if he did, the thought of Hunter being his father made my stomach churn.  

"I don't know him," I said bluntly, my voice sharper than intended.  

The waitress blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Oh... I just thought, with the resemblance-"  

"He is not the father," I cut her off, my tone rising before I could stop myself. My voice carried across the café, drawing curious stares from nearby tables.  

"A man like him could never be a father," I added, bitterness dripping from every word.  

The waitress shifted uncomfortably, her earlier smile faltering. "I'm sorry," she murmured, taking a small step back as though sensing she'd overstepped.  

I clenched my jaw, heat rising to my face as I realized how loud I'd been. My fingers trembled as they gripped the edge of the table. This was his fault.  

Even when he wasn't here, Hunter Reid still had the power to ruin my day.  

I looked at Caesar, who was playing with his truck. He seemed happy and didn't notice the tension around us. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to calm down.  

"It's fine," I said quietly, though my voice was tired.  

The waitress nodded quickly and hurried away, leaving me alone with my thoughts.  

I stared down at my coffee, the lukewarm liquid mirroring the pit in my stomach. No matter how much I tried to move forward, his shadow loomed over every step I took.  

Hunter Reid.  

The man who had destroyed my life with a single, careless decision-and walked away smiling.

~CELINE~  

I glanced at my wristwatch. 1:30 PM. Why was Caroline taking so long?  

With a sigh, I reached for my phone and dialed her number. Surely, she hadn't forgotten about our lunch plans.  

Across from me, Caesar started to squirm, tapping his toy truck against the table. His boredom was my cue to hurry, but Caroline still wasn't picking up.  

The soft ding of the café door opening caught my attention. I looked up and spotted Caroline standing by the entrance, scanning the room until her eyes found me.  

"Caroline!" I waved, relief flooding me.  

She waved back with a bright smile and threaded her way through the crowded tables. As always, she looked effortlessly elegant-her silk blouse and pencil skirt were perfectly tailored, her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders.  

I straightened in my seat, suddenly aware of the wild curls framing my face and the shadows under my eyes.  

"I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long," Caroline said as she slid into the seat across from me. Her voice carried a note of genuine apology. 

"Work's been insane."  

Her gaze softened as it fell on Caesar. "Hi, sweetheart," she cooed, her smile widening. "My godson gets cuter every time I see him."  

Caesar glanced up, offering her a shy smile before returning to his truck.  

Caroline leaned in slightly, studying him with an expression I couldn't quite read. "Those blue eyes..." she murmured under her breath.  

"What was that?" I asked, my tone sharper than I intended.  

She blinked, her polished composure slipping for a moment. "Nothing," she said quickly, brushing it off with a smile. But something stayed in her expression-something she wasn't saying.  

I let it slide, though her words stuck in my mind.  

"How have you been, Celine?" she asked, her tone kind but cautious.  

"Well," I said, running my finger along the edge of the menu, "I'm unemployed, and my rent's due soon."  

Caroline's expression softened with sympathy. "Have you considered asking your mom or sister for help?"  

I stiffened. "You know I can't do that."  

She sighed, her frustration barely masked. "I get it, but think about Caesar. You can't do this alone forever."  

"I am thinking about Caesar," I snapped. "That's why I'm not dragging him into their mess."  

Caroline leaned back, raising her hands in surrender. "Fair enough. But it's tough out there, Celine. If you need help..."  

"I know," I said quietly. "And I do need help."  

I hesitated before continuing. "If I don't figure something out soon, Caesar and I might not have a roof over our heads."  

Her face softened again, and she reached across the table to squeeze my hand. "I'll see what I can do, okay? Just trust me."  

Relief washed over me, and I managed a small smile. "Thank you, Caroline."  

Two days later, she texted me about a job opening at her cousin's mansion. The position was as a maid, and the pay was shockingly generous.  

For the first time in weeks, hope sparked in my chest. This job could be our fresh start.  

************************

Saturday morning arrived faster than expected. I bolted out of bed to the grating sound of my alarm.  

"Up, Caesar," I called, pulling him from under the covers.  

With no hot water, I resorted to heating water on the stove for our morning wash. By the time we were both dressed-me in a simple black dress, Caesar in jeans and a T-shirt-I was already exhausted.  

We left the apartment, dodging a sharp glance from Mrs. Martha.  

"Morning, Celine. Rent's due next week. Don't make me come knocking," she warned, her voice like gravel.  

I bit back a sigh, forcing a polite smile. "Got it, Mrs. Martha."  

We took a bus, then a cab, weaving through streets that grew more pristine and opulent with every turn.  

"Wow," I murmured, staring out the window at the towering mansions.  

"It's something, huh?" the cab driver said with a chuckle. "Welcome to where the rich and powerful live."  

The cab pulled up to a sleek, glass-fronted mansion, and I stepped out, clutching Caesar's hand.  

The iron gate loomed ahead, its sheer size making me feel small.  

"We're here," I whispered, giving Caesar a shaky smile.  

I pressed the buzzer, startled when a crisp voice crackled through the intercom. "Name?"  

"Celine Brown," I stammered.  

"Do you have an appointment?"  

"Yes. Caroline Crawford referred me for the maid position."  

There was a pause, then a soft click as the gate unlocked.  

I tightened my grip on Caesar's hand and stepped inside. The path was lined with perfectly trimmed hedges, leading to the massive front door.  

A woman in a blue dress greeted us, her expression harsh. She looked me over, then glanced at Caesar with a faint frown.  

"This way," she said curtly, turning on her heel.  

We followed her through a house that looked like it belonged in a magazine. Caesar's small giggles broke the silence, and I squeezed his hand, urging him to stay quiet.  

At last, we stopped in front of a door.  

"He's waiting," the woman said, giving me a pointed look before walking away.  

I took a deep breath, my heart pounding.  

"Well," I whispered to myself, "here goes everything."  

Opening the door, I stepped inside with Caesar. The study was lined with bookshelves, sunlight streaming through the windows.  

A man stood with his back to us, leaning against a shelf.  

"Hello?" I called softly.  

He turned, and my breath caught in my throat.  

Hunter Reid.  

His piercing gaze locked onto mine, and the room seemed to shrink around us.