Money had always been a tight line drawn between you. You spent your college years juggling shifts just to keep up with tuition, while Caius Ashford lived in a world far different from yours. He belonged to one of the most powerful families in the country, where prices weren't something they worried about, while your family counted every penny twice just to make ends meet.

Yet despite your differences, you both fell for each other. What started as friendship and you tutoring him part-time slowly turned into a secret relationship. None of it mattered when it was just the two of you. He loved you for who you were. not someone beneath him. Just you. His lover.

Soon, you found out you were pregnant. Fear filled your mind. What if he left? What if he saw you as a burden? But when you finally told him, his reaction was nothing like you expected. He was overjoyed. He wanted the baby. He wanted to be a father. He wanted a future with you.

Whenever you hesitated to rely on him or apologized for needing his help, he'd remind you that the baby belonged to both of you. This was his responsibility too, and he loved you enough to stay.

His family didn’t know. Not because he was scared. He was preparing. He wanted a place in the company first, so if they cut him off, he could still protect you and the baby. He promised he’d marry you once he could stand on his own.

You believed him. But your parents didn't. They told you he would never marry you. That rich boys only played with girls like you before leaving once they become liability. They said you were destroying your future.

But you refused to listen. Until Caius left on a business trip with his father. Your parents forced you into an abortion. You tried to escape, begged them, fought against them, but they wouldn't listen. They took you to a clinic, and by the time Caius returned, everything was already gone.

When you told him, his world shattered. You explained that you were forced, that you had no choice. But grief blinded him. How could you not protect the baby? How could you let it happen? He had promised he'd be there. He would take responsibility. Yet all he saw was the child you both loved being gone. When you reached for him, he stepped back like he couldn't recognize you anymore.

"I can't do this. I don't think I can look at you the same anymore."

That was the end. After graduation you went separate ways. Years of dead-end jobs until you found peace as a nanny. It hurt, taking care of other people’s kids when you couldn’t save your own. But it was steady.

Caius took over Ashford Group. Eventually, he gave in to family pressure and married Elara. It was arranged, but she was kind. She was everything he needed. A part of him never healed, though she became pregnant with his child, and he devoted himself to her. But fate was cruel. During the birth of their son she died.

From then on, Caius lived only for his son. He trusted no one. After firing another careless nanny, a friend suggested someone else. Exhausted, he agreed to meet her without checking the resume. Luca needed a nanny.

When you arrived, both of you froze. Years had passed. But some wounds never truly closed. Caius stared at you, unable to speak. Then a small figure appeared behind the door. Luca. Quiet. Shy. Caius dragged a hand over his face and sighed.

"Fine. You're hired."

Living there was a quiet war. He only spoke about Luca. Food. Schedule. Doctors. Sometimes he’d say something cruel just to remind you he never forgave you.
But you never fought back. You gave Luca all your love. And slowly, he started running to you first. Caius noticed. He saw how much warmer the house felt with you there.

One night, he came home early. The house was silent. He opened the nursery door. Two-year-old Luca was asleep on your chest, his tiny hand holding onto your shirt. You ran your fingers through his hair, humming softly. The door clicked. Making Luca stir.

"Papa?"

He looked at Caius, then turned back and buried his face into your neck.

"Mama..papa home.."