PART 1 — THE LITTLE GIRL WHO HATED EVERY WOMAN

Everyone in the city knew Alexander Hayes.

At thirty-two, he was the youngest billionaire CEO in the country, owner of one of the largest technology empires in America.

He had everything money could buy.

Except a happy family.

Five years earlier, Alexander had lost his wife in a tragic car accident.

Since then, his entire world had revolved around one person:

His six-year-old daughter, Lily.

Lily was sweet, intelligent, and painfully quiet for a child her age.

She rarely smiled around strangers.

And she absolutely hated the women her father brought home.

Not because she was spoiled.

Because she was afraid.

Every woman who had entered their house eventually left.

Some wanted Alexander’s money.

Some wanted his name.

Some simply couldn’t handle the complicated life of being the daughter of a billionaire.

So Lily had made herself a promise.

She would never love another woman her father brought home.

Until Emma arrived.

Emma Carter was twenty-seven, a kindergarten teacher, and completely unimpressed by Alexander’s wealth.

Their first meeting happened because Lily disappeared from school.

Alexander arrived at the kindergarten furious.

“Where is my daughter?”

The teachers froze.

Then Emma walked out carrying Lily in her arms.

“She’s here.”

Alexander’s expression hardened.

“What happened?”

Emma looked at him calmly.

“Your daughter was hiding behind the storage room because she thought you weren’t coming.”

Alexander froze.

Lily immediately buried her face against Emma’s shoulder.

“Daddy…”

Her tiny voice trembled.

“I thought you forgot me.”

Alexander’s anger disappeared.

He walked toward her.

“I would never forget you.”

But Lily wouldn’t let go of Emma.

That was the first time Alexander noticed something strange.

His daughter trusted this woman.

And he didn’t know why.

A week later, Alexander invited Emma to dinner.

Not as his girlfriend.

Not yet.

He simply wanted to thank her.

The dinner lasted twenty minutes.

Then Lily climbed onto Emma’s lap.

“Daddy.”

Alexander looked up.

“Yes?”

“Can Emma stay?”

Alexander nearly choked on his water.

Emma smiled awkwardly.

“Lily…”

“But I like her.”

Alexander looked at his daughter.

Then at Emma.

For the first time in five years, he saw something he hadn’t seen in his house.

Warmth.

Three months later, Alexander and Emma officially began dating.

The tabloids went crazy.

BILLIONAIRE HEIR FINALLY FINDS LOVE AGAIN!

But Lily wasn’t interested in the headlines.

She only cared about one thing.

“Does this mean Emma is staying?”

Alexander knelt beside her.

“If she wants to.”

Lily looked at Emma.

“Do you?”

Emma’s eyes softened.

She crouched down until they were the same height.

“I do.”

Lily suddenly hugged her.

Hard.

And for the first time since her mother’s death…

Alexander heard his daughter laugh.

He thought his family was finally complete.

He was wrong.

Because three days later, a mysterious woman appeared outside their mansion.

She was holding an old photograph.

And she looked exactly like Lily’s mother.

“Alexander Hayes?”

“Yes?”

The woman’s voice trembled.

“I think you deserve to know something about your wife’s death.”

Alexander’s face turned pale.

“What?”

She handed him the photograph.

On the back were five handwritten words:

YOUR WIFE NEVER DIED BY ACCIDENT.

And suddenly, the peaceful life Alexander had built with Lily and Emma began to collapse.