The kid he had never met, the daughter who thought another guy was her dad. The little girl who had lived for years without knowing William was in the picture.
He pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The mansion was quiet, cozy, and felt secure.
Everything William had never had with Michael.
He walked down the marble hallway, his footsteps echoing softly as he followed the voices toward the living room.
One was a woman's voice, Ayla's. He recognized it from their brief meeting at the tower.
The other was a kid's voice, light, happy, and carefree.
William stopped at the doorway.
And there she was.
Ella.
Sitting cross-legged on the big white sofa, a book on her lap. She was chatting away excitedly with Ayla, who sat next to her with a warm smile.
William couldn't move.
Couldn't breathe.
She was gorgeous.
