Chapter 1 The Girl Looked Exactly Like Paige

Eleven years later.

San Francisco, California.

"Ava Johnson, do you want to be late for school again?" Vanessa called out to her ten-year-old daughter. "It takes you hours to put on your uniform. Hurry up. I have an important meeting this morning."

Ava trudged out of her bedroom, huffing. She was still in her pajamas.

"I don't want to go to school," she grumbled. "I want to meet my dad. My best friend, Hope Knight, has a real family. Her dad always picks her up, and at school events, they're always together."

She bit her lip, her eyes defiant. Vanessa felt a familiar, sharp pang in her chest. It broke her heart every time Ava asked about her father.

How could she tell her that the man didn't want her to be born? How could she tell her that she was naive enough to fall for a jerk? Her chest burned with the unspoken truth.

"We've talked about this, Ava. Your dad has a lot of work. He lives in Europe, and he can't just visit," she lied, the words tasting like ash.

Ava glared up at her, her green eyes flashing.

"Liar!" the girl shouted. "Tell me the truth! My classmates say he doesn't exist, or that he just doesn't love me." A sob tore from her throat.

Tears pricked Vanessa's eyes. She stepped forward, reaching out to hug her, but Ava yanked away, sprinting back into her bedroom and slamming the door. The lock clicked.

These arguments had become a grueling routine. Vanessa had even taken Ava to a child psychologist, but nothing seemed to help. Defeated, Vanessa sank into a plush armchair.

When she finally decided to leave Raúl, she had requested a transfer for her scholarship and moved to San Francisco, desperate to put as much distance as possible between herself and the man who had fed her nothing but lies. Discovering that Raúl had a wife and a two-year-old son had been the brutal wake-up call she needed to realize he wasn't worth it.

She could have returned home to her mother in Fresno, but she had chosen to face the consequences of her mistake head-on. The path hadn't been easy, but thanks to her sharp mind and relentless drive, she had clawed her way up. She had started as a retail worker in a clothing store while taking online university courses. She refused to give up, proving that being a single mother wouldn't stop her from achieving her goals. Now, she was the Vice President of Sales at B&G Motors, a major automotive dealership.

After taking a few minutes to compose herself, Vanessa walked back to her daughter's door.

"If you don't go to school, you won't get to see Hope today. You'll miss out on playing with her," she coaxed softly, opening the door.

Ava blinked up at her. Hope was her absolute best friend; they shared everything, and they hated being apart even for a day. They shared a bond that neither wanted to break.

"Okay, I'll go," Ava mumbled. She knew she was Hope's only real friend, since the girl struggled to connect with anyone else.

***

Hours later, at school.

"Hope Knight to the principal's office," a teacher announced, interrupting the class.

Ava's eyes widened. A jolt of unease ran through her. Hope was a model student—Ava often joked that she was the teachers' favorite because she never misbehaved and always turned in her assignments on time.

Why would the principal call her? Ava wondered nervously.

Hope turned her frightened green eyes toward Ava.

"But I haven't done anything wrong," she whispered.

Ava frowned and reached out, squeezing her friend's hand in support. She half-stood, ready to accompany her, but a stern look from the teacher forced her back into her seat.

"Why would the principal call you?" Ava asked, chewing her lip. "I'm getting nervous just thinking about it. You'd better go see what they want."

Hope's stomach was tied in knots. She walked slowly toward the classroom door, glancing back at Ava over her shoulder until she stepped out into the hall. She made her way down the gleaming corridors to the principal's office. When she walked in, she froze in surprise. Her great-grandmother, Rose Knight, was waiting for her.

"Sweetheart," the older woman said softly.

"What are you doing here?" Hope asked. She noticed her great-grandmother's eyes were red and glassy. A cold knot of dread formed in Hope's chest.

Rose almost never cried. She was a woman who gave orders and scolded anyone who dared to cross her. Seeing her look so devastated felt wrong. Hope watched her closely, realizing the older woman was struggling to hold back tears.

"Why are you crying?" Hope asked, her small voice trembling.

"My darling, a terrible tragedy has occurred," Rose said, her voice cracking. "Your parents..."

She let out a choked whimper. "They have been in a terrible accident."

Tears instantly welled in Hope's eyes.

"I want to see my parents!" she cried out desperately.

Rose stepped forward and pulled the girl into a tight hug.

"That won't be possible. Your parents... they're gone, sweetheart. They've died."

A sob ripped from Hope's throat. Pulling away, she bolted out of the principal's office, her heart hammering against her ribs. She didn't know where she was going, only that she had to run. Down the hall, classroom doors were opening for recess, and students were spilling out.

"Hope!" Ava shouted, spotting her friend sprinting blindly down the corridor. She immediately chased after her. "Wait!"

Hope skidded to a halt, blinded by her tears. She looked at Ava just as the principal and her great-grandmother called her name from down the hall. The sheer weight of the shock was too much. Hope's eyes rolled back, and she collapsed right at Ava's feet.

"Hope!" Ava screamed, dropping to her knees and bursting into tears. "Wake up!"

A teacher rushed over, scooping the unconscious girl up and carrying her to the nurse's office. Ava clung to them, refusing to leave her friend's side. Seeing the sheer panic in Ava's face, the staff didn't have the heart to send her away.

When Hope finally fluttered her eyes open, Ava leaned over.

"I don't know what I'm going to do," Hope choked out, tears spilling down her pale cheeks. "I don't have my parents anymore. They're gone forever." She sobbed, telling Ava everything her great-grandmother had said.

Tears streamed down Ava's face. She wrapped her arms around Hope, holding her tight, and the two girls stayed like that for a long time.

Hope refused to leave the room to face her great-grandmother. Right now, the only person she trusted in the world was Ava, the one friend willing to sit with her through the worst pain of her life.

***

Madrid, Spain.

Knight Paradise Center.

Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window of his imposing office, Ryan shoved his hands into the pockets of his tailored navy-blue suit. His sharp gaze swept over the sprawling construction site below, watching his latest architectural masterpiece take shape.

At thirty-two, he had built a reputation as a world-renowned architect—and he had done it entirely without his family's help. He had forged his own empire, designing and constructing luxury shopping centers across the United States. Now, he was expanding into Europe.

"Sir, everything is ready for your flight to Berlin," his assistant announced, stepping into the office.

"Thank you," Ryan replied, his tone clipped, his expression as unreadable as ever. "Is the boardroom ready?"

"Yes, sir. Everything is organized for the meeting. The Spanish investors will be arriving shortly."

"Very well."

Ryan walked over to his desk. A stack of business magazines sat neatly on the corner, but one cover in particular caught his eye. It featured a photograph of his family's company alongside its main competitor: B&G Motors.

He didn't hate his family, nor did he love them. His feelings toward the Knights were complicated, which was exactly why he preferred to keep his distance.

Eleven years ago, his then-girlfriend, Paige, had dumped him. A month later, she had married his older brother, Roger, and announced she was pregnant. The humiliation had been suffocating. On the day of the wedding, Ryan hadn't even stayed for the reception; he had walked out without a word to anyone and never looked back.

As the family's illegitimate son, it hadn't exactly shocked him that Paige had chosen his brother, the legitimate heir. Heartbroken and bitter, he had sworn off the family business entirely. No matter how much his grandmother pleaded, he never attended another family event.

Over the years, he had severed almost all ties with his relatives. He spoke to Roger occasionally, mostly when his brother bragged about profit margins, though Ryan knew that over the past year, sales at Elliot Knight Cars had taken a steep dive.

Settling into his black leather chair, Ryan flipped open the magazine and skimmed the article. His eyes lingered on a photograph of an attractive woman representing the very company that had been crushing his family's legacy.

Vanessa Johnson, current Vice President of Sales at B&G Motors, had spearheaded a new sales strategy, overseeing the acquisition of new commercial truck fleets set to hit the market soon.

Ryan studied the woman in the photo. She was young and slender, with long, light-brown hair and delicate features. Her light green eyes held a gaze that was striking— sharp, yet somehow tender. He stared at her beautiful face, a faint frown touching his brow.

The name sounded familiar, though he couldn't quite place it.

"So, you're the one making Knight Industries sweat," he murmured, a smirk playing on his lips. "My family must absolutely loathe you."

His private phone suddenly rang, shattering the quiet of the office. Frowning, he picked it up.

As he listened to the voice on the other end, the color drained from his face. He reached up, yanking at the knot of his tie as if he suddenly couldn't breathe.

"I understand, Grandmother. I'll be there today," he said hoarsely, sinking back into his chair.

"Are you alright, sir?" his assistant asked, stepping back into the room to fetch him for the meeting.

"I need to be alone," he ordered, his voice tight. "Cancel the flight to Germany. Have the jet prepped immediately. I'm going back to San Francisco."

His assistant nodded quickly and slipped out of the room.

"It can't be," Ryan muttered to the empty room, dragging both hands down his face.

Hours later, Ryan stepped through the heavy doors of the Knight mansion, dressed in a stark black suit. His expression was stone-cold as he stared at the two polished caskets resting in the center of the grand living room. Inside his pockets, his hands curled into tight fists.

He pulled off his sunglasses and walked toward his grandmother, who was holding a little girl in her arms. It wasn't hard to guess that the child was his brother and sister-in-law's daughter.

"Good evening," he said quietly.

"My boy," Rose breathed. Her eyes were red and swollen, with dark bags beneath them. She looked frail, having aged a decade since he had last seen her. "Your brother is gone."

"I'm sure you would have preferred it to be me in that box," Ryan thought bitterly, his jaw tightening.

"I'm sorry," he managed, clearing his throat.

"This is Hope. Your niece." Rose gestured to the little girl with blonde hair and green eyes.

Hope clearly didn't want to look at anyone. She buried her face in her great-grandmother's chest, but Rose—using that same iron-clad tone that used to make grown men shudder—insisted she greet her uncle.

The little girl pulled back, her eyes red and puffy from crying. She stood up straight, obeying Rose's silent command, and lifted her chin to stare at the tall stranger who was supposedly her family.

Ryan stared back at her, his expression unreadable as a ghost from his past stared back at him.

The girl looked exactly like Paige.