New Boss Is My One-Night Stand's Baby Daddy novel Chapter 14

14 Chapter 14–Family Secrets and Past Wounds

14 Chapter 14 – Family Secrets and Past Wounds

Chapter 14 – Family Secrets and Past Wounds

Hazel’s POV

I opened up to Evelyn about Leo’s father, sharing the whirlwind encounter that turned my world upside down and left me swearing off romance forever. Evelyn listened with understanding eyes, but her expression suddenly darkened as if a painful memory surfaced.

“You remind me so much of Liam,” she said quietly. “He built the same walls around his heart. There was this woman he met at a charity gala, and they spent the most incredible evening together. But then his world shattered when he got the call about his parents. By the time he could think straight enough to find her again, she had disappeared completely. He searched everywhere, hired investigators, but she was gone like smoke. That loss on top of losing his parents nearly destroyed him.”

parents?”

My chest tightened with curiosity. “Evelyn, what happened to his

“Helicopter crash,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “They were flying back from a business. dinner when the weather turned nasty. Liam’s father got an emergency call about a hostile. takeover attempt and had to rush back to the city. Liam was supposed to go with them, but he stayed at the party with that woman. His parents left word with Damian’s family before they took off, but by the time Liam got the message…” She wiped her eyes. “He was never the same. Now he goes through women like they’re disposable, never letting anyone get close enough to

matter.”

The weight of his pain settled in my stomach. “No wonder he carries himself like the world is on his shoulders.”

“It is,” Evelyn nodded. “He was barely twenty–eight, not ready to run a empire, but he refused to let Clairemont take over. Clairemont had been the CFO and felt entitled to the position since he’d worked closely with Liam’s father for years. When Liam stepped up as CEO, Clairemont was furious. He called Liam a spoiled brat who would bankrupt the company within a year. Their confrontation was brutal.”

Chloe leaned forward, completely absorbed. “What did Liam do?”

“He brought in Damian as his right hand instead of promoting Clairemont. Damian had been his best friend since childhood, their families were intertwined for generations. It was brilliant actually. Together, they transformed the company into something even bigger than his father had imagined. But Clairemont never forgave the slight. He stays because Liam kept all his father’s employees out of loyalty, but there’s bad blood there.”

“How long ago was this?” Chloe asked, her eyes glistening.

14 Chapter 14–Family Secrets and Past Wounds

“Three years. Liam and Damian are thirty–one now, but they were just kids whenherited

they that responsibility.”

“And you’ve been with the family how long?”

Evelyn’s face softened. “Thirty years. I changed Liam’s diapers, for crying out loud. I started as his father’s secretary when I was twenty, fresh out of college and newly married. When I got pregnant with my twins two years later, I thought I’d have to quit. But then my husband ran off with his secretary, leaving me with two babies and no support. The Millers became my family. I was supposed to transfer to Boston years ago to run the European division, but I couldn’t abandon Liam after losing his parents. Now

that he’s stable, it’s time.”

Guilt washed over me. “I’m sorry, Evelyn. I should have asked about your life sooner.”

“Don’t be silly,” she smiled, pulling out her phone. “My daughters are thriving in Boston. Both Amarried Oxford graduates, and I have three gorgeous grandchildren waiting for me.” She showed

us photo after photo, her pride radiating. “That’s why I’m finally making the move. But leaving Liam feels like abandoning my own son.”

“He’s lucky to have you,” I said, thinking of my own parents and feeling homesick.

“Now enough about my sob story,” Evelyn said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Damian told me your first encounter with Liam was explosive. I want details.”

Chloe perked up immediately. I recounted the whole mortifying scene, with Evelyn filling in details she’d witnessed. Soon we were all laughing until our sides hurt. Chloe had us in tears describing how her boss once mixed up gift packages, sending adult toys to his mother while his hookup received a rosary and Bible. The best part was both women showing up at his office simultaneously to confront him, and his mother refusing to return the toys.

After Evelyn left, Chloe cornered me while we cleaned

1. up.

“Spill it, Hazel. I want the real story Evelyn doesn’t know about.”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t play innocent. You texted me that your boss grabbed you. There’s more to this story than what you just shared.”

I couldn’t dodge Chloe’s interrogation. I told her about the electricity that shot through me when Liam touched me, how his proximity made my skin burn and my mind go blank. Chloe studied my face with growing amusement.

“Chl, do you think your uncle would really hire me back if this job goes south?”

“Girl, Uncle Frank said the door’s always open for you. Plus Dad’s agency is expanding. You won’t starve. But why? You think your boss is going to fire you?”

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