The Billionaire's Heir I Never Knew Was Mine

Ava froze in her place.

’Wait...Wait...’ Her head slowly turned toward Riley. ’Did Riley just call Zoey Sterling... Aunty?’

Still confused, trying to absorb what she had just heard, Riley spoke again—

”Aunty Zoey, please tell me... who helps her?” Riley repeated impatiently.

Instead of answering her, Zoey casually patted Riley’s shoulder and said, ”Alright, young man, you may go now.”

Then Zoey turned around and calmly walked back toward her desk.

”I’m busy,” she adds without looking at him, ”Don’t disturb me.”

Riley frowned, clearly wanting to continue questioning her. But before he could speak, Ava suddenly grabbed his wrist.

”Let’s get out of here, Riley...” She dragged him out of the office.

The moment they reached the elevator area, Ava turned sharply toward Riley.

”Riley.”

”Yes?” He asked, cautiously.

”Did you forget to explain something to me?”

”Explain what?”

Ava stared directly into his eyes, trying to give him time to prepare.

After a few more seconds, she finally asked, ”Why did you call Zoey Sterling ’aunty’?”

Instantly, the air around them grew awkwardly silent.

For the first time since meeting him, Riley looked genuinely speechless.

”Oh, good,” she said with a dry chuckle. ”It seems my funny best friend Riley has finally run out of jokes.”

Riley cleared his throat awkwardly.

”Well—” He smiled suspiciously.

”Well?” Ava repeated.

Then, without warning, Riley pulled out his phone.

”Ava, let’s call Sienna. We need to make sure she is alright.”

Ava stared at him, speechless.

”Riley, are you trying to change the subject?”

”No,” He replied quickly while pretending to focus intensely on his phone screen. ”I’m trying to save our best friend.”

She tried to say something, but the elevator doors opened just enough to distract her.

Taking another deep breath, Ava narrowed her eyes at Riley, who was trying to reach Sienna.

’Sienna, please, please answer your phone...’ she prays.

...

At Orchid Garden Apartment.

The car slowly came to a stop in front of the main entrance.

The moment the car came to a complete stop, Sienna immediately reached for the door handle, ready to get out before she stole any more of Zachary’s time. He had already done too much for her today.

Unfortunately, he stopped her before she could escape.

”Are you sure you don’t want me to walk you upstairs?”

His calm voice carried clear concern, and when Sienna turned to look at him, she found his eyes fixed entirely on her.

She quickly shook her head.

Besides... this man was not just Zach, but he is Zachary Sterling. A man whose schedule is probably eyeballed by every assistant, manager, and investor in the country daily.

”Hmm. I’m really fine...” she said with a small smile, trying her best to reassure him.

But judging from his expression, he clearly did not believe her. He remained silent for a moment, simply watching her.

”Trust me... I’m fine,” Sienna tries to convince him again, and this time her voice sounds more cheerful.

One hand pushed open the car door while the other tightened around her bag.

”Alright, I need to go now. Thank you again, Zach.”

”Call me when you arrive at your house.”

”I will...”

She stepped out of the car, but something strange continued stirring inside her chest. This was the first time a man had shown her this kind of attention. And somehow, that frightened and comforted her at the same time.

Since morning, he had practically devoted his entire day to helping her.

More than once, she wanted to ask him why.

Why was he so kind to her?

Why did he care this much?

But every question remained trapped inside her mind.

She stepped toward the automatic door.

”Sienna, wait... I’ll walk you upstairs.” His voice sounded so close to her.

Sienna turned immediately, only to find him already walking past her toward the elevator area, as if the decision had been made without her approval.

’Gosh, Mr. Sterling...’

She shook her head helplessly and hurried after him.

No one spoke while they waited in front of the elevator.

Several seconds later, Sienna finally glanced sideways at him.

”Zach, shouldn’t you be very busy right now?”

A faint smile appeared on his face, but his gaze remained fixed on the elevator doors ahead. ”Yes. But I’m taking a day off.”

She turned toward him fully.

”You can do that?” She asked.

”Of course,” he replied calmly. ”I can do whatever I want, as long as it is reasonable. I’m the boss.”

Sienna stared at him for a second. Then she slowly shook her head, clearly not believing his answer.

She always imagined CEOs lived inside offices, drank expensive coffee, stared at stock charts, and survived entirely on work stress and terrifying meetings. Taking a day off sounded irresponsible for someone like him. Especially since she was likely the reason.

Before she could say anything, a ’ding’ echoed, and the elevator doors opened.

Zachary stepped aside slightly, allowing her to enter first.

She walked inside, and he followed after her, standing beside her in the quiet elevator. The ride upward suddenly felt short.

When they finally arrived on the tenth floor, Sienna quickly led the way toward her apartment.

The moment she opened the door, she rushed inside. Her eyes immediately scanned the living room. Relief washed over her as she looked at her clean house.

At least her apartment had decided to cooperate with her dignity today.

”Zach, you can sit on the sofa.”

Zachary walked inside calmly, taking in the apartment with a quiet glance before sitting down exactly where she pointed.

Sienna was about to excuse herself for a moment to bring him water, but unfortunately, he stopped her.

”Sienna.”

She stopped and turned back.

”Please take a seat for a moment. There’s something I want to talk to you about.”

The seriousness in his tone immediately caught her attention. Her brows knitted slightly in confusion. ’Something he wanted to talk about? Why did that suddenly sound terrifying?’ she thought.

Still, she walked back toward the sofa and sat beside him. ”Yes!?”

Zachary looked at her in silence for a moment, his gaze unreadable.

Then, without warning, he asked—

”Are you dating someone?”