Billionaire Pretends to Be Homeless, But the Poor Girl Knows His Biggest Secret
Chapter 13
They spent weeks investigating the photograph.
The boy was eventually identified as Lucas Reed.
Richard’s second child.
Alexander’s half-brother.
He had been hidden overseas under another name.
And he had spent twenty years investigating Samuel’s network.
When they finally met, Lucas told them the truth.
Richard had planned for both sons to play different roles.
Alexander would inherit the public company.
Lucas would investigate the hidden network.
Lily’s family would protect the evidence.
It was supposed to be a three-part plan.
But Samuel discovered it.
Lucas disappeared.
Daniel fled.
Margaret went into hiding.
Evelyn pretended to die.
And Alexander grew up believing he was alone.
Lily looked at the brothers.
“You both spent your lives protecting the same secret.”
Lucas smiled.
“And neither knew the other was alive.”
Alexander laughed.
“Sounds like our family.”
They rebuilt the legitimate portion of Reed Holdings together.
Not as a dynasty.
As partners.
The Carter Foundation became independent.
Lily ran it.
Daniel advised her.
Margaret remained nearby.
For the first time, Lily had a family.
For the first time, Alexander did too.
One evening, Alexander took Lily back to the train station.
The same place where they had met.
He wore the same gray jacket from that first morning.
Lily laughed.
“You kept it?”
“Of course.”
“You look ridiculous.”
“I thought you liked it.”
“I liked the man underneath it.”
He smiled.
“That man was terrified.”
“Of me?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“Of being seen.”
She looked at him.
“And now?”
“Now I don’t care.”
He reached into his pocket.
A ring.
The same one.
This time, he dropped to one knee.
Lily covered her mouth.
“I told you to ask later.”
“It has been six months.”
“That counts as later?”
“Yes.”
She laughed.
He looked up at her.
“Lily Carter, I have spent most of my life surrounded by people who wanted something from me.”
He paused.
“You were the first person who gave me something when you had almost nothing.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“You gave me food.”
“You gave me a reason to stop hiding.”
He held out the ring.
“You saw me when I wasn’t Alexander Reed.”
She smiled.
“I saw through you.”
“Yes.”
“That’s different.”
“Maybe.”
He smiled.
“But I fell in love with you anyway.”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
He blinked.
“Yes?”
“Yes.”
He stood.
She kissed him.
The train passed behind them.
The city lights reflected in the windows.
And for a moment, the billionaire, the poor girl, the hidden empire, and twenty years of secrets disappeared.
There were only two people.
Then Lily noticed something in the crowd.
Her father.
Her mother.
Lucas.
They were smiling.
Alexander looked at them.
“Did you know?”
Lily laughed.
“Of course.”
“You’re all terrible.”
“Probably.”
He wrapped an arm around her.
“I can live with that.”
