The Billionaire's Heir I Never Knew Was Mine

Then, as if he understood what she could not explain, Zachary finally nodded.

”Okay,” he said softly. ”I’ll arrange it immediately.”

Relief flashed clearly across her face after hearing those words. ’Finally, I can go home...’

”But,” he added calmly, ”you have to stay at home. You still need some rest. Don’t return to your office yet.”

Sienna nodded lightly.

”Hmm... I heard from your lawyer that he already arranged a one-week paid leave for me.”

”Good.”

Zachary rose from his seat.

”You stay here, don’t go anywhere. I need to make a call.”

He turned slightly, preparing to walk toward the door.

But before he could take another step—

”Zach, wait...” Sienna called.

He stopped immediately and turned back to look at her.

”Do you need anything?” Zachary asked. ”Are you hungry? I can—”

”No.” She shook her head softly. ”I didn’t feel hungry. I just wanted to ask you something.”

”Sure,” he said calmly. ”What is it?”

Sienna finally gathered enough courage to ask the question that had been bothering her ever since she learned the truth.

”Why did you hide your real identity from me?”

Zachary’s calm expression disappeared almost instantly. Only worry flashed briefly through his eyes as he stared back at her.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The room suddenly became quiet again.

Sienna kept looking at him, waiting for an answer that never came.

’Why wasn’t he saying anything? Did I ask something I shouldn’t have asked?’ she thought.

Her heart slowly tightened inside her chest. Her question was not unreasonable. It was simple. If he cared about her... then he should answer honestly, right?

She decided to give him another second to answer her.

Then another second passed.

But Zachary remained standing near the door, unusually still, as though he had suddenly forgotten how to speak.

Sienna suppressed a smile at Zachary’s silence. This man could handle lawyers, companies, crises, and probably international business disasters without blinking. Yet one simple question seemed to freeze him.

When she was just about to take back her question and save both of them from the awkward silence, Zachary suddenly cleared his throat and walked back toward the bedside.

His eyes stayed fixed on her.

”What identity?”

Sienna blinked at him. Her heart tightened again. ”Your identity as Zachary Sterling.”

A faint flash of surprise crossed his face.

”...I didn’t hide it from you.”

She frowned immediately. She clearly remembered that he had introduced himself as someone else.

”But you told me your name was Zach Greystone.”

”My name is indeed Zach. While Greystone, that’s my mother’s last name,” he replied calmly, without even looking guilty. ”You met my son. You vacationed with us. So technically... I didn’t hide it.”

Sienna stared at him.

’This man. Why was he twisting my question like this?’

Yet... annoyingly enough... his explanation actually made sense. He had not exactly lied. He simply used another last name, his mother’s last name.

Which somehow made her feel both relieved and more confused.

Before she could organize her thoughts, he spoke again.

”I thought you already knew who I was. That’s why I didn’t explain further.”

For another second, Sienna simply stared at him in disbelief before finally voicing her mind, ”I only found out about you yesterday from your company event booklet.”

This time, a frown appears on his forehead, as if asking her to explain further.

”You remember the Sterling Capital Management training... right?” she asked.

”So they put my picture there?” he asked.

’Gosh. He really did not know...?’ She was speechless. ’This man owned half of this country but did not know what his own company printed in its booklet.’

”Hmm,” She nodded before continuing. ”I only saw it yesterday. That’s why I was confused.”

Zachary crossed his arms across his chest, looking thoughtful for a brief moment.

Then, unexpectedly, he extended his hand toward her.

”Alright,” he said calmly. ”Let’s get acquainted again.”

Sienna frowned, looking at his hand. ”...What?”

”Apparently, our first introduction failed.” He responds.

A small laugh almost escaped her. Only Zachary Sterling could make reintroducing himself sound like a formal business correction.

She slowly reached forward and accepted his handshake.

The moment their hands touched, warmth rushed unexpectedly through her body. Her heart skipped so suddenly.

She lowered her eyes briefly toward their hands before forcing herself to look back at him.

”Miss,” Zachary said calmly, his fingers tightening slightly around her hand. ”Let me introduce myself. My name is Zachary Sterling.”

Sienna swallowed quietly.

Why was this simple handshake suddenly more dangerous than the police station?

”Sienna Adams,” she replied after a moment. ”But just call me Sienna. I hate hearing my last name.”

”Hm. I’ll remember.”

Silence settled between them again.

But this silence felt different. It feels softer and warmer. And strangely comfortable.

Neither of them pulled away immediately. Their hands still remained together.

Unfortunately, Sienna’s stomach apparently decided this was the perfect emotional moment to betray her.

A soft growl suddenly echoed through the room. The sound was clear. Horribly clear.

Sienna froze. She felt heat rush to her face in embarrassment.

Then, in complete embarrassment, she hurriedly pulled her hand away and covered her stomach.

After emotional trauma, identity confusion, accidental romantic tension, and a handshake powerful enough to shorten her lifespan, her stomach chose violence.

Zachary lowered his eyes toward her stomach. Then back toward her face. His expression remained calm.

”You said you weren’t hungry.”

Sienna immediately defended herself.

”I wasn’t.”

Her stomach betrayed her again with another soft growl.

Zachary lifted one eyebrow slightly.

Sienna pointed accusingly at her own stomach.

”Don’t listen to it. It’s emotionally unstable.”

For a brief second, something close to amusement appeared in his eyes. ”I’ll call someone to bring breakfast.”

”Zach—”

”Miss Sienna, definitely no arguments, you need to eat something.”

His answer came smoothly, leaving no room for discussion. He turned and walked toward the door.

Sienna watched him go, unable to stop the small smile slowly spreading across her face. Her chest still felt warm from their conversation.