A New Gardener Arrives With a Baby on Her Back—The Young Millionaire Is Stunned...

In the weeks following Evelyn’s termination, life at the Pierce estate shifted dramatically.

Lily was promoted to interim household manager, bringing warmth and light back into the grand mansion. The kitchen was always filled with the scent of fresh pastries, the staff walked with lighter steps, and the oppressive silence that had ruled the estate for three years began to thaw.

Maya was officially appointed as the Head Estate Horticulturist, given full authority over the gardens and a substantial salary increase. She transformed the estate’s grounds into a masterpiece of color and life. The dying Japanese Bonsai thrived, its vibrant red leaves blooming in spectacular glory.

Yet, Julian remained distant.

He stayed inside his study, working late into the night. But he was no longer invisible. Whenever Maya worked near the main house, she would look up and catch him standing at his grand window, watching her with a quiet, intense gaze that sent strange, warm shivers down her spine.

In early December, a major event was announced: The Annual Boston Maritime Gala.

It was the most prestigious charity event of the year, hosted at the Pierce mansion as it had been in his father’s time. For three years, Julian had canceled the event, but this year, his board of directors had forced his hand. He needed to prove to the public and his investors that Pierce Enterprises was strong and stable.

The estate became a whirlwind of activity. Caterers, decorators, and florists flooded the grounds.

On the afternoon of the gala, Maya was in the conservatory, arranging a breathtaking centerpiece of rare winter orchids and silver pine branches. Emma was playing happily in her playpen nearby, wearing a small red velvet dress Lily had bought for her.

The conservatory doors opened, and Julian walked in.

Maya turned, and her heart skipped a beat.

He was wearing a tailored black tuxedo with a satin lapel and a crisp white shirt. He looked impossibly handsome, like a prince out of a fairy tale, but his face carried a look of deep exhaustion and anxiety.

"You look stunning, Mr. Pierce," Maya said softly, setting her shears down.

Julian stopped, his eyes sweeping over her. She wore simple blue jeans and a clean green sweater, her hair pulled back into a messy bun, but to Julian, her natural beauty eclipsed every high-society heiress he had ever met.

"I hate these events," Julian admitted, his voice quiet as he leaned against the stone workbench. "They come here to drink my wine, pretend to care about charity, and whisper behind my back about the broken Pierce heir."

"Then don't give them what they want," Maya said gently, stepping closer to him. "Show them you’re not broken."

Julian looked down at her, his hazel eyes locking onto hers. He reached out, his long fingers hesitating for a second before gently tucking a stray lock of dark hair behind her ear. His touch was warm, sending a jolt of electricity straight to Maya’s heart.

"I wouldn't have survived these last few months without you, Maya," Julian murmured, his voice laced with profound sincerity. "You brought life back into this dead house."

Maya’s breath hitched. "Julian..."

Before the moment could go further, a sleek white limousine pulled up to the main courtyard outside, its horn honking arrogantly.

Julian sighed, pulling his hand back, though his gaze remained intense. "The first guests have arrived. The board members."

An hour later, the grand ballroom was filled with two hundred elite guests in glittering gowns and sharp tuxedos. Violins played soft classical music, champagne flowed, and crystal chandeliers illuminated the opulent room.

Maya stood near the glass doors of the terrace, dressed in a simple, elegant dark green dress Lily had loaned her, discreetly monitoring the floral arrangements. Emma was sound asleep upstairs in Lily’s private room.

As Maya watched the crowd, she noticed a tall, handsome man in his early thirties with slicked-back dark hair and a predatory smile speaking to Julian near the grand fireplace.

It was Harrison Vance—Julian’s main corporate rival and the CEO of Vance Global Logistics.

"It’s wonderful to see you out of your cave, Julian," Harrison sneered loudly enough for nearby guests to hear, raising his champagne glass. "We were all beginning to think you’d lost your mind completely. Tragic about your parents... but a company as large as Pierce Enterprises requires a leader with strength, not a grieving hermit."

The surrounding guests went quiet, pretending not to listen while hanging on every word.

Julian’s jaw tightened. "Pierce Enterprises produced a thirty percent increase in net profits this quarter, Harrison. My grief hasn't affected my business."

"Perhaps," Harrison smiled smoothly. "But rumors fly, my dear boy. They say you’ve grown so unstable that you’ve turned your estate into a charity ward. Hiring unvetted, destitute vagrants off the street to manage your grounds?"

Harrison turned his sharp, mocking gaze toward the terrace doors—pointing directly at Maya.

Gasps rippled through the high-society crowd. Heads turned toward Maya, eyes filled with snobbery, disgust, and cruel amusement.

"Is it true, Julian?" a wealthy female board member asked, raising her gold lorgnette. "You allowed a homeless girl with a child to live on the estate?"

Maya felt a rush of ice flood her veins. The humiliation she had felt on her first day at the iron gates came rushing back, ten times stronger. She lowered her head, backing toward the terrace doors, ready to flee into the dark gardens.