The millionaire took pity on the beautiful homeless girl and hired her as a caregiver for his disabled father…

The July heat wave hit the city like a heavy blanket. The scorching asphalt radiated heat, and the air seemed to turn into a thick, stagnant jelly. Veronica Benson sat on a bench in the shade of a sprawling tree, watching the cars pass by.

The third day without a roof over her head was taking its toll. Her bag with her few belongings stood beside her—all that remained of her former life. Veronica absentmindedly tucked back a stray strand of dark hair and glanced at her watch.

Two o’clock in the afternoon. The meeting was set for three, so she still had time to collect her thoughts. She pulled a compact mirror from her bag and critically examined her reflection.

Despite all the trials, her face retained that refined beauty that always drew attention. Large brown eyes framed by thick lashes, a straight nose, and sharply defined lips. Only the shadows under her eyes and a slight pallor betrayed her exhausted state.

Thirty years old—an age when life should just be beginning. But for her, it felt like everything had ended. Just a year ago, Veronica was a respected nurse at a prestigious private clinic, with an apartment and a stable income.

Now, she was homeless with a tarnished reputation. A ridiculous accusation of medical error, fabricated by the clinic’s administration to cover their own mistakes, had cost her career. Then came a chain of misfortunes: her father’s illness, selling the apartment in a desperate attempt to save him, unsuccessful treatment, and finally, his funeral.

The money from the sale drained away like water, leaving her with nothing. Veronica snapped the mirror shut and put it back in her bag. Now wasn’t the time for self-pity.

She needed to think about the future, no matter how uncertain it seemed. She stood up from the bench and headed to the bus stop. The address scribbled on a scrap of paper led to one of the most upscale neighborhoods in the city.

There, where Ethan Sinclair lived—her last hope for salvation. «Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to Maple Street?» she asked an elderly woman at the stop. «You need bus number 17,» the woman replied kindly.

«It’ll take you to the end of the line, and from there, it’s a five-minute walk.» Veronica thanked her and waited. Public transport felt like a luxury; extra money for fares had to be saved, but today was special.

She couldn’t be late for a meeting that could change everything. Ethan Sinclair—a successful industrialist, owner of a large construction company, and an old friend of her father. They had gone to school together, and though life had taken them down different paths, they occasionally met.

Her father had never asked him for help; pride wouldn’t allow it. But before his death, he had written a letter to his school friend, describing his daughter’s situation and asking him not to leave her in need. This letter was what Veronica intended to deliver today…