Damon Sinclair had requested a family dinner that evening—involving Alexander and Eliza.
They were to gather under one roof. It wasn't usual.
Alexander hadn't really spoken to his father after they met back in his office the other day.
When Elena, his personal assistant, informed him about the dinner request, he hadn't been pleased.
The dinner was to take place in his father's mansion, someplace he'd avoided since college.
That evening, as he buttoned his jacket, his phone rang. It was Eliza.
He swiped to answer.
"Hey, Eliza."
"Where are you?" she asked.
"Getting ready," he replied flatly.
Her voice crackled through the speaker, followed by the distant honk of her car. "You do know Almighty Sinclair has a lot to say tonight, right?"
He paused, adjusting his sleeve. "Well… I don't really have anything to say to him."
"I'm almost at yours. You know I can't face Dad alone." She chuckled on the line.
"Alright then." He ran a hand through his hair and ended the call.
Alexander glanced at his reflection in the mirror, his eyes catching the contact card Aliyah had given him days back that lay flat on his table.
Aliyah Archer. Her name echoed in his head.
He had previously asked for a background report on Aliyah. Now he had a glimpse—her closeness with Imogen.
Including her parents' messy divorce and her father's current condition.
But he knew there was more to her than that. He already felt it.
She felt like a hidden treasure he was drawn to uncover, not out of curiosity, but something deeper, something that pulled at him in ways he didn't want to admit.
And he hated that he couldn't stop feeling that way.
Imogen, on the other hand, had been doing everything to get his attention. Alexander found her sweet, undeniably beautiful, but there was nothing deeper. Not like what he felt with Aliyah.
Eliza was already waiting in the driveway by the time he'd stepped out.
"Taking your own car?" she called from behind the wheel.
"Every chance I get." He said with a faint chuckle. "Told Theodore to take the night off, he barely lets me drive myself."
Eliza leaned halfway out of her window. "Wanna race?" she smirked.
Alexander gave her a glance as he unlocked his car. "You still think you can beat me?"
"You're on," she revved her engine lightly.
The gates opened slowly, and before Alexander fully started his car, Eliza zoomed off.
"Cheater!" he called out, laughing,, and took off behind her.
By the time they reached the driveway of Damon Sinclair's mansion, Eliza's car slid in first.
She stepped out with her arms raised. "Victory. Always."
Alexander parked beside her and powered down the car. "Only because I let you."
Eliza rolled her eyes. "Of course you did. Now let's go face the king."
They all sat in silence at the long dining table.
Damon's gaze was on both of his children. Eliza ate eagerly, while Alexander barely touched his food.
Damon finally spoke. "You haven't changed, Eliza."
She chuckled, slowing her pace.
Then, turning to Alexander, Damon asked, "How was Japan?"
Alexander set his fork down. "Cold. Quiet. I liked the peace."
Eliza coughed, receiving a glance from their father.
Damon cleared his throat. "I'm glad you accepted the position at Étoile. I can't think of anyone more suitable."
Alexander gave a slow nod, but said nothing.
Damon set his wine glass down, his gaze steady on his children.
"There's an event coming up at Étoile," he began.
"A blended showcase. There'll be a runway show and an art exhibit happening together. We're inviting top clients and the press."
He focused his gaze on Eliza. "The artworks will be auctioned, and the highest bidders will get early access to our next fashion collection."
Alexander leaned, his expression unreadable. "When is this happening?"
"Next month," Damon replied. "I want both of you involved. Eliza, your art will be part of the show. Alexander, I need you to oversee everything."
Eliza nodded slowly, a spark of interest in her eyes.
"Sounds intriguing."
Damon's eyes lingered on them both. "This event is more than just a showcase. It's an opportunity to elevate Étoile's brand and merge our creative and business strengths." He paused.
"Eliza?" he called. "I'm allowing you to integrate your art into something bigger," Damon continued. "This is your chance to show the world what you can do."
A smile formed at the corners of Alexander's lips. For the longest time, their father had underrated Eliza's art and her passion for it. He was glad to see their father finally putting value on her talent.
Did he change in two years? He wondered with his eyes fixed on Damon.
"Alexander," Damon exhaled. "Have you been in contact with Ava?"
The mention of her name made Alexander's chest tighten.
Ava—his ex-lover. The woman who'd helped him survive the loss of his mother.
They met in college. She was everything he craved—ambitious, strong, unapologetically bold. Their relationship lasted years.
What he didn't know was that she was having an affair with his father—the man who secretly funded her rise to wealth and power.
Despite being in love with Alexander, Ava was hungry for more.
The betrayal destroyed him—not just because of Ava, but what it revealed about his father, trust, and power.
Pain turned to rage. He got into an addiction.
It ended in a brutal agreement between him and his father that Ava would be erased from their lives.
He went to rehab, then left for Japan to start over.
There, he built his own empire—investments, strategy.
In just two years, he became a billionaire on his own terms, quietly competing with his father's wealth, proving to himself that he didn't need his father's influence to succeed.
What his father didn't know was that Alexander didn't return just to take his place in the family business, but to challenge him from the inside.
Still, a part of him couldn't shake the memory of Ava—the kind of woman she had been.
"Ava is dead to me," he said coldly, his voice without emotion.
Damon cleared his throat and adjusted in his chair. "Imogen Vale, our top model. She's a fine and talented young woman. And not to mention, she comes from a respected family."
Alexander removed the napkin from his shirt, stood up, straightened his jacket, and gave Eliza a brief glance before saying, "I'll take my leave, since we're done here."