The hum of the engine purred through the air like a heartbeat, steady, calculated, expensive. Mrs. Gray sat in the backseat of the sleek black car, her reflection mirrored in the tinted glass as the screen in front of her replayed the opening ceremony of the Regeants.
The camera panned across roaring crowds, flashing lights, and the glint of chrome. But her expression didn't change. Her lips curled with a bitter smirk as Hunter Dastin appeared on the screen, flashing that effortless smile the world adored.
"The Dastins surely continue to amaze me," she scoffed. "They even brought Hunter ,a stray blood. How ridiculous." She continued "even Mr Dastin truly lost his mind taking a stray blood to become the next CEO" she flicked her hair "truly unprofessional" she said in a disgust tone "now he is even in the regeant event , where the heck is Lucians previous driver?"
Her chauffeur glanced at her through the mirror, hesitating before replying. " Lucian and Ethan , his previous driver stopped working with one another, no one is entirely show of what led to them losing the partnership and they looked like they aren't even ready to disclose that yet, but rumours speculated that something happened to the couple , say they broke up. That partnership was unstoppable, " he continued as Mrs Gray listened intently "they were able to qualify for the final these past season, Without it, his chances are slim of win , i can say that Timothy's chances to win the tournament is very high looking at the current rankings."
Mrs. Gray's eyes glittered as she swirled the stem of her wine glass. "Oh, is that so?" she mused, voice like silk over steel. "How poetic. The golden pair finally undone. And just when the games begin." She said and she glanced at the bouquet of roses "but its high time we greet one of my old friends" she said with a sinister grin
The car slowed to a stop before a set of towering iron gates draped in ivy. Beyond them stretched a solemn graveyard, cold marble, old secrets.
She stepped out, her heels clicking on the cobblestone, the driver following silently behind with a bouquet of roses and a bottle of red wine. The autumn wind carried the faint scent of earth and decay as she made her way down a narrow path, stopping at an elegant tombstone carved with precision:
LUCY DASTIN — BELOVED MOTHER AND DOTING WIFE
A mocking smile curved her lips. "Hello again, Lucy," she murmured as she knelt, brushing off a speck of dust from the stone. "Still resting so peacefully while the world burns around your precious boys."
She set the wine and roses down, pouring two glasses with slow, deliberate grace.
"A toast?" she asked softly, raising one glass toward the grave. "To family."
She tipped it over, letting the crimson liquid seep into the soil. "Oops. I forgot—this was the reason for your death."
A low laugh escaped her, cruel and melodic. The wind rustled through the trees like faint applause.
"How are you doing, dear?" she went on, voice turning venomous. "I suppose you'll be pleased to know your sons are alive and well, they even are on the event together how lovely isn't it?." She said as she looked at the grave
Her eyes darkened. "Don't worry, I haven't forgotten your sacrifice. Giving me one of your sons was the greatest gift you could've offered." She leaned closer, whispering, "Now watch, my dear friend. Watch as they slowly destroy each other."
For a moment, her mask cracked. Grief, raw, bitter, flashed in her eyes. Then it was gone.
She stood, smoothing the creases in her coat, her tone turning cold as frost. "If only you had kept that mouth shut. You might have lived to see your sons grow. But no ,you wanted to expose our little secret. You wanted both your children, and that my dear , was one of your biggest mistake, the world knows Timothy as my son , not yours , and ill make sure it stays that way"
She turned sharply, leaving the bouquet at the base of the stone.
"Rest well, Lucy," she said, walking away. "Your family will join you soon. Real soon, starting with your dearest son, Lucian."
The next morning sunlight poured into the glass windows of the Dastin Corporate Office, room that smelled of cold coffee and ambition. Hunter sat behind a polished desk, sleeves rolled up, fingers typing across his laptop. Every movement was efficient, mechanical, as though work could quiet the storm inside him.
Across from him, Tracy slumped in her chair with her arms crossed, glaring daggers at him.
"If you're going to keep ignoring me," she said, voice sharp, "I could just leave."
Hunter didn't look up. "Then leave."
That made her grind her teeth. "Unbelievable. You're impossible."
She rose, pacing, the echo of her heels sharp against the floor. "i mean come of Hunter, i know we aren't entirely together , but why doesn't Lucian know about me , i mean he thought i was a crazy fan who was obsessed with you."
Hunter finally stopped typing. The silence between them thickened.
Tracy huffed, throwing her hands up. "Do you have any idea how humiliating that was? I go to support you ,because I thought that's what a fiancée does, and then I get mistaken for some crazy fan. Do you know what that does to my image?"
"You didn't have to go," Hunter replied quietly.
That stunned her. "Excuse me?"
"I didn't tell you to be there, Tracy. And I didn't introduce you because it wasn't necessary."
"Not necessary?" she repeated, her voice trembling between anger and disbelief. "You and I are engaged. People expect to know who I am. Or do you just not want him to know?"
Hunter looked away, jaw tight. "It's not that simple."
"Then make it simple!" she snapped, stepping closer. "You're the heir of the Dastin name. You don't get to pick and choose when the world sees you as taken. Unless....."
Her words faltered as she looked at his face. Hunter's expression wasn't cold, it was conflicted. Tortured.
Tracy's anger dimmed slightly. " you don't want to marry me?"
He didn't answer. The silence said enough.
Tracy scoffed "well unlucky you , you are stuck with me" she confidently said "and Lucien will love me having me as his new sister in law"
"Tracy?"
"what?
"out"
She blinked for a while in confusion before she sighed annoyed ,. "fyn." She said and she walked out the office
Hunter finally stopped typing and sighed , Lucien , how will you react if i bring Tracy to you , anger?, jealousy, .... or you wont feel nothing at all?.....shit