-( Amelie / "Sophia" POV )-
The next morning, Yuri burst into my room, eyes shining.
"He's arriving today," she whispered. "Elijah."
My heart slammed against my ribs.
The real fiancé. The real lie.
As we descended the staircase, my steps slowed without my permission.
Dylan stood near the windows, arms crossed, dressed in dark,
understated clothes that made him look even more distant than the night before.
When his gaze lifted and met mine, it was like being pinned in place.
Cold and Unforgiving.
No anger. No accusation. Just judgment.
And for the first time since signing the contract, fear wrapped tightly around my chest.
Because whatever Dylan believed about me...
Whatever version of my past he had constructed in his mind...
I had no way to defend myself.
And this time...
I didn't even know what I was running from.
The sound of engines approaching the estate cut through the silence.
Luxury vehicles rolled through the gates of Alderidge Heights in flawless formation.
Staff straightened instantly. Chairman Augustus Chen rose from his seat,
authority settling into the room like gravity itself.
Helena Chen adjusted her pearls, her expression smoothing into practiced elegance.
My palms dampened.
The lead car stopped and the door opened.
Dr. Elijah Chen stepped out.
He moved with calm precision, every gesture controlled, every step deliberate.
A man accustomed to command, to expectation, to rooms falling silent
the moment he entered them.
Then his eyes found me.
Recognition sparked instantly, followed by something warmer, more personal.
"Sophia."
He crossed the distance without hesitation and wrapped his arms around me,
firm and familiar, as if we had done this a hundred times before.
"I missed you," he murmured.
The words landed heavier than I expected.
I inhaled, Marie's warning echoing in my head.
You're not acting for him. You're acting for everyone else.
So I returned the embrace.
"You're finally home," I whispered.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Dylan watching.
His jaw tightened.
Chairman Chen smiled, satisfied. "Welcome home, Elijah."
Elijah released me and bowed his head slightly. "Grandfather."
Helena stepped forward next, her eyes sharp as they swept over him.
"You've lost weight," she remarked coolly.
Elijah smiled faintly. "Work has been demanding."
"And exhausting," she replied pointedly.
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
Her gaze flicked to me, measuring, weighing, calculating.
Lunch followed shortly after.
The long table filled, the atmosphere polite but charged. Elijah sat beside me,
his hand resting lightly near mine... visible, deliberate.
"So," Helena said, setting her fork down, "wedding preparations?"
"We're aligning schedules," Elijah answered smoothly.
"Good," Chairman Chen said. "Stability is important."
Victor Marqués leaned back in his chair.
"With the marriage secured, expansion becomes easier."
"And you, Yuri," Elijah said, turning toward his sister, effectively shifting the focus.
"How's college?"
Yuri straightened proudly. "I'm graduating soon."
Elijah smiled. "Good. That's the plan. Once Yuri is licensed and ready,
she'll take over management of the Zurich hospital."
Yuri's eyes widened. "You're serious?"
"You've earned it," Elijah said gently. "I'll still practice medicine, it's my passion,
but I'll be able to shift my focus. Our businesses require attention."
Helena's lips pressed together. "That's a significant responsibility."
"She's capable," Elijah replied calmly.
Celestine Chen Marqués tilted her head thoughtfully.
"And what about Dylan?"
The room stilled.
Celestine continued, her voice calm but deliberate.
"Not only his successful café business, and in his ventures in Crypto,
we can't deny his results. Automotive Performance & Engineering.
Race vehicle design, and Sportscar investments.."
Victor added smoothly, "His ventures are profitable. Strategic.
Frankly, he's the most business-minded among us."
Helena's eyebrow arched. "Talent doesn't replace legitimacy."
Celestine met her gaze. "But potential replaces stagnation."
"I'm only saying," Celestine continued, turning slightly toward Chairman Chen,
"if we don't give him space here, someone else will.
Losing him to another conglomerate would be... unwise.
Wouldn't you consider that, Papa?"
Chairman Chen cleared his throat.
Dylan finally spoke.
"I don't need charity," he said calmly. "Or permission."
Every eye turned toward him.
"I built what I have without the Chen name," he continued.
"If you want it, fine. If not—someone else will."
Silence followed.
Then Helena spoke, her voice razor-sharp.
"This is a family table. Know your place."
"I do."
Dylan stood.
"If you'll excuse me," he said coolly, "I have matters to attend to."
And with that, he walked out.
The silence he left behind was louder than any argument.
To break it, Yuri laughed lightly.
"Oh, come on. We're here to celebrate Kuya Elijah's arrival,
and his engagement to Ate Sophia."
She grinned at me, deliberately shifting the mood.
After lunch, Elijah found me near the corridor windows.
"You handled that well," he said quietly.
"I'm still learning," I admitted.
"We'll talk later," he continued.
"Boundaries. Expectations. How we present ourselves."
I nodded.
Before either of us could say more, Yuri appeared, looping her arm through mine.
"Shopping time. Elijah needs rest."
He chuckled. "Don't overwhelm her."
"I absolutely will," Yuri replied cheerfully.
Later that afternoon, Yuri dragged me out for air.
"Let's go," she said. "You need distraction."
We arrived at the mall only to find a crowd gathered around a display area.
A luxury sports car brand campaign.
It happened to be one of Dylan's investments.
Cameras. Lights. Applause.
At the center stood Dylan.
Intentionally, Yuri had brought me here, proud, unwaveringly supportive of her favorite brother. Watching him now, composed and respected, I felt an unexpected flicker of relief after what
I had witnessed at lunch. Among the Chen family, only Yuri ever truly stood beside him.
Beside Dylan was a woman clinging to his arm... young, stunning, effortlessly confident.
"Jasmine Hernandez," Yuri whispered. "She's the face of the campaign.
I heard she likes Dylan."
Twenty-five years old. Social media influencer. Youngest daughter of Simeon Hernandez...
one of the Chen Empire's most aggressive business rivals.
She smiled for the cameras, completely at ease.
Dylan spoke briefly to the executives beside him, calm, distant, fully in his element.
Partners. Investors.
Not strangers.
I swallowed.
So this was his world now.
And somehow...
I had stepped right into the middle of it.