BREWING CONCERNS
(Protecting her son)
Shadow_vee
"Don't you dare walk out on me without answering my question, how the hell does dad know about the people I meet."Damien's voice cut through the quiet driveway as he stepped out of the car, the door slamming a little harder than necessary while Zepher simply stretched and started toward the house like nothing had happened
"I thought you said you didn't have an idea about what I was talking about, Damien."
Zepher chuckled, not even bothering to turn back.He continued:"I know you always think you're invisible, well maybe from others, not from dad and definitely not from me and for context he helps clean some of your dumb mess you should thank him."
Damien stopped mid-stride
"Oh, so now you admit you stalk me."
"I never said anything."
Zepher raised both hands in mock surrender, grin still firmly in place
Darla, who had been silent the entire ride, suddenly burst into giggles, her hand flying over her mouth when both of them snapped their heads toward her at the exact same time
"What's funny?"
They asked in unison, which only made her laugh harder
Meanwhile, miles away and completely unaware of the banter unfolding in his driveway, Andre ended a call from his investigator, the report had been brief but precise, three of his children had been seen at the exact café Orabella worked in, yet none of them had recognized the other
He set his phone down slowly, fingers tapping once against the polished desk
"Is this fate… or something else?"
Later that night, at home, Orabella finally gave in to the curiosity that had been eating at her since the visit the other day, laptop balanced on her lap she typed the name the man has introduced himself with she felt searching online she might get something after all a common man doesn't come in with escorts that look like people form the secret service.
Andre Kuiver
The search results loaded and she froze, eyes widening as headlines and business features filled the screen, articles about conglomerates, mergers, philanthropic foundations, photographs from formal events and corporate summits
"Kuiver…"
She smacked her forehead lightly, half shocked, half annoyed at herself
"How did I completely ignore that surname?"
She leaned closer, scrolling faster now, reading about Andre, his rise, the empire he built, the influence his family held, but when she moved to the section about his children the trail suddenly thinned, profiles were brief, controlled, almost deliberately vague, a few recent mentions, carefully worded achievements, and only a handful of photos
All of them side profiles
Angles that showed enough to confirm identity but never enough to study their full faces
She squinted, clicking one image, then another, refreshing the page as if clearer ones would magically appear
"They sure know how to keep a low profile."
The thought slipped out under her breath, but even as she said it a faint unease crept in, because each time she tried to dig deeper the links looped back to the same limited information, certain pages failed to load.
She eventually leaned back, closing the tab with a tired disappointed sighs because she wasn't able to see the man she was supposed to get married to,she didn't want to ask Claire about it either she wouldn't bear another teasing from her.Convincing herself it was just how powerful families protected their privacy.
Completely unaware that somewhere else, in a quiet dark lit room by a desk, a different screen went blank the moment she closed hers, and the man watching simply picks up his phone dials a number "done boss","Good" came the reply.
Andre stared out the window of the moving car satisfied that for now, some introductions were better left to fate rather than search engines.
Marina was walking around the garden deep in thought when her phone rang she glanced at the screen before answering, her tone calm.
"Mia."
"Mom how is it going," Mai asked.
Mia sighed. "Every time I speak about this marriage thing,your father turns a deaf ear to me."
"So you're just going to accept it?" Mai asked, her voice tight. "A stranger is about to walk into this family she isn't even here yet and all this is already happening?We don't even know her, Mom."
"That is exactly my problem," Marina replied. "I don't know her background, her intentions, nothing. Yet your father is willing to gamble Damien's future on her."
"You think her family planned this?" Mia asked carefully.
"I think she benefits from it," Marina said bluntly. "And that alone is enough reason for me to be cautious."
Mia was silent for awhile before saying:"Damien doesn't even want this marriage."
"And that should matter," Marina said, her voice soft but edged with steel. "I will not watch my son be forced into a life he clearly resents."
Resolve settling in her eyes."If Andre refuses to reconsider… then I'll find out everything about that girl myself."
When Andre got home, he had barely stepped into the bedroom when Marina followed him in, already tense,prepared for the argument she had clearly been rehearsing in her head.
"I will not sit by and watch you ruin my son's happiness, Andre. It isn't fair what you're doing to him."
Andre loosened his cufflinks slowly, his expression calm in a way that only seemed to irritate her more.
"Marina, he is twenty-five, for Christ's sake. He isn't a child anymore i've given him enough time Have you sat down to think about the scandals he has started getting himself into recently?"
"I won't sit down and watch," she snapped, folding her arms. "You say you've given him enough time? Enough time for what, to break him until he bends to your will?Have you thought about the impact that will have on him?"
Andre's jaw tightened slightly. "Enough time for him to grow up."
"What about Zepher?" Marina shot back, irritation now fully visible on her face. "Why doesn't he get married to her instead?"
"Because Zepher has nothing to do with this," Andre replied sharply. "Damien's life was saved, not his."
The room went quiet for a moment, heavy and charged.
Marina's eyes narrowed. "Who is she? Who is this girl that is suddenly threatening the peace of my home? Andre… don't make me find her."
Andre finally looked directly at her, the warning in his gaze unmistakable.
"Don't do anything stupid."
She let out a short, disbelieving laugh, already turning toward the door.
"Watch me."