Ezekiel leaned back in his chair slightly, his hand resting casually on the table as he glanced between Marcellus and Zane. A small, approving smile spread across his face as he nodded.“Well, I agree with you, Marcellus,” he said in a calm, thoughtful tone. “It would be a wonderful thing for both our families. The Haldens and the Valencias—two pillars of strength. And if our children, both smart, well-raised, and ambitious, find common ground between them, then I see no reason why not.”He turned to Celestine briefly, offering her a warm, fatherly smile before continuing. “They’re both adults. We can’t make choices for them, but we can guide them, and encourage something that could blossom naturally into something greater. And who knows, maybe something beautiful comes out of it—not just for them, but for our legacy as well.”Then, with a subtle curiosity in his voice, Ezekiel asked, “But tell me, is Celestine currently in a relationship?”Marcellus gave a soft chuckle and shook his

Celestine looked at him, slightly amused by his persistence. She folded her arms gently, one brow raised. “Cinema?”“Yeah,” Zane nodded. “Nothing fancy. Just a good movie, popcorn, maybe some laughs. Totally relaxed… and I promise no business talk.”“I have a really busy schedule tomorrow. I don’t think I’ll be free for it.”Zane’s face fell slightly, the disappointment clear in his eyes. “Oh,” he muttered, scratching the back of his neck. But not one to give up easily, he quickly added, “How about the day after tomorrow then? I’ll come pick you up myself, handle all the arrangements… everything on me.”Celestine glanced at him, her gaze calm and unreadable for a second. Then, with a slight nod, she said, “Alright. The day after tomorrow.”Zane’s expression lit up immediately. “Great! You won’t regret it, I promise,” he said with a confident smile.Celestine offered a polite smile in return, then gently excused herself and turned to walk out with her father. One of the bodyguards foll

That same day, as the golden hue of evening settled over the city, Elijah pulled up to the university gates to pick up Sierra. She spotted his car immediately and waved as she walked toward it with a soft smile, her bag slung over one shoulder. Betty waved goodbye and went her separate way. Elijah stepped out to open the passenger door for Sierra, and she slid in with a tired but grateful sigh. “Three papers today,” she said, leaning her head back. “I’m exhausted.” “I figured,” Elijah replied with a small smile, handing her a cold bottle of water from the console. “That’s why I brought you home myself.” Sierra smiled at him again, her heart fluttering at how thoughtful he always was. He drove her home smoothly, the ride calm and filled with soft music and light chatter. The next night arrived swiftly, calm and breezy with a quiet charm in the air. Zane stood in his room, dressed in a clean, fitted casual outfit—a black designer shirt tucked slightly into dark jeans, finished wi

Meanwhile, Felix drove into the compound, parked Elijah’s BMW carefully, and made his way inside the house. As he entered the softly lit living room, he found Sierra seated comfortably on the sofa, legs crossed, her attention focused on her phone. She looked so at ease, dressed in one of her cozy oversized shirts, her hair up in a messy bun. Felix cleared his throat gently. “Good evening,” he greeted. Sierra glanced up and smiled slightly. ‘Welcome.” “Thank you, where’s big brother?” “He stepped out to get something,” Sierra replied, placing her phone down for a moment. “Why? Is something wrong?” Felix shook his head quickly, taking a few more steps into the room. “No, nothing actually. I just wanted to let him know that I’ve finished the job he gave me. By tomorrow, everything should be cleared.” Sierra’s brow lifted slightly. “What job did he give you?” Felix opened his mouth, hesitated a little, then scratched the back of his head. “Uhm, just something he asked me to h

"Hey, Ms. Valencia, I didn't expect your call—what's good?" Elijah’s voice came through the line, calm and mildly surprised."I'm good, Elijah. What about you?" Celestine responded, her voice smooth but with a tinge of relief."I'm okay, thank you," Elijah said sincerely.There was a brief pause before Celestine asked, "Where are you currently?""I'm on the street," Elijah replied. "I came to buy a few groceries for home. I'm done already though, about to head back. Why do you ask? Is everything okay?""You're with a car, right?" she asked lightly, almost too casually."Yes, I am. What's wrong?" Elijah's tone shifted slightly, growing more alert."Nothing much," Celestine said, glancing briefly toward Zane who stood awkwardly at a distance. "I just wanted you to pick me up. I'm not with my driver—I came alone.""Oh. No problem about that." Elijah’s voice warmed instantly. "Where are you?"She told him the exact name and location of the cinema, her tone measured."I know that place," E