Inside the venue, Ethan followed Rebecca past the whispering crowd, ignoring the stares that tracked their every step. Where moments ago guests had looked at him with disdain or confusion, now their gazes were sharp with curiosity—cut short only by the way Rebecca carried herself, like she owned every inch of the marble floors beneath their feet. They pushed through the double doors of the VIP room, and Rebecca paused just inside, her hand resting on the wall panel. A soft chime echoed through the building’s sound system. “Attention”, her voice rang out over the speakers, clear and unyielding. “All heads of families with assets exceeding one billion dollars are requested to join us in the VIP room immediately. All other guests are asked to remain in the main hall.” Murmurs rippled through the crowd—confused, anxious, speculative. Outside the doors, people huddled in small groups, wondering what could warrant such a sudden summons. When the VIP room doors swung open again minutes la

Ethan reached Rebecca’s SUV in three long strides, his heart already racing. “What’s wrong?” “Get in first.” She didn’t look at him as she slid behind the wheel, her knuckles white on the gear shift. Once the doors were locked, she finally turned to him—her face tight with anger and worry. “Richard Morrison called the Kidman family’s main office this morning.” Ethan sank back in his seat. “What did he say?” “He told them Marcus had gone rogue, that I was manipulating him, and that you’d been spreading lies about being part of the family to get revenge.” She paused, gripping the steering wheel harder. “They want to see you. All of us in New York next week.” “So they don’t believe us?” “Some do, some don’t.” Rebecca started the engine, pulling away from the Bianco estate. “Father’s been sick—he hasn’t been involved in day-to-day operations. The board’s split. Half of them think we’re overstepping by revealing your identity now. The other half wants proof you’re really Sarah’s son.”

The flight to New York was quiet. Ethan spent most of it going over the documents Charlotte had given him, while Rebecca made final calls to board members she’d managed to sway to their side. When the plane touched down at JFK, a black SUV was waiting—this one with the Kidman family crest emblazoned on the door. “The board meeting isn’t until tomorrow,” Rebecca said as they pulled away from the airport. “But Father wants to see you tonight. Alone.” Ethan’s stomach tightened. He’d heard stories about Vincent Kidman—how he’d built the family empire from nothing, how he’d never suffered fools or liars. “Is he angry?” “Father is… complicated.” Rebecca glanced out the window at the Manhattan skyline. “He loved Sarah more than anything. When she left, it nearly destroyed him. He’ll want to know why she never told him about you.” They drove through the city to a penthouse overlooking Central Park—so high up the lights of the city looked like scattered jewels below. A nurse let them in, le

The morning of the groundbreaking was crisp and clear, with a hint of winter in the air that made everyone reach for extra layers. Ethan stood at the edge of the downtown construction site, watching as workers set up banners and photographers positioned themselves around the ceremonial shovel. The sign at the entrance read: SARAH KIDMAN COMMUNITY COMPLEX – HOME, HOPE, OPPORTUNITY. Charlotte joined him, adjusting the hard hat on her head with a grin. “You look like you’re about to throw up.” “Just a little nervous.” Ethan ran a hand over the polished wood of the ceremonial shovel—engraved with his mother’s name and the date. “There are a lot of people counting on this.” “Which is exactly why you’re the right person to lead it.” She squeezed his arm. “Besides, we’ve gone over every detail a hundred times. It’s going to be perfect.” He looked out at the site—once a vacant lot littered with trash, now cleared and ready for construction. When they’d first proposed building affordable ho

Harbour Café was quiet when Ethan arrived at seven PM. Vanessa sat at a corner table, elegant in a simple dress, her ice-blue eyes calculating as always. "Ethan," she said as he approached. "Thank you for coming." "You said you had information." He sat but didn't order. This wasn't social. "Straight to business. I like that." She sipped her wine. "You've grown more confident. It's attractive." "Vanessa." "Fine." She set down her glass. "I'm leaving, Derek." "I know. Everyone knows." "I'm not just leaving him. I'm ending the engagement. Cutting all ties with the Morrison family." Her eyes fixed on his. "And I wanted you to hear it from me first." "Why would I care?" "Because I made a mistake, Ethan. I chose Derek because I thought he had a better future. I was wrong. You're the one with real power." Ethan laughed—cold and sharp. "And now you want to come back. Now that I'm a Kidman." "Yes," Vanessa said simply. "I'm not going to pretend this is about love. But we