Walking through the exquisite halls of the mall, Aiden trailed behind the attendant, who led him to the private room where he would be selecting a jade bracelet for Zia. His heart pounded with a mix of pride and defiance. Amelia and her aunt had humiliated him just moments ago, their eyes gleaming with the cruel certainty that he couldn’t afford anything from these high-end stores. They weren't wrong, of course. Aiden couldn't actually afford anything there; in fact, he was still in awe of everything himself. He replayed the scene in his mind. Amelia's condescending smirk and her aunt’s derisive laughter vanished the moment he held out the platinum gold card. For once, he felt a surge of pride. It wasn't just about the money; it was about proving them wrong, about showing them that he wasn't as worthless as they had believed. He could almost hear the echo of Amelia's gasp, see the disbelief etched into her face. She hadn’t expected this. She never did. But now, at least this once,

"No, son, just gather whatever you have and join us in the car. We're going home, where you belong," Lorenzo said firmly. Aiden wanted to insist on staying in the apartment with Zia, not wanting to subject them to a life they had just escaped. But with all the guards around and Zia in Lorenzo's care, any attempt to resist would be futile. He didn’t want to do anything stupid. He turned towards the apartment and grabbed the luggage he had brought in a few days ago, gathered Zia’s medications, and some snacks from the grocery bag they had received. On his way out, he dropped the fresh perishable supplies at the doorstep of one of his old neighbors who doubled as their gardener. The guards took the luggage from him to the car, and one hurried to open the car door for him to step in. It all looked like a dream too good to be true. As it was getting late, Aiden asked that they stop somewhere for dinner so Zia could eat and take her medication, anticipating that she would already be as

Aiden sighed, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. “I had tried so hard to make it work, for Zia’s sake, but it only made it worse.” Lorenzo reached across the desk, taking Aiden's hand. “I can only imagine what you went through all those years. I will make sure they pay in my own way. You don’t have to worry about caring for Zia alone anymore, Aiden. Here you have me to help you protect Zia and give her the life she deserves.” Aiden nodded, feeling a sense of relief. “Thank you, g-grandfather,” he stammered, still getting used to calling him Grandfather. Lorenzo smiled, a warmth in his eyes that Aiden hadn’t seen before. “We’re family, Aiden. And family sticks together. Now let me answer some of your questions.” Patriarch Lorenzo's study was filled with the ambient glow of a warm evening, the golden light spilling through the tall windows. Lorenzo leaned back in his chair, reached into a drawer, and pulled out a worn leather-bound photo album, its edges frayed with age. He

Aiden handed Zia the smartwatch that the guards had given him and explained how to use it if she ever felt in danger. She nodded seriously, then hugged him tightly. “I love you, Daddy.” “I love you too, Zia,” he said, his heart swelling with pride and love. He then returned to his room to get ready for the day. Staring into the mirror, Aiden punched his face lightly to ensure he wasn’t dreaming. He couldn’t believe he was wearing an Armani suit, just like those people he had admired from afar. His closet was filled with luxury accessories—from wristwatches to belts, shoes, and more. Each item seemed to be a different expression of wealth and status, and there were so many that he doubted he’d ever wear them all. A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. It was the chief guard assigned to him. “Your grandfather is ready and wants to know if you are,” the guard said. “I’m ready,” Aiden replied, adjusting his suit. The guard looked at his wrist. “What happened to your smartwatch

After serving them, she stood by Mr. Kohler, who turned to Lorenzo with a proud smile. “Lorenzo, introduce me to this young man.” Lorenzo patted Aiden’s shoulder. “Adam, this is my grandson, Aiden Romanov. After years of searching, I’ve finally found him.” Kohler beamed at Aiden. “Aiden, welcome. I can already tell from your height and looks that you’re a Romanov. Congratulations on finding your way back.” “Thank you, Mr. Kohler,” Aiden replied, shaking his hand. Kohler then turned to the young lady. “And this is my granddaughter, Silvana Kohler. She’s just back from her studies abroad.” Silvana gave Aiden a warm smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Aiden. We should catch up sometime.” Lorenzo nodded approvingly. “Yes, you two should get to know each other.” After a brief conversation, Lorenzo decided it was time to leave. Aiden cast one last look at Silvana before exiting. She had a captivating presence that lingered in his mind. Upon returning home, Aiden escorted his grandfather