The assistant quickly snapped out of her shock and hurriedly retrieved a set of forms from a nearby drawer. "Mr. Steel, please fill these out to finalize the process," she said, her tone much more respectful now. Elijah nodded, took the forms, and began to fill them out with his usual calm demeanor. Robert and the assistant exchanged glances, still unable to fully process what had just happened. When Elijah finished, he handed the completed forms back to the assistant. She double-checked them, nodding in approval. “Everything’s perfect, Mr. Steel,” she said with a smile. Robert stepped forward with a small, elegant box. "Congratulations on your new villa, Mr. Steel," he said warmly, opening the box to reveal a set of sleek, modern keys and two automatic door cards. “These are your house keys and the door access cards,” Robert explained. “The cards are programmed to open all entry points in the villa, including the garage. If you need additional keys or cards for family or staff, ju

Later that evening, Sierra Lane stood in front of her full-length mirror, her reflection nothing short of breathtaking. She wore a fitted wine-red highlighting her curves. The neckline was modest yet elegant, and the dress flowed down to just above her knees, revealing her toned legs. Her hair was styled in soft waves, cascading over her shoulders, while a pair of simple yet stunning silver earrings complemented her glowing complexion.Getting to the hall, her mother sat on the plush cream sofa, sipping tea and scrolling through her tablet.As Sierra walked in, her mother's eyes shifted up—and immediately widened in astonishment. She placed the cup of tea down and set her tablet aside, her gaze locking on Sierra."My goodness, Sierra," her mother said, standing up. "You look... stunning. Where are you going dressed like this, with your bag and all? Is there some event you didn’t tell me about?”"Just dinner?" Her mother folded her arms, raising an eyebrow. "Dressed like this? And with

Marcus shook his head firmly. "Not yet," he said, his voice steady. "Sophia is still young. She’s only ten, Catherine. I don’t want to overwhelm her with something this big right now. Let her enjoy her childhood without complications."He leaned back slightly, his expression thoughtful. "As for Elijah, he’s just starting to adjust to the truth about us. Adding another revelation might be too much for him. He needs time to fully embrace who he is and his new reality. Once he's stable and ready, then we can tell him about Sophia.”Marcus placed his hand on Catherine’s gently. "Let’s handle this one step at a time. When the time is right, we’ll tell them both.”Meanwhile, Elijah's eyes fluttered open, and he realized he had taken a nap on the sofa. He stretched his arms lazily, yawning deeply as he shifted to sit upright. Glancing around, he reached for his phone and tapped the screen. The time read 7:25 p.m."Oh, I slept for that long?" he muttered to himself, shaking his head to shake

Meanwhile, Elijah had completed the security checks without any hassle. After driving inside, he parked his BMW M5 beside the Mazda 6, his eyes immediately drawn to the massive structure of Carmen's. As he stepped out of the car, his gaze swept over the grand restaurant, and he couldn't help but stand there for a moment, taking it all in.The sheer scale of Carmen's left him in awe—its multi-story design, the intricacy of the architecture, and the high-end aura radiating from every corner. The top floors gleamed like a crown above the bustling streets below. Elijah had seen many high-end places, but Carmen's was on another level. He felt a rush of excitement, wondering what kind of experience awaited inside.As Elijah stepped inside Carmen’s, the ambiance immediately caught his attention. The downstairs dining area was lively and elegant, with soft lighting casting a warm glow over the neatly arranged tables. The quiet hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses filled the air. E

His breath caught in his throat as he froze for a moment. First, he was struck by her undeniable beauty, which seemed even more radiant under the dim, elegant lighting of the top floor. But the second wave of shock came from the sheer coincidence of meeting her again, here of all places.He stood still, looking at her directly without saying a word, his expression shifting between admiration and surprise. Sierra, still in her own moment of disbelief, locked eyes with him, unable to look away. The brief yet intense gaze held between them seemed to suspend time for a fleeting second.Elijah’s thoughts raced as he noticed the man seated opposite Sierra, facing away from him. Is that her boyfriend? he wondered, frowning slightly as he observed the man’s confident posture and expensive suit. She does have a rich boyfriend then, he muttered under his breath, piecing together the exclusivity of the place and her presence here. Without lingering too long, he quickly shifted his focus and fou