Elena's POV
The place had gone silent immediately when the unknown man who I later found out was Alexander's father arrived.
The air once filled with laughter and clinking of glasses became silent like a graveyard.
Everybody watching the drama unfold.
All eyes locked on one man.
Alexander's father.
The father he never spoke about.
Cameras flashed, reporters whispering to each other and catching every shocking moment of the reunion.
And then, before anyone could react.
Alexander moved.
Anger burned in his eyes as he stormed towards his father, his grip tightening around his hand.
"Inside. Now."
Reymond, completely unmoved, just smirked. "Ah, a private conversation. How thoughtful."
Alexander didn't respond. He just dragged him through the party and inside to his office study at home.
A murmur rose from the crowd.
Sophie used her eyes to ask me if everything was okay.
I replied to her saying I don't know but I was going to find out.
Eleanor stood up alert. Her face was pale and full of shock and fear.
And me?
I followed them without thinking.
I needed to know what was going on.
Something was about to happen. I just knew it.
The study was large. Filled with shelves lined with books. A mahogany desk sat in the middle with A wooden table.
The door slammed shut behind us.
Alexander turned to Raymond, his body oozing with rage and his voice was cold.
"You shouldn't be here."
Reymond let out a small chuckle. "Why not? When my only son is getting married? Of course I would be here."
Eleanor stepped forward. " You have no right to be here."
Reymond turned to Eleanor, smiling. "Don't tell me you're still trying to erase me, my dear wife."
"Don't you dare call me that." she spat. "You erased yourself."
Alexander took a step forward, a few inches away from Reymond now. "I will ask you again, why are you here?"
Reymond tilted his head, pretending to think. "would you believe it if I said I simply missed my family?"
"No" His voice was icy.
Reymond faked being hurt , putting his hand on his chest and making a little "ooh" sound.
"And I thought I would be welcomed with open arms."
Now I knew this was Reymond Sterling, Alexander's father and Eleanor's husband.
But why did they hate him so much? What did he do?
Only him caused this much change in the atmosphere. I needed to know.
Reymond's gaze shifted to me for the first time, studying me carefully.
There was something unsettling about his stare. Sharp and calculating.
"You must be the new wife." His lips twitched. "or should I say the temporary wife?"
My stomach twisted. Did he know?
I knew I wouldn't like this man. He was trouble.
Alexander, however, tensed immediately.
"Don't talk to her." His tone was sharp.
Reymond laughed. He actually laughed. "Protective, are we?"
"Get…. to …the… point."Alexander said in a low tone. He was running out of patience.
Reymond's face became serious.
He reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a thick, folded document.
The entire mood shifted.
The air grew heavier.
The moment Alexander eyes landed on the document. Something dark crossed his face but he didn't lose composure.
Reymond tossed it onto the desk.
"Here's the point son." His voice was smooth. "I'm not just here to meddle in your life." His lips curled into a small wicked smirk.
"I'm here to take back what's mine."
Silence.
Nobody said anything. The silence was so thick.
Then Eleanor looked at the folder. "You can't be serious."
"oh, but I am." Reymond said.
"What is this?" Alexander's voice was low, controlled but dripping with fury.
Reymond tapped the folder on the desk. "Proof that a significant portion of the Sterling empire…belongs to me."
Alexander didn't move.
Didn't breathe. He just kept looking at the folder.
Then, slowly, he stepped forward picking up the folder and going through the pages.
Page by page, turn by turn, his expression didn't change one bit.
If the"re's one thing Alexander was good at. It was shielding his emotions and keeping composure.
After looking through the folder. He dropped it down.
Then Eleanor took it, flipping through the pages.
"Impossible." She spat. "You left. You signed over everything."
"Did I?" Reymond was relaxed.
"This is ridiculous, Reymond. Do you think you can just waltz back into our lives and take what is ours?"
Reymond smiled. "Eleanor dear, it's not about thinking. It's about knowing. I know what belongs to me and I have every right to reclaim it."
Eleanor's hands clenched tightly by her sides.
I stood frozen by the doorway, watching everything.
Reymond then looked at Alexander, his tone sounding with mock sympathy. "You've done well, I admit but we both know you wouldn't be standing here today if it weren't for the empire I built. You might have kept it alive till now but I created it."
Alexander's jaw tightened, his eyes staring at his father like he wanted to kill him. "You abandoned it. You abandoned us."
"No, I have been watching everything from the shadows. And your mother gave me no choice."
Eleanor wanted to say something and counter him. But she decided against it and said nothing.
Alexander stepped close to his father. Staring him in his eyes. "Get out. This will be the last time you set foot in this house like this."
Reymond let out a small chuckle. "You can't just send me out like an unwanted guest. I'm family."
"I said," Get out."
"You're so much like me, Alexander. That temper, that need for control, that arrogance. It's really admirable."
Alexander's nostrils flared but before he could respond. Reymond leaned forward slightly. "But don't forget one thing. I taught you everything you know and if you think for one second you can win this fight, you're sorely mistaken."
The tension in the room was suffocating.
"I don't care what you think you taught me. You're not taking anything from me, Not my company. Not my life. Not her."
For a moment, I wondered if he was talking about me, but he didn't look at me. His eyes remained fixed on Reymond.
Reymond turned, straightening his suit jacket. "We'll see again, my dear wife and son.
Then he did Something unexpected. He turned to me.
"Good luck, Mrs sterling." He faked a mock bow. "You'll need it."
I didn't respond. I had not said anything since the whole drama.
I didn't know what was really going on and it was their family matter. I had no say in it.
"We are done here." Alexander said sharply.
Reymond's smirk widened. "Oh son, we're just getting started."
Then with that, he walked out of the st
udy. Leaving the door opened.
~~
"You can sleep in your room, the deal is sealed." That was Alexander letting me know we were officially married and we would sleep in separate rooms.