Lydia


    5 YEARS LATER


    “Mommy, you put too much syrup!”


    I chuckled as Liam frowned at his te, pushing the sticky pancakes around with his fork. “That’s not too much,” I said, slicing up my own. “That’s the perfect amount.”


    He wrinkled his nose. “But it’s too sweet.” Mnie, sitting beside him, gasped. “Then give it to me!” she said in her usual loud tone.


    Liam instantly pulled his te closer, protecting it. “No way!”


    Iughed softly as I sipped my coffee, watching them bicker. Every morning was like this-breakfast together, syrup- covered tes, sticky little hands, and endless chatter. It was messy, loud, and chaotic. But it was ours.


    “Mommy, can we have pancakes every day?” Mnie asked, swinging her legs under the table.


    “Every day?” I raised an eyebrow. “What about eggs? Or toast?”


    “Nooo, just pancakes,” she dered dramatically, her little hands making a huge gesture. Liam shook his head. “I like eggs


    more.”


    Mnie gasped, clutching her chest like he’d just insulted her entire existence. “But pancakes are the best!” I tried to hold back a smile. “How about we switch it up? Pancakes today, eggs tomorrow.”


    Liam nodded. “Deal.” Mnie huffed, crossing her arms. “Fine. But extra syrup next time.”


    I reached over to smooth down her soft curls. She was tiny, more fragile than Liam, but stubborn and strong in her own way.


    At just five years old, she already had a sharp tongue and a mind of her own. I loved watching her speak, and oh, does she love to talk.


    Liam, on the other hand, was more reserved, always observing before acting. He looked so much like his father that sometimes it made me worry. His tastes were also just like his father’s but I’ll just have to make it my life’s mission to ensure that my Liam never grows up to be like Mason.


    I quickly pushed the thought away. I had spent years training myself not to think about Mason, not to let his name or face crawl into my head. Not when I had two beautiful reasons to keep moving forward.


    Even when Mnie’s kidney condition had broken me in her first year, I had sworn to protect them both with everything I had. No one-not Mason, not his mother, not anyone-would ever take them from me.


    Liam pushed his te away. “I’m done.”


    Mnie copied him. “Me too!”


    I checked the time. Alright, go get your bags. Grandma’s taking you to school today.” They both cheered, jumping off their chairs and racing down the hall.


    Gloria walked in just as they disappeared. She poured herself a cup of coffee, shaking her head. “You spoil them too much with pancakes.”


    I smirked. “And you don’t?” She lifted a brow. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she smirked while sipping her coffee.


    I stood, gathering the dishes and bringing them to the sink. “Thanks for taking them today. I have an early meeting.”


    She leaned against the counter, watching me. “You’ve been working too hard again.” I sighed, rubbing my forehead. “I know.”


    She didn’t push it, she never did. Gloria knew better than anyone how much thispany meant to me. How much I had built over these past five years, and how I couldn’t stop even if it consumed me.


    “Just don’t forget to take care of yourself too,” she said, her voice softer now. I turned to her with a small smile. “I can’t afford to slow down, Mom.”


    She studied me for a long moment, then nodded. “I know.” Before I could say anything else, Liam and Mnie came running back in, their backpacks bouncing against their little frames.


    “Ready?” Gloria asked them. They nodded excitedly. I bent down, cupping their faces as I kissed them both on the cheeks. “Be good, okay?”


    Liam nodded. Mnie grinned. “Always!” I smiled, watching them leave, my heart full.


    Then, taking a deep breath, I grabbed my bag and headed out to work. I had a long day ahead of me, and hopefully, ites out very productive.


    The office was already busy when I arrived. Employees moved quickly as everyone scrambled to their offices. The moment I stepped inside, my assistant, Mia rushed over with a tablet in hand.


    “You have a meeting in twenty minutes, the board is expecting updates on the expansion, and we received a new proposal from the investors in Dubai.”


    I nodded, taking the tablet from her. “Set up a call with them forter today.”


    “Already did.”


    I smirked. “Good.” Mia had been with me for three years now, and she was one of the few people I trustedpletely. She kept everything running smoothly, and I relied on her more than I wanted to admit.


    As we walked through the office, several employees greeted me with nods and smiles. Five years ago, none of them knew who I was and they were more tense around me. Now, I run thispany and they understand their ces and tasks now.


    I was a workaholic and spent most of my time in thepanypletely engrossed in work. I expected the same from my employees, and with that zeal, I managed to pull an inexplicable team of capable people who have helped me build Kava’s corporation so much that it’s known all over Canada as one of the richestpanies in Canada and many other branches all over the world.


    And I had no ns of stopping anytime soon.


    Mia continued listing updates as we entered my office. I ced my bag down and turned to face the floor-to-ceiling windows. The city stretched out before me, tall buildings piercing the sky.


    I had built a life here. A powerful one.


    I had my mother and my kids, but something was still missing. I had to get my revenge.


    1 denched my jaw as I thought about Mason. I hadn’t seen him in years, but every time his name appeared on the news, I


    felt the same burning rage inside me.


    He was still living his perfect life, still carrying on like I had never existed. Like he didn’t trigger the demise of his unborn kids.


    I wouldn’t let that slide. I will destroy him.


    I tapped my fingers against the sleek ss conference table, my eyes fixed on the projection screen at the head of the room. The numbers weren’t good.


    “Our Seven Stars Hotelunch hasn’t met expectations,” Jason, my head of finance, announced. “Investors are hesitant, and pre-bookings are low.”


    Low wasn’t the right word. The numbers were disappointing. This project was meant to be mypany’s breakthrough, a luxury hotel chain that couldpete with the best in the industry. But without the right kind of attention, it was nothing more than an expensive gamble.


    I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms. “What’s our best move?” My assistant, Mia adjusted her sses. “There’s one name that could turn things around-Martin DeLuca.”


    I looked at her sharply. The name wasn’t unfamiliar. “The Martin DeLuca?” Jason asked, sounding sceptical. “Son of the richest man in Italy?”


    Mia nodded. “And the heir to DeLuca Enterprises.”


    I nced around the room. “So, we’re considering getting a man who’s practically mafia royalty to stay at our hotel?”


    Jason exhaled. “If he does, the entire industry will follow. The DeLucas have power. Connections. Money. If he invests, we won’t need to convince anyone else.”


    I tapped my pen against the table. “Problem is,” Jason continued, “every luxury hotel wants him. They’re all trying to get his attention. He doesn’t just choose any ce.”


    I smirked. “Then I’ll make sure he chooses us.”


    It took three days to get a meeting with Martin DeLuca. Three days of negotiating with his people, using every contact I had, making sure I was in the right ce at the right time.


    And now, I was here, sitting across from him in a private VIP lounge at one of the most exclusive clubs in the city.


    Martin was everything I expected-tall, dark, andpletely unreadable. He exuded confidence, the kind that came from power. He wasn’t just rich. He was a man people feared.


    “You’re persistent,” he said, swirling the whiskey in his ss. “Most people don’t get past my assistant.”


    I smiled. “I don’t give up easily.”


    He leaned back in his seat, watching me like he was trying to figure me out. “And what exactly do you want, Alissa Brooks?”


    I kept my expressionposed. “I want you to stay at my hotel.” He chuckled. “I have a dozen hotels offering me suites, penthouses, and everything in between. Why should I choose yours?”


    I crossed my legs and tilted my head slightly. “Because I’m not offering you just a stay. I’m offering you exclusivity. Privacy. 3/4


    The kind of service no other ce can match.”


    He raised a brow. “You think that’s enough to impress me?”


    “I think you’ll be impressed when you see it for yourself.”


    He smirked. “And what’s in it for you?” I met his gaze without hesitation. “An investment.”


    His smirk widened. “So that’s your real goal.”


    “I believe in mypany. And I believe in the people I choose to do business with. If you like what you see, we can discuss a partnership.”


    He studied me for a long moment as if trying to decide whether I was worth his time. Then, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.


    “Tell me something, Alissa.” I waited. He watched me carefully. “How is it possible that a young woman is so engrossed in business? I sense an ulterior motive. What’s the real reason?”


    I hesitated. Martin wasn’t the type to ept vague answers. He wanted the truth-or at least, as much of it as I was willing to give.


    I stared intently at him for a while, then, I gave him one word.


    “Revenge.”


    “Revenge?” I didn’t borate and he seemed to understand that and didn’t push further.


    And for the first time that night, Martin DeLuca looked truly intrigued.