Chapter 2

I looked her dead in the eye. "Do I owe you a written explanation?"

"I won't accept this!" she cried out.

I narrowed my eyes. "I am the sole owner and CEO of Sinclair Industries. I don't need to explain my choices to anyone, let alone my son's girlfriend."

Isabella choked on her words, covering her mouth. With a loud sob, she spun around and sprinted out of the hall, slamming the heavy oak doors behind her.

I didn't flinch. I continued sipping my tea as the orchestra hesitantly resumed playing. No one in this city dared to cross me.

Alex, whom I had raised entirely on my own, had always respected my boundaries. He sighed, sitting next to me. "Mom, if she offended you in the past, don't keep it bottled up. I don't want you getting stressed."

I just smiled and said nothing.

But as the gala was winding down, the main doors were suddenly thrown open.

"Where is Victoria Sinclair?!" a sharp voice demanded.

I didn't even need to turn around. Seraphina.

Twenty years had passed, but she still carried herself with that same arrogant grace. Her waist-length hair was pinned up, but her face now carried the harshness of middle age.

When her eyes found me, she froze. It took her a few seconds to recognize the woman sitting at the head of the Sinclair empire.

Then, a twisted smile crept onto her face. "You're Alex's mother? It's you?"

I didn't answer.

"Victoria," Seraphina sneered, her eyes raking over my expensive gown. "Word on the street is you never got married. Yet you have a son? How... scandalous."

"Do you have a point, Seraphina?" I asked coldly.

She finally remembered why she was here. Her eyes hardened. "Isabella has been crying her eyes out since she got home. You humiliated her."

"Oh."

"Have you no shame?" Seraphina spat. "You couldn't beat me twenty years ago, so now you're taking it out on an innocent child!"

I smirked.

"Victoria," she hissed, stepping closer. "Don't think that just because your son is a billionaire, you can do whatever you want. Don't forget, my husband Julian was New York's richest man long before your son came along. And our mother, Eleanor, is a global icon. You don't want to cross us."

I leaned back in my velvet chair, unfazed. "So? Does that give your family the right to force me to accept a marriage?"

"I..." Seraphina gripped her designer clutch tightly. "I'm just warning you not to push your luck!"

"Storming into my gala to force me to accept your daughter," I lowered my voice, my gaze cold. "Tell me, who is the one crossing the line here?"

Seraphina gritted her teeth. In her social circle, she was untouchable. People bowed to her because of Julian and Eleanor. But here, in my domain, her status meant nothing.

I gave a subtle nod to my security team. Two burly guards immediately stepped forward and grabbed her by the arms.

"Victoria! How dare you touch me!" Seraphina shrieked, struggling against their grip.

I didn't even look up from my tea.

Seraphina was unceremoniously dragged out of the hall.

"Victoria! You've gone too far! You'll pay for this!" she screamed as the doors slammed shut, cutting off her voice.

I dabbed my lips with a napkin, stood up, and turned to the stunned guests. I inclined my head politely.

"My apologies for the disruption. Please enjoy the rest of your evening. My staff will hand out gift bags on your way out."

With that, I turned and walked away. Alex followed closely behind me.

The next morning, just as I was finishing my breakfast, my head of security knocked on the door.

"Ms. Sinclair, there's someone at the gate demanding to see you."

The heavy doors opened. I looked up, and my eyes locked with Julian Vance's.

Twenty years. It had been exactly twenty years since I last saw him.