☆CHAPTER 2☆

Xavier sat in his home office, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he analyzed the recent business records. Since his mother had been hospitalized, he had been preoccupied, neglecting the stock reports and financial statements of Kincaid Enterprises. Now, as he reviewed the numbers, a knock on the door interrupted his concentration.

Alex stepped inside, and he greeted Xavier, "Back to work, huh?"

Xavier nods, leaning back in his chair.

Alex's expression, a mix of curiosity and amusement. "So, were you with a woman in the hospital?" he asked, leaning casually against the doorframe. "Because when I called, I swear I heard a female voice."

Xavier sighed, rubbing his temples. "Yeah, I bumped into some girl in the parking lounge. We had a bit of an argument. She called me a maniac, I called her stupid—usual nonsense."

Alex raised a brow. "And?"

"Turns out she's Jake Christane's daughter," Xavier muttered, recalling the unexpected revelation. "Bella Christane. She's taking over as CEO of Christ's Empire."

Alex's eyebrows shot up. "Wait—she's the one you mistook for a maid?"

Xavier groaned. "Don't remind me."

Before Alex could tease him further, Ana, Luna, and Rose entered the office. They had spent the last couple of days by Stella's side, and now, with her stable, they finally had a moment to check in on their brother.

"Mom Isa won't be coming," Alex added as he turned to them. "She's busy back in France."

Ana nodded, settling onto the couch. "We figured as much. She wanted to, but she has too much going on."

Xavier leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms. "How's Mom?"

"She's doing much better," Luna assured him. "We've been spending time with her—catching up, making sure she eats well. She even scolded Rose for spending too much time on her phone."

Rose rolled her eyes. "Classic Mom."

A knock at the door interrupted them, and they turned to see their father, Vivian Kincaid, walking in. His presence always carried a certain weight—authority and warmth combined in a way that only a few men could achieve.

"Dad," Xavier greeted, standing up.

Vivian gave a nod, his sharp gaze sweeping over the room before settling on his son. "I heard you've been working non-stop."

Xavier smirked. "Someone has to keep the company running."

Vivian chuckled. "True. But don't forget to live, son. Work isn't everything."

He turned to the others, his expression softening. "Your mother is feeling better. She's been asking about you all."

"We'll go check on her in a bit," Ana said. "We've been meaning to, but we didn't want to overwhelm her."

Vivian nodded approvingly before taking a seat beside Xavier. "So, Bella Christane, huh?" he mused, crossing his arms. "Jake must be proud. He's been waiting for the right time to introduce her."

Xavier scoffed. "He sure knows how to make an entrance."

"Well, she's going to be a force to reckon with," Vivian stated. "The Christanes have always been strong in business. If she's anything like her father, she'll be a formidable opponent."

Xavier remained silent, thinking back to Bella's confident smirk. She had the air of someone who knew exactly what she wanted and wasn't afraid to take it. It was both frustrating and… intriguing.

After a while, they all moved to the living room, where Stella was seated comfortably, her complexion much healthier than before. The reunion was filled with warmth—laughter, teasing, and stories about the past. Vivian sat beside his wife, holding her hand as he listened to the conversation.

"I missed this," Stella murmured, smiling at her children. "Having you all here."

"We missed you too, Mom," Ana said, squeezing her hand gently.

They spent the evening reminiscing and catching up, cherishing the rare moment of togetherness. But soon, responsibilities called. Ana, Luna, and Rose, who had taken leave from their university in France, had to return for their exams.

"We'll be back as soon as we can," Luna promised.

"Make sure you do well in your exams first," Stella said firmly. "That's more important."

The girls packed their things, preparing to leave the next day. Xavier, meanwhile, found himself lost in thought once more. His mother's sudden health scare had shaken him, but now that she was recovering, his mind drifted back to business—and to a certain woman who had unexpectedly entered his life.

Bella Christane.

He didn't know what to make of her yet. But one thing was certain—this wasn't the last time their paths would cross.