THE LANCHESTERS

Olivia Lanchester moved with a refined grace, her simple yet stylish attire accentuating her natural elegance. She trailed behind the man in the polished suit and overcoat who happened to be the chauffeur, her heart racing as they approached the sleek black limousine stationed ominously in the middle of the street. She hadn't seen her father in 3 years and was anxious. Without pausing for a moment, she slipped inside.

As the door closed behind her, the air thickened with unspoken tension. Across the plush interior sat two men one older, distinguished with strands of silver threading through his hair, the other youthful, with sharp, angular features that seemed to be forever etched in a smirk.

"So, how was three years with that... loser?" the younger man teased, his voice dripping with disdain.

"Richard, don't talk about your cousin like that," Mr. Lanchester interjected, his sigh laced with weariness,

Olivia inhaled deeply, the facade of calm she wore faltering as she looked at her brother. "Dad, I'm returning home now. Let's focus on that first," she replied, her voice steady but her eyes revealing a deeper turmoil.

"I'll find a good match for you dear, and you can't refuse."

Olivia didn't argue anymore. She had been too adamant to listen to her father before marrying Ethan. Now she knew better than to do what she was told.

Her lips curved into a fragile smile, but the lingering sadness in her eyes could still be noticed reflecting the battle she fought within herself. It was a world that had changed in her absence, and she felt the weight of expectations and unspoken words pressing down on her like a heavy cloak. As the car began to move, she suddenly said, "I'll make them pay".

Soon after, Richard tried starting a conversation with her but she wasn't in the mood.

Back at the Whitmore's

A slightly chubby woman with bright red lips sat lazily on the sofa, a pleased smile on her face as Victoria and Ethan walked in. She looked to be in her late 50s and perked up when she saw Victoria in her designer suit.

"Mum," Victoria greeted, stepping forward to peck the woman's cheek.

The older woman smirked. "She's gone," she said, almost laughing.

Victoria's lips curled into a satisfied smile. "Finally."

They exchanged knowing looks before breaking into laughter, whispering between themselves as if sharing an inside joke. Ethan stood silently beside them, his face unreadable.

The door opened, and a group of people entered a short man in his sixties leading the way, followed by a young woman in work clothes and another man who barely drew attention at first. His features were strikingly similar to Ethan's.

"Congratulations, brother," the young woman said, her red lips quivering into a smirk. "On signing the contract with the Lanchester Group."

"Congratulations!" The words echoed across the room as murmurs of approval spread.

Ethan gave a curt nod. "It's all thanks to Victoria's help."

Old Pa Whitmore scoffed, his wrinkled face twisting in disdain. "Good thing you dumped that worthless woman. Who knows how much she could have dragged you down?"

Victoria's chuckled in agreement, taking a slow sip from her glass.

Emilia crossed her arms, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Yes, Brother Ethan. If only you had done it earlier, you'd be even further ahead."

Ethan reached for a seat beside Victoria and couldn't stop smiling.

Victoria turned to him with a bright smile. "Well, it was bound to happen. And thanks to my father's influence, the Lanchester Group finally agreed to the deal. Imagine if you'd still been tied to that woman do you think they'd have taken you seriously?"

The room hummed with agreement. Old Pa Whitmore let out a chuckle. "You should count yourself lucky, son. The Davenports know how to get things done. It'll be so good to have them as an inlaw"

Ethan gave an approving nod. Reaches out for Victoria and kisses her. But his eyes darkened slightly. The celebration continued. Suddenly, Miranda Whitmore poked.

"Don't worry Son, things will get better from now on in this family. And others won't be able to look down on us anymore.

"I'd better get going now, I still need to talk to my father about a lot of things, "Victoria said, "Ethan pls drop me off, would you?" She added playfully.

With that, they both left.

The next morning at Lanchester's Manor, the air buzzed with excitement and speculation. The news of Olivia Lanchester's return had spread like wildfire. The divorced wife of Ethan Whitmore was no ordinary woman; she was the pampered daughter of Alexander Lanchester, the wealthiest, most feared, and most influential businessman in all of Eldora.

Alexander Lanchester was a name spoken in hushed tones, a man shrouded in mystery. Unlike most powerful figures who enjoyed the limelight, he had mastered the art of remaining unseen. His reluctance to appear in public only added to the legends surrounding him. Some whispered that he had retired, that his time had passed. Nobody hears from him at all.

Richard Lanchester was also very active in the family business since Olivia wasn't ready to take over but the old man remained the mastermind behind its continued dominance.

His wife, Eleanor Lanchester, had been the love of his life, his greatest treasure. But tragedy struck shortly after Olivia was born, taking Eleanor away and leaving Alexander to raise their daughter alone. He had poured all his love, all his devotion, into Olivia, shielding her from the harsh realities of the business world.

She had grown up in luxury, doted on, protected. And now, after being cast aside by Ethan, she had returned not as a broken woman, but as a Lanchester.

Soon it was time for breakfast, and Olivia, well aware of her father's strict rules, knew better than to come late. The table was overflowing with a variety of foods, and most of them were her favorites.

Just then, the butler suddenly walked up to them and asked.

"Miss Olivia, your ex-husband's signing ceremony is in just two weeks. Remember, we agreed to sign the contract because he was your husband. And this was your moment to reveal your identity to him. So, what's the plan now?"

"We won't sign," Alexander replied decisively, a spark of indignation in his voice. "The Whitmore's dared to abandon my daughter in such a way. They don't deserve to be seen around the Lanchester's."

Olivia took a measured sip of her tea, her expression calm yet resolute.

"Dad, I truly appreciate your support, but this is my fight, and I want to handle it my way," she said, placing her cup down with determination. "Ethan made his choice, and I refuse to waste my energy on those who never valued who I am. But I won't let this pass quietly either."

"We'll attend the signing ceremony," she declared, her voice steady, "but not to sign. I want Ethan to see exactly what he threw away before I publicly reject the deal in front of everyone. He needs to understand what he lost."

Alexander Lanchester smirked, surprised. "Well, well… looks like my daughter isn't as fragile as I thought. This should be interesting."

With that, they ate the rest of the food in silence as it was one of Alexander's rules.