The warm cascade of water slid down her skin, steam curling in the air as Liyana stood beneath the rainfall showerhead, eyes shut, fingers pressed against her temples.
The dinner was over.
She had come home, walked up the stairs of her private villa, and slipped into the shower as if she could wash away the lingering weight in her chest.
But it didn't leave her.
It never did.
The water muffled everything—the hum of the city outside, the quiet ticking of the clock, the dull ache in her heart she pretended didn't exist.
She exhaled slowly, pressing her forehead against the cool marble wall.
Why?
Why did it still bother her?
She had let go of him years ago. Had stopped waiting. Had moved forward.
And yet...
That word.
"Sister."
Her lips parted, a silent breath escaping.
He still saw her that way.
Even now.
Even after all these years.
A soft, bitter chuckle left her lips. She should have expected it. She did expect it.
And yet, it still managed to sting.
Liyana squeezed her eyes shut, her mind dragging her backward—through the years, through the carefully built walls—back to the moment it all started.
Back to the moment she stopped being a girl in love.
The sharp buzz of her phone cut through the quiet hum of the bathroom.
Liyana blinked, exhaling slowly as she reached for the towel, wrapping it around herself before stepping out of the shower. Droplets of water slid down her skin, pooling at her feet as she padded toward the vanity.
Another buzz.
She picked up the phone, swiping at the misted screen. Mira.
Liyana sighed before answering. "What is it?"
"Your schedule for tomorrow," Mira's voice came through, crisp and efficient. "You have a meeting first thing in the morning at Celeste. The investors want a final review before the luxury collection launch. I've already prepped the reports."
"Noted," Liyana murmured, dabbing a towel against her damp hair.
"And there's a brunch invitation from—" Mira hesitated for a beat. "—your grandfather."
Liyana stilled.
"Did he say why?"
"Just that it's important."
Her grip on the phone tightened slightly, but her voice remained steady. "I'll be there."
Mira exhaled, shifting topics. "Also, there's an update on the acquisition proposal. The company we're negotiating with has another interested buyer."
Liyana's brows furrowed. "Who?"
"Lu Group."
A beat of silence.
Liyana's gaze flickered to her reflection in the mirror, eyes dark with thought.
Of course.
Her lips curled into something unreadable. "Understood. Anything else?"
"That's all for now." A pause. "Get some rest, Liyana."
The call ended with a soft chime.
Liyana placed the phone down, staring at her own reflection for a long moment.
Tomorrow was going to be... interesting.
The morning light filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Liyana's private villa, casting a soft glow across the sleek interior. The faint hum of the city awakening outside blended with the quiet rustling of fabric as she fastened the delicate clasp of her earrings.
Her reflection in the mirror was poised—flawless. A fitted white blouse, crisp and tailored, tucked into an elegant beige pencil skirt. Gold accents, subtle yet powerful. A vision of control, of authority.
No one would be able to tell she had spent last night tangled in unwanted thoughts.
She didn't allow distractions. Not in her life. Not in her work.
A knock at the door interrupted the silence.
"Miss Xu, the car is ready," her driver informed her from the other side.
"Understood," she replied, grabbing her handbag and stepping into her heels.
It was time to return to what truly mattered—Celeste.
The moment Liyana stepped into Celeste Headquarters, all eyes subtly turned in her direction.
"Good morning, President Xu!" a staff member greeted with a respectful nod.
"Good morning, President Xu," another chimed in as she walked past.
She responded with a small, acknowledging nod, her pace steady, her presence commanding yet effortless.
Inside the exclusive Celeste Dining Hall, a few employees seated for breakfast hushed their conversations, watching their CEO with a mix of admiration and respect. Some still weren't used to seeing someone so young in power. Others had learned that age had nothing to do with the iron control Liyana wielded.
Stepping into the private executive elevator, she pressed the button for the top floor, the doors closing smoothly behind her.
Mira was already waiting outside her office when she arrived.
"Morning, Mira."
"Good morning, President Xu," Mira greeted, falling into step beside her. "We have a packed schedule today. But first, the further launch strategy meeting is about to begin. The board members are already waiting."
Liyana adjusted the cuffs of her blouse, her expression unreadable. "Let's go."
With that, she strode forward, Mira following closely as they made their way to the conference room—where the next phase of Celeste's future would be decided.
The conference room of Celeste Headquarters was sleek and modern, its expansive windows offering a panoramic view of the city skyline. Inside, key executives, department heads, and board members sat around the polished marble table, their murmurs ceasing the moment Liyana entered.
"President Xu," one of the senior executives, Mr. Han, greeted as he stood slightly, followed by other board members offering polite nods of respect.
Liyana took her seat at the head of the table, Mira settling beside her with a tablet in hand. Her gaze swept across the room—sharp, assessing.
"Let's begin," she said smoothly.
A young executive, Daniel, cleared his throat and switched on the presentation screen. A new luxury line expansion was being discussed, one designed to push Celeste's brand further into the global market.
"This launch will focus on high-end seasonal collections, with limited edition pieces targeting our VIP clientele," Daniel began. "Our design team has curated an exclusive line, integrating modern couture with traditional craftsmanship, ensuring exclusivity while maintaining Celeste's brand identity."
A few nods of approval. The concept was solid.
Mr. Han folded his hands, leaning slightly forward. "We've also secured premier locations for the flagship launch. Paris, Milan, and New York. However, there's one key real estate location that remains undecided—the Westward Plaza property."
At the mention of the name, a subtle shift in Liyana's posture.
The Westward Plaza property.
One of the most valuable commercial spaces in the city. A prime location for Celeste's expansion.
And the same property Damien Lu was after.
Mira cast a brief glance at Liyana, already anticipating her reaction.
"Westward Plaza is the ideal flagship location for our luxury expansion," Daniel continued. "The space aligns with our brand's exclusivity, and the foot traffic alone guarantees market dominance. The issue—" He hesitated. "—is that Lu Group has shown interest in acquiring it for Aurora Grand Hotels."
A brief silence followed.
Unsurprising.
Damien.
Of course, it was him.
Liyana's expression remained unreadable, but the temperature in the room seemed to subtly shift.
"We still have an open bid," another board member spoke. "The current owners haven't finalized negotiations with anyone yet."
Mr. Han sighed. "But given Lu Group's influence, they could easily push us out of the deal if they wanted to."
The room grew tense.
Lu Group's involvement wasn't something to take lightly. Damien didn't make empty bids. If he wanted the property, he would get the property.
Unless she made sure he didn't.
Liyana leaned back slightly, crossing one leg over the other, her nails tapping lightly against the armrest.
"The Westward Plaza deal isn't off the table yet," she said, voice smooth and unwavering. "We're not stepping back. Schedule a meeting with the property owners. I want to negotiate directly."
Mira nodded, already making a note.
"And if Lu Group tries to interfere?" Daniel asked cautiously.
Liyana's lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile.
"Then we remind them who they're dealing with."
Just as the meeting wrapped up, Liyana's phone vibrated on the sleek glass table. A sharp buzz, persistent. Mira, standing beside her, noticed the sudden shift in her expression as she glanced at the screen.
Breaking News: Business Titans Damien Lu & Liyana Xu – A Power Couple in the Making?Sources claim an upcoming engagement between Celeste's CEO and the Lu Group heir.
The headline flashed in bold, accompanied by a blurred photo from last night's family dinner. The image was vague—Liyana stepping out of the car, Damien standing just a few feet away. But it was enough. Enough to ignite wild speculation.
A sharp inhale.
Mira's eyes widened. "What the—"
Before Liyana could react, voices outside the conference room grew noticeably louder. Whispers. Gasps. The Celeste staff had seen the news.
Liyana exhaled slowly, fingers tightening around her phone.
A call flashed on her screen.
Incoming Call: Damien Lu
Of course.
A low, humorless chuckle escaped her lips as she leaned back in her chair, staring at the screen.
This day just got a whole lot more interesting.