The sun was slowly setting over Washington as Dylan, still shaken by his encounter with Diego, settled into the villa's grand living room. In front of him, Diego calmly observed the space, as if evaluating the value of every object.
"You live well, cousin," he said, sitting down in a white leather armchair.
Dylan stared at him intensely.
"You surprised me, Diego. I didn't even know my uncle had a son."
"It doesn't matter. What's important is that I'm here now. And I came to take back what's rightfully mine," Diego explained in a calm but firm voice.
"Take back?"
"Yes. Everything that belonged to my father—his house, his business, his label. It's mine now. I'm his son, his rightful heir."
A silence fell. Dylan could feel the tension rise, but he held firm.
"I understand… but you have no idea what I went through to get here. I suffered, I was abandoned, betrayed… and I built something out of nothing. Your father helped me, yes, but I earned all of this."
Diego looked at him for a long moment, then smiled.
"That's why I'm not going to take everything from you. I have a proposal."
Dylan raised an eyebrow.
"I become the main producer. I handle the finances, the strategy, the label. And you remain a solo artist. I'll take care of your career."
"And Ryder, Daniella, Andrea?"
Diego stood up, took a few steps, then turned back around.
"They're under my label too. But they won't work with you. Ever."
Dylan slowly nodded.
"Fine. I just want to move forward. Make my music. Create without being held back by the past."
The next day, a contract was signed. Diego Lenoir officially became the new CEO of the label, the new producer for Dylan, Ryder, Daniella, and Andrea. He reorganized the team, fired the incompetent ones, and hired fresh talent. Dylan, meanwhile, spent his days in the studio.
One evening, he released a new song titled Phoenix. In this powerful track, he poured out his pain, his losses, his betrayals, and his rebirth. The lyrics touched the audience, and the song gained millions of views within hours.
Meanwhile, Ryder, Daniella, and Andrea were summoned to the label's headquarters.
"Wait… Dylan is also signed to this label?!" Andrea exclaimed.
"Yes," Diego replied coldly. "But you won't be working with him. I want each of you on separate projects."
"Why?" Daniella asked.
"Because I make the decisions. Dylan is a solo artist. You're a trio. End of story."
Ryder wanted to respond but held back. They left the office with a bitter taste in their mouths.
That same evening, Diego hosted a press conference. Journalists from all over the country were present.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm Diego Lenoir, son of the late Marcos Lenoir, a great music producer. I'm now taking over the empire. I'm announcing a new era filled with incredible projects. And soon, a unique musical event will bring all our stars together on one stage."
A question burst from the crowd:
"Will Dylan Lenoir and the group RDA (Ryder, Daniella, Andrea) perform together?"
Diego smiled, stepped up to the mic, and confidently answered:
"They'll be on the same stage, but not together. Because true art is born from individuality."
The audience applauded, and the cameras turned toward him. Backstage, Dylan watched the press conference on his phone, a sly smile on his face. He knew the real show was just beginning.