Long Time, No see.

The car rolled to a stop, and Silver lowered the window to gaze up at the mansion she used to call home.

It had been three years.

The Carrington mansion is as lovely as she remembered, with a wide golden gate separating it from the outside world. The ancient three-story building stood regal. Silver inhaled, held it in, and let it out slowly, her hand tightening around the car door.

It was finally time.

Just then her phone rang, and when she glanced at it, she saw it was the babysitter she had hired for the day.

“Yes?" Silver murmured as she picked up the call, mildly grateful for the distraction. She wasn't ready to go behind those gates yet; she knew what awaited her.

“He keeps asking for you, ma'am. I don't know what else to do.” The young woman said, sounding frazzled.

Silver sighed again. Her son wasn't a troublemaker, but then again, he's never had a babysitter. Silver had always taken care of him, until now. Now she had more responsibilities— soon, she would be controlling an empire.

Soon.

“Play PJ Masks. That should keep him distracted." Silver said and immediately ended the call before more could be said. 

"Shall we go in, ma'am?” Her driver asked, meeting her eyes with concern through the mirror.

Silver nodded, gripping her throat gently as she swallowed hard.

The driver punched in the gate code Bartholomew gave her; he had given Silver everything she needed to see this day through. The thought of him brought deep sadness to Silver's heart.

On that day when Bartholomew showed up at her mother's door, she thought that was the end for her. But no, Bartholomew gave her another chance. 

He gave her a new life; now was the time for her to fully step back into it. 

Silver lifted her shoulders and straightened her spine as she stepped out of the car; it was show time. 

She motioned for the driver to park properly before she walked into the house. The door was left open. Silver knew who did that.

In the living room, Burke Carrington sat beside his mother, trying his best to get her to stop crying. His father had been dead for a week now, and not once in his entire lifetime did Burke think his mother cared for his father, until now.

Their marriage was an odd one. But Felicia was too distraught to be faking it.

Adjacent to them, his younger sister, Maya Carrington, sat unbothered, picking at nonexistent dirt under her long nails. Maya and Bartholomew never got along. Burke understood the young woman's outward persona towards the tragedy, but he also knew she had to be crumbling inside.

She just lost her father, after all.

The door pushed open, and they all turned their heads instinctively to find out who had entered. Burke hoped it was Clem, the family lawyer; today was the will reading, and he couldn't wait to get it over with. He knew what would be said anyway; Burke would be the new CEO of the dynasty.

But instead, it was a ghost that walked through the door. 

Burke couldn't believe it; he blinked, but his vision didn't disappear. His body moved before his mind caught up, his legs launched him to his feet as he gaped at the 5’ 7 beauty in black suits and heels.

Her curly black hair was longer than he remembered; it reached her waist now, and her hazel eyes seemed to have grown bigger. Her figure was more pronounced, like something had happened and changed her completely. Burke knew what had happened; she had broken his trust. His breath hitched as he took her in. So did his mother’s. Even the imaginary dirt no longer mattered to Maya.

The air thickened and became suspended in silence. They all stared at Silver. Who remained by the doorway with lifted chin, her lips faintly parted, and her eyes glinted as she adjusted invisible creases on her grey pantsuit, seemingly enjoying the attention. 

Burke's jaw tightened, and his fingers curled into fists against his thighs.

What on earth is she doing here?

“Silver?" Maya whispered in disbelief as she broke the silence and walked towards her best friend, whom she hadn't seen in forever.

Silver mirrored the slender lady in a black gown’s action, her piercing green eyes standing out against her raven-black hair. Maya pulled her into a hug, and Silver reciprocated.

“I'm so sorry for your loss," Silver murmured, rubbing her back. They were barely a second in when Felicia spoke.

“What is she doing here? Who let this woman into my house?!" Felicia screamed as she angrily rushed towards Silver, swinging to attack, but Burke caught her in time.

Silver took more steps towards them, unfazed by Felicia's reaction.

Burke scoffed.

“What? You want to fight my mom?" He spat, pushing Felicia back as he got into Silver's face.

His breath washed over Silver's face, and it took all her will not to react or retreat.

“She was going to attack me," Silver responded calmly.

"Yeah, and I stopped her, so back off,” Burke commanded and ushered Felicia to a seat before Silver could respond.

“Ah, I see we are all here." Clem walked in, unaware of the tension.

“You asked her to come?" Burke barked at the man. 

“I didn't, your father did,” Clem said with an arched brow, daring Burke to say more.

Burke shook his head, his heart thumping hard in his chest as he considered possible reasons why his father would want Silver at his will-reading. When he finally reached a conclusion, Burke’s throat closed.

“Please don't tell me you were still screwing my father," Burke uttered in disgust.

Silver fixed her gaze on Burke. He looked just like she remembered—a tall, broad-shouldered man with tousled dark brown hair and icy blue eyes that crinkled whenever he smiled, except now there was a scowl in place of his former signature smile.

Once, Silver could have sworn he was her world, but all she felt for him now was pity and anger at herself.

How did she never notice how small-minded he was?

“And what if I was?" Silver threw out and maintained eye contact with Burke, hoping to strike a nerve.

She did. Burke startled, gaping briefly, but he closed his mouth just as quickly and sat down.

Her lips twitched, and a small, wicked satisfaction blossomed in her chest.

She walked to a lone couch across Burke, Felicia, and Malia, and lowered her body into it while meeting all their gaze.

It took forever, but the lawyer finally cleared his throat and spoke.

“We are all here to read the last will of Bartholomew Carrington," the man paused to check if he had everyone’s attention. He nodded when he saw that he did, and then continued. 

“Bartholomew was a father, a husband, a friend, a pioneer of change, a philanthropist, but most importantly, a good man. I am deeply sorry for your loss. Bartholomew did live a good life, and I want you all to remember that every time you think of him." 

“Yeah, sure," Maya muttered sarcastically, drawing everyone's attention. The younger lady threw her hands up and scoffed. 

“What? Don't look at me like that. He wasn't particularly a saint; if anything, he was an asshole. I mean, he cheated on you, and he screwed your wife.” She further explained, nodding at her mother, then pointing at her brother.

Maya immediately regretted her words, though; she hadn't meant to make Silver sound like a prostitute. Hell, she never believed the accusation. Silver was her best friend; she didn't think she could do that, but Burke had evidence. And neither her father nor Silver debunked them. 

“Sorry." She muttered to no one in particular.

Burke, on the other hand, wanted to smash something or preferably strangle someone, and it wasn't Maya. His jaw locked, and he glared at Silver, reminded of the betrayal he still hadn't quite healed from.

A loud clicking of heels distracted him, and he groaned as his wife came to sit beside him.

What impeccable timing.

Silver looked at the stunning, tall blonde who just walked in like she owned the room in curiosity, wondering who she was. She froze when Burke leaned towards the woman and kissed her cheek. 

Silver’s eyes trailed her features until her eyes reached her left hand, where she found a ring; she checked Burke's too and saw a ring. 

So he married again.

Her stomach unexpectedly tightened at the realization, but she managed to maintain composure.

She felt Burke’s eyes on her and looked away, forcing herself not to swallow.

But Burke already saw a crack, or so she feared.

Clem cleared his throat again.

“If we could continue…”

"Yes, please,” Felicia responded, and the man nodded. He goes on to read a speech from Bartholomew addressing everyone in the room, including Silver, before he dropped the bomb.

"...now I know many will not like this, but it is my will, and it must be followed. Effective immediately, my son Burke Carrington and his ex-wife Silver Lorraine are the new Co-CEOs of the Carrington dynasty.” Clem said, and paused to allow the revelation to sink in.

Silver leaned back slightly in her seat, the corner of her mouth lifting as she waited for the commotion to erupt. The fun part was just about to start.