Beginning Of A Lost Bond.

The conference room had slowly emptied.

One by one, the executives had gathered their folders, exchanged handshakes, and congratulated the woman who had just secured one of the most lucrative couture partnerships of the year.

“Brilliant negotiation, Ms. Gracelyn.”

“We’re looking forward to the Rebirth Collection.”

“This will reshape the luxury fashion market.”

She had responded to each of them with the same composed smile, the same calm nod, the same professional grace that had carried her through the entire meeting.

And Rex? He had only watched her handle everything.

The moment the last board member walked out and the doors clicked shut behind them, the atmosphere in the room shifted.

Silence fell.

Heavy.

Gracelyn calmly began gathering her things. She slid the signed documents into her leather portfolio and zipped her bag shut. Her movements were precise and unhurried, as if she had all the time in the world.

Across the table, Rexander Sinclair watched her.

The room suddenly felt too small. Even after she had told him he can never get in her way, she walked back to where she had kept her bag, and acted like the short conversation they just had never even happened.

Finally, he cleared his throat.

“Congratulations.”

His voice was controlled, but something about it felt restrained, like a man holding back ten different questions at once.

Gracelyn didn’t look up immediately.

She closed her bag first.

Then she lifted her gaze to him with a polite smile.

“Thank you.”

She slung the strap of her bag over her shoulder and walked toward the door.

Just as her hand touched the handle, he called her name.

“Gracelyn.”

The way he said her name made her pause.

Not angry.

Not cold.

Just uncertain.

For a brief moment, she stood still with her back to him.

Then she turned.

Her smile was calm, but her eyes carried the weight of something she had hidden for years.

“Mr. Sinclair?”

Rex leaned his hands against the table, studying her like a book that was difficult to understand.

“I meant what I said in there,” he began slowly. “Your work is impressive. I didn’t expect—”

She let out a small laugh.

Not amused.

More like someone hearing a very old joke.

“If this is where you attempt to compliment me,” she said smoothly, “I suggest you stop while you’re ahead.”

His jaw tightened slightly.

“That’s not what I—”

“I’m here to do my job,” she interrupted calmly.

She stepped closer to the table, resting her fingertips lightly on the polished surface, her nails tapping it gently.

“And nothing else.”

Her gaze held his.

Sharp.

Unapologetic.

Fearless, even.

“And if you think you’re still some kind of trophy,” she continued softly, “then you should rethink that.”

His brows furrowed.

“Or better yet—”

She tilted her head slightly, smiling again.

“Find something productive to do with your time. Like being the family man you are—”

A beat of silence passed.

Then she added, almost casually, like it was nothing.

“—Instead of assuming everyone around you is a liar or an attention seeker.”

That landed like a slap.

Rex’s breath hitched as he deciphered the meaning behind her words.

For a moment, he couldn’t respond.

But Gracelyn wasn’t waiting for one.

She adjusted her bag strap again and stepped toward the door.

Just before leaving, she glanced over her shoulder.

“See you in the office tomorrow, Mr. Sinclair. And please, I would appreciate a minimalistic office.”

Her smile returned.

Bright.

Unbothered.

Professional.

Then she walked out.

The door shut behind her with a click.

Rex stood there for several seconds.

Still.

Processing.

Then he exhaled slowly and dragged a hand through his hair.

“What the hell was that…” He said in a hushed tone, and he took a deep breath, and walked out of the conference room.

Five minutes later, Rex stood inside his office.

The Sinclair executive floor was built to intimidate. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows stretched across the entire wall, overlooking the city skyline.

Rex stood with one hand in his pocket, staring out the window.

Below, luxury cars moved through traffic like silent streams of black and silver.

But his mind wasn’t on the city.

It was on her.

He spotted her eventually.

Gracelyn was just exiting the building.

He watched her leave the building with the same graceful poise she carried in the meeting. The sunlight caught her golden hair as she descended the marble steps, gracefully.

She looked… different.

Not the girl he remembered.

No.

Not even close.

She looked stronger.

More dangerous.

And somehow…

More beautiful.

Rex frowned slightly.

Why am I even thinking that?

He watched as she stepped into a waiting car.

The driver opened the door for her.

She slid inside without hesitation, never once looking back at the building.

At him.

Not like she knew he was watching, but then…

The car pulled away moments later.

Rex leaned his forehead briefly against the glass.

A strange feeling stirred in his chest.

Guilt.

But it didn’t make sense.

He barely understood what had happened all those years ago.

All he remembered clearly was the accusation.

The chaos.

And the moment he chose not to believe her.

Was she…right?

His jaw tightened.

“Why does she still look at me like that…”

No, he shouldn’t be thinking about it now. He has a son, and that’s his priority.

Before the thought could settle, his phone buzzed loudly on the desk.

The sharp vibration snapped him back to the present.

Rex walked over and picked it up.

“Sinclair.”

“Sir,” his secretary’s voice came through the line, efficient as always. “This is just a reminder about your meeting at the Grand Meridian Hotel this evening.”

Rex glanced at his watch.

One hour.

“Right,” he said. “I’ll be there.”

He ended the call and placed the phone down.

For the next twenty minutes, he tried to work.

He really did.

Emails.

Contracts.

Financial reports.

But every time he looked down at the paperwork, the same image appeared in his mind.

Gracelyn’s eyes.

Cold.

Hurt.

Alluring.

And that line she had delivered so calmly, with no hesitation, but a tone filled with malice and pain.

“I’m the one holding the knife.”

Rex exhaled sharply.

“Damn it!”

Without warning, he swept the stack of papers off his desk.

They scattered across the floor.

The sound echoed in the quiet office.

Rex pressed his hands against the desk, breathing slowly.

“What the hell is wrong with me today…”

After a moment, he grabbed his suit jacket and left the office.

***

Grand Meridian Hotel

Thirty minutes later, Rex stepped out of the elevator on the private suite floor.

His personal assistant, Maverick, was already waiting outside one of the luxury suites.

“Good evening, sir,” he said, straightening immediately.

Rex nodded once.

“Where is he?”

“In the room, sir.”

Maverick opened the door.

Inside, the large suite was quiet except for the sound of cartoons playing softly on the television.

A small boy sat cross-legged on the carpet near the couch, surrounded by toy cars.

“Nicole.”

The boy looked up instantly, but he didn’t say a word.

Yet, Rex understood him, as he watched his eyes light up.

Rex crouched down, and spread his arms wide open to embrace him.

Nicole was five years old, but he carried the same hazel eyes as his father.

Bright, yet cold.

His dark hair was slightly messy, falling over his forehead.

“How are you? I hope you’re having a great time,” he said, turning his head to the television.

He realized he wasn’t watching cartoons, but a video on technology and AI.

“Oh, I see. Do you still need those gadgets, buddy?”

Nicole nodded, his eyes sparkling with happiness.

“Okay! Daddy’s gonna get them for you soon.”

Behind them, Maverick checked his watch.

“Sir, I’ll step out for a moment.”

Rex nodded.

The door closed quietly.

Nicole immediately grabbed Rex’s hand, leading him somewhere.

Rex allowed himself a small smile as he followed his son to the carpet.

For a few minutes, the world outside the room disappeared.

Just father and son.

But eventually, Nicole’s attention drifted.

His eyes moved toward the balcony doors that led out to the hotel garden.

Rex noticed how hard he had stared, and felt a pant of pain for his boy.

Ever since the accident two years ago, he had always been extra overprotective of him, and as much as he hated to admit, he knew how exhausting it was for him to not experience childhood as other normal kids would.

“Do you want to go outside?” He asked.

Nicole nodded almost immediately.

Rex hesitated, but finally agreed.

Maverick usually supervised Nathan during outings, but he was not available at the moment.

The hotel garden was private and enclosed, and his meeting was just adjacent to it, so he could monitor him carefully.

“Stay where I can see you,” Rex said finally.

However, he was still scared. He ordered one of his men to watch over him from a distance. He didn’t want Nicole to feel like he was a prisoner caged and guarded every single time.

Nicole smiled softly, but it was for a nanosecond, as he walked away into the garden.

The garden was peaceful.

Tall hedges surrounded the open space, and small stone paths wound through carefully arranged flowerbeds.

Nicole walked across the garden, studying the environment.

Then he stopped.

Someone else was there.

A boy.

About the same age.

Standing near the fountain.

Nicole blinked.

The boy blinked back.

For several seconds, they simply stared at each other.

Because the resemblance was… unsettling.

They looked almost identical.

Both had dark hair.

Both had similar heights.

Both had nearly the same facial structure.

But there were differences.

The boy’s hair was slightly lighter, with soft brown highlights under the sunlight.

Nicole’s hair was darker; almost black.

Nicole’s yes were warm hazel, and he looked introverted—quiet and observant. Like someone used to watching before speaking.

The other boy’s were a deeper shade of brown, and had a playful grin.

The boy slowly walked closer.

“Hi.”

Nicole didn’t respond.

He tilted his head.

“What’s your name?”

Still nothing.

Nicole just stared at him.

The boy scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

“Do you not talk?”

Nicole’s aze flickered slightly, but he remained silent.

The boy sighed dramatically, dropping his shoulders.

“My name is Nathan.”

Still nothing.

Just as Nathan opened his mouth again, his smartwatch beeped loudly.

Nathan jumped slightly.

“Oh, no!”

He glanced down at the screen.

A reminder flashed.

Aunt Selena will be back soon.

Nathan frowned.

“Aw man…”

He looked back at the silent Nicole.

“I have to go.”

Then he quickly pulled a small notepad and pen from his pocket.

He scribbled something on the paper.

“My number,” Nathan said proudly, handing it over.

“If you want to talk.”

Nicole looked at the paper.

Nathan grinned.

He reached forward and grabbed the boy’s hand for a quick shake.

“I’m Nathan, and it was nice to meet you, my identical.”

Then he ran back toward the hotel through the back doors.

Nicole stood by the fountain long after Nathan disappeared.

His small fingers slowly unfolded the paper.

He looked at the number written in a pencil.

Then he looked toward the hotel.

Where Nathan had gone.

Something strange stirred in his chest.

Something new.

A connection neither of them understood yet.

But it had already begun.

The beginning of a lost bond.