Chapter 8: Meet Again

The night unfolds quietly in the Montgomery villa. The children are sound asleep in their rooms, their soft breathing the only sound that fills the space. Lila sits by their beds, her heart filled with a mix of warmth and sorrow. She pulls the blankets gently over their small bodies, the fabric soft against their skin as she tucks them in.

Ava, her little angel, lies curled up on her side, her head resting on the pillow, her face peaceful. Liam, her curious boy with the fierce determination, is sprawled out on his back, his arms outstretched, like he’s always ready to conquer the world. Despite his tough exterior, he’s still just a child—her child. The thought brings a small smile to Lila’s lips, though it’s laced with sadness, because she knows deep down that these children deserve a father’s love. A father who’s not distant. A father who’s not a stranger.

She brushes a strand of hair away from Ava’s face before standing up and quietly leaving the room, her movements practiced and careful so she doesn’t disturb their slumber.

The house is still. Even the usual sounds of servants moving about have ceased, and now there is only silence, save for the soft sound of the floor beneath her feet. Lila walks through the hallway and into the spacious study that has been set aside for her during her stay. She takes a seat by the large window overlooking the lush garden below, the faint moonlight casting shadows in the room.

Lila reaches for her phone, scrolling through the news articles. She’s been catching up on the company’s performance, trying to familiarize herself with the latest updates. [Montgomery Enterprises has shown promising growth and now fallback despite recent setbacks], the headlines read, followed by charts and figures she used to understand with ease. Her thoughts drift for a moment, but she shakes herself from her reverie, determined to focus on the task at hand. She needs to learn everything about the company’s current state and figure out how to bring it back to its former glory.

But then, she stumbles upon something that makes her stop cold. The title of the article makes her heart tighten.

"Kristina Black and Adrian Hale: Engaged, but Keeping it Private?"

Lila’s breath catches in her throat. She doesn’t want to read it, but her finger betrays her, clicking the article open. The words dance across her screen:

[After months of speculation, sources close to Adrian Hale, the powerful CEO of Hale Industries, have confirmed that he and Kristina Black are engaged. However, the two have kept the news private, with neither confirming nor denying the rumors...]

She feels the weight of the words pressing on her chest, but she forces herself to keep reading. [Kristina, once a prominent figure in the social scene, had a tumultuous past with Hale, but the couple appears stronger than ever. Despite Adrian Hale’s known distance from the media, sources have indicated that he is planning a quiet, private wedding in the coming months...]

"Of course," Lila whispers bitterly, her voice breaking the stillness of the room. "Of course, they are."

She closes her phone with trembling hands, unable to read any further. She had known, deep down, that this was the direction things would go. But seeing it in black and white, hearing the words “engaged” and “Kristina Black” in the same sentence, was a blow that cut deeper than she had anticipated. It shouldn’t hurt like this. She should’ve expected it, but still, the pain surges through her like a storm.

She exhales slowly, blinking away the tears that are threatening to fall. The room feels suffocating all of a sudden, and she pushes the phone aside, turning to stare out the window, trying to quiet the storm inside her.

The next morning, Lila wakes up to the smell of fresh coffee drifting from the kitchen. She sits up in bed, blinking sleep from her eyes, and checks on the kids. Ava is already awake, sitting at the edge of her bed, looking out the window. Liam is still fast asleep, his face calm and untroubled.

Lila smiles at her children, the ache in her heart softening a little as she watches them, and for a moment, she forgets about the world outside.

But that moment doesn’t last. She knows she has work to do today.

"Mommy, do we have school today?" Ava’s soft voice pulls Lila from her thoughts.

"No, sweetheart," Lila says, brushing a hand through Ava’s hair. "But Mommy has work. You’ll stay with Grandma and Grandpa."

"Okay!" Ava chirps, her smile lighting up the room. Liam stirs awake, rubbing his eyes as he sits up.

"Work again?" he grumbles, his voice thick with sleep. "Why do you always have to work, Mommy?"

"Because," Lila kneels down to his level, cupping his small face in her hands, "Mommy is trying to fix something very important."

Liam stares at her with a seriousness that takes her by surprise. "Is it for us?"

Lila nods, her throat tightening. "Yes, baby. It’s all for you and Ava."

Satisfied with her answer, Liam nods and stretches. "Okay. But don’t be gone too long."

"I won’t," Lila promises, kissing his forehead.

After a light breakfast, Lila steps into the car waiting outside, and her thoughts turn toward Montgomery Enterprises. She’s been planning her first day back, gathering her strength and resolve. She has a meeting with the board of directors this afternoon. Her father believes in her, and that’s all that matters right now.

The drive to the company building feels long, her nerves rising the closer they get. The familiar streets of New York flash by, a city that feels both foreign and familiar at the same time. The car eventually pulls up to the towering glass building that represents everything her family built. She stares up at the logo emblazoned on the front—Montgomery Enterprises.

"Here we go," she whispers to herself, stepping out of the car.

Lila’s heels click against the marble floors as she walks through the lobby, her steps steady but her heart racing. The employees greet her with polite smiles, many of them she recognizes from years ago, some of them with younger faces but still the same respectful demeanor.

As she walks toward the elevators, one of the junior employees rushes over to her, a man she recognizes as a part of her father’s team.

"Ms. Montgomery," he says, bowing his head slightly. "We’ve been expecting you. The board is ready for you in the conference room."

Lila smiles graciously, nodding. "Thank you."

She follows him down the hall, the doors to the conference room opening with a soft whoosh. Inside, the board members are already seated, waiting for her. But it’s not just the board that catches her attention. Across the table sits someone she never expected to see again.

Adrian Hale.

Her breath catches in her throat. He’s seated at the head of the table, his sharp suit and confident posture making him look like the same powerful man she remembers. But he’s different now, colder, more distant. His gaze meets hers for just a brief moment, and the electricity that once sparked between them is now gone. In its place is something she can’t quite place—something that makes her pulse quicken in a way she’s tried to forget.

Adrian’s eyes flicker for a moment, as though he doesn’t quite believe she’s really here, standing in front of him. He opens his mouth to say something, but before he can, the board members begin speaking, welcoming her to the meeting.

Lila takes a seat at the table, trying to keep her composure, but her hands are shaking beneath the table. She can feel Adrian’s presence like a weight in the room, but she refuses to let him affect her. Not anymore. She’s here for business, and she won’t let the past derail her mission.

As the meeting progresses, she can feel Adrian’s eyes on her. Every time she speaks, he listens intently, his gaze never leaving her. She forces herself to focus on the presentation in front of her, her mind sharp and calculated. But the tension in the room is thick, palpable.

Finally, the meeting wraps up, the board members trickling out, leaving Lila and Adrian alone in the room.