Divorced Heiress
Chapter 37

I opened my eyes excitedly, when two honey-colored gazes appeared in my dreams.

What I was missing, dreaming about the Lancaster twins.

There was still an hour left before the breakfast my father invited me to, to talk about unfinished matters and give me his sermon upon realizing the treatment I received from Amelia.

I didn't want to waste any more time and got up to get ready and prepare breakfast for Tristan. This time Paul wasn't around anywhere to surprise me with breakfast ready. However, Maga was wandering around the kitchen preparing breakfast for everyone, except for my father and me.

My heart sank as I remembered the rejection from last night, it wasn't fair to him, I knew that, but the last-minute unexpected event was more important and, after talking to Alexis and making sure he would keep the secret, my father preferred that we all go back home, and I fully agreed, as I couldn't bear another second with those insufferable family members in the same place. Finally, Paul rescheduled our date for tonight.

"Good morning, Sari. You've woken up early, that smells really good." My father entered the kitchen and kissed my head when he realized I was preparing a sandwich and chopped fruits for Tristan.

"Good morning, Dad. I'm trying to be a good mother." I said as I served breakfast to wake up my son.

"You've always been. We're leaving in twenty minutes with Jack, we have a lot to talk about." He nodded and hurried to wake up Tristan, leaving me with Maga in the kitchen.

To my surprise, Tristan was already awake, playing on the bed with the toy dinosaur Paul gave him. I gave him his respective hygiene routine before taking him downstairs to the dining room where his breakfast was ready.

I barely had a cup of tea, while making sure my son finished everything, he only had his fruits left when my father appeared, pointing at his Rolex. It was time to go.

I asked Maga to take care of Tristan while I went back inside to say goodbye, then I walked to the van where my father and Jack were waiting for me.

On the way, I checked the news from the previous night. The first fashion week runway was a success. Articles with the best designs of the night were everywhere, and it didn't surprise me that they were from the Lancaster Collection.

My eyes widened when I read the articles and saw the images in the digital magazines of the show.

"Sarah Petit back to the Lancaster family?"

"The vice-president of Doinel has set her sights on her ex-brother-in-law, Alexis Lancaster, who was in a coma for thirteen years due to unknown causes. Without a chance of reuniting with her ex-husband, Sarah Petit seems determined to go for his identical twin. What will Alexander Lancaster think about this situation? Will he agree to his brother being interested in his ex-wife?"

But what the hell!

I wanted to throw my phone out the window when I saw the picture of me and Alexis at the banquet. Once again they took everything out of context and I wouldn't be surprised if it was Amelia.

If she didn't care about Alexander's reputation three years ago, she wouldn't care about her son's reputation now that he'd just come back to life; that woman had no scruples. They captured the best angle of me, leaning to reach his height and his eyes fixed on my lips. Anyone would think I was seducing him, but it wasn't like that, it was far from reality.

How could I be interested in another Lancaster?

That was completely ridiculous.

I turned off my phone screen and pinched the bridge of my nose, keeping calm. It was a dirty game from the Lancaster's part, and yet, they still expected to be chosen for the collaboration with Doinel.

"Is everything okay?" My father asked, sitting beside me.

"Nothing can be okay when I'm near the Lancasters." I closed my eyes and rubbed my forehead, feeling a headache coming.

"Relax, Sari. When you hear what I have planned, that family will have to eat their words, at least that Alexis agreed to keep quiet."

I let out a tired sigh and nodded without asking more.

I already knew that coming back to New York wasn't a good idea, but business was business.

The van parked at the cafeteria's entrance and a black car that I had seen since we left home stopped on the other side of the street, I chuckled when I realized that the owner of the car started taking pictures through the polarized glass, what he didn't know was that I could see his silhouette through the sunlight. That man doesn't seem very smart.

When we arrived at the cafeteria, Jack immediately turned on the tablet before placing our order. Quickly, he gave me all the information I had asked him for the night before.

"Alexis Lancaster, thirty-one years old, indeed, thirteen years in a coma. I did my respective investigations and although it wasn't easy, I managed to find the facts."

I settled into my seat ready to listen, but he stopped when the waitress arrived with our coffees and hot cakes.

"That can wait, Jack. Let's have breakfast first." My father ordered, and I looked at him incredulously for making Jack leave the information unfinished, leaving me curious, but I could do nothing but obey.

I could hardly eat a bite, there were so many things on my mind, starting with the issue of Alexis, the new gossip, the new plans my father had for me, and the not discrete at all journalist who was photographing me from outside the cafeteria and thought I hadn't noticed.

The waitress cleared the table when we finished breakfast, and before asking Jack to continue with the information, my father spoke.

"First of all, I want to talk about something important with you, daughter. Do you mind if we go to the balcony? The view is incredible." My father elegantly wiped the corners of his lips and stood up from his seat to offer me his hand.

I took it, although I would have preferred to listen to Jack first.

"I'll go with you. We'll be back in a few minutes, Jack."

My assistant nodded his head, and I followed my father as he led me to the balcony, which had a beautiful view of the city, and the wind gently brushed against my body.

"I'm listening."

I made sure there was no one around who could hear our conversation, I didn't need to be a mind reader to know that he was going to talk to me as father to daughter.

"First of all, I congratulate you on the good job you're doing. For your first assistance in the New York Fashion Week, you're doing very well. You have your sights set on the best companies, which will make the decision in the board meeting easier."

I smiled gratefully at his words, although I felt that not everything was going well. First, the interest of Lancaster Collection in collaboration thanks to the meddling of Michelle, and second, my identity being revealed.

"On the other hand, I want to speak to you as a father. You know perfectly well that I don't agree with you hiding from Alexander that he is a father. I understand that many unpleasant things have happened between you, but he has the right to know. If he doesn't want to, that's another matter, but I put myself in his shoes and I wouldn't like it if the existence of a child was kept from me. Who suffers the most later on are the children. Think about Tristan, he's getting smarter every day, he'll soon be asking about his father. What are you going to say to him?"

Of all the topics I imagined discussing with my father, this was the one I least wanted to touch. And yes, my father was completely right, Alexander had the right to know that he had a child, but I was afraid that he would mix with such an unhealthy family at such a young age. I wouldn't forgive myself if my son got affected by the Lancasters. Besides, how would he react?

"Now that you mention it, I think I should tell him, but my biggest fear is his family. They are vipers and wouldn't hesitate to unleash their venom, regardless of the fact that he's just a child." I admitted with mixed feelings in my chest.

As much as I hated Alexander, I couldn't continue hiding his son from him. He hurt me, not Tristan, and even though I preferred the peace that my son had always had without his father, I would like him to know what the love of a father was like, just as my father had always given me.

"That's another issue that really bothers me, Sarah Doinel. Is that how you've been treated during your marriage to Lancaster? Is that the treatment you deserve? For God's sake, daughter. You've grown up with the best treatment, with all the love your family and friends have been able to give you. How is it possible that you have allowed yourself to be treated that way? Tell me, are you a gold digger? Did you marry Alexander for money?"

I lowered my gaze to my feet, feeling scolded by my father. I deserved it for allowing it from the beginning.

"I gave up my family to be with him, it's obvious that they would think I married for money. And, I can't lie to you, I was humiliated by the Lancasters many times. I should have done something about it, but..."

"It's okay, my dear, I'm not scolding you. It's just frustrating for me to know that you haven't been treated as you deserve, and that Alexander hasn't done anything to defend his wife, it's infuriating." My father interrupted me and put his hand on my shoulders to give me a paternal hug.

"He never knew, but I don't want to talk about it, I'm taking care of putting them in their place whenever I have the opportunity. Don't think I'm getting revenge, I'm just defending myself." I said, hugging his waist.

"I noticed it last night, I wanted to intervene, but I stopped when I saw how you handled the situation. Very well, with your class and education, you humiliate those rude women."

I laughed because that was exactly what I did, without needing to utter an insult, I left them red with anger and humiliation.

"Before getting back with Jack, I want you to tell Alexander about Tristan on the day I introduce you as my heiress."

"When have you planned the introduction?" I asked, thinking it would still be at the launch of the first collection with the collaboration brand.

"The last day of fashion week."

I looked at my father in amazement.

"Will you do it?"

In five days!

I took a deep breath and although I didn't feel completely prepared for presentations, it was for the best. Why continue hiding information that would become a ticking time bomb? "I'll do it." I said determined, with a smile.

I wouldn't do it for myself, I would do it for Tristan, because I wanted the best for him, even if it was not the best for me. All I knew was that I didn't want my son near that pair of vipers.

We returned to the table with Jack, after ending the conversation. I knew there were more pending matters, but now we needed to work, take a look at the proposal for the Lancaster Collection, and have Jack finish giving us information about Alexis.

"I'm sorry, Jack, we needed to clarify a couple of things. Let's continue with the information about Alexis Lancaster. Is he a threat to our plans?" My father asked, adjusting my chair before sitting next to me.

I looked at Jack and curiosity flooded my body in an instant.

"What happened to him?" I asked, fingers intertwined on the table.

Jack slid his finger on the tablet and when he found the information, he resumed reading.

"He had a car accident in an underground race when he was eighteen years old. He was in the passenger seat and wasn't wearing a seatbelt, so he went through the windshield and his body ended up on the race car's hood. There is no information about the driver, even though there were many spectators at the race, no one knew anything or didn't want to give information."

My brain almost collapsed upon hearing that information.

Suddenly, my heart skipped a beat as I remembered the day I bumped into Alexander at the underground race thirteen years ago.

It couldn't be.