The moment Cherry pushed open the grand doors of Jay's residence, she knew she wasn't walking into an ordinary evening.
The air was occupied.
Voices—measured, calm, unfamiliar in this space.
She paused briefly in the entryway, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly as she listened. Jay's voice was there, steady as always. But the other… that composed, almost detached tone—
Edward.
Cherry's lips pressed together.
What is he doing here?
That question alone was enough to irritate her.
Edward was not a man who involved himself unnecessarily. Not in the estate's politics. Not in the silent war surrounding the family empire—the intertwined strength of Jay's Group and VALE, built from the same bloodline, the same roots, the same ruthless ambition.
And yet… he was here.
Cherry stepped forward.
Her heels clicked against the polished floor, announcing her presence without subtlety.
All eyes turned.
Jay leaned back slightly in his seat, one brow lifting in mild surprise. But Edward—Edward simply glanced at her once, calm as ever.
"Perfect," he said.
Cherry's brows furrowed faintly as she walked in fully.
"Perfect?" she echoed, taking her seat with deliberate grace.
Edward nodded once.
"You're here. Saves me the trouble of repeating myself."
Cherry leaned back, crossing her legs slowly, her gaze sharp and assessing.
"You came unannounced," she said. "And now you're summoning people like a host. Should we be worried?"
There was a bite in her tone.
Edward didn't react.
Beside him, Vera remained quiet, but her eyes flickered briefly toward Cherry—watching, measuring, understanding.
Edward folded his hands loosely in front of him.
"I'm suggesting a family dinner."
The words landed softly.
But the effect was immediate.
Jay straightened slightly.
Cherry blinked once.
"A… what?" she asked, as though she hadn't heard him correctly.
"A family dinner," Edward repeated calmly. "At the hub. All of us."
Silence stretched across the room.
Cherry let out a short laugh—dry, disbelieving.
"This is new," she said. "You've never cared for gatherings. Or family sentiment, for that matter."
Jay, however, was not laughing.
His gaze had sharpened, something calculating flickering beneath the surface.
"A family dinner…" he repeated slowly, leaning forward now. "So. You're finally ready."
Edward's eyes shifted to him.
Jay continued, a faint smile forming.
"After all these years of distance… you've decided to step in. About time. There's a lot to be done. The empire isn't getting any lighter to manage—especially with your uncle's condition."
Cherry's expression shifted slightly, interest rising.
Yes.
That made sense.
Finally, Edward was stepping into the reality of things.
But—
"No."
Edward's voice cut through the moment.
Clean. Flat. Final.
Jay's smile faltered.
Cherry's gaze snapped toward him.
Edward leaned back slightly, his tone still calm—but firmer now.
"This has nothing to do with business."
The room stilled again.
Jay's eyes darkened slightly.
"Everything in this family has to do with business."
Edward shook his head once.
"That's exactly the problem."
A pause.
Then, measured and deliberate:
"I'm not joining Jay's Group. I'm not stepping into VALE. And I'm not here to discuss control, shares, or transitions."
Cherry's lips tightened.
Edward continued, his voice steady but carrying quiet authority.
"This dinner is a gesture. Nothing more. A chance for this family to sit in the same room without turning everything into a negotiation."
His gaze shifted briefly—pointed.
"And also… to check on Uncle Alaric."
That changed the energy again.
Even Cherry's posture stiffened slightly.
Edward didn't soften.
"You both know his condition isn't improving," he added. "Whether we acknowledge it or not, time is not on his side."
Jay leaned back slowly, his fingers tapping against the armrest.
"Yes," he said after a moment. "That's true."
Then his tone shifted—subtly.
"If that's the case, then this dinner becomes even more important," Jay continued. "Because if Alaric cannot continue at full capacity, then responsibilities must be redistributed."
Cherry nodded faintly.
"Exactly," she added. "We can't pretend everything is fine when it isn't. The company—our company—needs stability."
Jay gestured lightly.
"And who better than family to ensure that? You and I already carry most of the operational weight. It wouldn't be unreasonable for Alaric to gradually hand over certain decisions. Temporarily, of course."
Temporarily.
The word hung there, heavy with implication.
Edward's gaze hardened slightly.
"That's not your call."
Jay looked at him.
Edward didn't raise his voice.
But there was steel in it now.
"What Alaric chooses to do—with VALE, with the broader structure of the company—is his decision. Not something to be arranged over dinner like an inheritance meeting."
Cherry scoffed.
"You speak as though you're above it all," she said. "As though you don't benefit from it."
Edward turned to her.
"I benefit from the family," he replied calmly. "Not from controlling it."
That irritated her.
Deeply.
Cherry leaned forward slightly, her eyes narrowing.
"This sudden concern for 'family'… it's convenient," she said. "You've spent years staying out of things. Ignoring both Jay's Group and VALE like they don't concern you. And now—suddenly—you want dinners?"
Her gaze shifted.
Landed directly on Vera.
"Or should I say… someone finally convinced you to start paying attention?"
The accusation was clear.
Vera didn't respond immediately.
She simply looked at Cherry.
And smiled—slowly.
Not warmly.
"Oh, Cherry," she said softly. "You give me too much credit."
Cherry's expression hardened.
Vera tilted her head slightly, her tone light but edged with something sharper.
"Edward doesn't need convincing to think," she continued. "That's usually reserved for people who mistake control for intelligence."
Jay's brows lifted slightly.
Cherry's fingers tightened against her armrest.
"Careful," she warned.
But Vera didn't stop.
In fact, her voice softened further—dangerously calm.
"But then again… I suppose when your entire influence depends on proximity, you start believing you're more powerful than you actually are."
That landed.
Hard.
Cherry rose to her feet instantly.
"You insolent—"
"Enough."
Edward's voice cut through the room.
Firm. Final.
Both women fell silent.
But the tension between them crackled like exposed wire.
Edward stood now, his presence commanding attention without effort.
"This is exactly why I suggested the dinner," he said. "Because this family has forgotten how to exist without tearing itself apart."
He looked at Jay.
Then Cherry.
"The dinner will hold this weekend," he continued. "At the hub. Everyone will attend."
No room for argument.
No space for negotiation.
Jay studied him for a long moment.
Then, slowly, he nodded.
"…Fine."
Edward gave a single nod in return.
"Good."
He turned.
Vera stood beside him immediately, her expression composed once more—though her eyes lingered on Cherry for a fraction longer.
Then they left.
The door closed behind them.
And the silence that followed was thick.
Heavy.
Explosive.
Cherry let out a sharp breath, turning on Jay.
"Did you hear her?" she snapped. "Did you actually hear the way she spoke to me?"
Jay exhaled slowly, leaning back again.
"She's Edward's wife."
"That doesn't give her the right—"
"She's family."
His tone was firmer now.
Cherry froze.
Jay's gaze met hers directly.
"She is not your enemy," he said.
Cherry laughed bitterly.
"Not yet."
Her voice dropped, colder now.
"But if she thinks she can insult me and walk away untouched—"
"Cherry."
Jay's interruption was sharp this time.
A warning.
She stopped.
Barely.
Jay watched her carefully.
"For now," he said, more measured, "we don't create unnecessary conflicts. Not within the family."
Cherry turned away, her jaw tight.
Her pride burned.
Her anger simmered.
But she said nothing.
Jay leaned forward slightly, his expression shifting again—thoughtful now.
"Besides…" he added.
Cherry glanced at him.
"This dinner," Jay continued, "might actually work in our favor."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"How?"
Jay's lips curved faintly.
"You heard Edward. He wants everyone together. No business, no strategy…" He paused, then added quietly, "…which means no defenses."
Cherry's expression slowly changed.
Understanding.
"Yes…" she murmured.
Jay continued.
"And if Alaric is as weak as we suspect…" another pause, "…then this could very well be the last time we all sit together like this before things change permanently."
The implication was clear.
Before Alaric dies.
Cherry's anger faded.
Replaced by something colder.
More strategic.
A slow smile spread across her lips.
"Then we make it count," she said softly.
Jay nodded.
"Exactly."
Cherry straightened her posture, smoothing her dress as her composure returned fully.
Then—
"Oh," she said suddenly. "Martha."
Jay sighed faintly.
Martha.
Their sister.
"She cannot be ignored," Cherry continued. "She holds shares across the entire structure—both arms of the company. Jay's Group, VALE… it's all one system, and she's part of it whether she pretends not to be or not."
Jay rubbed his temple lightly.
"You know how she is."
"Yes," Cherry said sharply. "Detached. Observant. Silent."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"And that's exactly why she's dangerous."
Jay didn't respond immediately.
Cherry continued.
"She doesn't fight. She doesn't interfere. But she sees everything. And when someone like that finally decides to act…" she trailed off, then shook her head slightly. "No. She needs to be there."
Jay exhaled slowly.
"…Fine. She'll be invited."
Cherry nodded, satisfied.
"Good."
She turned toward the hallway, her heels clicking once again as she walked away.
But this time—
Her mind wasn't on Vera's insult.
Or Edward's interruption.
Or even Alaric.
It was on the dinner.
The gathering.
The opportunity.
Because one thing was certain now—
This wasn't just a family reunion.
It was a setup.
And whether the others realized it or not…
The game was about to shift again.