The December air was sharp, carrying the faint tang of damp earth and decaying leaves. Above, scattered clouds drifted lazily across the pale winter sky, their shadows brushing the limestone facade of Le Chateau de Fortier. The estate stood resolute against the Potomac, its grandeur softened by the diffused light of the late morning.

  Seven navigated Angus’s wheelchair with practiced ease, though his thoughts lingered on his father’s condition. The acupuncture treatments had gone well, but having spent time with him, he could sense that patience wasn’t one of his father’s strengths.

  At last, they entered the parlor, the faint creak of the wheels echoing. Inside, the crackling fireplace spread warmth to its occupants.

  “How’s your physio going, Dad?” Seven asked, his tone casual while discreetly checking for signs of discomfort.

  Angus leaned back, his hands resting on the armrests. “Initially, it was just passive exercises. But with your treatments, the therapist has started me on active-assisted exercises.” He paused, his jaw tightening. “I just wish I could begin resistance training already.”

  Seven let out a small huff of amusement as he sank into the plush sofa across from Angus. “You were in a coma for 27 years, Dad. Cut yourself some slack.”

  Alain folded his newspaper with a crisp rustle and set it aside. “Your father’s eager to make up for all the lost time, Landry.”

  Seven’s gaze landed on Alain, Amélie, and Leona. The sight of them together stirred something deep within him—a tangled mix of relief and unease. So much had been stolen from them. Decades lost. Their wounds had yet to heal, painful scars beneath the surface.

  The silence stretched, heavy and unspoken, until Amélie said, “Landry, why isn’t Sana here with you today?”

  Seven blinked, pulled from his thoughts. “She’s with Kasra and Lara. They’re picking out wedding outfits.”

  Leona arched a brow, her teacup pausing mid-air. “And you didn’t go with them?”

  “Ha!” He snorted, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “I know nothing about clothes. I’ll wear whatever they tell me to.”

  The room erupted in laughter, the tension easing momentarily. Angus exhaled, leaning forward with his hands on his knees. “Son, Sevana Group, Sevana Biotics, and Sevana Technologies have been officially incorporated.”

  Seven straightened, his expression thoughtful. He had expected this, but hearing it aloud made it real—concrete. “Alright. That means we’re moving to the next phase.”

  Angus continued, “We’ve also signed the lease at Fairview Park. The entire fifth and sixth floors are ours.”

  Seven folded his arms, his mind racing through the logistics. “Then we need to finalize the R&D setup. For Sevana Biotics, it’s basics first: biosafety cabinets for sterile work, CO2 incubators for cell cultures, and PCR systems for genetic analysis. Once we’re up and running, we can expand into next-gen sequencing and pharmaceutical development. The lab spaces must meet strict safety standards.”

  He paused as he shifted his focus. “As for Sevana Technologies, it’s advanced simulation software for testing network vulnerabilities and secure server rooms with biometric access. We’ll also require high-performance computing clusters for data analysis and penetration testing tools for security checks. The tech side is less about physical equipment and more about building a secure, scalable framework.”

  Leona set her teacup down with a soft clink. “Prime Dynamics can handle the renovations.”

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  Seven looked at her, curiosity flickering. “You heard of Prime?”

  A faint smile touched Leona’s lips. “We’ve worked with them on similar projects before for lab spaces with stringent biosafety requirements and secure tech facilities. They can install the necessary infrastructure, like specialized lab HVAC systems and soundproofing for the server rooms.”

  Seven inclined his head, then shot a look at his father. “The contractors need to ensure everything meets regulatory standards. For Sevana Medical, that means FDA and OSHA compliance, and for Sevana Technologies, we must adhere to ISO 27001 for information security management.”

  Angus leaned back in his wheelchair, pride creeping into his expression. “Sounds like you’ve got it all mapped out, son. Looks like Prime is the right choice to engage for the renovations.”

  Garrett, who had been quietly observing, stepped forward. “Master Landry,” he began, “I’ll coordinate with Prime to ensure the timelines are met. We’ll start headhunting once we have an ETD on both office spaces.”

  Angus glanced at Garrett, then back at Seven. “Your grandpa is stepping down as president of Kaléido Corp at year-end, so Garrett’s been assisting me.”

  Seven gave a curt nod. “You can start recruitment once the renovations are completed. I already have a PA, but I need a secretary.”

  Garrett stepped forward, his voice measured. “Master Landry, are there specific requirements for the role?”

  “A background in either field would help,” Seven mused.

  With that said, the conversation moved to lighter topics.

  ……

  It was evening by the time Seven arrived back at The Cliffs. The dining hall buzzed with laughter and the clatter of cutlery, a stark contrast to the afternoon’s business discussions.

  Sana, ever the catalyst, got things going as soon as the first course was served. “Lara, do you have any friends you’d want as bridesmaids? My brothers and cousins are already locked in as groomsmen.”

  Lara hesitated, her fork hovering mid-air. She’d spent her life in her parents’ martial arts school and TITAN, mostly surrounded by men. And as Sana’s bodyguard, she’d had little time to socialize. “I haven’t kept in touch with old friends.”

  Sana’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “What do you think about Harper with Kian? And Kate with Kimi?”

  “I thought Harper and Kate were a given,” Lara replied.

  Kayan, seated across the table, chimed in. “Lara, what about Carys with me? Are you down with that?”

  Lara’s face brightened. “Why not? Go ahead and ask.”

  Then, Sana shared, “Seven’s cousin is a jewelry designer for Sig’s company. I was thinking of pairing them up.”

  Lara chuckled, shaking her head. “You’re always playing Cupid, Sana. But sure, why not?” She leaned in, her gaze shimmering with a challenge. “Though if they end up hating each other, whose side would you take?”

  Sana shot Lara a mock-stern glare. “Let’s not jinx it, alright? It’s my rep on the line here.” Patting her chest, she added, “I’ll reach out to Lena and see what she says.”

  She paused, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “And Shan’s coordinating with Vera on the wedding. How about pairing her with him?”

  Lara considered this, then gave a small nod. “If she’s up for it. Though she might be swamped with the planning.”

  Sana giggled. “I’ll check with her.”

  After all that, Sana shot Seven a sidelong glance. “By the way, Sweets, do you even know what a best man’s duties are?”

  Seven blinked, swallowing mid-chew. “Hand over the rings?”

  Kayan suddenly snorted. “You also have to organize a bachelor party.”

  “What’s that about?”

  “Sev, it’s a send-off for the groom before he marries, to celebrate his last days of freedom.”

  “As the best man, it’s kinda your job. It could be a wild night of debauchery, like a strip club or pub crawl. Or something chill like a whiskey-tasting. The main thing is to give him a night to remember with his mates before the big day,” Kayan continued.

  Kasra, who was cutting into his steak, shook his head firmly. “No need. I’m not into that sort of thing, and Lara’s pregnant. I don’t want her to be alone at night.”

  Sana pouted dramatically. “Awww, not even a dinner or something? I was gonna throw Lara a bachelorette party.”

  Kasra smirked. “Fine. A quiet dinner. But nothing wild.”

  Sana winked naughtily at her brother. “Ah! I was thinking of a night at a male strip club!”

  Silence.

  Kasra’s fork clattered onto his plate. Seven froze, as if processing a system error.

  Kayan leaned forward, grinning. “Wait. You want her front and center at a thunder-thighs revue?”

  Sana nodded enthusiastically. “Why not?! She’s leaving the single life behind. The least I can do is treat her to some sculpted men in questionable outfits.”

  Lara burst out laughing. “I swear, if a guy in a firefighter outfit tries to ‘rescue’ me, I might go into premature labor.”

  Seven pinched the bridge of his nose. “Sana, can you blindfold yourself when the guys start stripping?”

  Kasra rubbed his temples. “I hate everything about this conversation.”

  Laughter erupted around the table, the absurdity of the idea sinking in. The wedding planning might have been stressful, but this? This was pure chaos, and Sana wouldn’t have it any other way.