Rebirth Of The Heiress And The Tycoon's Lover (Alina) novel Chapter 279

Chapter 279

AUTHOR’S POV

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Dinner at Evergreen Manor was usually a lively aflair, filled with laughter, soft chatter, and Luna’s constant attempts to make the table feel like home rather than an empire. But that evening, something hung in the air, subtle yet heavy.

The chandelier’s soft light cast a golden hue over the table, glinting off the fine silverware and crystalses. Darius, seated at the head as always, noticed immediately that Alina was quieter than usual. She had barely touched her meal, idly stirring the food with her fork, her gaze distant, lost somewhere far beyond the room.

Darius cleared his throat softly, breaking the rhythm of conversation. “Alina,” he said, his deep voice calm yet probing, “you’ve barely eaten. Is something wrong?”

Her hand paused mid–motion. She looked up, quickly schooling her expression into something polite, faintly apologetic. “I’m fine father,” she said gently. “Just a little tired, that’s all.”

Darius studied her, his brows furrowing slightly. “Did something happen during your shopping trip today?”

Across the table, Luna looked up quickly, forcing a light smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Nothing happened, Darius,” she said smoothly, her tone airy, practiced. “It was just a long day. We were out longer than planned, and you know how crowded Ravinne gets.”

Darius’s gaze lingered on his wife for a moment, sharp, assessing, before shifting back to Alina. “Are you sure?”

Alina nodded, the faintest smile tugging at her lips. “Positive, Father.”

He studied her a moment longer, then nodded, though the suspicion in his eyes didn’t fade completely. “Alright,” he said finally. “But make sure you rest. I don’t want you overexerting yourself.”

“I won’t, I promise” She replied softly.

As conversation shifted back to business, Damien and Darius discussing estate logistics and an upcoming deal, Luna’s eyes drifted toward her daughter. Alina’s hands were folded neatly on her lap now, her expression serene, but Luna could see it. The quiet tremor beneath her calm.

She knew.

She knew the look in her daughter’s eyes when they left Rosa’s atelier…the shock, the disbelief, the tremor she tried to disguise. And later, when she had ordered the guards to check the alleyway discreetly, she had been right.

Lucian.

It was Lucian Alina had seen.

Luna had stood in silence for a long moment when the guards confirmed it, her heart torn between relief and fear. Relief that her daughter was not hallucinating and had indeed seen him, fear for what it meant. Alina didn’t need this now. She had only just returned to them. She didn’t need confusion, longing, or the ache that

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Chapter 279

came with wanting to be with him

So Luns hail made a choir, a mother’s painful choice to say nothing.

She smiled family now, brushing a stray lock from her daughter’s face. “You did to well today, sweetheart the said softly. “I’m proud of you”

Alina looked up, startled by the tenderness. “Thank you, Mother”

Isma’s smile depened, though her eyes carried the weight of all she wasn’t saying.

Dinner went on

But for Alina, the sounds around her the clinking cutlery, the muted laughter, felt far away, All she could think about was that fleeting glimpse through the glass window. The sharp line of his shoulders, the way he walked..calm, purposeful. Her pulse quickened just remembering it.

It couldn’t have been her imagination. It was Lucian. She was sure. And yet, her mother’s words and her father’s watchful gaze forced her silence.

When dinne: ended, Alina excused herself early, claiming exhaustion.

Upstairs

at was quiet. The manor’s vast halls were lit only by soft sconces. In her room, Alina stood before the mu ror, brushing her hair mechanically, lost in thought. Every move felt deliberate and rehearsed.

A knock came at the door…light, familiar.

“Come in.” She said.

The door creaked open slightly, and Damien peeked his head in, a teasing grin on his face. “You’re not asleep yet, are you?”

“Not yet.” She said with a faint smile.

“Good.” He stepped in fully, shutting the door behind him before crossing the room to sit on the edge of her bed. “Mind if I join you for a bit?”

“Of course not.”

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, studying her. “You were quiet at dinner,” he said gently. “Is everything okay?”

She hesitated for half a second before answering. “Yes, I’m fine. Just tired.”

He tilted his head, unconvinced. “You can tell me anything, you know that, right?”

“I know.” She said softly, her voice steady but distant.

Damien sighed, leaning back. “You know, when we were kids, you used to tell me everything. We were partners in crime. Remember how we used to sneak sweets from the kitchen and blame it on the house staff?”

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Chapter 279

A small, unbidden smile tugged at her lips. “I remember

His grin widened. “See? I wasn’t that bad of a brother,”

“You were,” she teased lightly. “You always made me the decoy”

He laughed… a genuine, warm sound that filled the quiet room. “Yeah, but I always took your side when Father found out, didn’t I?”

Alina’s expression softened, her gaze drifting. “Even if it meant going against him?

Damien’s smile faded slightly, sincerity replacing humor. “Always,” he said simply, “You’r always take your side.”

Alina 12

For a moment, silence filled the room again. It was warm, heavy and comforting

Alina moved closer, sitting beside him before wrapping her arms around him in a sudden hug, “I just feel lonely.” She murmured against his shoulder.

Damien stilled, surprised by the vulnerability in her voice. “Lonely?”

She nodded sily. “I mean, I’m happy to have reconnected with everyone… but sometimes I miss my old life. My fi

ly work. The routine. It’s strange being back in a place that feels both familiar and foreign”

He sighed, his voice filled with quiet guilt. “I’m sorry, Alina. We uprooted you completely. Threw you into a world you barely remember and expected you to adjust overnight. That wasn’t fair.”

She pulled back slightly, offering a soft smile. “It’s okay.”

They sat like that for a few moments, the silence between them tender and bittersweet.

Damien studied her face, the faint tiredness in her eyes and the forced calm she wore. “What happened during your shopping trip with Mother?” He asked after a pause.

Alina froze for half a second before turning to him, her smile still perfectly polite. “Nothing,” she said, her tone light, too even. “We just did a lot of running around. I guess I overestimated how much energy I had.”

He didn’t believe her, he could see the flicker in her eyes, the practiced control…but he didn’t push. He only nodded slowly. “Alright. But you know you can tell me anything, right?”

“I know.”

He smiled faintly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Good. Just don’t keep things bottled up. It’s not good for you.”

She nodded.

He stood, leaning down to press a soft kiss on her forehead,the same way he used to when they were kids. “Get some rest, little troublemaker,” he said with a small grin. “And call me if you need anything.”

“I will.” She promised.

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