Rebirth Of The Heiress And The Tycoon's Lover (Alina) novel Chapter 341

**TITLE: Collapsed 341**
**Chapter 341**

**AUTHOR’S POV**

Before long, Luna appeared at the door, a stylist accompanying her, both of them bustling in with an air of urgency. The stylist carefully balanced a tray laden with meticulously folded garments and an array of accessories that sparkled under the soft mansion lights.

“Alina, sweetheart,” Luna’s voice was gentle, though it carried an undercurrent of her own fatigue and concern. She leaned in slightly, trying to connect with her daughter. “We really need to get you ready. The press will be arriving shortly. Let’s make sure you look… well, presentable.”

Alina remained fixated on the floor, her gaze unwavering, her voice barely a whisper. “I don’t want to.”

Luna stepped closer, her fingers brushing against a stray lock of hair that had fallen across Alina’s face. “I understand… I truly do. But this is part of what we need to do, my love. Just sit still for a few moments. Allow me to help you.”

Alina’s frustration bubbled over as she muttered under her breath, “I don’t care. I don’t want any of this. Father is forcing this on me, and you just sit there, doing nothing about it.”

“Alina, please,” Luna’s tone softened, yet it was firm. “Just a little bit for me. Let them see you as you are, even if it’s just on the outside.”

The stylist, sensing the heaviness in the air, attempted to lighten the mood by holding up a beautifully tailored dress. “Look at this! It’s stunning. You’ll look absolutely radiant, Miss Dahlia.”

Alina’s grip on her arms tightened, her voice slicing through the air, sharp and unyielding. “I’m not Dahlia,” she said, her words trembling with suppressed emotion. “I’m Alina.”

Luna halted, momentarily taken aback, then knelt down to meet her daughter’s gaze. “Yes, my darling. I know who you are, and that will never change. But right now… please, just let me help you prepare. Just listen to me before your father decides to come in here himself.”

Alina recognized that if Darius entered the room, things would spiral out of control. With a heavy sigh, she relented, allowing the stylist to begin brushing and arranging her hair. She sat rigidly, her eyes fixated on a particular spot on the floor, her mind drifting elsewhere, barely acknowledging the hands that worked diligently to style her.

Luna hovered close, her fingers gliding over the fabric of the dress, whispering softly, “You’re not alone, baby. Just breathe. One step at a time.”

Yet, despite her mother’s comforting words, Alina felt an overwhelming sense of isolation.

A short while later, Luna guided her through the sprawling corridors of the mansion. Alina moved like a specter, numb to her surroundings, her fingers clutching her mother’s hand for support, though it felt more like a lifeline to a world she no longer belonged to.

Outside, the back garden had been meticulously arranged for the occasion. Cameras were positioned, the press milling about with a quiet anticipation, the lights glimmering off the dew-kissed grass. Cassian sat beside Darius, exuding confidence, a smirk dancing on his lips, while Damien stood nearby, his jaw clenched and fists tight, his eyes dark with barely contained rage.

Alina followed Luna to her designated seat, sliding into it mechanically, her hands folding neatly in her lap. She felt as though she were floating outside of her own body, detached from the reality unfolding around her.

Luna leaned in, her voice a soft murmur. “It’s okay. Just… breathe. I’m right here.”

Alina offered a barely perceptible nod, her eyes staring blankly ahead as the press conference commenced.

A journalist raised a hand, microphone poised. “Mr. Evergreen, could you elaborate on why Cassian Voss has been residing in your mansion?”

Darius lifted his head, his demeanor composed, his voice steady as he replied, “Lucius Stormvale has been with us to ensure that both family and business matters are addressed appropriately.”

A murmur of confusion rippled through the crowd as they exchanged glances, trying to process the implications of his words. Darius’s authoritative voice cut through the chatter as he continued.

He glanced at Cassian, his gaze firm. “Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to formally introduce to you… Lucius Stormvale, the long-lost son of the Stormvale family.”

A flurry of questions erupted, voices overlapping in a cacophony of curiosity. “Why has he remained hidden for so long?”

“What has kept him away from the public eye?”

“How does the Evergreen family know him?”

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