Chapter 185

“Dad, since tomorrow's your seventieth, why don't we use it to make a statement?"

Xander looked up from his reading glasses, not responding yet.

Elias continued, "Publicly bar Vane and his disgrace of a family from attending. Announce it in front of everyone. Make it clear-they're no longer part of the Verrick bloodline."

Aiden smirked and picked up the thread. "Exactly. Imagine the humiliation if they show up at the banquet, parading around like they still belong. We'd be the laughingstock of every guest there."

He gave a short laugh. “It's your milestone celebration. We can't have stains like them ruin it."

Xander said nothing for a beat. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the desk before he finally looked up, sharp-eyed and unamused.

"Let them come."

Elias's brow furrowed. "Dad?"

Aiden looked visibly disappointed.

But Xander's voice was calm and deliberate. "Declan Raze already stepped back. If we go the extra mile to exile them now, what will the others say? That we're petty? That we need to pick on our own blood just to feel powerful?"

He leaned back, folding his arms.

"I won't let that happen. Not during my birthday celebration. If we push too far now, it'll come off as vindictive. And people will start asking questions. Especially about why Declan walked away so quietly."

Elias clenched his jaw but said nothing. He knew better than to push when Xander was in this mood.

Aiden sighed and dropped into the leather chair beside his father's desk. “Fine. Let them come. But I hope whatever respect they think they still have left gets shattered in front of everyone."

Xander nodded once, slowly.

"They've already fallen. All we have to do now... is let the world see it happen.”

Later that afternoon, Selena stared at the text on her phone for the third time, just to be sure.

“It's real,” she finally said aloud, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "We're invited."

Vane, sitting across from her, looked up from his tea. "To what?"

"Grandpa's birthday banquet. Tomorrow. Celestial Hotel."

Nora gasped. "We're on the guest list?"

Selena nodded. “Which means..... we're still in. At least officially. Grandpa gave us the green light."

It wasn't much, but in their position, any acknowledgment from Xander Verrick was a lifeline the wrong

move and that door would slam shut forever.

"We have to make sure we don't screw this up," Vane said firmly. "We need to look presentable. No mistakes. No drama."

Selena nodded in agreement, but her brow creased. "We also need to think about a gift."

Nora hesitated. “Right. But what the hell do you get a man like Xander Verrick? He already owns any expensive thing we could think of."

"We can't show up empty-handed, Selena muttered, pacing now. "But we also can't afford anything flashy And if we give something cheap, it'll just add fuel to the fire."

The room fell silent as they tried to come up with

something-anything-that would strike the perfect balance between Fiumility and significance.

That's when Jaden, who'd been quietly sitting by the window the whole time, finally

stood up.

"Leave it to me."

All heads turned to him.

Selena narrowed her eyes. "You?"

He gave her a look.

"I've got this."

"You're serious?" she asked. "You really think you can come up with something that would impress Grandpa?"

Jaden gave a slow smile.

"Don't worry just leave it to me."

He walked past the table, pulling out his phone as he stepped onto the small

balcony. The cool air hit him, but his voice stayed low and precise.

He dialed.

The line picked up after two rings.

"Kaelus," he said.

A pause.

"I need a present. For Xander Verrick. His seventieth birthday's tomorrow."

Another pause, then Jaden added:

"It doesn't have to be the most expensive thing in the world. But it has to be the best

for a man like him."