Rebirth: Love me Again

"Forget it," Jason said, brushing it off with a lazy grin as he stretched. "We've got more important things to do today."

Kylie, momentarily concerned, let her worries slide when Jason pulled her toward him. "Come on," he said, his voice light and teasing. "Didn't I promise we'd go shopping today? Let's go splurge, babe."

Her eyes lit up, and the tension evaporated in an instant. She smiled brightly, completely distracted by the thought of new clothes, jewelry, and handbags. "Okay, fine! But you're paying for everything."

Jason laughed, already slipping on his shoes. "Of course. What's the point of having money if you don't use it, right?"

After getting ready, they left the hotel room, neither noticed anything strange or the slightly shifted curtain by the window. Both were too preoccupied with their plans for the day to realize the storm that would soon come crashing down on them.

Out in the hallway, Jason slipped an arm around Kylie's waist, feeling triumphant. He had the money, the girl, and the lifestyle he wanted. Life was perfect.

"Babe, since we're finally official now, do you want to be my partner at the De Santis Christmas Party?" Kylie asked, her voice soft and sweet, leaning closer to Jason as they walked down the bustling street. Her perfectly manicured fingers brushed lightly against his arm, a subtle but deliberate gesture to draw him in.

Jason blinked, momentarily thrown off by the sudden invitation. His mind was elsewhere, thinking about Iraya. He had promised to check on her before she left for her country, but with Kylie here, practically glowing at his side, he knew he had to handle things carefully.

Kylie's family connections were far more important to his ambitions than Iraya's fleeting emotions and money.

"I'll . . . I'll have to take a rain check, babe," Jason said, his tone casual but distant.

Kylie chuckled softly, her expression unreadable but determined. "You sure? It would be a shame to miss it. My parents will be there, and it's one of the biggest high-end events of the year. You'd get to meet my parents too."

At the mention of her parents, Jason hesitated. Meeting Kylie's parents wasn't just a casual introduction—it was a chance to cement his place in her life, in her world. This wasn't just about dating anymore; it was about marriage, power, status, and wealth.

Kylie's family owned a chain of small hotels across the country, making her a walking ticket to Jason's dream life. Iraya might have been wealthy, but Kylie came from a lineage of established, old-money elites. He didn't know exactly how much Iraya's parents were worth—he'd only heard vague mentions of a family business abroad—but what did it matter? Kylie's family's empire was visible, tangible, and far more lucrative in his eyes.

"Alright," Jason finally said, his lips curling into a charming grin. "Since you insist, I'll go with you."

Kylie's face lit up with excitement, her eyes sparkling. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him lightly. "Thank you, babe! I can't wait to introduce you to my parents. They're going to love you!"

Jason couldn't help but feel a swell of satisfaction. This was it—another step closer to achieving everything he had ever dreamed of. If things went well, he'd soon be more than just Kylie's boyfriend. He'd be part of the family, with all the prestige and opportunities that came with it.

As they continued walking, Jason's mind whirred with thoughts of what lay ahead. The party wasn't just an event; it was a stage—a place where he could prove himself, where Kylie's wealthy parents could see him not as some ordinary guy but as someone worthy of their daughter and their empire.

He glanced at Kylie, who was already on her phone, probably texting her friends about their upcoming appearance at the party. She seemed genuinely happy, and Jason knew how important appearances were to her. Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire

Still, he couldn't shake the nagging thought of Iraya. She was supposed to leave soon, and he had promised to meet her. But it didn't matter—not now. Iraya's role in his life was temporary, a stepping stone. Kylie, on the other hand, was the future.

Jason's heart pounded with anticipation. Soon, he would be standing shoulder to shoulder with some of the richest, most powerful people in the country, rubbing elbows with influential elites. He could almost picture it—the opulent chandeliers, the clinking of champagne glasses, the whispered conversations, and most importantly, the proud smiles on Kylie's parents' faces when they realized their daughter had brought home a winner.

"Babe," Kylie said, snapping him out of his thoughts. "You're going to need a proper suit for this. We can't have you showing up in anything less than perfect."

Jason laughed, nodding. "Of course. Nothing but the best for your family. And who do you think you're taking too?" He would think of a way for Iraya to gift him an expensive suit later.

=== 🤍 ===

[IRAYA]

I was sleeping soundly, wrapped in the kind of deep rest that only comes after days of exhaustion, when the sharp ring of my phone tore through the silence of my room.

Half-awake, I fumbled around the nightstand, groaning under my breath as my hand finally found the source of the disturbance. I didn't even need to check the caller ID to know who it was—of course, it was none other than Lyander.

Who else would have the audacity to call so early in the morning?

With a heavy sigh, I pressed the phone to my ear, my voice still thick with sleep. "Look, just give me an hour to get myself ready before you start hurling orders at me, okay? I just got out of bed."

Lyander's response came, calm and direct, with his usual sense of entitlement. "Are you free on the 25th?"

His words barely registered in my sleepy haze, and without giving it much thought, I mumbled a lazy response. "Yeah, yeah . . . since a certain someone can't seem to stop bossing me around, I guess I'm stuck without a proper vacation anyway."

"Good. I'll send you the invitation and the dress. You better show up—or else."

Before I could even process what he meant by dress or invitation, the line went dead. I blinked at the phone in disbelief, still too sleepy to fully decipher what Lyander was plotting this time.

Shrugging off the lingering confusion, I tossed the phone back onto the bed and pulled the blanket over my head, hoping to steal a few more moments of rest before the day truly began.