Rebirth: Love me Again

[LINA]

It became obvious almost immediately—Robert wasn't here to mend his broken relationship with Daniel. He was here for me.

The way he introduced Dan, with a rehearsed air of pride, made it clear that his true intention was to present his legitimate son as a more 'worthy' suitor for me than Daniel Foster.

Talk about a loving father.

"My son here graduated at the top of his class," Robert continued, clearly boasting for my benefit. "He's my successor, smart, accomplished, and quite the gentleman. Not to brag, but he holds a double degree. He's truly the pride of our family."

I had no doubt he is your son. You have the same pride and arrogant on your face.

Dan leaned forward slightly, his gaze settling on me. "Hello, Lina," he said, his voice low and smooth, laced with a deliberate charm. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

His eyes gleamed with something more than just politeness. They held an unmistakable glint of interest, a subtle invitation that made Daniel's jaw tighten.

But I simply smiled—a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes. "It's a pleasure to meet my boyfriend's brother as well," I said, deliberately emphasizing the word brother with a sweetness that made Dan's confident expression falter ever so slightly. The smile on Robert's face also flickered, a brief crack in his polished demeanor.

It was clear as day—Robert and Dan weren't here for Daniel. They had no interest in mending familial ties. They were here because they saw me as a golden opportunity, a way to elevate their status even further.

I had encountered enough people like them to recognize their intentions at a single glance. And judging by the way Robert kept boasting about Dan's accomplishments, it seemed their plan was to steal my attention from Daniel and redirect it toward Dan.

Too bad. I had hoped, just for a moment, that father and son could mend their broken relationship. But now, it was painfully clear—I had dragged Daniel here only to watch him get hurt all over again. A pang of guilt settled deep in my stomach, heavy and suffocating.

When would I ever manage to do something right for him? It seemed like the list of things I owed him just kept growing.

I had wanted to believe that this meeting could be a chance for healing, a chance for Robert to show even the smallest shred of genuine effort—a flicker of remorse, perhaps, or a sincere desire to reconcile with the son he had abandoned.

If he had shown even a trace of that, I wouldn't have hesitated to help. I would have supported Daniel in making peace with his past, and help Robert's company grow.

But that hope was nothing more than wishful thinking. It was obvious now—Robert didn't come here for Daniel. He came here for me. The only reason he wanted to meet his son after all these years was because of me and my name.

I clenched my hands beneath the table, forcing a smile onto my face despite the turmoil in my chest. Daniel didn't deserve this. He didn't deserve to be used by a man who had shown no interest in his life until wealth and power became part of the equation.

I had brought him into this situation, hoping for closure, but all it seemed to do was reopen old wounds.

And that was something I couldn't forgive myself.

The father and son continued their conversation, with most of the talking done by the son—whose name I had already forgotten—as he rambled on about himself.

I wasn't someone who could be so easily swayed by titles and degrees. I had faced countless suitors, all of them eager to use me for personal gain, and I had long learned how to handle men like Robert and Dan Gill.

Dan, however, wasn't giving up so easily. "I've heard a lot about you, Lina," he continued, his voice adopting a more personal tone, as though Daniel wasn't even sitting right there. "Your influence in the business world is truly inspiring. I must say, it's rare to meet someone who combines intelligence and beauty so effortlessly at such a young age."

I saw how Daniel frowned for being ignored and I placed my hand into his squeezing them. "Thank you for the compliment, Dan. Though, I must admit, Daniel's support has been invaluable. He has brilliant ideas and plans in real estate—so good, in fact, that I can't help but steal a few for myself."

I laughed a little. My words were a subtle but sharp reminder that Dan wasn't the man standing by my side—Daniel was.

Robert's eyes narrowed slightly, though he quickly masked his displeasure with another forced smile. "Ah, yes, Daniel has certainly grown into quite the capable young man."

Despite his words, it was painfully obvious that Robert didn't see Daniel as capable of anything—at least, not compared to Dan. But my stance threw a wrench into whatever scheme Robert had in mind.

A small smirk played at the corner of my lips as I leaned back in my chair. I could see through Robert's intentions as clearly as glass, and I wasn't about to let him or his golden boy undermine Daniel.

This wasn't just a casual dinner—it was a power play. Robert wanted to dangle the wealth and prestige of the Gill name in front of me, hoping I'd reconsider my relationship with Daniel.

Too bad for them, I wasn't easily impressed. And Daniel? He wasn't the kind to just lean back and be ignored.

"Looks like it's clear you had no real intention of meeting me—you just wanted to meet my girlfriend," Daniel said coldly, his voice steady but sharp. "We'll take our leave now. Thank you for the meal."

Except the meal hadn't even started. I blinked in surprise as he abruptly stood and grabbed my hand.

Robert frowned, rising from his seat with a look of disapproval. "Is that how you speak to your father?"

"You've never been a father to me. Let's keep it that way."