New beginning: Billionaire love story

The music swirled through the grand hall, and the gentle hum of conversation filled the space. The glow of the chandeliers reflected off the champagne flutes and the gilded décor. Claire stood near a cluster of elegantly dressed guests, her smile practiced, her laughter melodic, but her mind remained alert.

Her instincts rarely betrayed her, and tonight, they whispered warnings she couldn't ignore.noveldrama

As she laughed politely at one guest's quip, her eyes caught a figure moving purposefully toward her. The man's demeanor was confident - too confident - and a strange energy clung to him. Her brow furrowed slightly as she studied his approach. The way he moved, the intensity of his gaze locked onto her, sent a chill down her spine.

The man stopped just a few feet away and tilted his head, a cocky smirk curling his lips. He held a champagne glass loosely in his hand, his knuckles white despite his façade of ease.

"So, you really are Claire Peterson," he drawled, his tone dripping with something bitter. "The infamous Claire Peterson, heir to wealth beyond imagination." His eyes scanned her slowly, lingering on her gown, the diamonds sparkling at her neck, and the effortless grace with which she held herself. A flicker of envy crossed his face before he masked it.

Claire's smile faltered, her eyes narrowing. "Yes, I'm Claire Peterson," she said, her voice cool and measured. "And you are?"

Andre chuckled darkly, a sound that felt misplaced in the warm, festive atmosphere. He took a deliberate sip of champagne, his eyes never leaving hers. "It's about time we met... sis."

A ripple of confusion passed through the nearby guests, who exchanged glances and murmured in hushed voices. The word sis hung in the air like a knife.

Claire's expression froze, her mind whirling as she processed his words. The clinking of glasses and soft laughter faded into a distant hum.

She took a steadying breath and forced herself to remain calm. "Excuse me for a moment," she said to her guests, her smile tight as she slipped away from the group, guiding Andre toward a quieter corner. Once they were out of earshot, she turned to him, her eyes sharp. "Who are you, and what kind of game are you playing?"

Andre's jaw tightened, the fake confidence slipping for a second before he reassembled it. "Come on, Claire. You seriously don't recognize me? Look closely."

She studied his face the curve of his jaw, the intensity of his eyes, the shape of his brow- and a faint flicker of recognition stirred, but it remained elusive. Frustration crept in. "I don't know who you are," she said firmly. "And if this is some kind of joke or ploy-"

Andre's laugh was bitter. "A joke? That's rich, coming from someone who's lived a life of luxury while the rest of us had to fight for scraps."

"Enough with all this bullshit. Just tell me who you are?" Claire said with a hint of annoyance.

Andre's eyes glinted with frustration, the corners of his mouth twitching upward in a mockery of a smile. "So, it's true. You really have no idea who I am." He let out a short, humorless laugh. "Guess being at the top means forgetting everyone who doesn't matter.

He leaned closer, his voice low and venomous. "I'm your half-brother, Claire. The brother you never knew existed. The one left behind."

The words hit her like a punch to the gut. Claire felt the ground beneath her shift, her balance faltering. Brother? Her mind scrambled to make sense of the revelation, but it was like trying to hold onto mist. She blinked, her mouth dry.

"I don't have a brother," she said slowly, her voice edged with disbelief. "You must be mistaken." Andre's jaw clenched, his eyes darkening with hurt. "No mistake. I wish it were that simple." He took a shaky breath, the anger barely contained.

Claire's breath caught in her throat. The words hit her like a punch to the gut. "What did you just say?"

"You heard me." His eyes flashed

with resentment. "While you were attending galas and living in

penthouses, my mother and I were t

barely getting by. If I'd known who

you were sooner, maybe we

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wouldn't have struggled. Maybe my mother would've gotten the treatment she needed."

Her stomach twisted painfully. "I... I didn't know." Her voice was barely a whisper. "I didn't know about you, about any of this."

Andre's mouth curled into a cynical smile. "Convenient. My name's Andre. That's all you need to know."

"Do you think would've ignored you

on purpose? Claire's voice trembled with restrained emotion. "If what you're saying is true, I had no idea. 1-" She paused, trying to gather her thoughts, to steady the whirlwind of confusion and guilt.

Before she could continue, she felt Adrian's presence beside her. His hand found the small of her back, grounding her. His gaze was wary as he sized up Andre.

"Is there a problem here?" Adrian's voice was calm but carried a quiet authority.

Andre's eyes flicked to Adrian, his expression tightening. "No problem, just a little family reunion." His tone was dripping with sarcasm.

Adrian's brow furrowed. "Family?"

Claire felt a surge of cold fury. "I don't know what kind of sick game this is, but you're wrong." Her voice was tight. "My father never mentioned a son. You can't just walk in here and-"

Andre cut her off, his voice rising. "Why would he tell you? Why would he acknowledge the son he abandoned? You're his golden child, the one he kept. I'm the secret he buried." His chest heaved, his eyes glossy with unshed tears.

Claire's heart pounded, a wave of nausea rolling through her. The room spun slightly. This couldn't be real. It was impossible.

Her voice was barely above a whisper. "You're lying."

Andre's bitter laugh grated on her nerves. "I wish I were. Maybe then I wouldn't have to stand here, swallowing my pride and confronting the sister who's never had to fight for anything.

Claire stood frozen, the party continuing around her like nothing had happened. Her mind was a whirlwind of confusion and anguish. A brother? The concept felt alien, unreal. Her father, the man she'd idolized as a child, had harbored this secret? Abandoned a family?

"Enjoy your party, Claire. I will let that information sink in and when it's done sinking in, you can find me and we finally have a good and peaceful talk." Said Andre who is walking out from Claire sight. It's so unexpected. This is bot what Claire wants as her Christmas present. She wants something different, like Matthew is waking up from his coma and that her life can finally be peace again. From across the room, Eligos sipped his champagne, a smirk playing on his lips. Watching Claire's composure crack, even slightly, was deliciously satisfying. The seed of chaos had been planted, and he would nurture it carefully.

He murmured to himself, his eyes glinting with satisfaction, "Merry Christmas, Claire. Let's see how well you handle secrets."

He chuckled to himself. This is just the beginning, Claire. Enjoy your party while you can.

The war was far from over. And he was just getting started.