CHAPTER 242: ECHOES OF THE PAST

The silvery glow of the moon bathed the streets of Osborn Commercial Grand Plaza in a magical light, casting long shadows behind the towering flagship stores and glimmering crystal towers.

The air was alive with an intoxicating hum of luxury.

Outside the stunning ten-floor glass marvel VELVETTE flagshipstore, Billy and Kaia emerged, arms laden with designer bags, their laughter ringing out like music against the opulent backdrop.

Kaia was a vision, radiating confidence in her elegantly tailored cashmere coat, a soft sunrise peach that complemented her matching stiletto boots.

Sleek designer shades perched atop her honey-brown curls completed her runway-ready look.

Every step she took exuded poise and grace.

Billy had transformed into a dapper figure himself, sporting a crisp midnight-blue jacket over tailored pants and a sleek black turtleneck that hugged his lean frame just right.

His dark sunglasses reflected the vibrant skyline behind him, while beside them gleamed his Veyron Hyperion, a coiled beast of chrome and midnight steel.

Their laughter filled the air as they reminisced about how one sales attendant nearly fainted when Kaia asked if those velvet-lined ten-thousand unicred boots were suitable for rainy days.

But just as they were lost in their joyful banter, fate decided to intervene.

"Billy?"

The voice was soft yet uncertain.

Billy froze at the sound of that unfamiliar yet oddly familiar voice.

He turned slowly, feeling all traces of joy drain from his face.

The bags in his hands almost slipped away but he quickly regained his composure.

There she stood,Sophia, just a few feet away.

The woman who once held his heart and convinced him that family expectations were chains to be broken.

The same woman who walked away without looking back when those chains finally snapped, leaving him to bleed alone.

She hadn’t changed much; still beautiful with long wavy dark hair and flawless skin clad in a soft pink designer dress that hugged her figure perfectly.

But her eyes, they darted nervously over Billy’s new clothes, then flickered toward the Veyron Hyperion parked nearby, the very car Arthur had gifted him, and finally landed on Kaia by his side along with their mountain of luxury shopping bags.

Beside Sophia stood a tall man in a navy suit, an expensive watch peeking from beneath his cuff and wearing a calculated smirk that suggested he thought he owned this moment.

For what felt like an eternity, silence enveloped them like an awkward fog as they stood facing each other.

Sophia swallowed hard before speaking again. "H-Hello, Billy."

Billy shot her a glance sharp enough to cut glass.

Kaia, ever the empath, sensed the shift in his expression before he even spoke.

Without uttering a word, she effortlessly slipped her arm through his, pulling his hand around her waist and leaning into him like it was second nature.

Then, with a playful whisper that only Billy could catch, she teased, "Babe... who’s this?"

Billy blinked in surprise, confusion flickering across his face as he turned to look at her. Kaia’s eyes was unreadable, but in that instant, he understood exactly what she was doing.

With a charming smile and an air of confidence, he played along.

He leaned down to kiss her forehead gently and replied smoothly, "This is Sophia. My ex..but don’t worry; we’re done. A long time ago."

Sophia’s face twitched at the finality of his words. Done. The weight of that single word hit harder than she anticipated.

The man beside her stepped forward with a practiced grin and extended his hand. "I’m Mason Kintrell,son of Robert Kintrell, CEO of Kintrell Intercontinental."

He chuckled lightly as if trying to lighten the mood. "And you are...?"

Billy didn’t shake Mason’s hand; instead, he raised an eyebrow and offered a faint smile. "Billy Osborn."

Mason blinked in surprise as uncertainty washed over him. "Osborn as in..."

Billy nodded slowly. "That Osborn."

He casually lifted a shopping bag emblazoned with the gold-embossed VELVETTE logo that gleamed under the light.

"Interesting," Mason said, his expression faltering slightly. "I think my father once tried to get a merger with..."

Billy interjected smoothly but with an edge now creeping into his voice: "You mean the merger that never went through because your father’s company was flagged during due diligence?"

Sophia’s eyes widened slightly as she glanced at Billy.

Mason looked flustered now, caught off guard by Billy’s knowledge. "Well... that was just rumors..."

Billy stepped closer; his tone remained smooth yet colder than before. "Funny how Arthur..my older brother, mentioned just last week that Kintrell Intercontinental is one of the underperforming companies we’re considering for acquisition. Seems like the deal’s still on the table... just not quite how your father hoped."

Mason turned pale as if he’d seen a ghost.

Kaia bit her lip to suppress laughter; it was hard not to find amusement in this unfolding drama.

Turning toward Sophia, Billy regarded her for a long moment, not with affection or anger but with stark clarity. "I remember everything you said: walk my own way and how family felt like prison."

Sophia looked away, shame washing over her as she couldn’t meet Billy’s gaze.

Billy continued, his voice steady but laced with emotion. "But when I was kicked out and left with nothing... you vanished without a word."

She opened her mouth to respond, but Billy raised a hand to pause her. "I’m not blaming you," he said, his tone shifting from accusatory to grateful. "I’m thanking you."

Sophia blinked in surprise, confusion flickering across her face as she tried to process his words. "Thanking me?"

"Exactly," he replied, a hint of a smile breaking through the tension. "If you hadn’t walked away, I wouldn’t be standing here today. Hitting rock bottom forced me to climb back up."

Turning sharply towards Mason, his voice hardened like steel, he added, "Just a word of advice: be careful who you fall for. When the riches fade or the pressure mounts, some people won’t hold your hand, they’ll let go and pretend they never knew you."

Kaia stepped forward, still nestled against Billy’s side.

She flashed Sophia a polite yet pitying smile. "It was lovely meeting you," she chimed sweetly. "Really."

Billy opened the passenger door for Kaia; she slipped in effortlessly before he turned back to the stunned pair with an air of finality.

"Take care," he said simply.

Sliding into the driver’s seat, he revved the engine, a deep, thunderous growl that turned every nearby head and peeled off with a smooth drift that left behind only the scent of luxury and engine smoke.

As they sped away, Kaia chuckled softly beside him. "That was kind of petty," she teased.

Billy grinned back at her playfully. "Nope! That was healing."

She glanced at him sideways, concern flickering in her eyes. "You okay?"

He nodded firmly now. "I am now."

And for the first time in what felt like forever, he truly meant it.