Liam's fingers tapped restlessly on the edge of his coffee cup as he leaned back in his chair, scanning through the documents in front of him. Noah, sitting across the grand dining table, was focused on his laptop screen, occasionally muttering technical jargon under his breath.

"So, the sustainable urban development initiative," Noah began, breaking the silence. His voice was steady and businesslike, but there was a trace of excitement underneath. "London is just the beginning, right? We're going to need a strong foundation for the project, and your real estate holdings and financial power are going to be key in getting this off the ground."

Liam's eyes flicked up from the papers, meeting Noah's. "Yeah. The city's infrastructure is a mess, but there's massive potential. I can pull the strings on the land acquisition and financing side. Your team's technological solutions will bring the whole thing to life. We're talking green buildings, sustainable transportation networks, and tech that can make the city smarter. This is bigger than anything either of our families have done before."

Noah grinned, clearly enjoying the challenge. "It's ambitious. But with your expertise in urban development and my side of the tech, we've got all the pieces we need. The city's going to be a model for the future if we can make it work."

Liam gave a slight nod, his mind already moving ahead to the next steps. "We'll be flying out to London tomorrow morning. Need to meet with the local partners and start laying the groundwork for the next phase of the project. The initial meetings are going to be crucial. After that, we'll need to start negotiations on the land."

"Right," Noah replied, typing something into his laptop. "I'll finalize our tech proposal tonight so we can hit the ground running."

Liam didn't respond immediately, his mind wandering for just a moment. The weight of the upcoming trip felt heavier than it usually did, though. His company's expansion plans were always stressful, but this one felt different. More personal. They were building something that would shape cities for generations, something that would require him to be away for weeks at a time. Away from his family, away from the comfort of routine.

As if on cue, the soft sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway, and Liam turned just in time to see his younger sister, Lily, standing in the doorway.

Her presence was a gentle reminder of the world he was always trying to protect, the world of family and normalcy that still existed outside the high-stakes business world he inhabited. Lily was still young, her bright eyes framed by her dark hair, and her small frame radiated innocence. She wasn't the kind of person who thrived in boardrooms or corporate meetings, yet she always seemed to bring a sense of calm into his otherwise frantic life.

"I thought I heard you downstairs," Lily said shyly, her gaze flickering to Noah before landing back on Liam. "Are you really leaving tomorrow?"

Liam gave her a soft smile, trying to mask the exhaustion that had settled into his bones. "Yeah, tomorrow morning. Big meetings in London."

Lily's brow furrowed, her small face showing a trace of concern. "I'm going to miss you," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're gone so much now."

Liam's heart tightened. He hated the way his family had started to feel like a distant world, one he could never quite keep up with. But it was his reality, one that he had created through hard work—and through a fair amount of personal sacrifice.

"You know I'll be back soon," Liam said gently, standing up and walking over to her. He reached out to ruffle her hair, offering a small, affectionate smile. "I'll miss you, too. But this is important. And you know how it is with the business."

Lily looked down at the floor, clearly a little upset but not saying anything more. She hesitated before meeting his gaze again. "Are you going to be okay? You're always working so hard..."

Liam's heart tugged again. She didn't understand the pressures, not fully. But he didn't want to burden her with his struggles. "I'll be fine, Lily," he reassured her, giving her a soft but firm hug. "I promise. I'll be back before you know it."

Lily wrapped her arms around him, holding him tighter than he expected. "Okay," she whispered into his shoulder. "Just...don't forget about us, okay?"

Liam pulled away slowly, looking down at her with a small, sincere smile. "I won't forget. I'll always come back."

Noah, who had been quietly observing the exchange, smiled faintly. "That's the hardest part, isn't it?" he said, his voice light, though there was an underlying understanding. "Balancing everything. You'll be back before you know it."

Liam nodded, trying not to let his emotions show. "Yeah. London's important, but family is, too."

Noah stood up, sensing the moment of intimacy between the siblings. "I'll get the rest of the presentation ready. You two have a good talk. I'll see you in the morning."

Liam gave a brief nod, and Noah turned and made his way out of the room, leaving the two siblings alone. Liam watched Noah go, then turned back to his little sister.

"I'll be back before you even miss me," Liam said with a grin, hoping to ease the heaviness in the air.

Lily gave him a small smile, though her eyes were still a little sad. "Just...be careful. Okay?"

Liam's heart softened. "I always am. Don't worry about me."

As Lily turned to go back upstairs, Liam stood there for a moment longer, watching her retreating figure. A small part of him hated the idea of leaving her behind, even for a short time. But he had to keep going, had to keep building the empire his family had created, no matter how much he wished things could be simpler.

He turned back to the documents in front of him, his mind already racing toward the meetings in London, but a piece of him stayed with Lily, silently promising to return as soon as he could.