"Welcome back, sir," the receptionist said as Damian strode into the foyer of Lester Harbor Country Club with Chloe, hands clasped tightly.

The club was a haven of elegance with panoramic views of the shimmering ocean. Exotic flowers decorated the patio, adorned with standing lamps and teak furniture. Inside, maritime-themed artwork covered the walls. The faint scent of saltwater peppered with the aroma of freshly prepared cuisine infiltrated Chloe's nostrils. Nervous energy coursed through her veins as Damian led her to the restaurant. 

Chloe saw the Scott family seated at a round table by the window. A slim teenage girl with familiar brown eyes ran up and hugged her tightly. "Chloe! I'm so glad you're back. We all missed you."

"You've grown so much I barely recognize you, Hope." Chloe smiled at the dark blonde in a simple summer dress, now a couple of inches taller than her.

Chloe felt overdressed in her blue silk dress and diamond collar—minus the detachable D-ring—when she saw Vera, casually clad in a polo shirt and skirt, waltzing toward her.

"I'm so glad you came today. I can't tell you how much I've looked forward to seeing you again. Damian's never been happier," Vera greeted, then glanced at her stepson and mock-frowned. "Don't let her slip out of your hands this time."

"Mom, I won't. Chloe isn't going anywhere, are you?" Damian pulled her into him, gripping her waist.

Alistair, a formidable figure, faced Chloe and Damian. His serious features relaxed into a slight smile when he shook her hand firmly. "Welcome back, Chloe."

"Thank you, Mister Scott," she shyly responded, clinging onto Damian.

His father slipped his hands into the pockets of his pants. "You can call me Alistair. There's no need for formalities. We are, after all, a family."

Damian noticed not everyone was there. "Where's Uncle Nick, Aunt Alicia, Sam, and Aurora?"

"They're on a family vacation in France. It's just us today," Vera answered. She glanced at Chloe. "You must be hungry. We should sit down and order some food. Damian told me you're not a fan of Chinese food, but they do a great serving of dim sum here. Have you tried it before?"

"A few times, but not here. It wouldn't hurt to try again if you recommend it," Chloe responded with a tentative smile, her nervousness slowly easing.

After taking their seats and perusing the menu, Vera's recommendation proved to be spot on. The Chinese brunch was delicious, probably the best Chloe had ever had. The steamed turnip cakes practically melted in her mouth, and the duck was a crispy delight, mingling perfectly with sautéed vegetables and the sweetness of hoisin sauce.

"How's your food?" Damian asked, noticing Chloe helping herself to a second round of shumai dumplings filled with seasoned pork, mushrooms, and other enticing ingredients.

"Mmm, this is so good," Chloe murmured between bites, dipping each piece in soy chili sauce.

Alistair cleared his throat, wiping his mouth with a serviette. "This place has a Michelin-star chef from Hong Kong who makes the best Peking duck in town. Do you speak Mandarin or Cantonese, Chloe?"

"Dad, she didn't grow up in China. I told you she's adopted," Damian interjected, his voice edged with frustration.

Chloe pressed Damian's hand, silently reminding him she could protect herself. She directed her gaze at Alistair. "Do you speak Chinese?"

"Actually, I do speak some Mandarin. So does Damian. We have business associates in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong."

Chloe's eyes widened. "Dami? You didn't tell me..."

"Dami?" Hope giggled at her brother's nickname.

The family chatter continued as they savored their meals and sipped jasmine tea. Once the plates were cleared, Hope excused herself upon spotting some friends and joined them for a game of minigolf.

"Damian, you mentioned on the phone you wanted to share something important with me. A diary of some sort?" Alistair asked.

"It's Saira's diary," Chloe replied, patting the thickness of her handbag. "I brought it with me."

***

One hour later, Alistair sat in a private sitting room, the tattered diary open in his trembling hands. His eyes were wide, disbelief etched into his features. Chloe sat next to Vera, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap. Across from them, Damian leaned forward, his jaw clenched.

"She really did it," Alistair remarked. "She killed her mother. And most likely her father. She was always a rotten apple. Full of maggots."

Vera huffed, her lips curling in disdain. "Why am I not surprised, Scotty? With Grant dead and Gemma on the loose, only God knows what that cruel bitch will do next."

"Saira sounds like the most evil woman on earth," Chloe muttered. She looked up, biting her lip.

Vera met Chloe's gaze, her eyes hard but not unkind. "You have no idea. What she did to my brother—"

"Mom," Damian cut in, his voice taut. "You don't need to tell Chloe everything now."

Vera exhaled, the tension in her shoulders softening. "I know. Today's not the day to share such atrocities of the past." 

She turned to Chloe, her expression gentler. "There's something you need to know. I adopted Damian as a co-parent when Saira lost custody of him years ago. He's just as much my son as Hope is my daughter. What happened between you and him in college... Well, I hope you can forgive Damian because he loves you."

Chloe swallowed hard, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I've forgiven him and his family for the choices made. Either way, you were damned if you did and damned if you didn't protect your daughter," she said, her voice steadying. "I'm strong enough to deal with the family baggage that comes with the man I love."

Vera raised her left eyebrow. "Are you? Are you strong enough to deal with Saira?"

One stray tear ran down Chloe's cheek. "I carried Damian's child once. I lost our baby because of the problems Saira created. I've evolved from it, and I'm a lot stronger now."

Alistair's head snapped up, shock etched in his eyes. "You what?"

Vera sighed, her voice heavy with sorrow. "She had a miscarriage." She reached out, placing a comforting hand on Chloe's. "Oh, honey. I'm so sorry for your suffering."

Alistair's lips pressed into a thin line, his fists clenching. "Another loss because of the devil's deal."

Silence fell over the room, thick and suffocating. The tension was noticeable, like a live wire ready to snap.

Damian's phone beeped, breaking the stillness. He glanced at the screen and then at the group. "The correctional facility confirmed I can visit my mother this afternoon. I'm going to tell her the deal is off. Chloe's already made a photocopy of that page in the diary. We're allowed to bring up to ten pages of a document, to be checked by security, into the visiting room."

He turned to Chloe with determination in his eyes. "Babe, do you want to meet your future mother-in-law?"

Vera's eyebrows shot up, her voice rising in alarm. "Are you joking, Damian? Don't be stupid. You can never let Saira know about Chloe. You are not bringing her with you."

"Why not? My mother will find out about her anyway, and our relationship shouldn't be a secret. Chloe can handle it." A cheeky grin played on Damian's lips, but the smile did not reach his eyes.

Vera's face flushed with anger. "Protect the girl, damn it!"

Alistair shook his head, his expression grave. "Damian, I'm already handling your mother. Let me deal with a few things first."

"Dad, this is my battle, not yours," Damian said, his voice firm.

The room erupted into arguments, voices overlapping, until Chloe stood up abruptly, silencing them all.

"It's also my fight now. I'm going with Damian."

As they left the room, Chloe noticed Vera pulling Alistair aside in an urgent whisper. "We need to keep them safe. Do whatever it takes without putting Hope in any danger."

Alistair nodded, rubbing his chin as he strode out of the room without a word.

***

A/N: This is just a bridging chapter to the one I'm looking forward to... 😈 Have you ever met anyone like Saira?