Chapter 29: An Unexpected Visit

The atmosphere was still charged with tension, but there was a clear sense of victory in the air. Isabella knew the battle wasn't over, but this small victory meant a lot, not only for Ethan but for the family as a whole.

Ethan, for his part, didn’t fully understand what was happening, but the fact that Alexander decided he would stay made him feel safe. After all, his home was here, and although he didn't say it aloud, his bond with Isabella grew stronger with each passing day.

That same night, the tension was still palpable in the house. Alexander had retired to his office after the intense exchange with Miranda. While he reviewed some documents, Isabella accompanied Ethan to his room, making sure the boy was ready for bed. However, the calm would soon be broken by the arrival of an unexpected visitor.

The sound of a door opening echoed through the mansion. It was unusual to receive visitors at that hour, but when Alexander heard the firm footsteps down the hallway, he immediately knew who it was. His grandfather, the patriarch of the family, had arrived.

The elderly man, impeccably dressed in a dark suit, entered the room with his back straight and a severe expression. Although his eyes sparkled with an intensity that conveyed authority, there was a trace of weariness in his wrinkles. Miranda, who was in the main living room, immediately rose to greet him, putting on a cordial smile.

—"Gregorio," Miranda greeted, with her sweetest, almost feigned tone. "What a pleasure to see you. We weren’t expecting your visit."

The elderly man looked at her, and although his face remained cold, the courtesy with which he greeted her was evident.

—"Miranda, my dear," he said with a light smile as he gently took her hand. "It's always a pleasure to see you. You look wonderful."

Miranda blushed slightly, knowing that the words of Alexander’s grandfather were always meant to please her. He was a man of the old school, and to him, Miranda represented the perfect image of what a wife should be.

At that moment, Ethan was coming down the stairs, with Isabella following closely behind. The boy, oblivious to the adult tensions, approached without thinking, but the look he received from Gregorio was very different from the one he had given Miranda.

The elderly man’s face hardened when he saw Ethan. His eyes scanned him with barely disguised contempt, as if the mere presence of the boy deeply unsettled him.

—"Well, the bastard..." he muttered quietly, barely audible, but enough for Isabella to hear.

Isabella’s heart skipped a beat when she heard those words. She wanted to intervene, but Ethan, distracted by his own childlike energy, didn’t notice anything and kept running toward his room. Meanwhile, Miranda remained silent, as if the comment were nothing out of the ordinary.

Gregorio wasted no time in the living room. He walked with determination toward Alexander's office, making the tension increase with every step. Isabella could feel the heavy, charged air, and an unsettling premonition began to form in her chest.

Inside the office, Alexander received him with a mix of respect and caution. He knew that his grandfather's visit was never casual, especially not in such a tense atmosphere.

—"Grandfather, I didn’t know you’d be coming tonight," Alexander said, closing the file he had been reviewing.

Gregorio didn’t waste time on pleasantries. He sat down in front of Alexander and looked at him with the severity that had always been able to dominate him.

—"Alexander," he began with a voice that admitted no contradictions. "It’s time we talk about important matters. It’s time you think about the future of this family and the company."

Alexander straightened in his chair, knowing something serious was coming.

—"What do you mean, grandfather?" he asked, though he suspected where the conversation was headed.

Gregorio looked him directly in the eyes, and after a loaded silence, he continued.

—"I’m not going to beat around the bush. That bastard, Ethan... he has no place in our family. He’s not of our blood. And if you think that one day he’ll inherit what we’ve built, you’re very wrong."

His grandfather’s words hit like a slap. Alexander felt something stir inside him, but he remained firm.

—"Ethan is part of my life," Alexander replied. "I’ve raised him as if he were my own son, and I’m not going to treat him any differently."

Gregorio let out a bitter laugh, as if his grandson's answer was a ridiculous naivety.

—"Raise him?" he repeated sarcastically. "That’s not enough, Alexander. You know how things work. Blood is what counts. If you want to keep control of this company and make sure everything we’ve built doesn’t fall into the hands of others, you need a real son. One of your own. With Miranda."

Alexander’s face darkened. His grandfather was treading on dangerous ground, but that wouldn’t stop him.

—"Miranda is perfect for the family. She’s the wife you need to ensure the stability of our name," Gregorio continued. "You must have a child with her, one who is your blood, from our lineage, so you can continue the inheritance. You can’t allow a bastard like Ethan to take everything. He doesn’t belong here!"

Alexander felt his patience unraveling, but he kept his composure, knowing that losing control would do him no good.

Before he could respond, Gregorio leaned forward, his eyes harder than ever.

—"And don’t forget one thing, Alexander," he said in a grave tone. "It was Miranda who saved your life years ago. If it weren’t for her, you wouldn’t be sitting here now. You owe her your life, and it’s time you recognize that."

Alexander remained silent, struck by his grandfather’s words. He couldn’t ignore that fact. He remembered how Miranda had been by his side in that accident that nearly cost him his life, how she had rescued him and stayed with him through the worst of times. That memory weighed heavily on his heart, and he knew his grandfather was using it as a weapon.

—"Do the right thing, Alexander," Gregorio concluded, standing up. "Make sure Miranda remains a part of this family and that you give her the place she deserves. I don’t want to see you waste what you have for a mere whim."

With those final words, Gregorio left the office, leaving Alexander tangled in a web of thoughts and conflicting emotions. The shadow of the past and the debt he owed to Miranda

suffocated him, while Ethan’s future hung by an uncertain thread.