Rebirth: Love me Again

Chapter 62: The Heir's Gambit

Cole had never been one to entertain flirtations or indulge in pleasantries with women, and his disinterest was clear to all.

To approach him was to risk public humiliation, and no one wanted to be the next to fall victim to his scathing remarks.

So the young ladies, dressed in their finest designer gowns, contented themselves with admiring him from afar. They cast longing glances in his direction, whispering amongst themselves, wondering what it would be like to catch his eye, even if for just a moment.

Yet none dared make the first move. The consequences of being dismissed by Cole Fay were too severe, especially in front of the elite crowd gathered tonight.

Better to remain silent than to face rejection in such a grand setting.

However, Sophia Rosette was different. She didn't care about the whispers or the invisible barriers. She had long since hardened her resolve, her skin thickened by years of maneuvering through the cutthroat world of high society.

And unlike the others, she had an ace up her sleeve—her daughter, Sophie. Everyone knew Cole was engaged to her

daughter

, a union that had been carefully orchestrated by their families.

And if anyone had the right to stand beside Cole, it was her.

Though everyone knew Eve was her daughter, at this moment, it didn't matter. Cole wasn't marrying Eve for love or personal connection—he was marrying the Rosette name, the power, and legacy that came with it.

In high society, emotions and desires had no place when family dynasties were at stake.

Sophia knew this better than anyone, and she was confident Cole wouldn't care whether it was Eve or Sophie standing beside him at the altar. What mattered was bloodline, wealth, and influence—the things that really counted in a marriage of this magnitude.

Sophie was the true heir of the Rosette family, the one who would carry their empire into the next generation.

Sophie was her legacy, her future. And Sophia was certain that Cole, with his cold, calculating nature, would see that too. He wasn't marrying a woman, after all. He was marrying a brand, a lineage.

As Sophia stood beside him, her confidence radiating through the room, she didn't just see Cole as a man but as the final piece in the puzzle she had been carefully assembling for years.

She knew Cole's indifferent heart wouldn't care who stood beside him, as long as it was someone with the Rosette power behind her. And she was determined to make sure it was Sophie.

To Sophia, this was not about love or even duty. This was about ensuring that the Rosette name remained powerful, untouchable.

Cole was simply a tool to secure that future, and she would do whatever it took to make sure the true Rosette—her Sophie—was the one standing beside him.

Eve was history.

Though she had managed to escape, Sullivan and Sophia were unconcerned with the how or why. She couldn't do anything to ruin this event, not now.

They had made sure of that. More security had been employed, and a discreet hunting party had been sent after her. They would find her—it was only a matter of time.

Eve was powerless and utterly alone. But that didn't mean they could afford to be lenient. She was a loose end, a potential threat to everything they had worked for, and loose ends needed to be dealt with—swiftly and without mercy. She would be taken care of, one way or another.

With a confidence born from years of social climbing, Sophia moved through the crowd, her eyes locked on her target.

She didn't flinch at the icy aura that surrounded him. In fact, she welcomed it. If Cole had inherited his father's indifference, then Sophia had inherited her mother's iron will.

She wasn't here to flirt or fawn over him like the other girls. She was here to secure the future—the engagement between her daughter and Cole was as good as set, but she would make sure it stayed that way.

As she approached, the crowd seemed to part for her. The whispers grew louder as Sophia closed the distance between herself and the most untouchable man in the room.

But she didn't care. Cole was hers—well, Sophie's—and she would make sure everyone knew it.

Sophia seized her moment, slipping through the throng with practiced ease, her expression warm and welcoming as she approached Cole.

She knew how critical it was to secure her daughter's future tonight. This wasn't just a party; it was a chessboard, and her ultimate goal was to ensure the engagement between Cole and Sophie was solidified.

"Good evening, Cole," she greeted him smoothly, her voice warm but firm. She stood beside him with the confidence of someone who belonged, someone who had already won the game before the pieces were even set on the board.

Cole glanced at her, his expression unreadable, but there was a flicker of recognition in his cold gaze.

Unlike his father, who could do literally anything he wanted, he couldn't simply dismiss Sophia. She was no stranger, no fawning maiden hoping for his attention. She was a Rosette, and more importantly, the Rosette and the Fays were business partners.

"Sophia," Cole acknowledged.

Unfazed by his frosty demeanor, Sophia smiled. She had dealt with men like Cole before—men who believed their power and status made them untouchable.

However, she knew how to play the game. The Fays might be at the top of the social ladder, but the Rosettes were not far behind, and tonight, she would make sure that their two families were inextricably linked.

"The party is truly magnificent," she said, her voice smooth as silk. "But then again, nothing less could be expected when two families like ours come together."

Cole's lips tightened into a thin line, but he remained silent. Sophia had said all she needed to. Her presence by his side spoke volumes, more than any whispered words could convey.

This was not a night for subtle flirtations or meaningless small talk. This was a night to secure alliances, and Sophia had just made her move.

The room watched in silence, eyes flicking between Cole Fay and Sophia Rosette. While the other women could only dream of standing beside him, Sophia had made it clear—Cole might be a prize in the eyes of high society, but he was already claimed.