Three days later.
For the first time since the destruction of the Core, Selina returned to normal life.
Or at least, what passed for normal in her world.
The headquarters of the Vale Group stood exactly as she remembered it.
Towering glass walls.
Busy employees.
Executives rushing through hallways carrying reports.
The familiar rhythm of corporate life.
As Selina stepped out of the car, several employees immediately noticed her.
Whispers followed.
Not hostile.
Curious.
Because during the past few weeks, a lot had happened.
Rumors had spread.
The once-overlooked Vale daughter had suddenly become involved in major business decisions, strategic negotiations, and projects that even senior executives struggled to understand.
Nobody quite knew what had changed.
Only that something had.
Selina adjusted her blazer and entered the building.
The receptionist immediately stood.
"Miss Vale."
Selina smiled politely.
"Good morning."
The woman looked momentarily stunned by the simple greeting.
Selina almost laughed.
Apparently being polite was still considered shocking in this building.
The elevator ride to the executive floors was quiet.
As the doors opened, however, she found Rowan waiting.
Her brother looked relieved.
"You're finally back."
Selina raised an eyebrow.
"I was gone for three days."
"It felt longer."
"That sounds dramatic."
"It is dramatic."
She laughed softly.
Some things never changed.
They walked together toward the conference wing.
Along the way, Rowan glanced at her several times.
Eventually Selina noticed.
"What?"
He hesitated.
Then shrugged.
"You seem different."
The comment wasn't surprising.
A lot of people had been saying that recently.
Selina considered her answer.
"I am different."
Rowan nodded.
As if that made perfect sense.
Perhaps it did.
They entered a meeting room where Damian was already waiting.
Several senior executives sat around the table.
The atmosphere immediately became formal.
A large screen displayed charts, projections, and financial reports.
Business.
Actual business.
No timelines.
No hidden conspiracies.
No reality-destroying machines.
Selina found herself unexpectedly grateful.
The meeting began.
One executive started presenting concerns regarding an international expansion project.
Another raised issues about investment risks.
A third argued against a proposed acquisition.
The discussion continued for nearly an hour.
Selina listened quietly.
Taking notes.
Observing.
Thinking.
Then Damian finally looked toward her.
"Your opinion?"
The room immediately became silent.
A few executives exchanged glances.
Some still weren't accustomed to Damian actively seeking her input.
Selina looked at the reports again.
Then calmly began outlining her analysis.
Five minutes later, the room was completely focused on her explanation.
Ten minutes later, several executives were taking notes.
Fifteen minutes later, one of the senior directors quietly admitted she had identified a flaw nobody else had noticed.
When Selina finally finished speaking, silence followed.
Not awkward silence.
Impressed silence.
The kind she once believed she would never receive.
Damian nodded once.
Approval.
Simple.
But genuine.
"We'll proceed with that recommendation."
The meeting moved forward.
Yet several executives continued looking toward Selina throughout the discussion.
Not because she was Damian's daughter.
Not because of family politics.
Because she had earned their attention.
And that realization felt better than she expected.
Later that afternoon.
Selina sat alone in her office reviewing documents.
Her office.
The thought still felt strange.
A month ago, she barely had influence within the company.
Now she had responsibilities, authority, and projects assigned directly to her.
Her phone vibrated.
One message.
Lucian.
She immediately rolled her eyes.
Lucian: Lunch.
That was the entire message.
No greeting.
No explanation.
Just one word.
Selina typed a response.
Selina: Is that a request?
Three dots appeared almost instantly.
Lucian: No.
Selina: Then?
Lucian: Information.
Selina laughed.
Only Lucian could turn lunch into a corporate announcement.
A second message arrived.
Lucian: You skipped breakfast.
She blinked.
How did he know that?
Actually—
she didn't want to know.
Selina: Are you monitoring me?
Lucian: Yes.
Selina: That's concerning.
Lucian: Lunch.
Selina shook her head.
Some things truly never changed.
By evening, she found herself at a private restaurant overlooking the city.
Lucian was already there.
Of course.
The man somehow arrived early to everything.
Selina sat across from him.
"You realize normal people ask others to lunch."
"I did."
"No. You issued a command."
"It worked."
She hated that he had a point.
The meal arrived.
For a while, conversation remained light.
Work.
Projects.
Minor updates.
Ordinary topics.
The kind they rarely had time for before.
Eventually Lucian set down his coffee.
His expression becoming more serious.
"There's something else."
Selina immediately became suspicious.
"That sentence has never led to good news."
"It's not bad news."
"That's exactly what people say before bad news."
Lucian ignored her.
As usual.
"The Blackthorn inheritance."
Selina froze.
Right.
That.
The issue everyone had been avoiding.
The Blackthorn family no longer existed in the traditional sense.
Most records had been lost.
Many assets had been hidden after the collapse.
But legally—
if her identity as Selene Blackthorn was verified—
everything belonged to her.
And Blackthorn wealth made the Vale family fortune look modest.
Selina sighed.
"I don't want a war."
"You won't get one."
She looked at him skeptically.
"This is a family inheritance worth billions."
Lucian calmly took a sip of coffee.
"Anyone foolish enough to challenge you would have to deal with me."
The statement was delivered with complete sincerity.
Which somehow made it worse.
Selina rubbed her forehead.
"You know that's not reassuring, right?"
"It should be."
"It really shouldn't."
Lucian looked genuinely confused.
She decided not to explain.
Later that night.
Back at Blackthorn Estate.
Selina found herself standing on a balcony overlooking the grounds.
The air was cool.
Peaceful.
The stars visible overhead.
So much had changed.
The invisible daughter.
The forgotten girl.
The victim of endless timelines.
All of that felt distant now.
Not erased.
Never erased.
But no longer defining her.
For years, fate had controlled her life.
Then the timelines had controlled it.
Then survival.
Now—
for the first time—
the future belonged entirely to her.
No prophecies.
No recursion.
No predetermined ending.
Just choices.
Her choices.
The balcony door opened behind her.
She didn't need to turn around.
"Lucian."
A pause.
Then—
"Do you ever stop finding me?"
"No."
She smiled.
Of course not.
Lucian stepped beside her.
Neither spoke for a while.
The city lights glittered in the distance.
Alive.
Normal.
Free.
Finally, Selina looked toward him.
"What happens now?"
Lucian was silent for several moments.
Then answered simply:
"Whatever you want."
For once—
there were no timelines waiting to contradict him.
And that made all the difference.