Before Nova could press further, the waiter returned, carrying their orders. He set the table with the practiced grace of someone accustomed to serving the elite, placing the steak and sides in front of Dominic, and the wine and water as instructed. The tension in the air was palpable as father and daughter stared at each other in silence, the unresolved issues hanging between them like a dark cloud.
As the waiter left, the silence lingered. Neither father nor daughter was willing to make the first move, each waiting for the other to break the impasse.
Nova finally broke the silence, her voice low but firm. "I don’t understand why you’re rejecting Bentley’s offer, Dad. This could save Sinclair Enterprises and everything you’ve worked for. Why are you so adamant?"
Dominic, who had alrea
