Chapter 8: Home & Celebration
1996 Words
The black luxury car was already waiting near the entrance. Adrian stood beside it professionally before opening the rear door immediately.
“Welcome back, Your highness.”
She gave a small nod and entered the car smoothly without a word.
The door closed softly behind her.
Outside, the city remained loud and busy.
Inside the car, silence swallowed everything.
Alexzra leaned back against the leather seat while loosening the collar of her dark coat slightly. Her sharp grey eyes stared blankly ahead, but her thoughts remained trapped inside the studio.
Inside the recording room.
Inside those deep ocean eyes.
Inside that voice.
Her heartbeat thudded heavily against her chest again.
Annoying.
Alexzra frowned slightly.
She had fought dangerous men without fear.
Handled ruthless business meetings without pressure.
Faced powerful people her entire life without her emotions shifting even once.
So why, why was one soft-looking girl enough to make her chest feel restless?
Alexzra lifted a hand slowly against her forehead.
“…What is wrong with me?”
The quiet mutter barely reached the silence inside the car.
She could still remember Laura standing nervously beneath the studio lights, blushing while avoiding eye contact.
Too innocent.
Too sincere.
And somehow, far too beautiful.
Alexzra exhaled slowly through her nose before closing her eyes briefly.
Dangerous.
Not because Laura intended to be.
But because Alexzra could already feel something unfamiliar beginning to disturb the calm control she spent years building around herself.
From the front seat, Adrian glanced carefully through the mirror.
“Your highness?”
Her eyes opened again instantly, returning to their usual cold composure.
“Drive.”
“Yes, Your highness.”
A short pause followed before she added quietly,
“Take us back to the estate.”
Adrian nodded immediately.
“As you wish.”
The car slowly pulled away from the studio building and disappeared into the flowing city traffic.
Meanwhile Alexzra rested silently against the seat, staring out the window while Laura’s voice continued echoing inside her mind no matter how hard she tried to ignore it.
And for the first time in years, the powerful heir of the Walton family felt completely unsettled by someone.
As the black luxury car left the crowded city behind, the surroundings slowly changed.
Tall buildings disappeared.
Noise faded.
And eventually, massive iron gates appeared ahead, towering several meters high with intricate silver detailing carved into the metal. The Walton family crest stood proudly at the centre, elegant yet intimidating beneath the evening lights.
Security guards immediately lowered their heads the moment they recognized the approaching vehicle.
The gates opened slowly.
And beyond them, an entirely different world revealed itself.
The long private road stretched endlessly through acres of breathtaking land illuminated by golden garden lights. Massive fountains sparkled beneath the darkening sky while perfectly maintained gardens surrounded the estate like something taken from royal history books.
Rows of ancient trees lined the road elegantly.
Expensive luxury cars rested near separate buildings across the property.
Everything radiated power.
Wealth. Legacy. Royalty.
Even the air itself felt untouchably refined.
The further the car drove inward, the more overwhelming the estate became.
A grand mansion eventually emerged at the centre of the enormous property, glowing warmly beneath countless crystal lights. Marble staircases curved beautifully toward giant entrance doors while elegant balconies overlooked the vast gardens below.
It didn’t look like a normal home. It looked like a palace.
Servants already stood neatly outside in prepared lines before the car even stopped completely.
The moment Adrian opened the rear door—
Every head lowered respectfully.
“Welcome home, Your highness.”
Alexzra stepped out calmly.
Long dark coat flowing softly behind her while the evening wind moved strands of her dark hair around her beautiful sharp face. Her cold gray eyes scanned the estate quietly.
Home.
After years away, everything still looked exactly the same.
Luxurious.
Perfect.
And somehow…
Lonely.
The massive mansion glowed warmly before her, but deep inside Alexzra still remembered walking these same halls alone as a child while adults discussed business, inheritance, and responsibilities around her.
No ordinary childhood. No ordinary family.
She climbed the marble stairs slowly while servants followed at a respectful distance.
Inside, the mansion was even more breathtaking.
Crystal chandeliers reflected golden light across polished marble floors. Giant paintings decorated endless hallways while soft piano music echoed faintly from somewhere deeper inside the estate.
Every corner whispered old money and power accumulated over generations.
Yet despite all the luxury—
The first thing Alexzra remembered after entering wasn’t business.
Wasn’t inheritance. Wasn’t responsibility.
It was Laura’s voice inside the studio earlier that day.
Alexzra paused briefly near the entrance hall.
Why am I still thinking about her?
Before she could continue that thought, suddenly loud footsteps echoed from the upper staircase.
“Alexzra!”
Her mother’s bright voice instantly filled the mansion.
Before she could even fully step into the grand hall, her mother rushed down the marble staircase without caring about elegance or composure.
Silk fabric swayed dramatically around her while several servants behind her looked completely used to this behaviour already.
The moment she reached Alexzra, she pulled her daughter into a tight embrace instantly.
“You finally came home!”
Alexzra remained perfectly still inside the hug.
Cold grey eyes staring forward while her mother squeezed her dramatically like she had returned from war after twenty years instead of a few years abroad.
“…Mother.”
“You got taller.”
“I did.”
“You became even more handsome.”
Alexzra sighed softly.
Her mother finally pulled back slightly only to hold Alexzra’s face between both hands proudly.
“Look at this face,” she whispered emotionally. “My daughter looks like royalty.”
“I am royalty,” Alexzra answered flatly.
Her mother gasped dramatically.
“She speaks!”
Nearby servants quietly lowered their heads to hide their smiles.
Even after years apart, nothing about Lady Walton’s personality had changed.
Meanwhile Alexzra stayed calm and expressionless despite allowing the affection without resistance.
Her mother linked their arms together happily while leading her deeper inside the mansion.
“Tonight we’re holding a welcome ceremony.”
Alexzra immediately looked at her.
“…A ceremony.”
“Yes!” her mother answered brightly. “All the relatives are coming. Everyone wants to celebrate your return.”
Alexzra already felt exhausted.
“You informed the entire family?”
“Of course.”
“…Why?”
Her mother blinked innocently.
“Because you’re important.”
Alexzra rubbed her forehead slightly.
The Walton family never did anything halfway.
Not celebrations.
Not gatherings.
Not displays of wealth.
By nightfall,
The estate transformed completely.
Golden lights illuminated every part of the massive property while luxury vehicles continuously arrived through the grand entrance gates. Influential relatives, elite business partners, and powerful figures filled the enormous mansion with elegant conversation and expensive laughter.
Live classical musicians performed beside the grand staircase while crystal chandeliers reflected light across polished marble floors.
Everything looked impossibly luxurious. Royal.
Every table overflowed with exquisite food prepared by world-class chefs.
Servants moved gracefully throughout the halls carrying crystal glasses and silver trays.
And at the centre of it all—
Was Alexzra.
She descended the grand staircase slowly beneath the glowing chandeliers, instantly drawing everyone’s attention without even trying.
Tonight, she wore a royal blue tuxedo tailored exclusively by the Walton family’s private royal tailor. The expensive fabric perfectly framed her tall lean muscular figure while silver embroidery along the cuffs added quiet elegance without overdoing it.
Every detail screamed wealth beyond imagination.
Even the polished shoes on her feet were custom-made exclusively for her.
Combined with her naturally handsome and beautiful features.
She looked untouchable.
Cold grey eyes.
Dark hair resting perfectly around her sharp face.
Power radiating effortlessly from every movement.
Conversations throughout the hall visibly quieted as people watched her descend the staircase.
Some admired her.
Some feared her.
Most did both.
“She really looks exactly like her father now…”
“The future Walton heir…”
“Her presence is terrifying.”
Alexzra ignored every whisper calmly.
She had grown up surrounded by this kind of attention.
At the bottom of the staircase, her grandfather stood waiting proudly with a glass of wine in hand.
For once, even the old man smiled openly.
“You came home,” he said quietly.
Alexzra met his gaze calmly.
“Yes, Grandfather.”
The older man nodded once.
And though he hid it well, relief flickered briefly across his aged eyes.
Because the Walton heir had finally returned home.
The grand ballroom buzzed with elegant music, clinking crystal glasses, and carefully hidden ambition.
Every person inside the Walton estate understood one thing clearly tonight—
Alexzra Walton had returned.
And that alone shifted the atmosphere of the entire elite circle.
The moment she stepped away from her family’s side, people immediately began approaching one after another.
Relatives.
Business elites.
Political figures.
Influential families.
Everyone wore polite smiles.
Everyone carried hidden intentions.
“It’s an honour finally meeting the future Walton heir.”
“Our families should arrange dinner sometime.”
“My daughter recently graduated overseas, perhaps you two would get along.”
One by one, conversations surrounded her endlessly.
A powerful businessman subtly introduced his son.
Another family pushed their daughter forward shyly.
Several elite figures attempted discussing partnerships and future business opportunities before even finishing greetings.
Some admired her power.
Some desired her family influence.
Some simply wanted to secure connections before Alexzra officially inherited more authority within Walton’s empire.
But Alexzra saw through all of them immediately.
Years of training under the Walton family taught her how to read people far too well.
Desperation hidden beneath politeness.
Greed disguised as admiration.
Interest covered by fake smiles.
It all looked painfully obvious to her.
Yet despite the constant attention, Alexzra remained calm.
Cold.
Untouchable.
She answered politely, when necessary, but her sharp grey eyes carried enough pressure to stop most people from becoming overly familiar.
Even standing silently beside a table was enough to dominate the room naturally.
Power clung to her effortlessly.
At one point, a wealthy woman laughed softly while nudging her elegant daughter closer toward Alexzra.
“My daughter loves music too. Perhaps you could spend time together at Walton’s Prestige Academy.”
The daughter smiled nervously.
Alexzra looked at her briefly.
“I’m not interested.”
The rejection came calm and emotionless.
The poor girl nearly stopped breathing.
Meanwhile several nearby businessmen immediately straightened nervously at the cold atmosphere.
Across the ballroom, Alexzra’s grandfather quietly observed everything beside her father.
Neither man interrupted.
Neither needed to.
Because Alexzra was handling the room perfectly.
Her father slowly crossed his arms, deep pride hidden beneath his composed expression.
“She’s exactly as she should be,” he said quietly.
Strong.
Confident.
Impossible to manipulate.
The old grandfather nodded slightly while watching powerful people carefully measure their words around her.
Years ago, Alexzra had still carried traces of softness beneath her cold exterior.
Now, even elite figures hesitated before approaching her.
And honestly?
That satisfied the Walton men greatly.
Because in their world, kindness alone could destroy a person.
Power survived.
Coldness protected.
Confidence controlled rooms.
And Alexzra possessed all three naturally now.
Her mother, however, sighed dramatically nearby while sipping champagne.
“She’s scaring everyone again.”
Her father answered calmly,
“Good.”
Meanwhile Alexzra stood near the ballroom windows beneath soft golden lights, royal blue tuxedo fitting her flawlessly while expensive watches and jewellery glimmered subtly against her wrists.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
Dangerous.
People continued approaching her all night despite her coldness because power itself was attractive.
Yet none of them noticed. Behind Alexzra’s unreadable grey eyes, her thoughts drifted elsewhere entirely.
Toward a girl standing nervously beneath recording studio lights.
Toward deep ocean eyes.
Toward a soft angelic voice singing with her whole heart.
And somehow, that memory disturbed her more than this entire room full of powerful people ever could.
- Writer
