This wasn't some dramatic gesture like a wealthy parent disapproving of their child's partner and trying to buy them off with a fat check. No—it was more like a silent warning. A message delivered with looks and words layered in meaning. And while nothing concrete had been said about what they'd do if Alexandre crossed the line, the implication hung heavy in the air.
Alexandre could feel it.
And yet—he wasn't afraid.
But at the same time, he couldn't refute what Xavier had said, so Alexandre stayed silent. He simply stared at Hera's back as she lay cradled in Xavier's arms. Then, after a moment, he asked instead, "Tell me, is it really true that there are already six of you? And are you even strong enough to protect her, not just from danger, but from heartbreak too? Because, as far as I know, while you may be an international celebrity, I'm the only son of the richest man in Paris. Isn't that enough of a reason for me to be considered to be part of this… group?"
