Chapter 13 – Chapter 13 – The Billionaire Leaves the Mansion and Starts Again

Alexander’s move-out took three days. His expensive furniture, artwork, and business equipment were removed according to the court’s schedule. Richard asked that the original family photographs remain, along with the old piano Eleanor had loved.

In his childhood bedroom, Alexander found a pencil mark showing how tall he had been at ten. His mother had written the date beside it. He remembered her laughing as he stretched his neck to appear taller.

Richard stood in the doorway. “She kept every mark,” he said.

Alexander touched the wall. “I forgot so much.”

“You forgot what mattered.”

Alexander moved into a smaller apartment near his office. The company survived only after restructuring, selling luxury assets, and accepting independent financial oversight. Some investors left. Others stayed because he had finally admitted the truth.

He paid for the damage caused at the party and made sure the staff received their extra wages. He did not ask Richard to move back into the mansion or pretend the incident had never happened.

One evening, Richard visited the apartment. It was modern but almost empty. They ordered dinner and spoke about Eleanor, the early years of the business, and the mistakes they had both made.

“I miss the house,” Alexander admitted.

Richard asked what he missed about it.

“What I thought it proved. That I had made it. That nobody could take anything from me.”

Richard replied that the house had never made him a son. Love had come before the money, before the company, and before the mansion.

Alexander listened. Their relationship was not repaired in one evening, but it had begun again.