Two days after the concert, where Dylan had earned an astounding $9,000,000,000,000, he finally left his office, exhausted and emotionally drained. The lights of the city twinkled outside the tinted windows of his luxury car as it sped through the streets, heading to his lavish villa. All he wanted now was silence and sleep. But what awaited him at home was far from rest.
As he entered the grand hallway of his villa, he immediately noticed something unusual. A man, around his age, was seated comfortably on the diamond-studded, ornately designed divan in the center of the living room. The stranger exuded confidence and calmness, wearing a sleek black suit and a mysterious smile.
Dylan's brow furrowed as he approached. "Who are you? And what are you doing in my house?"
The man stood up slowly and extended his hand. "My name is Diego Lenoir. I'm your cousin. The son of your late uncle."
Dylan froze. "What...?"
Diego smiled politely. "I came to claim what rightfully belongs to me. My father was the man who took you under his wing, wasn't he? He gave you everything — the business, the house, even his artists. But I'm his only son."
Dylan narrowed his eyes. "I didn't even know he had a son. He never told me about you."
"Well," Diego said with a shrug, "he didn't talk about me much. But that doesn't change the fact that I'm his heir. You've been living a life built on my inheritance."
The room went silent for a moment as tension filled the space.
Dylan finally broke the silence. "Sit down. We need to talk."
The two men sat across from each other, the mood heavy. Dylan took a deep breath and began explaining everything. How he was once called Victoire, how he had lost his parents to cancer, how he had been abandoned by his best friends, how he had fallen into a coma, and how his uncle had saved him by giving him a new identity and a new life as Dylan Lenoir.
Diego listened intently, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. When Dylan finished, the room was silent again.
"You've been through a lot," Diego finally said. "But this world doesn't run on emotions. It runs on legacy. And technically, all this belongs to me."
Dylan stood up, anger flashing in his eyes. "Are you seriously going to take everything away from me now? After all I've done to build this? I made this empire grow. I carried the weight. I'm not giving it up."
Diego stood too, staring Dylan down. "Then let's make a deal."
Dylan blinked. "What kind of deal?"
"You give me everything that has to do with production. All the artist contracts, the studio rights, and the music business. In exchange, I'll become your official producer. You'll be a solo artist, and I'll manage your career. I'll also continue producing for Ryder, Daniella, and Andréa."
Dylan considered it. It was a bold proposal. But also a perfect way to relieve himself of the burdens of the business while keeping his artistic freedom.
After a moment of thought, Dylan nodded. "Fine. Deal."
The two cousins shook hands.
That night, something shifted in Dylan. For the first time in months, he felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. The empire no longer rested entirely on him. And with Diego managing the production, Dylan could finally focus on his own music, his own path, his own dreams.
As Diego left to begin the transfer of power, Dylan stood on the balcony of his villa, looking out over the glowing skyline.
"A new chapter begins," he whispered to himself.
The darkness of betrayal and pain was finally giving way to something new. Something hopeful.
And the world hadn't seen anything yet.
Dylan Lenoir was just getting started.