Chapter 323

The grand foyer of Cliffside Manor buzzed with refined energy as Sebastian and Dominic Kingsley stood beside their impeccably dressed brother Raymond, who had chosen a tailored navy suit for the occasion. Together with their elegant stepmothers Lillian and Sophia, they warmly welcomed Victor Whitmore and his second son Nathaniel into their home.

"Sebastian, CEO of Monarch Group, and Dominic, the renowned prosecutor! My, how you've both grown into such distinguished gentlemen!" Victor's booming voice filled the marble hall as he clasped their hands with genuine affection. His sharp gaze then landed on Raymond. "And this must be young Raymond? The last time I saw you, you were barely reaching my waist! Now look at you - tall, handsome, and clearly inherited the Kingsley charm. Where does life find you these days?"

Raymond offered a modest smile, his posture straightening instinctively. "I serve as a detective with Crestview PD's Major Crimes Unit, Uncle Victor."

"A detective?" Victor's bushy eyebrows shot up, a flicker of calculation passing behind his cordial expression. To a titan of industry like himself, law enforcement seemed a quaint career choice - all risk with little financial reward, capped by limited advancement potential. The pinnacle would be police commissioner at best, a far cry from steering a corporate empire worth billions.

"My son has always marched to his own drum." Lillian's lips tightened almost imperceptibly as she smoothed her emerald silk dress. Among Harrison Kingsley's wives, she held the highest social standing as a Hartwell by birth. While she never competed for the family fortune, generations of blue-blooded upbringing had instilled exacting standards for her children.

Yet here was Raymond, her youngest, stubbornly dedicating himself to chasing criminals rather than boardroom victories - a constant source of quiet mortification at society gatherings.

"Lillian, you sell him short!" Sophia interjected brightly, her diamond bracelets catching the light as she gave Raymond's shoulder an affectionate squeeze. "At twenty-seven, Raymond already has four commendations for solving high-profile cases. He's the youngest division captain in Crestview PD history!"

Dominic nodded in agreement, his prosecutor's voice taking on a courtroom edge. "The Major Crimes Unit's clearance rate improved eighteen percent since Raymond took command. Hardly what I'd call lacking talent, Uncle Victor."

Victor chuckled, the sound rich with forced joviality. "Clearly a rising star then! The Kingsleys never fail to impress."

Raymond's cheeks warmed at the praise, his fingers unconsciously adjusting his tie. Family approval meant more to him than any departmental award.

"Victor! You old fox!"

The gathering parted as Harrison Kingsley descended the staircase with his characteristic effortless grace, flanked by Camille and his longtime aide Quentin. Though nearing sixty, Harrison moved with the vitality of a man twenty years younger, his silver-streaked hair perfectly styled. The sight made Victor unconsciously straighten his own posture.

"It's been months since you darkened my doorstep," Harrison teased, his emerald eyes glinting with mischief. "I nearly sent out search parties thinking you'd fled the country to avoid losing another golf match."

Victor scoffed, adjusting his burgundy tie. "Says the man who declined my polo invitation last season! What was your excuse? 'Business in Serenia'?" He gave Harrison's traditional Chinese silk robe an exaggerated once-over. "Or were you worried those aging knees couldn't mount a horse anymore?"

Laughter rippled through the assembled family as the two patriarchs fell into their familiar competitive banter, a decades-long dance of one-upmanship that had begun in their university days.

"Save your concern, old friend," Harrison retorted, running a hand through his still-thick hair. "I'll be the one pushing your wheelchair when we're both doddering relics in some luxury retirement home."

The assembled guests chuckled at their playful rivalry. Both men had maintained their appearances with almost obsessive dedication over the years - Victor in his custom Brioni suit that accentuated his broad shoulders, Harrison looking regal in embroidered silk that whispered of private ateliers and astronomical tailoring bills. Their lifelong competition showed no signs of abating, even as grandchildren began entering the picture.

Camille exchanged amused glances with Sophia. Some things never changed - least of all the unspoken contest between these two titans to see who could age more gracefully. Currently, Harrison seemed to be winning by a hair, his lack of silver strands at the temples a particular point of irritation for Victor.

As champagne flutes circulated, the gathering settled into comfortable conversation, the grand hall alive with the clink of crystal and the murmur of old money exchanging pleasantries. Yet beneath the polished surface, unspoken calculations continued - alliances being weighed, futures being assessed, and the ever-present Kingsley-Whitmore rivalry playing out in subtle glances and carefully chosen words.