**Nicholas Mansion**
Nicholas lounged in the quiet comfort of his expansive living room, the lighting casting shadows on the modern decor.
A glass of champagne rested in his hand, the bubbles rising lazily to the surface.
He was lost in thought, replaying Mason's words during the day, when his phone buzzed on the coffee table.
He glanced at the screen, and a smile formed on his lips when he saw the caller ID.
"Mom," he answered smoothly, bringing the phone to his ear.
"Darling," her warm voice greeted him. "How are you settling back in?"
"Well, I'm managing," Nicholas chuckled.
"That's good... So tell me, how did the dinner go last night? Did anything unusual happen?"
Following his mom's questions, Nicholas took a slow sip of his champagne before responding.
"The Harrington family is as predictable as ever," he said, his tone tinged with sarcasm. "Everyone's still scrambling to win Grandpa's favor, as if that's the only thing keeping them afloat."
