Avery’s whisper was still hanging in the air, thick and heavy, like it was waiting for someone to answer it. “Do you have any idea… how small I felt standing there today?”The entire lobby went dead silent. Robert didn't jump in with a quick excuse. He didn't try to defend his lies or explain away his secret. He just stood there, taking the hit, and waited for her to finish. Avery’s voice was trembling, but this time she didn't look away. She looked him right in the eye, her gaze pure and honest.“I watched you stand there,” she said, her fingers curling into tight balls at her sides, “and I watched the most powerful men in the world bow to you like you were a king. And in that second, I realized I didn't even know who you were.”Robert felt a physical pang in his chest, but he stayed quiet.“I thought I understood you, Robert,” she continued, her eyes watering again under the bright lobby lights. “I thought I knew the boy who would sit and argue with me over a cup of coffee for an h

The helicopter cut through the skyline like a black blade. Below them, the massive city they just conquered shrank into tiny grids of glass and steel until it was nothing but a memory. Then, the coastline appeared. The deep blue sea stretched out endlessly, with sunlight reflecting across the waves like millions of liquid diamonds.Anna leaned so far toward the window that her nose almost touched the glass. “Are we actually crossing the entire ocean, Robert?” she asked, her voice full of awe. Robert gave a small, confident nod. He didn't need many words, the view was about to do the talking for him.The helicopter moved farther out into the deep blue ocean, and then— it appeared. At first, it looked like a shimmering mirage rising from the heart of the water. A massive stretch of engineered land, sculpted into absolute perfection.The Graham Oasis.Anna gasped placing her hand on her mouth. Professor Darby stood up slowly, drawn toward the glass as if the gravity of the island was pu

The medical suite was incredibly silent, you could hear the ringing in your ears.Rose’s fingers trembled against the soft white bedsheets, her knuckles turning white. Tears gathered slowly at the edges of her eyes, blurring her vision as she looked at Anna, then back at Robert.“You’re telling me…” Her voice wavered, barely holding together. “The most powerful family in the entire world… is the same boy that Dylan brought into our home all those years ago?”Anna nodded gently, her own eyes softening with a mix of love and sadness. “Yes, Mom. It’s him.” She reached out to touch her mother’s hand. “Even Dad didn’t know the whole truth. He had no idea who Robert really was when he found him.”Rose’s breathing became uneven, her chest heaving as she tried to process a reality that felt like a dream. Her gaze shifted slowly, almost fearfully, to Robert. “Is it true?” she asked in a tiny voice. “Are you really… the Graham heir?”Robert didn’t flinch, he didn’t look away either. “Yes,” he s

The hallway outside the medical wing was quiet, but it didn't feel empty. Guards in dark suits were posted every few yards, blending into the shadows cast by the marble walls. The gold trim along the floor caught the soft overhead light, tracing long, expensive lines down the corridor.Abram led the way with Robert walking right beside him. They didn't say much at first, their footsteps the only sound echoing off the polished stone as they headed for the massive gold railed staircase.“Do you actually trust them?” Abram asked eventually.Robert knew his father wasn't one for small talk, so he didn't have to ask who he was talking about. “Avery? Yeah, I do.”“And her father?”They started up the stairs together.“Avery is a good person,” Robert said, keeping his voice steady.Abram glanced over at him. “Good people can still cause problems, Robert.”“Not her,” Robert said with a half smile. “She’s still figuring out how our world works. Honestly, she doesn't seem to care about the fami

The Ocean Gallery started to fade behind them as they followed the butler down yet another long corridor. Anna was still looking over her shoulder every few seconds.“I’m definitely going to be dreaming about that whale shark tonight,” she muttered.Avery laughed. “You’re acting like we just stepped onto another planet.”“It felt like one,” Anna shot back.Professor Darby was still shaking his head as he walked. “In forty years of studying history,” he said quietly, “I never imagined I’d just casually stroll past artifacts that national museums would literally start wars over.”Rose had a faint smile on her face, but the look in her eyes showed she was just as amazed. “This doesn't even feel like a house anymore. It’s more like another world.”The butler slowed down a bit and turned back to face them. “If I may ask... do you all enjoy music?”Anna blinked, caught off guard. “Music?”“Classical, perhaps? Orchestral? The opera?”Avery’s face lit up immediately. “Actually, yeah. I love i