All Chapters of The Graham Heir—I Am Not An Adopted Nobody: Chapter 31
- Chapter 40
114 chapters
Chapter 31: Questions Behind Closed Doors
The private hallway was deathly quiet.The cruel laughter from the main hall sounded distant now. It was faint, like a memory from another world. Avery walked beside Robert, her shoes clicking softly on the floor. She didn't speak.The guard in the dark suit followed them like a shadow, silent and steady.They reached the washroom and the guard stopped outside the door, standing like a statue. Robert and Avery stepped inside.The door clicked shut.The room was bright and cold. Everything was white marble and gold mirrors. For a long moment, neither of them said a word.Robert walked to the counter. He reached into his suit pocket, pulled out a silk handkerchief, and began to wipe the red wine stain from his sleeve. His movements were slow and perfectly controlled. Avery opened her purse and took out a napkin, gently dabbing at her dress.The room felt heavy because of the silence between them.When Robert finished, he folded the handkerchief neatly and put it back in his pocket, then
Chapter 32: The One They Waited For
Morris felt it.That sudden shift in the air.At first, it was just confusion, a foggy feeling that something was off. Then reality caught up with him. Andrew Schmidt and Barry Sanders were still standing, and they didn’t look offended that Robert and Avery had sat before them. Instead, they looked like soldiers waiting for a signal.And suddenly, Morris thought he understood.His eyes moved slowly to Avery.Of course. Earlier, she was the one who gave the command to sit. Earlier, they had quickly obeyed her. In his mind, they weren't waiting for Robert, they were waiting for the Professor's daughter.He exhaled, relieved of such thought. That meant the natural order was still in place and money was still talking to money.He stepped forward quickly, putting on a big, fake smile. “Miss Avery,” Morris said loudly, gesturing politely toward the two powerhouses. “Mr. Sanders and Mr. Schmidt are awaiting your command.”The hall became even quieter. Every head turned to Avery.She remained
Chapter 33: Watch Carefully
The footsteps grew louder.They weren't heavy or rushed. They were steady. One of the hotel’s lead security guards stepped away from the shadows at the edge of the hall. His uniform was perfect, and his face was serious as he moved with caution.The entire audience stayed silent, watching to see who would be hauled away.The guard stopped right in front of Jane. “Miss." he said respectfully. "is there a problem here?”Jane stood up straighter. Now that she had an audience and a uniform on her side, her arrogance came flooding back. “She insulted me." Jane snapped, pointing a shaking finger at Anna. “She insulted my family. The Emmetts and she isn’t even on the guest list. Throw her out of this event right now.”A quiet murmur moved through the nearby guests. They leaned in, hungry for the drama.The guard turned to Anna. He didn't grab her and he didn't shout; he just looked at her carefully. "Miss," he asked, his voice low. "Is this true?”Anna didn't look nervous. She didn't look an
Chapter 34: The Line That Was Crossed
Jane walked back to Edward with her shoulders stiff and her cheeks stained with tears.The glittering lights of the ballroom felt too bright now, almost blinding to her. The music sounded like an annoying recording, and every burst of laughter from the crowd felt like a personal insult aimed at her.Edward was standing near the edge of the VVIP section. He held a glass of sparkling water, but he hadn't taken a single sip. He didn't even look at her as she approached.“Well?” he asked, his voice dangerously calm.Jane swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice from shaking. “The guard refused. He basically told me to get lost. He said she’s connected to the VVIP table.”Edward slowly turned his head to look at her.“And?” he pressed.“She threatened us, Edward." Jane said, her voice rising. “She said that after tonight, they’re taking everything back from the Emmetts. She said we’ll be the ones bowing to her.”For the first time all night, Edward’s expression actually changed. It wasn't
Chapter 35: The Smile Before the Storm
Across the room, Edward smiled.It wasn't a big, goofy grin. It was a sharp, steady, and very confident look. Near the stage, a tall man stepped forward, and his presence made the whispers in the room die down instantly.It was Edward’s father, Morris Emmett.He adjusted the microphone with calm hands and looked out at the crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen," he said, his voice deep and steady. “Thank you for being so patient tonight.”The ballroom went quiet.“I believe my son has something he would like to say to all of you.”A soft wave of curious whispers moved through the guests. Edward didn't rush. He walked toward the stage with slow, measured steps. He looked perfectly in control, maybe even a little too calm.He took the microphone from his father. For a second, he just stood there in silence. Then, he bowed his head just a little.“Tonight." Edward began, his voice sounding warm and clear. "did not start the way it should have.”The room was so still you could hear a pin drop.“Th
Chapter 36: The second dance
The music didn't stop. It just dipped low, becoming a soft hum in the background. Every eye in the hall was still pinned on Tracy.“I’ll only join in,” she said, her voice clear and steady, “if Robert doesn’t dance.”The words hit the room hard. There was no shaking in her voice, and no fear. For a split second, Edward just stared at her. Then, a smile spread across his lips, but it wasn't the friendly one he had been wearing all night.“Ah,” Edward said smoothly into the microphone. “Do you mean the opposite? Are you asking Robert to come join us instead?”A few people in the crowd laughed nervously. Tracy didn't join them. Her face stayed serious.“No,” she said. “I spoke clearly. I meant exactly what I said.”The room went quiet again. Edward tilted his head, his eyes narrowed. “And may I ask why?”Tracy didn't blink. “If we really want to fix the mistakes of tonight,” she said, “then we should make sure there isn't another accident.”That word, accident hung in the air like a thre
Chapter 37: A Smile With Fangs
Edward saw it clearly. Robert had finally stepped onto the dance floor, and Anna was in his arms.For a heartbeat, Chloe felt his hand tighten around hers, the grip almost bruising. "So he came," she whispered. "What are we waiting for?"Edward’s lips curled into a soulless smile. "Nothing."They began to move again. Their steps were slow and smooth, drifting through the dancing guests like shadows. Across the room, Robert locked eyes with him. It wasn't a look of anger or a challenge, it was a silent, heavy warning.Edward held that gaze for a second too long, then looked away with a bored shrug, as if Robert didn't exist. He spun Chloe gently, keeping perfect time with the music.Anna felt the change in the air. "Is something wrong?" she asked softly, leaning into Robert as he guided her through a slow turn.Robert’s face was a mask of calm. "No. Let's keep dancing." But his eyes were no longer relaxed, they were scanning every move Edward made.On the edge of the floor, Tracy saw t
Chapter 38: The Hidden Signature
The room slowly got quiet again. People sat back down, pulling their chairs in and fixing their clothes. The loud music was gone, replaced by a nervous energy that made the air feel heavy.Everyone was waiting for the main event.On the stage stood a long glass table. A shiny black case sat right in the middle. Barry stood at the side of it, looking calm and serious.Edward stood with his father, Morris. Morris looked a bit tired, but his eyes were bright with greed. To him, this contract was everything. It was the key to all the power he ever wanted.Barry stepped up to the microphone. He tapped it twice, and the sound echoed through the silent hall."Everyone." he said clearly. "I apologize for the drama earlier. Now let’s get back to why we are here."A whisper went through the crowd. But before Barry could continue, Morris spoke up. His voice was loud and firm."Wait." Morris said.Barry looked at him."Surely we’re not moving forward without the Graham heir present." Morris said,
Chapter 39: The Last Night of Joy
The music shifted into a roar.Champagne corks popped like gunfire, and the sound of laughter filled every corner of the hall. The guests crowded around the stage, cheering for the Emmetts as if they were kings."The fourth richest family in the country!" someone shouted."They signed the deal! History is happening right now!"Morris stood tall, his chest puffed out and a huge grin on his face. Edward was everywhere at once, shaking hands and soaking himself in the praise. Jane and other kids stood close by, smiling for the cameras as flashes lit up the room. To anyone watching, it looked like total victory.But at the far end of the room, the air was different. Robert sat perfectly still. Anna stood beside him, her face was quiet and distant. Professor Darby stood behind them like a silent shadow, and Avery watched Robert with worried eyes.Suddenly, Andrew and Barry began walking toward them.They moved through the crowd with a heavy, serious energy. People stepped out of their way
Chapter 40: The Beginning of the discovery
The heavy doors closed behind them with a thud.To them, the music was a muffled beat, and out here, the night was quiet. The chilling air had the faint, bitter scent of expensive champagne and cigarette smoke.Anna turned to Robert instantly. Her eyes weren't red from crying, they were burning with pure rage.“You promised me." she said, her voice trembling. “You gave me your word that you wouldn’t sign a single thing with the Emmetts.”Robert stood there, perfectly still. He was calm.“They signed the deal, Robert." Anna continued, her voice rising. “Look at them. They’re in there celebrating. They even insulted Miss Avery and they treated us like dirt. Is this really what you wanted?”Avery stood quietly by Robert’s side. She didn’t say a word, she just watched them.Robert looked at his sister. His voice was a soft murmur. “Anna. Breathe in slowly.”She stared at him, her chest heaving.“You have to trust me." he said.Anna let out a short, bitter laugh. “Trust you? They’re throw