From Rejection to Royalty: Rise of the Forgotten Heir

Chapter 0003 - Protection

The woman's voice cut through the tension in the yard "Clear them out. All of them!"

Her bodyguards moved instantly. The hired thugs saw them coming and their faces went white. They dropped their weapons and within seconds, all of them had scrambled away.

Tom and Clarke stared with their mouths hanging open. Mark took a step back, his earlier confidence completely gone. Clarke's face had gone pale and her hands trembled at her sides.

The woman turned to Declan and her entire demeanor changed. The ice-cold authority vanished. 

She bowed deeply, her voice soft and respectful. "Young Master, forgive me for arriving late. Please, allow me to escort you out of here."

She extended her hand, waiting for his permission.

Declan hesitated for a moment, his heart still pounding from the confrontation, then he stepped toward her. Her hand was warm when it touched his arm and she guided him gently to her side with the care of someone handling something precious. 

He could feel the eyes of his adoptive parents burning into him from across the yard but he didn't look back.

"Who are you?" Declan asked quietly.

The woman kept her eyes lowered respectfully. "My name is Victoria Mathews. I'm the CEO of Apex Financial Group." She paused, her tone becoming even more deferential. "But to you, Young Master, I am simply your loyal servant. I'm here to serve you in any way you need.”

Declan's breath caught. Apex Financial Group. It was the company that Charles had mentioned on the phone. The company that supposedly now belonged to him. And this stunning, powerful woman was here to serve him?

"Who the hell are you?" Clarke screamed, her face twisted with rage. "How dare you come into our home and touch our people!"

Victoria turned slowly with a cold expression on her face, "I would very much prefer to ask who you are instead."

Tom stepped forward, his chest puffed out "We are the Reyes Family," he announced with pride. "And you just made a very big mistake."

Victoria's eyebrow arched slightly. "The Reyes Family? I'm afraid I've never heard of you."

Clarke’s face went red with indignation. "Never heard of us? Well, that just shows what kind of low class nobody you are. The Reyes Family is well known in Boston. We're partners with the Harrington family. Anyone with breeding and proper connections knows our name. But I suppose a woman like you wouldn't know anything about that.”

Tom nodded with a smug smile playing on his face, "That's right. We have real connections and real power. We'll forgive your ignorance this time. As long as you leave right now, we can let bygones be bygones. Walk away and we'll forget this ever happened."

Victoria's lips curved into a small, cold smile "Are you threatening me?"

"Are you threatening us?" Clarke shot back. "Because if you still dare to make a move today, we'll retaliate tomorrow. The Harrington Family won't stand for this disrespect!"

Victoria's smile widened, now contemptuous. She looked at them like they were just filthy insects. Then she said one word, her voice calm and clear.

"Strike."

The bodyguards immediately closed in on Clarke and Tom. Tom tried to back away but one of the bodyguards grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back. Clarke screamed, but another bodyguard had already seized her shoulder, forcing her to her knees.

“You can't do this!” She screamed, “We'll sue you. We'll press charges,”

But Victoria had already turned away from them. She placed a gentle hand on Declan’s back. "Let's go."

She guided him toward the luxury car. Declan followed with wobbly legs. Behind him, he could hear Clarke and Tom shouting, cursing, threatening lawsuits and revenge. But their voices grew fainter as they neared the car. 

The bodyguard opened the car door and Victoria gestured for Declan to get in. The interior screamed luxury. Leather seats that were softer than anything he'd ever touched and it smelled like expensive cologne and new car. He sank into the seat and Victoria slid in beside him.

The door closed, cutting off the chaos outside.

"Won't this cause problems?" Declan asked, his voice filled with worry. "If they hit them too hard, there could be legal issues, police involvement. I don't want you to get in trouble because of me,”

Victoria turned to him with a soft expression, "Please don't worry, Young Master. I know my limits. My men are trained professionals. They'll deliver a message without causing permanent damage." She paused for a moment. "But anyone who offends you offends the entire Apex Financial Group that I manage. I cannot and will not tolerate it."

 "Thank you," he said.

Victoria gave him a small smile, “It's my duty and my honor." She leaned back into her seat as the car began to move. "Now, Young Master, where are you staying tonight?"

Declan opened his mouth, then closed it. Where was he staying? His belongings were in garbage bags scattered across the Reyes Family lawn. He had nowhere to go. He could probably find a cheap motel somewhere, but the thought made his stomach turn.

Victoria noticed his hesitation immediately. "I apologize for the presumption, but I have a solution if you'll allow it. There's a top-tier hotel, the Grand Silverton, where Apex Financial Group maintains a permanent suite. You could stay there temporarily until we arrange more permanent accommodations."

Relief flooded through Declan, "Good. Let's go then,”

Victoria smiled, a genuine smile this time. "Excellent. I'll escort you to the hotel entrance and have the hotel manager come out personally to receive you. Unfortunately, I have a meeting I must attend tonight, so I'll have to leave you there. But rest assured, the staff will take care of everything you need."

“Fine,” Declan said, looking out of the window as the car started moving. 

The drive through Boston felt surreal. The streets blurred past and the neon lights reflected off the tinted windows. 

Declan's mind kept replaying the events of the night. It felt too much to process all at once.

Twenty minutes later, the car pulled up in front of a towering building. 

The Grand Silverton Hotel. Declan had passed by it before but never imagined he'd actually stay there. The building shone with golden lights, its entrance flanked by uniformed doormen.

Victoria turned to him. "I'll be in touch tomorrow morning. If you need anything tonight, the staff will take care of you."

“Alright," Declan said.

Victoria smiled, then her car pulled away into the Boston traffic. Declan stood there for a moment, staring up at the massive hotel.

 Then he walked inside.

---

On the other side of the city, in Laura's rental apartment, the atmosphere was tense.

Laura knelt beside Carlos on the couch, dabbing medicine onto the bruise that was already forming on his cheek. "I can't believe that bastard hit you," she said, her voice dripping with venom. "Declan has always been pathetic, but tonight he crossed a line."

Carlos winced as she pressed too hard against the bruise. "Not only did he hit me, but he ruined our entire night." His jaw clenched. "We need to teach him a lesson. Make him understand his place."

Laura set down the medicine bottle and traced her fingers along Carlos's chest. "What about tonight though?" she purred. "I was still waiting to experience your prowess."

Carlos grinned despite the pain in his face. His hand slid up her thigh. "Who says we need to wait? How about I take you somewhere special? The Grand Silverton Hotel. We can get a room there and have a proper night."

Laura's eyes lit up. "The Grand Silverton? Really?"

"Really," Carlos said, pulling her closer. "Only the best for you."

An hour later, they arrived at the hotel. Carlos pulled out his credit card at the reception desk, trying not to wince at the outrageous price. Four thousand dollars for one night. It was ridiculous, but he needed to impress Laura and show her he could provide things Declan never could.

The receptionist processed the payment and handed him two key cards. "Room 1847. Enjoy your stay."

Carlos took Laura's hand and led her toward the elevators. But as they passed through the lobby, Laura suddenly stopped.

"Carlos, look."

He followed her gaze through the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the hotel's private garden. The garden was lit with soft golden lights that enhanced it's beauty. And there, strolling casually along one of those paths, was Declan.

Carlos felt his blood run cold. "What the hell?"

Laura's mouth fell open. "How is he here? Shouldn't he be staying in his storage room at your parents' house?"