Obsidian Heir

CHAPTER 4: GRAVE MISUNDERSTANDING

Zachary didn't have to turn around to know who they were.

He recognized them instantly: Martha Vanes and her daughter, Chloe Vanes. 

Elise’s mother and younger sister.

The women who had made his life a hell when he had been still been in that farce of a relationship with Elise.

Martha marched up to the counter, ignoring Zachary as if he were a piece of furniture

"I told your manager we were coming!" Martha barked at the clerk. "We want to purchase the Celestial Harmony Crystal immediately. It’s a congratulatory gift for Bennett Sterling."

Chloe, spotting the back of Zachary standing at the counter, let out a disgusted huff. "Ugh, Mother, look at this. They’re letting beggars in to stare at the inventory now? This store has really gone downhill."

Zachary slowly turned his head.

The blood drained from Martha’s face, followed quickly by a mask of pure, unadulterated loathing.

"You?" she hissed, her eyes narrowing. "How are you still breathing? Bennett said he took out the trash."

Zachary’s grip on the edge of the counter tightened, the wood groaning under his fingers. "The trash has a way of finding its way back home, Martha."

"Don't you use my name, you little leach!" Martha shrieked. "You’re the reason my daughter had to deal with a 'peasant' for two years. You should be grateful we let you hang around us as long as we did."

Chloe stepped forward, tossing her bleached hair. "Did you follow us here? Are you trying to beg for Elise back? Because she’s with a real man now. A man who can buy this entire store, while you probably can't even afford the air in here."

She turned to the clerk, pointing a manicured finger at the glowing crystal. "Pack that up. Now. My brother-in-law-to-be is waiting."

The clerk, seeing a way out of her confrontation with Zachary and recognizing the Sterling name, bowed deeply. "Of course, Madam. I apologize for the... obstruction. I’ll process the sale immediately."

Zachary clenched his jaw, fighting back the rising tide of anger. 

He refused to let these petty insults derail his mission. "No you won't," he said, his voice dangerously low. 

He turned to them,"This crystal is mine. I'm paying for it."

"Paying for it?" Elise's mother scoffed. "Don't make me laugh. You? With what money? Last I heard, you were a penniless orphan working a dead-end job. You probably can't even afford the bus fare home."

She turned to the clerk, her voice dripping with venom. "Don't be fooled by this charlatan. He's probably trying to scam you. He's just a poor man trying to look rich. Sell the crystal to us. We can actually afford it."

Zachary had enough. 

He was done with the taunts, the insults, the constant reminders of his past. 

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the Void Card, its black surface gleaming under the store's lights.

"I'm not wasting any more time on this," he said, his voice cutting through the air. He held the card out to the clerk. "I'll pay for the crystal now."

The women erupted in laughter at the sight. "Oh, please! That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen!" Chloe shrieked. "He's using a fake card! Look at him! He probably printed it off the internet!"

"There's no way he has any money on that thing," Martha added, her face contorted with disdain. "He's a nobody! A loser! Don't fall for his tricks!"

The clerk, swayed by the woman's words and her own prejudices, hesitated. 

She looked at Zachary's simple clothes, his worn shoes, and then at the Void Card in his hand. 

No one rich would ever dress so badly, nor would they look like him.

Her expression hardened.

"I'm sorry, sir," she said, her voice cold and dismissive. "But I cannot accept this card. I have reason to believe it is not valid. I must ask you to relinquish the crystal."

Zachary's anger flared. "I was here first. I'm willing to pay. This is ridiculous."

"I'm afraid I must agree with Madam," the clerk said, gesturing to Elise's mother. "I cannot risk accepting a fraudulent payment. Please leave the crystal, sir."

Zachary’s fist clenched. 

The marble under his feet began to groan, fine cracks spidering out from under his boots. 

The ring was screaming now, demanding he tear the room apart. And he wanted to. He wanted to unleash the fury that had been building within him since her daughter betrayed him so bad but he stopped himself. 

He wouldn't stoop to their level. 

He wouldn't let them provoke him into doing something he would regret.

"Fine," he said, his voice tight with suppressed rage. "If that's how you want to play it."

He turned to leave, but the clerk blocked his path. "I'm afraid I can't allow you to leave with the crystal, sir. I'm going to have to call the manager."

"Call whoever you want," Zachary said, his eyes blazing. "I'm not going anywhere without this crystal."

The clerk, sensing the danger in Zachary's eyes, backed away slightly. She hurried off to find the manager, leaving Zachary standing alone with Elise's mother and sister, who were now smirking triumphantly.

"Looks like your little charade is over," Elise's mother sneered. "I hope you're ready to face the consequences."

A few moments later, a portly man in a poorly fitted suit waddled over, his face etched with annoyance. "What's going on here?" he demanded, his voice gruff and impatient.

The clerk quickly explained the situation, emphasizing Zachary's "suspicious" behavior and the "doubtful" validity of his card.

The manager sized Zachary up, his eyes lingering on his simple clothes and unimpressive appearance. He scoffed. "I should have known. Another time-waster. Look here, son, I don't have time for games. Put the crystal down and leave before I call the police."

Zachary's patience finally snapped. He was done with the condescension, the prejudice, the constant belittling. 

He was done with being treated like a nobody.

"I'm not leaving without the crystal," he said, his voice ringing with newfound authority. "And if you don't believe my card is valid and was issued to me by the Prism Dragon Group. If you need more proof, I'll have someone come in and verify it for you."

He pulled out the new phone.

The manager rolled his eyes at the sight of the phone. "Oh, really? And who are you going to call? Your mommy? I'm sure she'll be able to vouch for your… imaginary wealth.”

This made him hesitate for a second.

Should he really call Ms Knowles for this?

He didn't know Seraphina. Not really. And he did tell her he could handle this…..

But she told him to call if he needed her and she hasn't been untruthful in all the time he has met her.

He would trust her now.

Swallowing , he dialed Seraphina's number. 

Sighing at the turn of events, the manager leaned closer, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Let me guess, you're going to call the general Overseer of the Prism Dragon Group, right? Yeah, right. And I'm the Emperor of Taipei."

The irony nearly made him laugh.

With a mammoth effort, Zachary ignored all of them, waiting for Seraphina to answer.

Finally the second ring, she picked up, “Ms. Knowles ~" Her name was said with relish, watching as everyone in the general vicinity went still with surprise.

"At your service, Young Lord," Seraphina's voice echoed through the phone. "What seems to be the issue?"

"I need you to come into the 'Gems of the Orient' and verify the validity of my Void Card," Zachary said, his eyes fixed on the manager's increasingly nervous face.

"Understood. I'll be there momentarily." The line went dead.

The manager laughed, trying to regain his composure. "Nice try, kid. But I'm not falling for your bluff. The almighty CEO of prism dragon group wouldn't waste her time on a lowlife like you." 

He was still chuckling when the doors of the store burst open, and Seraphina Knowles strode in, her presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room. 

The manager’s laughter died in his throat. 

He went pale, his knees buckling as he recognized the woman who held the purse strings for half the city.

"Ma…Madam?" the manager stammered, his voice trembling. "What... What an honor. We weren't expecting—"

Seraphina didn't even look at him. Her eyes were fixed on Zachary, noticing the tremor in his hands and the red heat behind his eyes. 

She walked past the stunned Martha and Chloe, ignoring them as if they were nothing more than dust on the floor.

She reached Zachary and, in front of everyone, she inclined her head with deference.