THE BASTARD SON IS REAL HEIR

CHAPTER 4

The dawn light filtered through the cemetery as Vikram placed a protective hand on Arjun's shoulder. "I must leave for Singapore this afternoon. Family matters that cannot wait—board meetings, contracts that require my personal attention."

"I understand," Arjun said, though disappointment flickered across his face.

"But you won't be alone." Vikram's expression softened. "Your mother had a younger sister, Priya. She's been desperate to meet you since I found you. She'll arrive tomorrow to guide you through everything—our businesses, our resources, our world."

"How will she know I'm really your grandson? That I'm not some impostor?"

Vikram reached into his jacket and withdrew a small velvet box. Inside lay an emblem—a crescent moon cradling a star, crafted from white gold and diamonds. "This is the Harper family seal. It's been passed down through seven generations. When Meera ran away, she took hers with her."

Arjun's breath caught. "I've seen this before. Mother wore it on a chain around her neck."

"Where is it now?"

"In my room. At the Kyler estate." Arjun's jaw tightened. "I left everything behind when Father threw me out."

"Then you must retrieve it." Vikram closed the box. "This emblem is more than a keepsake—it's proof of your birthright. Without it, even Priya cannot formally recognize you as heir."

"I'll go tonight."

"Would you like Ravi and the others to accompany you?" Vikram gestured toward his bodyguards. "The Kyler family may cause trouble."

Arjun's eyes hardened. "No. I'm done fearing that trash. Let them try something."

A proud smile crossed Vikram's weathered face. "Good. That's the spirit my daughter would have wanted to see." He gripped Arjun's arm firmly. "Retrieve what's yours. Tomorrow, when Priya arrives, your new life begins."

The Kyler mansion looked different in daylight—smaller somehow, less imposing. Arjun approached the servants' entrance, unwilling to use the front door like he belonged there anymore.

But as he rounded the corner to the east wing, he froze.

His belongings were scattered across the lawn like garbage. Clothes, books, photographs—everything thrown carelessly into the dirt. Servants scurried back and forth under Marco's supervision, hauling more items outside.

"Come on, faster!" Marco barked, lounging in a garden chair like a king surveying his domain. "I want every trace of that bastard gone before the banquet tomorrow."

Arjun's fists clenched, but he forced himself to stay calm. He just needed the emblem.

Then Marco spotted him.

"Well, well, well!" His half-brother's laughter rang out like breaking glass. "Look who came crawling back! Did you miss us already, little brother?"

The servants stopped working, their expressions ranging from pity to amusement. Arjun ignored them, moving toward his scattered belongings.

"What's the matter, too proud to answer?" Marco stood, swaggering over. "Or maybe you're here to beg Father to take you back? Want to polish boots for a living?"

"I'm just collecting my things. Then I'm leaving."

"Your things?" Marco kicked a pile of clothes. "This is all trash now. Just like you. Just like that dead whore who birthed you."

Arjun's head snapped up. "Watch your mouth."

"Oh, did I strike a nerve?" Marco's grin widened. "What are you going to do about it? Cry? Your mother was a nobody who spread her legs for Father and popped out a worthless mistake. She did the world a favor by dying."

"Last warning, Marco."

"Tomorrow we're hosting a grand banquet," Marco continued, circling like a predator. "The Harper family partnership will be announced officially. Father's invited everyone who matters—politicians, business leaders, celebrities. And you know what else we're announcing?"

Arjun said nothing, searching through the scattered items for the emblem.

"Giulia and I are getting engaged!" Marco clapped his hands mockingly. "Your former fiancée will be mine. She'll wear the ring you bought, take the vows you dreamed about, and warm my bed every night. What do you think about that?"

"I think she deserves you," Arjun muttered, still searching.

"You're pathetic. No wonder she chose me. A real man who can actually—what's that?" Marco's eyes locked onto something in Arjun's hand.

The emblem. Arjun had just found it tangled in a shirt.

"That ugly piece of jewelry?" Marco snatched it before Arjun could react. "This is what you came back for? Some cheap trinket your mother wore?"

"Give it back, Marco."

"Why? Is this all you have left of her?" Marco held it up to the light, examining it with theatrical disdain. "It's not even real gold. She really was as poor as Father said. No breeding, no class, no—"

"Give. It. Back."

"Or what?" Marco's expression turned cruel. "You know what? I don't think I will. I think I'll do this instead."

He raised the emblem high and brought it down hard against the marble steps.

The crack echoed like a gunshot.

Something inside Arjun snapped.

He moved before conscious thought, his fist connecting with Marco's jaw with all the force of his rage, his grief, his months of humiliation. Marco stumbled backward, shocked, the emblem clattering from his grip.

"You little—" Marco swung wildly.

Arjun ducked, his mother's training flowing through him. He drove his fist into Marco's stomach, doubling him over, then brought his knee up into his half-brother's face. Blood exploded from Marco's nose.

"Stop! Someone stop him!" Marco screamed, but the servants just watched, frozen.

Arjun grabbed Marco by his expensive collar and slammed him against the wall. "You want to insult my mother?" His voice was deadly quiet. "You want to destroy what little I have left of her?"

"Father will—" Marco choked out.

"Your father threw me away like garbage." Arjun's fist crashed into Marco's ribs. "Your mother desecrated my mother's grave." Another punch. "And you?" He struck again. "You're just a spoiled bastard who never earned anything in his miserable life."

Marco crumpled when Arjun released him, sobbing and bleeding on the ground.

Arjun retrieved the emblem, checking it carefully. Miraculously, only the chain was broken—the emblem itself remained intact. He pocketed it and turned to leave.

"You're dead!" Marco screamed from the ground. "When Father hears about this, you're dead! The Kyler family will destroy you!"