THE HEIR'S REVENGE

chapter 7

Ethan POV

After practice, my new friends invited me to dinner at a trendy restaurant near campus. I agreed, happy to have people who actually wanted to spend time with me.

That evening, I put Lily to bed and headed out. Henry caught me at the door.

"You're going out, young master?" he asked.

"Just dinner with friends."

"Then you'll need this." He handed me a black card with my initials: E.J.B.

"What's this?"

"Your new identification card. I've also contacted your university. Pierce has been removed from your records. You're now officially registered as Ethan Julius Blackwell."

I stared at the card. Ethan Julius Blackwell. My new name. My new life.

"Thank you, Henry."

"I'm just doing my job, young master."

I arrived at the restaurant—Hayes Bistro—and spotted my friends waving me over. I'd never been to a place this nice before.

"We thought you weren't coming," Liam said as I sat down.

The restaurant was beautiful. Expensive. The kind of place I would've never dared to enter before.

Then I saw them.

Daniel, Sophia, and Emma, sitting at a table nearby.

Of course.

I rolled my eyes and turned away, hoping they wouldn't notice me.

But Sophia saw me. She whispered something to Daniel, and they both turned to look.

"He's here," Sophia said. "How is he affording this place?"

"Maybe he's staying with those four losers," Daniel replied.

Emma shook her head. "I asked around. He's not in the dorms. So where is he staying?"

"Doesn't matter," Daniel said, standing up. "I need that necklace."

He walked over to our table and leaned close to my ear. "Come with me. We need to talk."

I looked up at him. "Say whatever you want here."

His face twisted with anger. "This is a family matter. I'm not discussing it in front of strangers."

I glanced at my friends, who were all glaring at Daniel. "They're my friends. You're the stranger here."

Daniel's face turned red. "Is this how you speak to your older brother? I'm trying to help you! These guys are just using you to pay for their dinner. I'm sure they don't even know you're just a maid's bastard with no money."

His voice was loud enough that other diners turned to look.

My friends looked shocked. My hands clenched into fists.

"Your mother was so poor she gave birth to you in the streets," Daniel continued, his voice mocking. "You belong there—where you came from. If only she hadn't given birth to a bastard like—"

I grabbed his head and slammed it against the table.

It happened so fast that no one saw it coming. Daniel's nose hit the wood with a sickening crack.

"Don't you dare talk about my mother like that," I said, my voice cold.

Blood dripped from Daniel's nose as he staggered back. Emma and Sophia rushed over.

"How dare you hit your brother!" Sophia yelled.

I stepped toward her, and she flinched. "You think of him as my brother now? Where was this energy when he was insulting me?"

"He was just asking if you could afford to eat here!" Sophia changed her story quickly, her voice rising. "We all know you were kicked out without money! You should be grateful he offered to help!"

The whispers started immediately.

"He can't even afford the food here?"

"I heard his mother was a maid."

"How ungrateful."

Emma helped Daniel to his feet, glaring at me. "How dare you hurt Daniel? Are you jealous that I chose him? Is that why you're acting out?"

More whispers filled the restaurant.

Sophia grinned triumphantly. "You'll be thrown out of here like the trash you are."

"Where's the owner?" I called out loudly. "I'd like to meet him."

Everyone froze. Then they started laughing.

"You?" Sophia mocked. "You want to meet the owner?"

"Is this a joke?" Emma asked. "You couldn't even afford to buy me a meal here after saving for three months."

"Why would the owner waste his time on you?" Daniel added, holding his bleeding nose.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Henry.

"Tell the owner of Hayes Bistro to meet me here," I said. "Give him ten minutes, or he won't like what happens."

"Of course, young master," Henry replied.

I hung up.

The crowd murmured, unsure what to make of my "fake" phone call.

"Did you seriously just make a fake call?" Sophia laughed. "This is sad, even for you."

Just then, the manager rushed into the restaurant, looking panicked. "Who asked to meet the owner?"

Daniel stepped forward, pointing at his bloody face. "This kid attacked me! He punched me when I offered to pay for his meal. Kick him out!"

The manager's eyes went wide when he saw Daniel. "Mr. Pierce! What happened to you?"

"He did it!" Daniel pointed at me. "Throw him out!"

The manager turned to me with disgust. "How dare you hit Mr. Pierce? Are you here because you can't afford our food?"

"You want to lose your job?" I asked calmly. "Find out what happened before you judge."

"I don't need to know anything!" the manager yelled. "You're clearly at fault! Do you know who Mr. Pierce is?"

"He's my former half-brother," I said with a shrug. "I don't have someone that stupid as my brother anymore."

"Half-brother?" The manager paused, confused.

"He's just a bastard!" Daniel snarled. "Kick him out, or you're fired!"

The manager immediately called security. "Throw him out and ban him from this restaurant!"

The guards started toward me.

I began counting. "The owner will be here in ten minutes. He'll arrive in three... two... one..."

Just as I finished counting, the restaurant doors swung open.

A man in an expensive suit rushed in, followed by three assistants. Sweat dripped down his face despite the cool air.

Everyone turned to stare.

The manager's face went pale. "Mr. Hayes?" he whispered.

The owner of the restaurant had actually come.

"What's going on here?" Mr. Hayes demanded, looking around frantically.

Daniel pointed at me. "That's the kid causing trouble! Throw him out!"

But Mr. Hayes ignored him completely. His eyes scanned the room until they landed on me.

Then he hurried over and bowed deeply.

"Young Master Blackwell," he said breathlessly. "I came as soon as I received the message. How may I serve you?"

The entire restaurant went silent.

Young Master Blackwell?

Daniel's mouth fell open. Sophia's phone slipped from her hand. Emma looked like she'd been slapped.

I smiled at the manager, whose face had gone completely white.

"This manager," I said calmly, "accused me of being unable to afford your restaurant. He also refused to hear what actually happened before calling security."

Mr. Hayes's face darkened. He turned to the manager. "Is this true?"

"I-I didn't know—" the manager stammered.

"You're fired," Mr. Hayes said coldly. "Effective immediately. Security, escort him out."

The manager's protests were cut off as guards dragged him away.

Mr. Hayes turned back to me and bowed again. "I sincerely apologize for this treatment, Young Master. Your meal tonight is complimentary, of course. Is there anything else I can do?"

I glanced at Daniel, Sophia, and Emma, who stood frozen in shock.

"Yes," I said. "Ban the Pierce family from this restaurant. Permanently."

Mr. Hayes didn't hesitate. "Consider it done."

Daniel finally found his voice. "Wait! You can't—"

"Security," Mr. Hayes interrupted, "please escort the Pierce family out. They are no longer welcome here."

As guards approached them, Daniel's face turned purple with rage. "This isn't over! You can't do this!"

"I just did," I said calmly.

Emma stared at me, her eyes wide with shock and... was that regret?

Too late.

As they were led out of the restaurant, the other diners whispered excitedly.

"He's a Blackwell?"

"The Blackwell family?"

"No wonder he was so confident."

I returned to my table, where my four friends sat in stunned silence.

"So..." Liam said slowly. "You're rich?"

I shrugged. "It's a recent development."

They all burst out laughing.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Ryan asked.

"Because you're my friends," I said honestly. "I wanted people who liked me for me, not my money."

Alex grinned. "Well, we liked you when you were broke, so I guess we're stuck with you now."

"Guess so," I said, smiling.

For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was exactly where I belonged.