2025-10-27 12:43:59Ethan POV
The next morning, I woke up to my phone buzzing with notifications. Someone had posted videos of last night's incident at Hayes Bistro. The Pierce family being thrown out. The manager being fired. Me, sitting calmly while it all happened. "Young Master Blackwell ends Pierce family's dining privileges" read one headline. "Mystery heir humiliates former family" read another. My phone rang. Henry. "Good morning, young master," he said. "I hope you're prepared for some attention today. The videos from last night have gone quite viral." I groaned. "How bad?" "Three million views and counting. The media is very interested in the mysterious Blackwell heir who's been hidden from the public." Great. So much for keeping a low profile. "Should I not go to class today?" I asked. "That's up to you, young master. But hiding won't make the attention go away. You might as well face it head-on." He was right. I couldn't hide forever. I got dressed, said goodbye to Lily, and headed to campus. This time, I let the driver take me all the way to the main entrance. No point in hiding anymore. The moment I stepped out of the luxury car, every head turned. Whispers erupted immediately. "That's him." "The Blackwell heir." "I can't believe he's been going to school here this whole time." I walked through the main building with my head high. People stared, but I kept moving. When I entered my classroom, the whispers got louder. My usual seat in the back was empty, as always. But now, several people tried to sit near me. "Is anyone sitting here?" a girl asked, gesturing to the seat next to mine. "No, but I'd prefer to sit alone," I said politely. She nodded and backed away quickly. Throughout the class, I could feel eyes on me. Some curious. Some envious. Some calculating. This was going to take some getting used to. At lunch, I headed to the cafeteria. My four friends waved me over to their usual table. "The man of the hour!" David said with a grin. "How does it feel to be famous?" "Annoying," I admitted, sitting down. "You'll get used to it," Alex said. "Or not. Either way, we've got your back." "Thanks," I said, meaning it. As we ate, I noticed Emma watching me from across the cafeteria. She looked like she wanted to approach but didn't dare. Good. She'd made her choice. After lunch, I was walking to my next class when someone called my name. "Ethan! Wait!" I turned to see Sophia running toward me. Her eyes were red, like she'd been crying. "What do you want?" I asked coldly. "Please," she said, her voice breaking. "Please help us. Dad's business is failing. We're going to lose everything." I raised an eyebrow. "And why would I care?" "Because we're family!" she pleaded. "I know we treated you badly, but—" "But nothing," I interrupted. "You treated me like garbage my entire life. You made videos mocking me for your followers. Why would I help you now?" Tears streamed down her face. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Please, just... please help us." I looked at her. Part of me felt a tiny bit of sympathy. But a bigger part remembered every cruel word, every mocking laugh, every time she'd made my life hell. "No," I said simply. "What?" She looked shocked, like she couldn't believe I'd refuse. "I said no. You made your choices, Sophia. Now live with them." I turned and walked away, leaving her crying in the hallway. Was I being cruel? Maybe. But I wasn't the same person I was a week ago. I wasn't going to let them use me anymore. That evening, I returned home to find Henry waiting for me with a serious expression. "Young master, we need to discuss something important." "What is it?" "The board of directors has requested a meeting with you. They want to officially introduce you as the new head of the Blackwell Corporation." My stomach dropped. "When?" "Tomorrow morning. 10 AM." I took a deep breath. This was it. My first real step into my grandfather's world. "Okay," I said. "I'll be there." Henry smiled. "I'll prepare everything. Don't worry, young master. You'll do fine." I wished I had his confidence. That night, I couldn't sleep. I kept thinking about the meeting. What if I messed up? What if they didn't respect me? What if I wasn't good enough? Around midnight, I heard a soft knock on my door. I opened it to find Lily standing there, clutching her rabbit doll. "Can't sleep?" I asked. She shook her head. I picked her up and carried her to my bed. She curled up next to me, and within minutes, she was asleep. I looked down at her peaceful face. This little girl depended on me now. I couldn't let her down. I couldn't let my mom's memory down. And I couldn't let myself down. Tomorrow, I would step into my grandfather's shoes. I would become the head of the Blackwell family. And I would prove to everyone—including myself—that I deserved to be there.
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chapter 96
I came home that evening with nothing left inside me. Not in a bad way exactly. Just empty. The way you feel after carrying something heavy for a long distance and finally putting it down. My arms felt lighter but everything else in me felt tired in a deep way that sleep alone could not fix. I went straight to the study. I did not turn on the big light. I just sat in the chair near the window with the small lamp on and looked out at the garden. The butterfly garlands were moving slowly in the evening wind. I watched them without really watching them. My mind was somewhere else. I kept hearing Marcus's voice in my head. I had built a life. Everything I had was connected to my wife. I was not willing to pay that price. I thought about how strange it was to finally hear t
chapter 95
I came home that evening with nothing left inside me. Not in a bad way exactly. Just empty. The way you feel after carrying something heavy for a long distance and finally putting it down. My arms felt lighter but everything else in me felt tired in a deep way that sleep alone could not fix. I went straight to the study. I did not turn on the big light. I just sat in the chair near the window with the small lamp on and looked out at the garden. The butterfly garlands were moving slowly in the evening wind. I watched them without really watching them. My mind was somewhere else. I kept hearing Marcus's voice in my head. I had built a life. Everything I had was connected to my wife. I was not willing to pay that price. I thought about how strange it was to finally hear the truth from him. For so many years I had wanted him to say something honest to me. Even one sentence. And today he had said many honest things in front of strangers in a courtroom but it still did not feel like
chapter 94
The courthouse felt different on Wednesday morning.Not the building itself. The building was exactly the same. The marble corridor. The security check. The particular indoor quiet of a place doing something important.But the energy in the courtroom was different when I walked in. Like everyone in the room already understood that today was going to be the kind of day that sat differently in the memory from the other days.I found my seat.Henry on my left.Yemi on my right.She looked at me briefly when I sat down. She did not say anything. She did not need to. She just looked at me with those steady eyes of hers that always seemed to know the exact right amount to say without words and then she looked forward.That has recently been the habit she did. To always look at me like she was reassuring me. Like she was promising me to be strong and that everything would turn out well. I looked f
chapter 93
The next day, which was on a Wednesday, was going to be hectic, I already knew judging from the way I felt. After the call with Yemi, I was calm but after that, a few minutes later, the anxiety returned.Tomorrow was different. On Monday, it was the beginning, today was Dr. Chan who truly made me proud but Wednesday is very personal in a way that the other two days weren't. According to Patricia, another witness was coming up and it was Marcus. My father even though I don't regard him as one anymore. He was the one who had chosen not to stand by his wife or his son even when they needed him. He was the one who made me hate him so much. The man who should have protected my mother but chose not to.I finally slept that night but that was after 5 hours of turning and twisting on the bed. I was already having a headache when I got up. It wasn't surprising since I was thinking so much last night. When I went downstairs for some hot tea, I saw Lily at the table again. It was still ver
chapter 92
She was growing and it was the best thing I had ever watched happen.After the table was cleared she sat back down and looked at me."Are you going to call Yemi tonight?" she asked.I looked at her."Why would I do that?" I said.She blinked at me slowly."Because you always do," she said. "And because you look like you need to talk to someone and Henry has already done his talking for the day and I am going to bed soon."Henry made a small sound."You are extremely observant," I told her."I know," she said. "It is one of my best qualities."She stood up and collected her rabbit from the chair beside her.She came around the table and stood beside me.I looked at her.She reached up and put her small hand briefly on my shoulder the way an adult might do it. Just once. Like she was patting down something that had come loose.Then she said goodnight to Henry and goodnight to Mrs Park and went upstairs.I sat at the table.Henry drank his tea."She is remarkable," he said quietly."Yes,
chapter 91
Carver paused for a moment.Then he sat down.Patricia stood for a brief redirect.She asked only one question."Dr Chen," she said. "In your twenty years of medical practice before and after this case, have you ever seen the compound you identified in Sarah Blackwell's blood occurring naturally in any patient?""No," Dr Chen said. "Never.""Thank you," Patricia said. "No further questions."Dr Chen stepped down from the stand.She walked past the defence table.Victoria did not look at her.Dr Chen did not look at Victoria either.She walked to the exit and was gone.I watched her go.I thought about her sitting across from me in a dark park handing me an envelope. About the guilt she had been carrying for twenty years. About the decision she had made as a young frightened doctor that had cost my mother everything and had cost Dr Chen her peace of mind for two decades.She had come. She had told the truth. Whatever else was true about her that was also true and I had not forgotten it
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