The Graham Heir—I Am Not An Adopted Nobody

Chapter 14: A Common Enemy

The grand hall remained alive with soft music, guests clinked wine glasses as they chatted and laughed, but beneath all that acting, they all felt pressured by tonight's event.

Malcolm stood near the back with Julie, Tracy, and Silver, with champagne glasses in their hands. Their eyes kept drifting toward the entrance, again and again. 

Ever since they arrived, they had been waiting.

Not for the Emmetts, not for speeches, not for the million dollar cars.

They were only waiting for two people, Robert and the mystery person from the Graham family.

Julie shifted on her heels, scanning the room. “He should be here by now." she said quietly.

Tracy nodded. “After everything that happened earlier… there’s no way he misses this.”

Silver crossed her arms. “I just want to see him up close again. I need to understand how he did that.”

Malcolm didn’t answer. His jaw was clenched, his grip firm around the stem of his glass. What he’d seen earlier with his own eyes still didn’t make sense to him. Strength like that. Power that operated like that, and that car.

Nothing added up.

Just then, the music dipped slightly. Conversations died down and heads turned toward the entrance as one of the staff members leaned toward the MC and whispered something into his ear.

Malcolm straightened instinctively.

“This is it." he muttered.

The doors opened.

A single figure walked in.

Malcolm nearly choked on his champagne.

He coughed sharply, lowering the glass as his eyes widened in disbelief. “You’ve got to be kidding me…”

Julie frowned. “What—?”

Silver followed his gaze and froze. “No way.”

It was Azeez.

He walked in slowly, shoulders lowered, posture restrained. Gone was the loud confidence he always carried. Gone was the arrogance that usually preceded him. Tonight, he looked… humbled.

Malcolm scoffed under his breath. “How dare he show his face here after what happened just a few hours ago." he muttered. “Shouldn’t he be in a hospital or something?”

Julie shook her head slightly. “That wouldn’t be a good look for him either.”

Silver exhaled. “I’m sure he wouldn’t want to ruin his reputation at an event like this.”

Malcolm forced a chuckle, though it sounded hollow. “Yeah… sure." he said, nervousness creeping into his voice. “Still, I wonder where he is.”

They didn’t have to say the name, they understood.

The tension thickened, pressing down on them. They all felt it within, whatever they knew about Robert before was outdated now, something had changed and it was dangerous.

Tracy suddenly stiffened. “Uh… Malcolm." she said quietly.

“What?”

“He’s coming this way.”

Azeez approached them, slow and cautious. If this had been any other night, Malcolm and the girls wouldn’t have spared him a glance. Tonight was different.

When Azeez reached them, he extended his hand.

Malcolm hesitated.

Then, to his own surprise, he shook it.

Azeez turned to Tracy, Julie, and Silver. He offered a small, restrained smile. They nodded back silently. There was an unspoken understanding between them now.

They all shared the same enemy and had the same fear.

“How are you guys enjoying the event?” Azeez asked.

Malcolm cleared his throat. “Well… as you can see, nothing much apart from drinks and introductions.”

Azeez nodded. “Yeah… right.”

There was a brief pause. He shifted slightly, his eyes scanned around the room before settling back on them.

“Have you… happened to see Robert anywhere tonight?”

Tracy took a sip of champagne and immediately spat it out.

She raised her napkin quickly, coughing as a few nearby guests turned to look at her. “Sorry." she muttered, waving it off.

Azeez frowned. “Did I say something wrong?”

Julie tilted her head. “The way you’re calling his name so casually after he beat you and twenty-five others without even trying… It’s funny.”

Azeez smirked faintly. “Yeah." he said, glancing at her. “Like he didn’t smack your boyfriend’s ass across the floor.”

The smile vanished from Julie’s face instantly.

Malcolm’s fingers tightened around his glass until his knuckles whitened. For a second, it looked like he might throw it at Azeez.

Azeez raised both hands slightly. “Relax. I’m not here for trouble." he said. His voice dropped. “I’m sure you all have the same thought I do.”

They waited for him to continue.

“Robert is dangerous.”

Malcolm exchanged looks with the women and Silver gave a subtle nod.

“Yeah." Malcolm finally said. “You’re right.”

Silver spoke next. “He was a poor orphanage brat back in school. Seeing him with a custom Ferrari SF90—one of one—isn’t just abnormal. It’s insane.”

Azeez nodded slowly. “That’s why I came to you. I thought maybe you’d know something.” He hesitated. “He used to be my tenant.”

That caught their attention.

“The kid barely had enough strength to lift a brick." Azeez continued. “Now he’s doing things that don’t make sense. It’s like he’s wielding some kind of… power.”

Malcolm straightened. He’d heard the rumors too of the stories that sounded impossible.

Julie noticed the shift in his posture. “Is everything okay?” she asked.

Malcolm exhaled. “Just thinking." he said. “You’ve all heard the stories… about the twelve families that rule the world, right?”

Julie nodded slowly. “I’ve seen a few things online. People say they have influence… power, stuff like that.”

“So what you’re saying." Julie added carefully, “is that he could be connected to them?”

“That’s impossible." Silver cut in quickly. “It doesn’t make sense. Why would someone like him belong there?”

“Maybe it’s all just a show." she continued. “What if the car was fake?”

Azeez looked at her. “And what about the strength?”

Silver hesitated. “It could be a coincidence." she said. “Like lightning striking at the right moment and maybe we’re overthinking it.”

No one argued.

Malcolm took a slow breath. He knew Silver was trying to calm them—but deep down, none of them believed her.

Something wasn’t right.

And whatever it was, it was about to reveal itself.

Up on a balcony, Professor Darby watched them. He didn't care about the stage. He was watching Malcolm and Azeez talk. He knew they were terrified of Robert.

As the professor watched, two big security guards in black suits walked up to him.