The Graham Heir—I Am Not An Adopted Nobody

Chapter 34: The Line That Was Crossed

Jane walked back to Edward with her shoulders stiff and her cheeks stained with tears.

The glittering lights of the ballroom felt too bright now, almost blinding to her. The music sounded like an annoying recording, and every burst of laughter from the crowd felt like a personal insult aimed at her.

Edward was standing near the edge of the VVIP section. He held a glass of sparkling water, but he hadn't taken a single sip. He didn't even look at her as she approached.

“Well?” he asked, his voice dangerously calm.

Jane swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice from shaking. “The guard refused. He basically told me to get lost. He said she’s connected to the VVIP table.”

Edward slowly turned his head to look at her.

“And?” he pressed.

“She threatened us, Edward." Jane said, her voice rising. “She said that after tonight, they’re taking everything back from the Emmetts. She said we’ll be the ones bowing to her.”

For the first time all night, Edward’s expression actually changed. It wasn't anger, it was something much colder. Disappointment.

“You let a girl like that talk to you that way?” he asked quietly.

Jane’s fingers curled into fists. “I handled it as best I could.”

Edward stared at her for a long, uncomfortable moment.

“No." he said. “You didn’t.”

Jane felt her stomach drop. The disapproval felt like a slap.

“I’ll handle it myself." Edward said. His tone was smooth, but it carried weight. “Stay here, don’t go anywhere.”

He set his glass down on a passing waiter's tray without looking. Then, he walked away.

Across the room, in the entrance to a corridor, Malcolm was leaning against a marble pillar, lost in thought.

He had seen it all, the masked security bow, the guard’s fear, and the way every event in the room seemed to pull toward Robert. He was trying to solve a puzzle that he didn't have enough pieces for.

Before he could think any further, Edward appeared in front of him.

“Malcolm." Edward said. He smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. “We need to talk.”

Malcolm studied him, keeping his face neutral. “About what?”

“You haven’t done what I asked you to do earlier.”

Malcolm’s jaw tightened. “And what was that exactly?”

“I told you Robert shouldn't be here tonight. He’s a stain on this event.”

The air between them became heavy. Malcolm kept his voice steady. “This isn’t my party, Edward. I don't get to kick people out.”

Edward stepped closer. He wasn't being aggressive yet, he was trying to take control. “But you were invited as my guest, Malcolm. Which means if you bring trash into the room, it makes me look bad.”

Malcolm said nothing.

Edward’s voice dropped lower, turning cold. “I want Robert out of this building. Now.”

There was no way to misunderstand him. Malcolm bit the inside of his lip, his mind racing.

“Why?” he asked quietly.

Edward’s eyes didn’t blink. “You don’t need to know why. You just need to do it.”

Malcolm thought back to the masked guard stepping up for Robert. He thought about the way the most dangerous men in the room remained still when Robert looked at them, then the incident at Graham Scholars Academy replayed in his mind.

He realized Robert wasn't just a student. He was something else.

“I don’t think you realize what you’re asking for." Malcolm said slowly.

Edward’s voice dropped even further.

“You have two choices, Malcolm. You remove him, or you leave with him. And if you leave with him, you’re dead to me.”

The words were simple, the threat was massive. Malcolm’s fingers curled at his side. He weighed it all, their years of friendship, his own reputation, the Emmett family's power, and the strange, quiet fear he felt when he looked at Robert.

Then, he let out a long breath.

“That’s fine." Malcolm said quietly. “If you really don’t want him here, I have no problem walking out myself.”

He turned around and took two steps toward the exit of the corridor.

“Stop.”

Edward’s voice cut through the air like a shard of glass. Malcolm paused, but he didn't turn back.

“You should think very carefully about your next step." Edward said. The ballroom noise seemed to fade into the background. “If you walk out that door tonight, I promise you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

Malcolm stayed still.

“After tonight." Edward continued, his voice full of a dark pride. "the Emmetts will be one of the top four most powerful families in this country. Our net worth is about to jump to five hundred billion dollars.”

Even the music felt small against a number that big.

“Do you really want to be on the wrong side of that?” Edward asked. “You want to side with a nobody like Robert?”

Malcolm’s back remained turned, but he finally spoke.

“You know what’s funny, Edward?”

Edward’s eyes narrowed.

Malcolm turned his head just enough to show his profile. “If everything you just said actually happens... You should be grateful.”

Edward blinked. “Grateful? For what?”

“Because." Malcolm said. "if you truly become that powerful tonight, then you’ll finally understand why Robert isn’t the one who should be afraid.”

The words were quiet, but they hit Edward harder than a shout. For a split second, Edward’s eyes looked uncertain.

Malcolm faced forward again. “And if it happens, I’ll still know I made the right choice.”

Then, he walked away, he didn't look back. Edward stood there— still. He wasn't used to people walking away from him, especially not like that.

Malcolm moved quickly to the table where his friends were. Julie was laughing at a joke, and Silver was scrolling through her phone. They both looked up, sensing the change in Malcolm’s energy.

“We’re leaving." he said.

Julie’s smile vanished. “What? Why?”

“Now." Malcolm added. “Edward gave me two options. Either Robert goes, or we all do. And we're going.”

Tracy stood up immediately, sensing the danger. Silver pocketed her phone without a word. But before they could take a single step—

The main ballroom doors slammed shut.

It wasn't a loud sound, but it was firm. Every head in the room turned.

Then a deep, powerful voice spoke from near the stage.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please remain exactly where you are.”

Malcolm’s heart began to hammer. He knew that voice.

And across the room—