The Graham Heir—I Am Not An Adopted Nobody

Chapter 57: Verified guests

The deep growl of the McLaren Sabre rolled through the courtyard like a declaration of war.

Edward was driving slowly, he felt like he was in total control. After all, he’d just dropped over a hundred million dollars on a new car just to get past the front gate. This was supposed to be his big I’ve arrived moment.

The car stopped right at the base of the marble steps. The lights hit the carbon fiber, making it look like it was glowing. Everyone nearby stopped talking to watch.

“Is that the Sabre?” someone whispered.

“There are only five of those in the world.”

“The Emmetts are really going all out tonight.”

Edward stepped out of the car, taking his time to straighten his jacket. Chloe followed him out, looking proud and holding her head high. Cameras were flashing everywhere. A valet rushed over, looking a bit nervous as Edward handed him the keys.

“Be careful with it,” Edward said. He sounded bored, like the car didn't even matter to him. The valet just nodded quickly, holding the keys like they were made of glass.

A moment later, a Bugatti pulled up, It was Jane. The black and gold car looked like a crown on wheels. People actually stepped back to let her through.

“Wow, the Emmetts are definitely not broke,” a guest joked.

“They spent two hundred million just to get past the gates.”

Jane got out, looking totally confident again. She joined Edward and Chloe, and the three of them walked toward the front doors. They looked like they owned the place.

But when they got to the entrance, two security guards stepped in their way.

“Family name?” one asked.

“Emmett,” Edward said, his voice loud and clear.

The guard held up a small scanner. It made a low humming sound as it checked their info. The guard didn't even blink. “Please wait a second.”

Another guard came over. “We need to verify your family's net worth before you can enter.”

Edward rolled his eyes a little. “Sure, go ahead.”

The device beeped and the guard looked at the screen and then looked Edward right in the eye.

“Access denied.”

The whole area went dead silent.

“Excuse me?” Chloe snapped. “What did you just say?”

“Your family net worth doesn't meet the hundred-billion-dollar minimum,” the guard said calmly.

You could hear people nearby starting to whisper. A few guests even leaned in to get a better look at the drama.

Chloe stepped forward, her face turning red. “Your machine is broken, That’s impossible, do you have any idea who we are?”

Edward’s jaw tightened, but he tried to stay cool. “I didn’t know the rules would change at the last minute,” he said. “But that’s not the point, the point is your claim that we aren't worth a hundred billion is wrong. Honestly, this is just a huge pain in the neck. Fix it.”

The guard looked at the scanner again. “System says fifty billion.”

It felt like a slap in the face. Fifty billion was a massive amount of money, but it was only half of what they needed to get inside.

Edward blinked, looking confused for a second. “That’s not right,” he said, his voice getting lower. “You’ve heard about the Graham deal. Our value went up to five hundred billion after that.”

The guard nodded. “We know about the deal, sir. But the system says fifty billion.”

“Run it again!” Chloe hissed, her voice shaking.

They did and it showed the same thing.

Edward was losing his cool now. “Check hers,” he said, pointing at Chloe. “Check her family.”

The scanner hummed again. “Ten billion.”

Chloe didn't say anything—that number was actually right. Edward frowned, his mind spinning. “No… something is messed up here.”

He started trying to explain their whole business structure to the guard. He was talking fast, getting more frustrated by the second. He was basically arguing with a security guard about how rich he was.

“You know about the deal, but you’re telling me we aren't worth five hundred billion?”

“That’s right, sir,” the guard said. “You aren't.”

Edward pulled out his phone and called his father. It was a short, angry phone call with a lot of hushed yelling. Security stepped aside to check with their bosses. By now, a crowd had gathered to watch the Emmetts struggle.

“Did you hear that?” someone whispered.

“They aren't worth five hundred billion as they claim, they’re only at fifty.”

Edward felt his face getting hot. This was the most embarrassing moment of his life.

The guard came back. “This is my final answer, you're at fifty billion and you don't meet the requirements to come in.” 

They remained silent. And then, to make things worse, another guest walked up.

“Family name?” the guard asked.

The man answered, the scanner beeped, and the guard smiled. “A hundred and twenty billion. Go right in.” The doors opened for him instantly.

A few minutes later, a woman walked up and she was scanned too. 

“Three hundred and eighty billion. You're all set.”

Edward knew who she was Maria Cullinan— A business woman and a share holder in Rolls Royce. Her net worth was real, which proved the machine wasn't broken.

 He felt sick to his stomach, for the first time all night, he was actually sweating, fidgeting and his earlier confidence had disappeared.

Then— someone started clapping slowly.

Robert walked out of the main hall. He had his hands in his pockets and looked totally relaxed. “Hey,” he called out. “Is there a problem? Why are you guys stuck out here?”

The whispering got louder. One of the guests muttered, “Why is the scholarship kid even inside?”

“He’s just tagging along with Avery.”

Avery stepped out next to Robert, looking perfectly calm. She looked at Edward and tilted her head. “I thought you said your family was worth five hundred billion, Edward. Isn't that enough to get in?”

The whole courtyard went quiet. Everyone had their phones out, filming the whole thing.

Robert laughed. It wasn't a mean laugh, just a calm, quiet chuckle that made Edward feel small.

“All right, all right,” Robert said. He looked Edward in the eye. “Interesting,” Robert said calmly. “You spent two hundred million to prove you belong… and you still needed permission to enter.”

For a second, Edward wished the marble floor would crack open just enough to end this moment.

Robert turned to the guards. “Let them in.”

The guards looked at each other for a split second, then they actually bowed. “Yes, sir.”

They stepped aside. “You can go in now, with your partner Mr. Edward.”

The whole mood changed instantly. People were in shock. The guards were taking orders from Robert. 

Edward felt the sting of it— having to get permission from the scholarship kid just to walk into a room.

He walked forward slowly, with Chloe and Jane following him like they were in a daze. They didn't say a word. As the doors shut behind them, the hall was filled with people talking.

Nobody was gossiping about the Emmetts anymore. They were all talking about Robert. And everyone had the same question.

Who is Robert, really?

The auction hadn’t even started, but the hierarchy had.