The Graham Heir—I Am Not An Adopted Nobody

Chapter 70: Evicted

“We want you to leave.” Those words didn’t just echo through the air, they landed like a heavy blow that made the entire dining room go silent. Even the hum of the air conditioning seemed quiet. 

Robert blinked once, his eyes widening just a tiny bit as he processed what his sister had just said. He looked at her, then back at his plate, trying to see if there was a punchline coming. “...Are you serious?” he finally asked, his voice low.

But Anna didn't hesitate for even a second, and she certainly wasn't joking. “Yes,” she said firmly, leaning back and crossing her arms over her chest with a look of total authority. 

“Avery and I want the whole penthouse to ourselves. You can find somewhere else to stay.”

A heavy, awkward silence filled the dining area, and Avery sat there looking like she had been frozen into a statue. She wouldn't look up from her lap. Robert turned his gaze from Anna to Avery, searching for some kind of explanation, but Avery actively avoided his eyes.

 Robert studied both of them very carefully for a long minute, reading the room like he was back on the auction floor.

And then, instead of getting angry or throwing a fist about being kicked out of a place he paid for, he actually started to smile. It was a slow, genuinely amused grin. He leaned back in his chair, matching Anna’s energy. 

“So that’s how it is,” he said. Anna lifted her chin high, looking like a queen who had just won a war. “Yes. That’s how it is.”

Robert stood up slowly, his tall frame casting a shadow over the table. He looked at Avery one more time. She still looked incredibly nervous, but he noticed a sense of comfort in her posture that hadn't been there before, she felt safe with Anna.

 She was coming out of her shell because she had someone in her corner. He understood immediately that this wasn't really about him or about needing more square footage— it was about giving Avery a home that felt like hers, without the pressure of his presence hovering over her.

He nodded once, making his decision. “Alright. I’ll leave,” he said calmly. Avery’s eyes widened in total shock, and even Anna looked a little surprised that her big brother had agreed to her crazy demand so easily. 

“But,” Robert added, holding up a finger, “let me grab a few things from my room.”

Anna checked the time on her expensive watch and gave him a sharp look. “You have ten minutes.” Robert just stared at her, a short laugh escaping his lips at how fast she was kicking him out of his own house.

 “Ten minutes? You’re really kicking me out like that?” Anna just gave him a sweet, innocent looking smile that didn't reach her eyes. “Of course. Hurry up.” Robert let out another short laugh and muttered, “Unbelievable,” before turning on his heel and walking toward his master suite.

He stood still for a second inside his room, looking at the city lights through the massive windows. He realized then that things were changing faster than he expected. 

He didn't feel mad, he just felt a strange sense of curiosity about where this was going. He grabbed a small storage box and started packing— just the essentials. A few changes of clothes, his laptop, his favorite watch case, and a small, framed photo from years ago that he never went anywhere without. When he walked back out into the living room, Anna and Avery were standing there like a welcoming committee waiting for him to go.

“Alright,” Robert said lightly, shifting the weight of the box in his arms. “I’m going.” Avery opened her mouth to say something, maybe to apologize or thank him, but no words came out. 

Anna didn't have that problem, she just waved her hand dismissively. “Bye bye. We won’t miss you.” Robert laughed at her sass and pointed a finger at her.

 “You’ll regret saying that,” he warned playfully. Anna just shrugged and shot back, “Doubt it.” He picked up the box, paused at the door to give them one final instruction— “Lock the windows properly”— and then he stepped out into the hall.

Robert moved into a smaller executive suite just two floors down. It was still a five star room with marble counters and silk sheets, but it felt tiny and cramped compared to the massive penthouse he had just left. 

The new room was quiet and simple, and for the first time in a long time, Robert felt the weight of being completely alone. He set his box down on a chair and sat on the edge of the bed. He didn't feel lonely, exactly, but the sudden silence of the room felt heavy as he lay back, stared at the ceiling, and finally closed his eyes.

The next day, Robert woke up early and ordered a simple breakfast to his room. After he got dressed in a sharp, crisp black suit that made him look like a shadow, he headed back upstairs and rang the bell to his own front door. 

Anna was the one who answered, but she stood right in the middle of the doorway, blocking him from coming in. She looked at him like he was a salesman she didn't want to talk to. 

“Yes?” she asked.

Robert looked at her, his eyebrows raised in disbelief. “Are you serious right now?” he asked. She didn't move an inch.

 “I’m busy. Very busy,” she replied calmly. Robert chuckled and shook his head. “You’re unbelievable,” he told her. She kept him standing in the hallway like a stranger for a few more seconds just to prove her point before finally stepping aside to let him pass.

He sat down in the living room and waited as the minutes ticked by. Finally, Anna and Avery came out together, looking like they were ready to take on the world. 

Avery’s cheeks turned a deep, bright red the second Robert looked at her and said, “Good morning, Avery.” She practically tried to hide her face behind Anna as she whispered a very shaky, “G good morning…”

Robert adjusted his cufflinks and stood up. “There are two things we’re doing today,” he told them, his voice getting serious. Anna raised an eyebrow and asked, “Oh?” Robert continued, “First, we’re going shopping. And second, we’re going to see mother. She’s ready for discharge.”

The energy in the room shifted instantly. The playfulness was gone. Anna’s eyes softened and she took a half step forward. “Really?” she asked softly. Robert nodded and told them that after they left the hospital, they would be making a stop at the Bullion Corporation. Avery looked completely confused by that last part, but Anna seemed to catch the hidden meaning. Then, Avery cleared her throat, trying to find her voice. “Actually… we don’t need you for the first thing,” she said. Robert looked at her, surprised. “For shopping?” Anna jumped in to back her up. “Yes. I can handle it. We’ll go together.”

Robert studied the two of them for a second, seeing the bond they were building, and he realized he was being sidelined.

 He nodded slowly. “Fine. You two go shopping. Enjoy yourselves.” He looked at Avery one last time and told her, “Call me if you need anything.” Anna just waved her hand in the air like she was shooing away a fly. “Yes, yes. We will.” Robert gave them one final look and walked out the door.

The very second the latch clicked shut, Anna grabbed Avery’s hands and started jumping up and down. “We’re skipping school,” she whispered excitedly. Avery’s eyes went wide. “What?!” she gasped. But Anna was dead serious. “We’re going shopping. Big shopping.” Avery hesitated for a split second, thinking about her classes, but then a slow, mischievous smile spread across her face. “Okay,” she said. 

They rushed around the penthouse, throwing on their best outfits and grabbing their bags, their laughter filling the empty rooms. Meanwhile, two floors down, Robert just stood by his window, watching the city and waiting for the real work to begin.