The Heirs

Chapter 1

"Just home?"

Demian's steps stopped. However, he was reluctant to turn his head. It was too easy for Demian to guess what the owner of the voice wanted to say.

"Today I met with one of the shareholders." Dylan flatly stared at the back of the man who had his back to him. There was longing, but he could not express it. "He offered me a position with a rather lucrative salary."

"So?"

Silence. Dylan's mouth clamped shut at his brother's cold reaction after he finished his story. It was always like this. Never once did this man want to be respectful. Though Dylan really hoped that his brother would give a friendly response. Or if not pretend to think it was okay. However, the reality was far from what he expected.

(What should I do to make you care about me? I'm younger brother. Why are you treating me like a stranger? We're brothers, asshole)

"Go in and rest in the room. I don't have time to listen to your incoherent ramblings!" Demian said coldly. He didn't want to hear the complaints of a snot-nosed kid who could only make trouble. Dylan was indeed his younger brother, but they were born from different mothers. It was only natural that the bond between them was not very strong. Maybe even none at all.

"Just once. Can't you just act like you care about me?" protested Dylan while clenching his fists. "None of you have ever cared about my future. Why, I'm still part of the Stewart family. Please don't ignore me!"

"Don't start. It's already late. Go to sleep. Tomorrow everything will go back to the way it was."

"Again and again and again. Not you, Dad and Mom, you're just being selfish and self-centered. I'm not a child!"

(Why is this child hysterical? What a nuisance!)

Indifferent, Demian waltzed away leaving Dylan in a tantrum. He was too lazy to deal with her childish behavior. Every day, if not to hear his complaints about causing trouble, he would come begging for attention in a very annoying way. Meeting with one of the shareholders in B&F Corporation and then showing off a meager salary offer. Is it appropriate for a member of the Stewart family to do something like this?

"Ridiculous," muttered Demian.

Check

The door opened. Once inside, Demian immediately looked around the room. His gaze then stopped on the old man sitting on the edge of the bed. It was his father. What was this old man doing in his room?

"Are you ignoring him again?" Morgan asked, looking at his eldest son who had just walked into the room. "Dylan's your brother. Take care of him once in a while. Poor thing."

"I never asked her to be my brother. If you don't like it, just kick him and his mother out of this house. It's easy for me to take care of you by myself."

"Dem, how long are you going to keep bringing this up?"

"Until I get tired of it!"

Demian sat down. Unconcerned with his father's unwell state, he lit a cigar and blew the smoke into the air. The tiredness of a long day's work instantly disappeared when discussing family matters. Demian wanted to be angry, but it was useless. His father would definitely keep Dylan and his mother in this house.

"Decades have passed and I've handed over all the assets in your name. What else do you want? I'm tired, Dem. I'd love to see you get along with Dylan and your mom," Morgan choked out. His chest was a little tight from inhaling the cigar smoke his son was puffing out. Morgan knew this was a form of pent-up anger. That's why he didn't move. Let it be. Who knew this way Demian's heart would melt a little.

"Why are you bringing this up?" Demian asked. The look on his face was very flat. It didn't show that he was talking to his parents at all. His tone and gesture were foreign, as if they had no blood ties.

"Because you and Dylan are my sons."

"Cihhh,"

The harsh screech that came out of Demian's mouth was like a dagger that instantly tore through every centimeter of Morgan's body. It was so painful. If crying could solve the problem between them, he wouldn't hesitate to do so. Too bad it couldn't be done.

"I'm the eldest son in the Stewart family. It's only natural that I should inherit all the wealth in our family. And as for that child, I don't care what kind of life he'll lead. You think of him as a child, don't you?" said Demian mockingly. "Enjoy your fir family story. I'm not interested in getting involved."

"Demian!"

"Before she died, Mom always taught me how to hold on to what God had destined to be mine. They're strangers, so don't ever ask me to treat these two well. Just you, not them!"

"Why are you this stubborn? Your mom and dad didn't get married because of infidelity, but because dad needed a partner for life. Please stop thinking that your mother is a bad woman. She loves you very much, Demian. Believe me!"

There was no response. Demian's skin crawled when his father said that she loved him. How disgusting. Armed with a sweet demeanor and also a master of theatrics, it turned out to be able to make someone as smart as his father stupid. Didn't his father realize that she was just pretending?

"Today Dylan threw a tantrum. He had to deal with the law after beating someone's child to death. I'm is not feeling well. Please find a lawyer to handle his case, okay?" said Morgan as she tried to stand up. His body was weak, but he had to stay strong so that his son's anger would not escalate. 

Instead of answering, Demian undressed and walked to the bathroom. He turned on the shower, letting his athletic body soak in the cold water. 

"Don't expect me to help that useless kid. The company needs my presence far more than it needs to deal with this vague problem. It's all about giving orders," Demian said grumpily. Had it not been his father, he would have beaten the man to a pulp. He punched the wall as he remembered his father saying that Dylan's mother loved him. "Damn witch! What does she mean by talking to you like that? Did she think I would be so easily fooled by her hypocrisy? A snake is still a snake. No matter how much it is fed, it will still endanger the life of the person who keeps it. Cihhh!"

When Demian was twelve years old, he was forced to accept the harsh reality that his father married his own secretary after his mother passed away due to illness. Although he was old enough to understand the meaning of life, he still couldn't accept the new member of the Stewart family. Moreover, her mother had previously told her to protect her father from a woman named Katty. No matter how hard Demian persuaded her, the snake woman was still brought into this house. Demian was disappointed. So before Dylan was born, he forced his father to transfer all of the Stewart family's assets to him alone. 

"Katty, you may win my father's heart. But me? Don't expect it. Even if the world comes to an end, I will not be willing to share my rights with you two. Go ahead and do as many tricks as you can, it won't have any effect on my life. Because of what? Because I am Demian Stewart. No matter how hard you want to subvert me, it will only end in vain!"

***