The Illegitimate Heir

Chapter 6

Sitting stiffly in the living room with a business brochure in his hands, an austere-faced man with the same jet-black hair and piercing grey eyes as Adrian looked up as they entered.

Fit for his age and a force to reckon with in the business world, Richard Cross was the picture of domineering as he watched them approach.

“Honey, I am home,” Patricia said excitedly, in a way that showed she had been very immune to his coldness in the past or maybe just good at pretending.

His gaze flickered to her as he responded, “Oh, welcome.”

“Couldn't you have come to the hospital to pick me up? I have been gone for two years after all. Don't you miss me?” Patricia pouted in a way that was very unbecoming of a fifty-two-year-old woman.

Adrian was beginning to wonder if the coma had done more damage than the doctor had noticed.

Richard probably thought so too, as he gave Patricia a long look.

Face still expressionless, he clicked his fingers and one of the staff who were always silently around approached.

“Get her settled in,” Richard ordered blandly.

“Yes, sir,” the maid responded, and Patricia knew better than to argue as she was wheeled away.

If the coma had made her forget herself, Adrian was sure she would pick up the memo fast enough.

He turned to leave quietly as always.

Only to hear, “Sit. I have something to discuss with you.”

Adrian almost looked around to be sure Daniel had not popped up silently, because he couldn't be talking to him, right?

But when he turned his head, Richard’s eyes were still on him as he gestured to the chair close by.

“Sit,” he ordered, expecting no argument.

“I don't really feel like it.”

Adrian almost said it just for the hell of it.

But then he knew that would be a waste of breath.

Richard had not issued an invitation. He had ordered him.

And when Richard Cross gave an order, he expected it to be followed.

And many scrambled to follow it. After all, the Cross family is the number one business family in Aurion.

The Vales had held that position for a long time but had fallen off years ago.

Cross’s ruthlessness in business was known to all.

A ruthlessness that ensured that when his commands were not obeyed, there were always consequences.

Adrian sat not because of that. It was more because he was wondering what he had done this time that had made Richard pay attention to him.

He had come to accept the fact that he was invisible to the man.

Unless there was a punishment to dole out, of course.

His mind scrambled over what had happened all day.

Could the CSO have reported that he caused an eyesore outside the company and embarrassed the family name?

Could Daniel have framed him with another lie again?

He thought of Patricia but discarded that thought. His mother had not had an opportunity to make him take a fall for something Daniel did yet.

“So, what's his deal?” Adrian thought as Richard let the silence stretch.

The art of silence was one of Richard's known tactics.

When he kept those piercing gazes on someone as the silence stretched, most didn't survive under it and would look away uneasily or start sweating.

Behind him, some called it the death stare.

Adrian had studied him enough for the stare not to have any effect on him.

Even as he wondered why the man who had always ignored him was suddenly willing to breathe the same air as him, he stared right back just as silently.

Richard's mouth tightened slightly before he said the last thing Adrian would ever expect.

“You are already twenty-seven. It's time you settle down. I already proposed marriage to some of our allies. Be ready for the bride selection event in three days.”

Adrian's thoughts stilled as he looked at the man who looked just like an older version of him.

One would have thought he had just spoken of the weather.

“This is a joke,” Adrian said, even as he knew Richard never joked.

The look his father gave him was answer enough.

“You really mean it.” Adrian scoffed a disbelieving laugh.

“It's your good fortune that the families agreed. The Montclair, Whitmore, Hawthorne and Vale families are not just something that anyone can marry into. This is an opportunity that many will jump at. You should be grateful that they did not mind that you are…”

His mouth tightened on the word, his face harsher as if the mere thought of it disgusted him more.

Adrian was not surprised by it. His father had made it clear in more ways than one that he was a mistake.

His existence was an affront to Richard. His punishment.

One of the mentioned names caught Adrian's attention and everything suddenly made sense.

“Whitmore. You are the reason I got beaten today.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Richard asked impatiently, his eyes finally focusing on Adrian's dishevelled state.

It did not surprise Adrian that disgust was what he saw in Richard's eyes when he saw the dried blood and messy clothes.

Just as it did not surprise him that he had not noticed at first.

Adrian had always been beneath his notice, after all.

Which was why this sudden offer was suspicious to him.

Richard would never hand him any good deal.

He stood without being told to and declared, “I will not do it. Just like every other thing, give your opportunity to your golden son.”

With that, he turned to leave.

“Stop right there!” Richard boomed.

“How dare you leave an elder seated, you useless boy?!”

“See?” Adrian's smile was deliberately provocative as he turned back. “A useless child does not deserve great opportunities like this. Give it to the useful one.”

“Richard is busy with company affairs! An engagement right now will distract him! I wouldn't expect you to understand since you practically do nothing all day!”

“Nothing?” Adrian gritted out, his hands clenching into fists in frustration.