The grand hall was in utter disarray, a cacophony of raised voices and frantic gestures. The revelation that Adrian was the sole heir to Mr. Brooks’ empire had thrown the room into chaos. Lady Barbara was on the verge of fainting, Ada was livid, and Raymond and Lazzaro were locked in a heated argument with Anthony, who was valiantly trying to maintain control.It was then that the door to the hall creaked open, and the man who had been presumed dead, the very man who was the catalyst of this storm, walked in.Mr. Brooks stood at the entrance, his imposing figure framed by the light filtering in from the hallway. His presence was like a cold gust of wind that swept through the room, instantly silencing the tumult. All eyes turned to him, the shock evident on every face.“Father?” Adrian’s voice was the first to break the silence, disbelief etched in every syllable.“Yes, Adrian,” Mr. Brooks replied, his tone even, though his eyes softened as they met his son’s. “I’m alive. And I see I’
Adrian’s heart was still pounding from the chaos inside the mansion when he rushed outside to find Blinks. The evening air was cool against his flushed skin, but there was a heaviness in his chest that wouldn’t go away. The door slammed shut behind him, muffling the sounds of heated arguments and panicked voices. He spotted Blinks near the garden, pacing back and forth with his phone pressed to his ear."Blinks!" Adrian called out as he jogged toward him, the urgency in his voice undeniable. "What’s going on?"Blinks turned to him, his face a mask of grim determination. He quickly ended the call and slipped his phone into his pocket. "We’ve got a serious problem, Adrian," he said, his voice low and tense. "Lazzaro’s gone desperate. Mr. Shin just sent word from the Black community—Lazzaro’s put a hit out on you. A group of assassins is on their way right now."Adrian felt a cold chill race down his spine. "Assassins? Here?"Blinks nodded, his expression hardening. "Yeah, and they’re no
The tension in the room was palpable as everyone took their seats in the large, ornate boardroom. The long, polished mahogany table gleamed under the soft glow of the chandelier, and the walls were lined with portraits of the Brooks family, their stern faces watching over the gathering. It was a room where the most critical decisions in the company’s history had been made, but today, the atmosphere was different—heavier, almost suffocating.Adrian sat near the end of the table, his jaw clenched as he watched the members of the board filter in. He had barely slept the night before, the adrenaline from the chase still coursing through his veins. Blinks had assured him that the police would handle the aftermath, but it was hard to shake the feeling that something was still unresolved. He glanced around the room, noting the tense expressions on the faces of the board members and family members who had been summoned to this urgent meeting. Whispers filled the air, speculation running rampa
The heavy iron gates of the prison creaked open, revealing a narrow passage that led to the visitors' area. Adrian felt a cold chill run down his spine as he stepped into the dimly lit corridor, the air thick with the scent of damp concrete and rust. The sound of his footsteps echoed in the narrow space, a lonely rhythm that matched the unsettling atmosphere of the place. He had been here before, years ago, but this visit was different. This time, he wasn’t coming to see a friend or a client—he was here to see Lazzaro, the man who had tried to destroy his family and his life.As he approached the room where Lazzaro was waiting, Adrian took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. He had thought long and hard about this visit, wondering if it was even worth it. But in the end, his curiosity had won out. He needed to see Lazzaro one last time—to look him in the eyes and understand what drove him to commit such heinous acts.The guard opened the door for him, and Adrian step
Adrian walked around on barefoot in the garden, watering the flowers and the plants and making sure to use his fingers to uproot the little weeds that struggled for space beside some of the plants. He tended the garden with so much love and care. He glanced behind him, towards the now ruined tomato plants where Raymond Brooks' children had run around and squashed the tomatoes that were already ripe for picking. He sighed despondently. He tried so hard to keep the birds and the rodents away. And in the end it was human children that turned out to be his greatest problem. “Adrian!” Adrian turned towards the voice. He couldn't see the person yet, but he knew that voice well. “Adrian?! Where is that fool?!” He dreaded the voice. Sir Micheal Brooks' wife had never favored him. Nothing he ever did pleased her. And he always ate insults for breakfast, lunch and dinner whenever she was around. He rushed to answer the call. “Ma'am?” No matter what she said or what she did, Lady
Adrian wasn't sure he had heard right. He decided to find a way to enter the living room himself.Carrying a jug of freshly pressed juice, he walked dutifully into the living room and crossed over to where the family all sat on sofas. Their faces all pulled into a sneer as they saw him. “Who called this unfortunate soul here?!” Lady Barbara demanded in a furious tone.Linda spoke up, saving Adrian's skin. “I did, Lady Barbara.”“Well, now that father has passed, I believe you're supposed to read his will? Tell us, who has he left the company to?" This came from Ada, the first daughter. Brooks Castle and Castle, a multi billion dollar company that had chains of hotels and bars and even supermarkets was incredibly sought after by each one of the Brooks children. “We all know I have a degree in tourism and hotel management, I'm the one most suited for the position of President.” Ada continued.Raymond snorted an incredulous laugh. “Don't be stupid. I am the first born son of Dad.” Ra
He stumbled to the worn out couch pushed up against the wall. The sun had set outside and darkness was beginning to fall. He stared at his inbox. It was his bank account alright. But what was that account balance?He counted the zeros slowly. 9 of them!Well, this had to be a joke. This had to be the joke of the year. A knock sounded on his door and he dropped his phone as if he was caught stealing. Startled, he went to his closed door and unbolted it, then he opened it. It was Linda. She always came to call him when he was needed in the main house. Of course, none of the Brooks could ever lower themselves to come to the servants quarters.“The mistress is asking for you.” Linda informed him. She turned around to go and then seemed to remember something so she turned back to him in the open doorway. “You might want to change that soaked, stained shirt you're wearing before coming though.”She turned and left. Adrian sighed at the orange juice wetting his shirt. He entered the bath
Adrian knew that voice now. It was Anthony. The same lawyer that had just been by the house earlier to speak to the whole Brooks family about Sir Brooks death. His strong, confident voice poured through the phone. “I have something important to discuss with you, Mr Adrian, Sir. Please come to Brooks Castle and Castle tomorrow morning by 10am. Remember, this is something sensitive and crucial that I have to impart to you. Do well to take this seriously.”And with that the call cut. Several things puzzled Adrian in a way that he was kept awake for long, puzzling over them. One: Anthony, the Brooks family lawyer who had never answered to anyone other than his master and sole employer, Sir Brooks, had apparently deposited money into his bank account. A ridiculously large sum of money at that. Why had he done that?Two: He called him Young Master. How ridiculous could that possibly be? Even Raymond and slow Paschal were not referred to as masters of the house, since their father and mot