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
Everyone around watched what was unfolding before their eyes and they couldn't believe if they had heard right or even seen right.Anthony had just bowed before Adrian and then called him Young Master. Fear assailed the receptionist as well as the security men. Adrian himself was still recovering from the assault and couldn't believe Anthony was treating him like some royalty or at least an important part of Castle and Castle.He didn't know what to answer. Anthony immediately turned to the guards. “What happened that you would harass Young Master like that?”The security men blanched and immediately started tripping over themselves to explain.“It was Emelds, Sir. She ordered us to remove him from here.”Anthony turned to the receptionist. “And you?” he barked, his voice so cold and harsh it must feel like a whip. “Why did you choose today to reveal your stupidity and lack of professionalism to the world?”The girl gasped, stumbling out of the huge desk that always gave her power to
The statement hit Adrian like a sledgehammer and he stumbled back a few feet on legs made rubbery by that revelation. But then it couldn't be true. None of this was true. “You're wrong, Anthony,” Adrian said, even though he knew Anthony was never wrong about many things. “I'm not Sir Brooks' son, how could that even be true?”Anthony pierced him with a look so full of secrets and meaning. “I have not brought you here without proof or reason. I will explain to you.”Adrian's throat was tight with a feeling he couldn't describe. He waited for Anthony. Anthony went to the buffet unit and pulled out a drawer, he removed documents from it and handed it over to Adrian. Adrian's eyes read it over. DNA test results that proved he was a match to Sir Brooks. His head was reeling. His mother had always told him his father was dead.“But…but how?” Adrian asked, still holding the documents and looking down at them in disbelief. “About the how, I certainly can't tell you. Your mother would expl
It felt like earth shattering secrets kept tumbling out of Anthony's mouth. Sir Brooks had been poisoned?Sir Brooks was a powerful man. And like all powerful men, he had a whole team of bodyguards who followed him everywhere and even security cameras in whatever places he stayed in. Only people he trusted made his food and picked out his wine. For him to have been poisoned, that meant it was someone he really really trusted. Someone very close to him. Perhaps even a member of his own family. Anthony's long legs were uncrossed azs he switched positions and crossed his legs again. “I will not utter the words that I know you are thinking right now, but yes, that is the suspicion. That is why his current condition must remain secret.”“I am only handing you this information because Sir Brooks himself trusted you enough to make you the heir to his entire chain of companies, to everything he holds dear. He trusted you enough to even campaign for you, telling me why he wanted things to b