The days were beginning to pass by easier, and everything had fallen into a routine for Elijah.The kitchen was quiet, sunlight poured in through the window, lighting up the space. The sounds of birds could be heard from outside, making the atmosphere peaceful.Elijah was sitting at the kitchen island, his hand around a cup of coffee which he occasionally sipped. A plate of toast and eggs sat in front of him, half eaten.His attention was on his phone, his eyes scanning through some pdf’s which contained the changes in the finances of Windsor New York branch.With the amount of times he drinks coffee these days, it’s as though Alfred was rubbing off his influence on him. The soft sounds of footsteps broke the attention he had on his phone, Eleanor walked into the kitchen in a casual sweater and leggings, her hair up in a messy bun.“Morning.” She called out, heading towards the cupboards, pulling out a few ingredients.Elijah didn’t look up from his phone but answered her with a quie
The next morning, Elijah woke up at his usual time, early. It was a Saturday, and he could’ve used this opportunity to sleep in, but old habits die hard. The house was quiet, and it seemed Eleanor was still asleep.Elijah put on his shoes and jacket, sliding his phone into his pocket. He stepped out of the house, approaching his scooter. He got his scooter fixed a day after the storm. It wasn’t as good as new, but it worked.He was going to the cemetery. It was quite a distance away from the Stone mansion, a quiet cemetery, away from the busy city, nestled between a grove of trees.The atmosphere of the cemetery was always different, gloomy, but peaceful nonetheless. He walked into the cemetery, the dried leaves beneath his shoes crunching with each step.His hand tightened around the pieces of roses in his hands as he stopped in front of Esther’s grave. The name on the headstone a reminder of who laid in the grave.Placing the roses gently on the ground, he stood in silence for a mom
Today marked the 80th birthday of the Stone family patriarch. The hall dripped with wealth—chandeliers that sparkled like diamonds, marble floors polished to a mirror shine, and the finest champagne flowing freely. Only the elite and closest members of the Stone family were allowed into this exclusive, grand hall, each one of them wearing their status as a shield. You could practically smell the clashes of power in the air. The Stones were one of the wealthiest families in New York, their influence stretching across borders and industries. Every major player in the business world wanted a connection to them, an alliance, and even today, they had come bearing gifts fit for kings. It was a competition—who could show the most power, the most influence, the most wealth? The youngest grandson, Julian Stone, approached first, his confident stride echoing through the lavish room, as he proudly cradled a statue of a golden Buddha, gleaming with an estimated worth in the millions.
Elijah couldn’t believe what was unfolding before him. Young master? What do they mean by young master? The way hundreds of bodyguards bowed in unison, showing utmost respect, was beyond anything he had ever seen. He had always been invisible, blending into the shadows, unnoticed and unimportant. Yet, here he was, the center of attention in a way he never imagined. People passing by stopped in their tracks, eyes wide in disbelief, watching the surreal display. Even cars slowed, some drivers rolling down their windows to catch a glimpse of what looked like a scene out of a movie. What was even more baffling was that all this grandeur was directed at someone like him—a man who wore secondhand clothes and barely made ends meet. Elijah clenched his fists, unsettled by the absurdity of it all. “You must be mistaken,” he said, his voice sharp as he turned to Alfred, the leader of the group. “I think you've got the wrong guy.” Alfred remained calm, his expression unwavering. “Young mast
The Patriarch’s voice boomed through the room, his final words settling in, and there was no room for negotiations. Even after Elijah promised to pay back every cent, no matter how long it took. Elijah had no choice but to divorce his granddaughter, Eleanor, or face the consequences. The Patriarch even promised to handle all of Esther’s medical expenses if Elijah agreed, hiring the best doctors and transferring her to the best clinic. It was supposed to be an easy decision after all, or so the Patriarch thought. But as for Elijah, it was far from easy. He stood there, torn apart, unsure of what to do. If the situation were different—if it were just a matter of choosing between two women—it wouldn’t have been a problem. But Eleanor wasn’t just any woman. Despite the way the Stones treated Elijah like garbage, Eleanor had always been different. She had never looked down on him because of his status or lack of wealth and qualifications. From the day they were forced into marria
Morning came faster than expected, and Elijah found himself riding his worn-out scooter through the busy streets of New York, heading towards Windsor Company’s branch office. Despite the hustle of the city, Elijah couldn't help but notice the towering structure of Windsor’s building in the distance. Even though it was just a branch, the architecture was breathtaking—something straight out of a prestigious architectural magazine. The glass windows shone brightly under the rising sun, making the building look sharp and modern. Its clean, smooth lines gave it a powerful appearance, like it was built for only the most important people. Elijah, standing outside in his scuffed shoes and old, worn jacket, looked completely out of place. This was the kind of place where the rich and powerful belonged, and it looked like he didn’t fit in at all. After parking his scooter in a spot he barely managed to find, Elijah stepped off and let out a deep sigh. Glancing at the time on his watch
Inside the executive office, Elijah couldn’t help but be impressed by the extravagance surrounding him. The rich, plush carpet beneath his feet muffled his footsteps as he crossed the room. The walls were adorned with fine art, and a crystal pendant chandelier hung from the ceiling. Everything in the room screamed elegance, down to the finely crafted beige couch in the corner. This was clearly the work of a specialized interior designer, and it was impossible not to appreciate the artistry. “This is beautiful,” Elijah murmured as he scanned the room, his gaze taking in every detail—the gleaming wooden desk, the carefully placed vases, and the accent wall that tied the whole room together. It was the kind of place that made you feel powerful just by sitting in it. He turned to Alfred, who stood with a slight, satisfied smile on his face. It was obvious that Alfred was pleased the young master approved. “I'm glad you like it, young master,” Alfred replied, a hint of pride in hi
Elijah clenched his fists, his nails biting into his palms as he stood in the hospital corridor. There were a thousand emotions running through his mind, and they were all drenched in grief, garnished by anger. The muffled hum of distant voices was drowned out by the pounding of his pulse. He couldn’t breathe properly, couldn’t think straight. A tight knot formed in his throat, as if an invisible hand had wrapped around it, squeezing in a way that made it hard to breathe. “Take me to her,” he spoke, his voice low, maybe hoping they made a mistake, and she was awake and well. The doctor shifted uncomfortably, his gaze dropping to the floor. “Mr. Stone, I… I don’t think that’s wise right now. You’re upset, and—” “Don’t waste my time with excuses!” Elijah snapped, his voice rising. “I want to see my mother. Now.” The doctor hesitated but eventually nodded, motioning for Elijah to follow. The walk to the morgue felt like it took hours, every second passing was filling him with ev
The next morning, Elijah woke up at his usual time, early. It was a Saturday, and he could’ve used this opportunity to sleep in, but old habits die hard. The house was quiet, and it seemed Eleanor was still asleep.Elijah put on his shoes and jacket, sliding his phone into his pocket. He stepped out of the house, approaching his scooter. He got his scooter fixed a day after the storm. It wasn’t as good as new, but it worked.He was going to the cemetery. It was quite a distance away from the Stone mansion, a quiet cemetery, away from the busy city, nestled between a grove of trees.The atmosphere of the cemetery was always different, gloomy, but peaceful nonetheless. He walked into the cemetery, the dried leaves beneath his shoes crunching with each step.His hand tightened around the pieces of roses in his hands as he stopped in front of Esther’s grave. The name on the headstone a reminder of who laid in the grave.Placing the roses gently on the ground, he stood in silence for a mom
The days were beginning to pass by easier, and everything had fallen into a routine for Elijah.The kitchen was quiet, sunlight poured in through the window, lighting up the space. The sounds of birds could be heard from outside, making the atmosphere peaceful.Elijah was sitting at the kitchen island, his hand around a cup of coffee which he occasionally sipped. A plate of toast and eggs sat in front of him, half eaten.His attention was on his phone, his eyes scanning through some pdf’s which contained the changes in the finances of Windsor New York branch.With the amount of times he drinks coffee these days, it’s as though Alfred was rubbing off his influence on him. The soft sounds of footsteps broke the attention he had on his phone, Eleanor walked into the kitchen in a casual sweater and leggings, her hair up in a messy bun.“Morning.” She called out, heading towards the cupboards, pulling out a few ingredients.Elijah didn’t look up from his phone but answered her with a quie
Elijah sat at his desk, examining some reports placed on his table by Alfred. The morning sunlight that bled through the window cast a soft glow on his desk.It has been a week since what happened in the Stone mansion that night, maybe that was part of the reason as to why he began to exhaust himself in work. He was quickly starting to adjust into his role, and everything seemed to come naturally.The New York Windsor branch reflected positively over the week, Profits were higher, the promotional aspect was going amazing, and the company operations were running smoothly.But it seemed like all these sudden changes were beginning to sprout rumors. Local New York magazines began to speculate, asking questions no one knew the answer to.Headlines such as “Rumor In Town: Does the Windsor family have an heir?” and “Latest Gossip: Some whispers have revealed the possibility of a secret heir to the Windsor bloodline.” were circulating through town.It was kind of suspicious that the rumors w
Morning settled, breaking through the night. A night which ended up sleepless for Elijah. He sat at the edge of his bed, staring at an old worn photograph of him and Esther. Her kind smile was stuck in time, even a photograph showed the warmth she always carried in her eyes. Elijah’s eyes were just staring at the photo, as if memories were flashing through them. “You wouldn’t believe this, Ma.” Elijah began. Speaking as if Esther could still hear his words.“Me, a Windsor? It still sounds ridiculous even now.” He said, a ghost of a smile on his lips. The thought of the upcoming video call that he was supposed to have today with Alexander Windsor was enough to snap him back to reality. He sighed, putting the photograph back in his wallet. He finished getting ready for the day before walking out of his room. It was still quite early, due to the fact he didn’t really get any sleep, he got ready earlier than usual.He stepped into the kitchen to whip himself a quick breakfast. The sizzl
Morning came slower than usual, the soft light of the sun poured through the small cracks of the curtains. The morning was quiet, but to Elijah, it was anything but peaceful.He was sitting at the edge of his bed, his hand fastening the buttons on his shirt. He couldn’t sleep last night, the thoughts that clouded his mind made it almost impossible.The conversation he had with Alfred last night over the phone was still present in his mind. Marylin Kingsley.The only female grandchild to Matthew Kingsley, the head of Kingsley Enterprises.She was the recipient of the heart that was supposed to be Esther’s, according to Alfred, she had no apparent involvement in the exchange. Of course she didn’t, she was too sick to think.Vengeance was on his mind, but it was the last on his list. Success was first.His reflection in the mirror stared back, stray locks of his black hair fell over his face. Esther’s voice occasionally rang in his mind, her exact words to him.‘“You can’t let the world
The morning of Esther’s burial was grey, as if the sky itself mourned her death. The small cemetery where Elijah had chosen was quiet, far from the busy city filled with injustice and misery. The burial was small, only a few people attended, the few that knew Esther’s name and kindness. A nurse from a clinic where she would frequently volunteer, an old neighbor whom she helped around, and a few others who even Elijah was unfamiliar with. Of course, no one from the Stone family attended, not that Elijah expected them to, nor did he want them to. They never really honored her when she was alive, they didn’t deserve to honor her after her death. Alfred, stood beside Elijah. Though he said nothing, his silence alone sufficed. Elijah stood by the grave for a long moment, just staring, as if trying to convince himself that the grave was indeed Esther’s. His chest felt tight, and the pain wouldn’t go away. It felt like the colors left in his world had faded to brown, and the world
Elijah clenched his fists, his nails biting into his palms as he stood in the hospital corridor. There were a thousand emotions running through his mind, and they were all drenched in grief, garnished by anger. The muffled hum of distant voices was drowned out by the pounding of his pulse. He couldn’t breathe properly, couldn’t think straight. A tight knot formed in his throat, as if an invisible hand had wrapped around it, squeezing in a way that made it hard to breathe. “Take me to her,” he spoke, his voice low, maybe hoping they made a mistake, and she was awake and well. The doctor shifted uncomfortably, his gaze dropping to the floor. “Mr. Stone, I… I don’t think that’s wise right now. You’re upset, and—” “Don’t waste my time with excuses!” Elijah snapped, his voice rising. “I want to see my mother. Now.” The doctor hesitated but eventually nodded, motioning for Elijah to follow. The walk to the morgue felt like it took hours, every second passing was filling him with ev
Inside the executive office, Elijah couldn’t help but be impressed by the extravagance surrounding him. The rich, plush carpet beneath his feet muffled his footsteps as he crossed the room. The walls were adorned with fine art, and a crystal pendant chandelier hung from the ceiling. Everything in the room screamed elegance, down to the finely crafted beige couch in the corner. This was clearly the work of a specialized interior designer, and it was impossible not to appreciate the artistry. “This is beautiful,” Elijah murmured as he scanned the room, his gaze taking in every detail—the gleaming wooden desk, the carefully placed vases, and the accent wall that tied the whole room together. It was the kind of place that made you feel powerful just by sitting in it. He turned to Alfred, who stood with a slight, satisfied smile on his face. It was obvious that Alfred was pleased the young master approved. “I'm glad you like it, young master,” Alfred replied, a hint of pride in hi
Morning came faster than expected, and Elijah found himself riding his worn-out scooter through the busy streets of New York, heading towards Windsor Company’s branch office. Despite the hustle of the city, Elijah couldn't help but notice the towering structure of Windsor’s building in the distance. Even though it was just a branch, the architecture was breathtaking—something straight out of a prestigious architectural magazine. The glass windows shone brightly under the rising sun, making the building look sharp and modern. Its clean, smooth lines gave it a powerful appearance, like it was built for only the most important people. Elijah, standing outside in his scuffed shoes and old, worn jacket, looked completely out of place. This was the kind of place where the rich and powerful belonged, and it looked like he didn’t fit in at all. After parking his scooter in a spot he barely managed to find, Elijah stepped off and let out a deep sigh. Glancing at the time on his watch