King Ambrose: The Rise of the Bastard Son

05: Like A Tool

Days passed since the incident and I got out of the hospital the moment the stab wound started to heal. Father did not call on the police. He wouldn't dare to do so as one of his sons could be convicted. Henry and Darion started to ignore me, which was good. I didn't want their attention in the first place. Should they try to do it again, they know what would be the consequence. Or maybe if they try to do it again, they'd be smarter and more careful so as to not get caught. The thought bothers me.

Another thing that bothers me was the voice I heard during that incident when I was losing consciousness. Someone had saved me and brought me to the hospital. If it hadn't been for that man, I would have died. I asked the nurses about it but they just shrug and went on with their job. I asked father about it and he was too focused on getting mad for the trouble his sons had caused to answer my question.

It was a total mystery. What's more, is that I don't know who it was but he knew my name. Was it somebody from the school? Aside from Darion and Henry, I only know Olivia and we're not even that close. I don't know anyone else.

So the moment I went back to school with bandages still wrapped on my torso, I went straight to the surveillance. The security wouldn't let me in at first but then a few bribes later, they gave me access to the footage around the school during the time I was beaten.

I checked the entrances and the exits and even the most isolated parts of the school. I didn't see any suspicious entrances so they must have snuck somewhere without any surveillance cameras.

But then I saw footage of some men running away from the soccer field. I knew right away it was the same group of men who beat me up. Then I saw another few men running after them. My brows furrowed as I watched closely.

It was then that I saw the new group beating up the six men who beat me.

Who are these guys? Why did they save me?

I paused the video and looked at their faces. It was blurry and I couldn't see their faces clearly but I know one of those men is the man that saved me that day.

I want to find him and thank him but then I realized father would find out about it and will definitely do everything in his power to put this man to jail. Just so Henry could get away with it.

Part of me wanted to know why the man saved me and why he knew my name. But I dropped the thought immediately when someone barged into the room.

I whirled around to see Olivia standing by the door. I couldn't read what was on her face but I was more concerned about how is she here.

"Miss Olivia—"

"Out. Now." Then she walked out of the room and I didn't have a choice but to follow.

There were a few people down the hall and I am very aware of their eyes boring into me. Or maybe they were looking at Olivia, I couldn't really tell since we are walking side to side.

It has already been made known in the school that we are betrothed to each other and that's not even the most surprising thing. Arranged marriage is apparently very common amongst the rich.

We stopped by the cafeteria and everybody who was there immediately went quiet at the sight of her. Aside from the fact that her family is insanely rich, she is also the student body president of the university and everybody look up to her. Everybody is drawn to an impressive person.

She sat at the table at the very center and I suddenly felt anxious. With all these eyes on us, they would surely talk.   The bruises on my face were already healing but it felt like it was starting to hurt again.

I sat in front of her and she was just staring at me. Is she going to reprimand me for going into the surveillance room and bribing the security? Why is she so expressionless, I can't even read her face.

"How are your injuries?" she asked at the same time as someone came to our table and gave her her food. When I looked at the person, she was one of the students.

Is Olivia telling this student to serve her?

The student did not linger and just went back to her own table. I cleared my throat.

"I...It's getting better. Thank you for asking. How are you?"

She took a small bite from her food before she said, "There is no need for us to be engaging ourselves in small conversations. I was just being polite. Also..." she trailed off as she drank from her juice. "...father had asked for you to come to dinner tonight. He invited your father already but he wanted me to approach you and invite you myself."

"Wear your best and not those leftovers from your brothers." And then she started eating again. Even her eating gestures are very refined. She's a real lady indeed.

Also, if she noticed that I was wearing Henry's suit, did she also realize that I am not the real son of Gideon Olivieri?

She looked up from her food and raised her brows. "Do you have something to say?"

I have so many things to say but I couldn't even ask them away. So I just shook my head.

"Then you can go. I'll see you at dinner." She jerked her chin to the cafeteria's exit.

I couldn't believe how intimidating this woman is. It must be because she's used to getting what she wants or perhaps it's because she's the school's student body president and her words are everybody's command.

So I stood and looked at her before I said loud enough for everybody to hear, "See you at dinner."

Then I walked away.

True to Olivia's words, I found myself later that night in the same car as my brothers. Of course, we didn't talk but Henry had made it perfectly clear that he didn't like the setup. He was glaring at me the whole time. To be fair, I didn't like to be in this situation in the first place.

"We're nearing the de la Fontaine's residences. Best be on your best behaviors," Father said, straightening the lapel of his coat before he glared at us one by one. He really sees his sons as his tools. I am not his son and he never treated me one but I was treated like a tool all the same.