Amelia's POVI stood there, watching Jenny and Richard talk. My blood boiled. Jenny, of all people. She didn’t deserve his attention. She was just a secretary. I was his ex-wife. I had history with him, memories, a life we built together.I tried to catch Richard’s eye, but he was too engrossed in whatever Jenny was saying. Every time I took a step closer, hoping to interject, Jenny cut me off. Each time, her voice grew louder, more insistent, as if she was marking her territory.The third time I tried, I had enough. “Richard, can we leave and dance?” I asked, my voice sharp and cutting through their conversation.Jenny didn’t even look at me. “Dancing is over, Amelia. Richard has important things to discuss.”I clenched my fists. “I have important things to discuss with him too,” I snapped.Richard glanced at me, his face flushed with embarrassment. He looked like he wished the ground would swallow him whole. Before I could say anything more, he excused himself and walked away.I fel
I exited the ball and walked straight to the parking lot. I was heading home to ease my nerves, but my mind was restless. Amelia and Jenny—what a mess. The tension between them had been almost electric, like a storm waiting to break. I slid into the back seat of my car and closed the door with a soft thud. The ball had been a disaster from start to finish. The night felt strange, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. A gnawing unease made my skin prickle.Amelia and Jenny's icy glares had me on edge, but It wasn't just about them, though. There was something more, something deeper, but I couldn't put my finger on it. The driver turned the key in the ignition, and the engine roared to life. The radio crackled, spilling out a soft melody, but I wasn't in the mood for music. I asked him to switch it off. He did and pulled out of the parking lot. My thoughts kept drifting back to the ball. Amelia's sharp words, Jenny's hurt expression—it was all because of me. I had
RICHARD'S POV My mom had left my room, but the memory of that fateful day—the day she died in that horrible car accident played over and over in my mind. My mother, her warm smile, her gentle touch—gone in an instant. I couldn't let it happen again. Not today. Not on my watch.I jumped out of bed, threw some clothes on and rushed downstairs, nearly tripping over my discarded clothes. I had to stop her. I had to stop her from going to work. I ran down the stairs, my footsteps echoing in the quiet house. As I reached the bottom, I saw him. A man I didn't recognize, talking to my mother.Mom was standing by the kitchen table, dressed and ready to leave. The man was tall, wearing a dark suit, and his voice was low and urgent.“Listen, ma'am, Richard's father wants to see you. He needs to discuss Richard's future and inheritance. It's important, for him and for you,” the man said.I froze and ducked behind the staircase, my heart racing. This was new. I don't remember it happening like th
RICHARD'S POVThe taxi rattled along the uneven road as my mom and I sat in silence. She stared out the window, her fingers tapping nervously on her lap. I reached over and squeezed her hand, trying to infuse some reassurance into the gesture. “Mom, it’s going to be okay,” I said softly. Her eyes, filled with worry, met mine, and she gave me a weak smile.“I just don’t understand, Richard. How did you know about the accident?” she asked, her voice quivering. “I dreamt about it,” I admitted. “I don’t know how to explain it, but something told me to follow my hunch.”She sighed deeply and pulled me into a tight hug. “Thank God you did. You saved us.”The taxi pulled up in front of a grand house, almost too grand for comfort. My father’s house. I hadn’t seen him in years, not since I was too young to remember his face. Mom offered to wait for me there while I went for the interview I was supposed to go for that morning. But I insisted we see my father first. The person he sent was alre
RICHARD'S POV "This is outrageous, Father!" Jonathan shouted, his voice echoing off the marble walls. "You can't seriously expect us to accept this... this... bastard as our equal!"I sat in the spacious room, my heart thudding in my chest. Jonathan and William glared at me, their faces twisted with anger and resentmentWilliam nodded in agreement, his fists clenched at his sides. "He's an outsider! He's got no place here. This is our home, our inheritance!"Father raised a hand, silencing them both. "Enough," he said, his voice calm but firm. "From now on, you are all equal. Richard is as much my son as you two are."Jonathan's face turned red with fury. "But why now, Father? Why bring him into our lives after all these years? You never cared before!"Father's eyes softened, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of regret. "I should have taken care of Richard and his mother a long time ago," he said quietly. "I should have been there for them."I felt a lump in my throat. The words were
RICHARD'S POV The next morning, after we got home from my Dad's place, I stared at the old mirror hanging in the hallway, my reflection looking back at me. The house was silent, the kind of quiet that presses on your ears and makes you feel alone even when you’re not. I knew my mother would be in the kitchen, probably nursing a cup of tea, her face lined with worry. I took a deep breath and walked in.“Richard,” she said, looking up as I entered. Her eyes were soft but filled with an unspoken plea. “Sit down, please.”I pulled out a chair and sat across from her, the wooden seat creaking under my weight. “Mom, I know what you’re going to say.”She sighed, placing her cup gently on the table. “Do you, Richard? Do you really understand what this inheritance fight could do to us?”I felt a flicker of irritation and clenched my fists under the table. “Mom, it’s not just about the money. It’s about what’s rightfully mine. Dad wanted us to have our shares, and I’m not going to let my br
RICHARD'S POV This was it. The moment I'd been waiting for. Just a few steps further and I would be inside.But then, Jonathan and William burst into laughter, their voices echoing through the entrance hall."Did you hear that? He wants to pay!" Jonathan sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "The illegitimate country boy thinks he belongs here."William snorted, shaking his head. "Richard, you can't even afford a $5 burger, let alone the entrance fee to this place. What are you even doing here?"I clenched my fists, feeling the blood rush to my face. But I forced myself to stay calm. I wouldn't let them get to me. Not tonight.I looked at them, trying to keep my voice steady. "You know nothing about me. Now, get out of my way."Jonathan raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a cruel smile. "Oh, really? And what exactly do we not know? That you live in the sticks? That you're a nobody?"William stepped closer, flashing his expensive watch in my face. "Look at you. You don't belo
RICHARD'S POVI stood at the reception, tapping my fingers against the counter, waiting for the receptionist to process my entrance fee. But my mind was anticipating the reactions of my stepbrothers, Jonathan and William.The receptionist looked up from her computer. "Hold on a moment, Mr. Richard. Just processing your entry."From behind me, I could hear Jonathan and William losing their shit. They were at the gate now, ranting and banging on it like maniacs. I turned slightly to catch a glimpse of their red faces. They were furious."Hey! Let us in! This is a goddamn joke!" Jonathan's voice was a mix of anger and desperation."Yeah, you can't do this! We have rights!" William added, his fists pounding against the metal gate.The receptionist glanced at them and sighed, clearly annoyed. "If you two don't stop, I'll have you arrested. And if you don’t have the money, you can leave."I couldn't help but chuckle at the look of disbelief on their faces. Their eyes widened, and they exch