RICHARD'S POVThe chandeliers glittered like a thousand tiny stars above us, casting a golden hue over the masquerade ball. Amelia's laughter was like music, and as we swayed to the rhythm, I felt a sense of peace. But peace is often fleeting.As we danced, a man with a portly belly approached. His mask was elaborate, hiding his features, but it couldn’t hide his wealth. "Excuse me," he said, his voice smooth yet commanding. "Would you care to join us for a private poker game? A more... exclusive event, if you will."I hesitated. Poker wasn't my forte. But before I could decline, Alex, Jenny’s man, sauntered over, a smug grin plastered on his face. "Didn't I tell you he wouldn't want to play?" he said loudly, making sure others around us could hear. "He obviously doesn't have the liver for it."The crowd's attention shifted to us. Whispered conversations buzzed around like annoying flies. People were watching, waiting for my reaction. I couldn't back down now. I glanced at Amelia, who
Richard's POVThe room was buzzing with tension. Alex's face was a mask of barely-contained frustration, his eyes burning holes through the poker table. I glanced at the stack of chips in front of me, feeling a mix of satisfaction and unease. Winning was sweet, but Alex was like a coiled spring, ready to snap."Another round," Alex said, his voice tight. He tossed a fresh stack of chips onto the table with a flick of his wrist. The amount was staggering, over a hundred thousand dollars. The crowd around us shifted, whispers igniting like sparks in dry grass."You're on," I replied, keeping my voice steady. The cards were dealt, and I felt Amelia’s hand squeeze my shoulder. It was a small gesture, but it grounded me."Come on, Richard, you’ve got this!" Amelia cheered, her voice bright and encouraging. Across the table, Jenny's eyes narrowed, shooting daggers at Amelia. The silent war between them raged on, unnoticed by most but clear to those who knew.Alex’s eyes darted between his c
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