THE HEIR'S AGONY TRIAL BY FIRE

CURIOUS

Aidan stared at the letter in his hands, disbelief written across his face. It had arrived earlier that morning, the heavy weight of it like a tangible presence in his life. He could almost hear the sound of the envelope tearing open as his fingers trembled with a mix of excitement and fear.

Full Scholarship to Pacific West University.

The words on the letter’s top edge were crisp, black, and formal, almost too surreal for him to process. He had been dreaming of an opportunity like this for as long as he could remember, but now that it was staring him in the face, he wasn’t sure how to feel. This was his chance to escape, to leave behind the small town and the memories of being the kid who never quite fit in, who always came second in a world that valued wealth and appearances over anything else.

Yet, the thought of stepping into a place where everything was so foreign, so polished, was both thrilling and terrifying. The students at Pacific West were different. They had more than he could ever hope to have, more than he’d even known was possible. And Aidan? He was just a scholarship kid—a last-minute addition to a university that didn’t need to open its doors to someone like him.

His clothes, old and threadbare, never seemed to be enough to keep the other students from looking at him with pity or disdain. They would look past him, as if he didn’t matter. But here, in this letter, in the promise of a full scholarship, he saw an opportunity to finally matter.

---

It didn’t take long for him to prepare. Aidan had always been resourceful, finding ways to make do with the little he had. He borrowed a duffle bag from an old friend and packed only the essentials—clothes, notebooks, pens, his shoes, worn from years of use. There was no room for anything else. He wasn’t even sure if he belonged at Pacific West, but it was a chance, and that was more than he could say for most of his life.

The first few days at Pacific West University were overwhelming. Aidan couldn’t even step foot on campus without feeling like a fish out of water. The sprawling buildings of glass and steel reflected the setting sun, the grounds manicured to perfection, the students walking with a grace that made Aidan feel small in comparison. They were all part of this world—a world that was foreign and cold. No one looked his way, no one took the time to even notice he existed. He was simply another face in the crowd.

But then, things began to change.

---

He found solace in the quiet corners of the university’s library, a sanctuary away from the overwhelming noise of the campus. Here, among the rows of old books and hidden nooks, Aidan could forget about the world and let his mind roam free. His brilliant mind had always been his refuge—his ability to solve problems, to create intricate solutions to puzzles that others wouldn’t even think to try. He had never fit in with the other kids at school, but in his thoughts, he could build new worlds, solve the impossible, and make sense of things that had always been out of his control.

It was in this space that Aidan first met Dr. Evelyn Marks. She was one of the most respected professors in the department, known for her sharp intellect and no-nonsense attitude. She had a reputation for recognizing potential and nurturing it, even in the most unlikely of students.

One day, after a lecture, Dr. Marks approached Aidan, who was sitting in the back row, deep in thought.

“Aidan, I’ve been watching your work,” she said, her tone curious but direct. “You’ve got a sharp mind, and it’s something I think could really help you here at Pacific West. Don’t sell yourself short.”

Aidan blinked, not sure what to say. Dr. Marks was a legend at the university, and here she was, standing in front of him, talking to him like he was someone worth paying attention to.

“Why don’t you come by my office sometime?” she continued. “Let’s talk about your future here. There’s a lot of potential in you.”

For the first time since his arrival, Aidan felt a spark of hope. Maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t so invisible after all.

---

The days passed, and Aidan threw himself into his work. Dr. Marks kept her word and guided him through challenging assignments, pushing him to think beyond the boundaries of what he thought he was capable of. As the weeks wore on, Aidan began to see results—his grades soared, and he quickly became one of the brightest students in his department. Still, the feeling of not truly belonging never left him.

It was during a late-night study session that Aidan found something that would change everything. While going through the archives for a history paper on the university’s founding, he stumbled upon an old photograph. At first, it seemed like a typical historical image—a group of early students posing with their professors. But then, his eyes caught the face of one of the men in the background.

The man looked eerily familiar. His dark hair, the sharpness of his jawline—it was a resemblance Aidan couldn’t ignore. And the name beneath the photograph made his heart skip a beat: William Cross, 1983, Valedictorian of Pacific West University.

William Cross. His father.

Aidan sat back in his chair, the weight of the discovery settling over him like a heavy cloak. He had always known that there was something about his mother’s past that she wasn’t willing to share, something that she kept hidden, but he had never expected it to be connected to Pacific West University—the very place he was now attending.

---

With this new revelation, Aidan’s curiosity turned into obsession. He began to dig deeper into the university’s records, uncovering hidden connections between his father and the school. There were records of donations made in William Cross’s name, mentions of him in faculty meetings, and even rumors of a secret society operating within the university’s walls.

The more he uncovered, the more questions he had. Who was his father really? And why had his mother never spoken about him?

---

Aidan’s investigation took a darker turn when he received an anonymous email one evening. The message was simple: “Stop looking. You’re digging into things that you don’t understand. Leave it alone before it’s too late.”

It wasn’t the first warning he had received—there had been others, quiet whispers from fellow students, strange encounters that left him unsettled. But this was different. This felt personal. Someone didn’t want him to uncover the truth.

---

Aidan made the decision to confront Dr. Marks. If anyone at Pacific West had answers, it was her. He found her office late one afternoon, the door cracked open. Inside, she was sitting at her desk, papers scattered before her, her brow furrowed in concentration.

“Aidan,” she said, her voice a mixture of concern and caution as he entered. “I know what you’re looking for. But you need to be careful. This is not a path you want to walk down.”

“Why?” Aidan asked, his voice steady despite the storm brewing inside him. “Why is it that everyone keeps telling me to stop? What’s so dangerous about knowing the truth?”

Dr. Marks sighed, leaning back in her chair. “The truth about William Cross is buried for a reason. Your father wasn’t just a student here. He was tied to the most powerful people at this university—people who don’t want the past to resurface.”

“Who are they?” Aidan pressed.

Dr. Marks hesitated, then stood up, walking to the window. “You don’t know it yet, Aidan, but you’ve stepped into a world that’s been hidden for decades. Your father’s legacy is far darker than you can imagine. And if you keep digging, you might just find yourself in the same position he was: powerless, stuck in a game you don’t understand.”

---

Aidan left Dr. Marks’ office with more questions than answers, but he couldn’t stop now. He had come too far. He needed to understand what had happened to his father, and why his life had been so inexplicably tied to Pacific West University.

It was only a matter of time before he would uncover the rest of the story, no matter the cost.