THE HEIR'S AGONY TRIAL BY FIRE

WORLD OF SHADOWS

The Cross estate loomed ahead, its towering iron gates parting as the black car rolled through. Aidan pressed his face to the window, trying to comprehend the sheer scale of it all. The sprawling mansion, with its limestone façade and immaculate gardens, looked like something out of a dream or a nightmare.

The car halted in front of the grand entrance, where a butler stood waiting. As Aidan stepped out, his sneakers crunching against the gravel, the butler offered a tight-lipped smile.

"Mr. Harper," he said crisply, "Welcome to the Cross estate. Miss Lydia Cross is waiting inside."

"Lydia?" Aidan echoed, his voice barely steady.

"Your half-sister," the butler clarified before turning to lead the way.

Aidan followed, his heart pounding as they entered the mansion. The interior was as grand as he’d feared vaulted ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and walls adorned with priceless art. It was overwhelming, suffocating.

And then he saw her.

Lydia Cross stood at the foot of a grand staircase, her icy blue eyes fixed on him. She was tall, impeccably dressed in a tailored navy suit, her blond hair swept into a sleek bun. Everything about her screamed control.

"So, you’re the ghost," Lydia said, her voice cold and sharp.

"The... ghost?" Aidan stammered.

"The illegitimate son," she clarified, descending the stairs with deliberate grace. "The secret William Cross kept hidden for two decades. Tell me, how does it feel to suddenly be thrust into the spotlight?"

"I didn’t ask for this," Aidan shot back, his discomfort turning to irritation.

"No," Lydia said, a thin smile playing on her lips. "You didn’t. But here you are, nonetheless. Tell me, do you know anything about running an empire, or are you just here to collect a paycheck?"

"I’m not here for the money," Aidan replied, though the words felt hollow even to him.

"Of course not," Lydia said mockingly. "You’re here for... what? Family? Justice? A sense of belonging?" She laughed, a sound devoid of warmth. "Spare me the sentiment."

Before Aidan could respond, the butler cleared his throat. "Miss Cross, the will reading is scheduled to begin shortly. Shall I escort Mr. Harper to the study?"

"Please do," Lydia said, waving them off. "And do try to keep him out of trouble."

Aidan clenched his fists, biting back a retort as the butler led him down a series of hallways.

"Does she always talk like that?" he muttered.

"Miss Lydia is... particular," the butler said diplomatically.

The study was a cavernous room lined with bookshelves and dominated by a massive oak desk. A group of people was already gathered, their conversations hushed as they eyed Aidan’s arrival.

"Ah, the prodigal son," a voice drawled.

Aidan turned to see a man in his late forties, impeccably dressed in a three-piece suit. His dark hair was streaked with gray, and his piercing gaze was both assessing and dismissive.

"Victor Sinclair," the man said, extending a hand. "CEO of Cross Enterprises' subsidiary divisions. And you must be Aidan Harper, the long-lost heir."

"Uh, yeah," Aidan said, shaking his hand reluctantly.

Victor’s grip was firm, almost crushing. "You’ll forgive me if I say your sudden appearance raises... questions."

"Questions about what?" Aidan asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Legitimacy, for one," Victor said smoothly. "Motives, for another. You see, young man, empires like this don’t run on sentimentality. They require strength, strategy, and ruthlessness. Qualities I’m not sure you possess."

"That’s enough, Victor," a woman’s voice cut in.

Aidan turned to see Seraphina Cross entering the room. She was stunning, her silver hair cascading over her shoulders, her emerald-green dress exuding elegance. She moved with the confidence of someone who had long mastered the art of command.

"Let’s not intimidate the boy before he’s had a chance to prove himself," Seraphina said, her tone light but carrying an undercurrent of steel.

"Of course, Seraphina," Victor said, inclining his head. "I was merely... setting expectations."

Seraphina turned her gaze to Aidan, her smile warm but unsettling. "You must be Aidan. My, you do have William’s eyes."

"Thanks, I guess," Aidan muttered, feeling like a specimen under a microscope.

She laughed softly, her eyes glinting. "Don’t mind Victor. He’s just protective of the family legacy. You’ll find we’re all a bit... territorial."

Before Aidan could respond, the door opened, and a lawyer entered, carrying a briefcase.

"Shall we begin?" the lawyer asked, setting the briefcase on the desk.

The room fell silent as everyone took their seats. Aidan found himself sitting between Lydia and Seraphina, with Victor directly across from him. The tension was palpable.

The lawyer cleared his throat and opened the briefcase, pulling out a stack of documents.

"To my daughter, Lydia Cross, I leave control of the Cross Foundation and a trust fund valued at $500 million," the lawyer read aloud.

Lydia’s expression didn’t change, but Aidan noticed the slight lift of her chin, a silent acknowledgment of her power.

"To Seraphina Cross, my former wife, I leave the estate in the Hamptons and an annual stipend of $20 million."

Seraphina’s smile widened, but Aidan couldn’t shake the feeling that it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

"And to my son, Aidan Harper," the lawyer continued, pausing for effect, "I leave a 51% controlling interest in Cross Enterprises, making him the majority shareholder and ultimate authority over the company."

The room erupted.

"This is absurd!" Lydia snapped, rising from her seat. "He’s a nobody! He doesn’t know the first thing about running a company!"

"Sit down, Lydia," Seraphina said sharply, her smile now a thin line.

Victor leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "Well, well. The boy gets the crown. How... unexpected."

Aidan felt like the floor had been pulled out from under him. "I don’t understand. Why would he do this? He didn’t even know me."

"William always had a flair for the dramatic," Seraphina said, her tone tinged with bitterness. "And perhaps he wanted to shake things up one last time."

"Or maybe," Victor interjected, "he wanted to watch us tear each other apart."

Aidan looked around the room, the weight of their stares pressing down on him. He didn’t know what to say, what to think.

"You have no idea what you’ve just inherited," Lydia said, her voice low and dangerous. "And when it all comes crashing down, don’t say I didn’t warn you."

Before Aidan could respond, the sound of shattering glass echoed from the hallway.

"What now?" Seraphina muttered, rising to her feet.

The butler appeared in the doorway, his face pale. "There’s been an incident, ma’am."

"An incident?" Victor repeated, his eyes narrowing.

"A security breach," the butler said, his voice trembling. "The estate has been compromised."