The Last Heir Of Blackwood

Chapter 02~

The afternoon sun streamed through the large windows of the Daniels’ family manor, casting its ray on the pristine living room. Sarah was sitting on the plush couch, flipping through a pile of documents from work when her mother, Mrs. Daniels, walked in with an air of excitement.

“Sarah, darling,” Mrs. Daniels began, sitting down beside her. “I’ve been thinking about your company’s next steps. You need someone... strong to help you expand.”

Sarah looked up from her papers, frowning slightly. “I thought we agreed that I’m managing fine for now, Mom.”

“Managing?” Mrs. Daniels gave a soft laugh. “That’s not enough, sweetheart. You don’t just need to manage, you need to soar. And I’ve found the perfect person to help you do that.”

Sarah raised a brow. “Who are you talking about?”

“Ethan Collins,” her mother said with a smile. “He’s the CEO of Collins Enterprises, a rising company. He’s young, ambitious, and single.”

Sarah sighed, leaning back into the couch. “Mom, I don’t think I need another partnership right now. The company is growing steadily as it is.”

Mrs. Daniels waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t be stubborn, Sarah. This isn’t just about the company. It’s about you. Ethan is exactly the kind of man you need by your side—strong, successful, and capable.”

“Mom...” Sarah started to protest, but the doorbell rang, interrupting her.

Mrs. Daniels stood up quickly, a pleased look on her face. “Perfect timing. That must be Ethan.”

Before Sarah could say another word, her mother walked to the door and opened it. Standing there was a tall man with neatly combed dark hair, a confident smile, and an expensive suit that fit him perfectly.

“Mrs. Daniels,” Ethan greeted her warmly in his deep voice that filled the room. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person.”

“Oh, Ethan, the pleasure is all mine,” Mrs. Daniels gushed. “Come in, come in.”

Ethan stepped inside. Sarah stood up, feeling a little flustered.

“This is my daughter, Sarah,” Mrs. Daniels said, gesturing toward her.

Ethan extended his hand. “Sarah, it’s great to meet you. Your mother’s told me a lot about you.”

Sarah shook his hand, noticing how firm his grip was. “Nice to meet you too, Mr. Collins.”

“Please, call me Ethan,” he said with an easy smile.

For a moment, Sarah was caught off guard. Ethan was undeniably attractive—tall, confident, and the kind of man who seemed to know exactly what he wanted.

“Why don’t we all sit down?” Mrs. Daniels suggested, leading them to the couch.

Ethan and Sarah sat across from each other, and Mrs. Daniels wasted no time steering the conversation.

“Ethan runs one of the fastest-growing companies in the state,” she said proudly. “I thought it would be wonderful for you two to collaborate, Sarah.”

“I’ve heard a lot about your company as well,” Ethan said. “I admire the work you’ve done in such a short time. It’s not easy to build something from the ground up.”

“Thank you,” Sarah replied, her cheeks flushing slightly. “It’s been a lot of hard work.”

“I can imagine,” Ethan said, leaning forward slightly. “But with the right partnership, I think you could take it even further. Your company has so much potential, Sarah. I’d be honored to help you achieve that.”

Sarah felt her heart flutter at his words. Ethan spoke with such confidence and admiration that it was hard not to feel drawn to him.

After about an hour of discussion, Ethan finally stood to leave. Sarah walked him to the door, her mother followed close behind.

“It was great meeting you, Sarah,” Ethan said, smiling down at her.

“You too, Ethan,” Sarah replied, feeling a warmth she couldn’t quite explain.

As Ethan stepped outside, Sarah found herself standing by the door, watching him leave. He had a certain charm that was hard to ignore.

Mrs. Daniels noticed the look on her daughter’s face and smiled to herself. She knew just how to get to her daughter's heart.

When Sarah returned to the living room, her mother sat down beside her again.

“Well?” Mrs. Daniels asked, her eyes twinkling. “What do you think of Ethan?”

Sarah hesitated for a moment. “He’s... impressive. And he seems like he knows what he’s doing.”

Mrs. Daniels clapped her hands together. “I knew you’d see it. So, are you open to working with him?”

Sarah nodded slowly. “I think it could be a good opportunity for the company. I’d love to work with him.”

Unbeknownst to them, David stood just outside the hallway, hidden from view. He had come downstairs to grab a glass of water but had frozen in place when he overheard their conversation.

Every word felt like a dagger to his chest. Sarah’s excitement about working with Ethan, the way she had looked at him, and the warmth in her voice—all of it tore at David’s heart.

He turned quietly and walked away, unsure if he was ready to bear hearing the rest of the conversation.

****

Later that evening, as Sarah and Mrs. Daniels sat alone in the living room, the conversation took an unexpected turn. As if they were only beginning the main conversation.

“You know, Sarah,” Mrs. Daniels began casually, “Ethan isn’t just a good business partner. He’d make a wonderful husband too.”

Sarah blinked in surprise. “Mom, what are you saying? I’m already married.”

Mrs. Daniels shrugged. “That’s just a technicality. You know as well as I do that your marriage to David isn’t working. Ethan, on the other hand, is everything you need—a real man who can support you and help you grow.”

“Mom, that’s ridiculous,” Sarah said, hiding the fact she admired the suggestion.

“It’s not ridiculous,” Mrs. Daniels insisted. “Divorces happen all the time. It doesn’t have to be messy. We can handle everything smoothly. And just imagine—Ethan as your husband. He’s charming, successful, and he clearly admires you.”

Sarah fell silent for a while. She couldn’t deny that the idea was tempting. Ethan was everything David wasn’t—at least on the surface. She couldn’t help but imagine what life with him might be like. For the first time in a long time, she felt a mixture of excitement and guilt.

Then she looked at her mother who was patiently staring at her with a smile. “I’ll think about it.”