The Last Heir Of Blackwood

Chapter 03~

The grand ballroom of the Daniels’ family manor was buzzing with excitement. Crystal chandeliers filled the room in golden light, casting a luxurious glow on the elegantly dressed guests. Tables were decorated with fine linens and floral centerpieces, and a live orchestra played soft classical music in the background.

Sarah had spared no expense for the evening. It was a celebration of her company’s success—a moment she was proud to share with the world. The challenges she had faced, and now it was her turn to let the whole world know she was back to the real business.

She wore a shimmering emerald gown that hugged her figure perfectly, her hair was styled in the best way it has ever been. She looked every bit the successful businesswoman she had become.

David stood near the corner of the room, dressed in a simple black suit that made him almost look like a moderate beggar. He watched Sarah from afar, and one could tell from the smile on his face that he was more than happy for the type of woman she has become. After all, that has always been what he wanted. For her to be happy.

Tonight, he had planned to reveal the truth—to finally share how much he had sacrificed and contributed to her success.

Every guest had glasses of champagne in their hand to keep them active before the main event started. When it was finally time, Sarah stepped onto the small stage at the front of the room. She tapped the microphone, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Good evening, everyone,” she began, “Thank you all for being here tonight. This is a celebration of hard work, determination, and growth. I couldn’t have done this without the support of my team and, of course, my wonderful new business partner, Ethan Collins.”

The room was filled with applause, and of course Mrs. Daniels took it too personally. Ethan, on the other hand, masked the flutter on his face with a smile. However, he gave a modest wave to everyone.

David felt pain in his heart. All those sleepless nights, working tirelessly behind the scenes, yet his name wasn’t even mentioned. At first, he assumed there's got to be a mistake, and since she still had words to say, there could be a chance to address him. No. She didn't.

She never did!

As the night went on, Sarah moved through the crowd, greeting guests and accepting compliments. David finally mustered the courage to approach her.

“Sarah,” he said softly, catching her attention.

She turned, and the smile on her face faded the moment she saw him. “David, what are you doing here? You’re hardly mingling.”

“I need to talk to you,” he said, neglecting the disgust on her face.

Sarah sighed, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. “Can this wait? I’m a little busy.”

“No,” David said firmly. “It can’t. I’ve been waiting for this moment to tell you how much I’ve done for you... for us. Sarah, I—”

“Not here, David,” she interrupted, throwing an angry look at him. “This is not the time or place for whatever this is.”

“Then when, Sarah?” he asked. “When will it ever be the right time for you to hear me out?”

She looked at him, then sighed heavily. “Fine. Let’s step outside.”

The two of them walked onto the balcony. The atmosphere was a stark difference from that of the ballroom. It felt cold, almost icy.

“Alright,” Sarah said, crossing her arms. “What is it?”

David took a deep breath, mentally preparing the words to say. “I just want you to know that I’ve always been there for you, Sarah. Every late night, every decision you’ve made for the company—I was right there beside you. You might not see it, but I’ve been supporting you in ways you’ll never understand.”

Sarah rolled her eyes. “David, I’m tired of this. Support me? How? By hiding in your study and avoiding real responsibilities? You’ve done nothing but hold me back.”

“That’s not true,” David said. “I’ve given everything to help you succeed, even if it meant staying in the background. I thought tonight would be the night you’d finally see that.”

Sarah laughed bitterly. “David, stop. Please, just stop all these inspirational words of yours. You’re delusional if you think anything you’ve done has made a difference. The truth is, Ethan has done more for me in a few months than you ever did in years. He’s the partner I’ve always needed.”

David froze, his eyes slightly open at her words. “Ethan?” he whispered. “Sarah, he’s just your business partner.”

“Not anymore,” she said coldly. “I’ve made up my mind, David. My parents were right—it’s time we ended this. I’ve already spoken to my lawyer, and the divorce papers will be ready tomorrow.”

David felt like the ground had been ripped out from under him. “Sarah, please don’t do this,” he pleaded. “You can't just conclude a divorce out of the blue. Think about the kids. They need their father.”

“Stop pretending like you care about them!” she snapped. “You’ve never been a real father to them. All you do is sit around feeling sorry for yourself. They’ll be better off without you.”

He has never cried for anyone or anything, but today seemed different from other days. “Sarah, don’t say that. I love you. I love our family. We can fix this.”

She shook her head, clearly not buying his words. “No, David. I’m done. Ethan has shown me what it means to have a true partner—someone who lifts me up, not drags me down. Our wedding is next week, and I won’t let you or anyone else ruin it.”

“Wedding?” He half yelled, confused. “You’re marrying Ethan?”

“Yes,” she said without hesitation. “And it’s the best decision I’ve ever made.”

David fell silent, speechless and clearly out of words. Even though he knew there was nothing he could do to prove to her how much she was worth in his life, and how much he had done so much for her. If not for anything else, the countless nights he had stayed awake strategizing with her.

All of a sudden, she was getting married to someone she just met two months ago.

“Don’t bother begging,” Sarah added, turning to leave. “This is over. I’ll have the papers ready by tomorrow.” With that, she walked back into the ballroom, leaving David alone on the balcony, shattered and heartbroken.