The Secret Successor

Russell was driving in a borrowed Range Rover, going to a familiar children's amusement park, where he was going to surprise his girlfriend by proposing to her in front of all of his schoolmates. Russell’s mobile kept ringing from the medium flood of messages his friends kept sending. Most of these same friends wouldn’t even look at his face for long in general, but things have been different ever since he started dating his current girlfriend. Though his vlog account didn’t have many followers, a few loyal followers were now wishing him good luck, and he felt grateful for their kind messages. He never felt so happy and also so anxious before, hoping that none of his friends would mess things up for him. Even though he was driving and stealing glances at the mobile fixed on a heart-shaped stand, one of his hands still held a small gray box that he kept rubbing with his fingers. It wasn’t just what his friends might do that worried him. Would his proposal get accepted or not? That was

Though Kyra didn’t directly say it, Russell had enough functioning brain cells to use the context and figure things out. As a result, even as the seconds needle in the clock kept ticking, the shock in his face wasn’t fading away.The one his father Arnold had arranged a marriage with was Kyra who used to be called the Millenium Beauty of Meadows High School?Moreover, Russell had just told this woman that he also had a crush on her.Everything that ran through Russell’s mind made him feel so embarrassed, but he did his best to quickly collect his emotions.“Uh…” still, he was at a loss for words.“I take it that you have no issues then?” Kyra asked again since he responded with silence.“Actually, I…” Russell wanted to tell her about Natasha, and he was gathering his courage. It wasn’t easy because he was afraid of how his father would react if he were to reject Kyra. Even though, looks wise, Kyra was definitely prettier than Natasha, he had a special place in his heart for Natasha. H

Almost ten long minutes later, Russell stood from the sofa and picked up the plate that had four chocolate biscuits, specially made by Jennifer.He went upstairs and knocked on a door.“Come in,” a deep voice came from inside.Russell entered the room, and his dad had just come from his bath. Arnold had the habit of bathing three times a day unless his schedule was really busy. He believed bathing multiple times a day was the key to maintaining his good health. His phone rang, and it was Fredrick calling.Even though Russell tried to talk, Arnold made him wait until he finished the call. “I’ll take care of it. You don’t worry.” He hung up.“Mom told me to give you these,” Russell put the plate down on the bed. Though Jennifer hadn’t actually said that, she generally used to say ‘if you don’t want to eat, at least give them to your dad, and he’ll eat them.’Russell picked up one biscuit. “One is enough for me. You can have the rest.” Russell also grabbed a biscuit and took a bite. As h

Four days later.The Bennett family members were having a wonderful breakfast. Arnold, Jennifer, and their kids, James and Viola, were all in a good mood. James was 19, and Viola was 20. James got his mother’s features, and his face was more oval compared to Viola who got her dad’s features. She had a sharp physique compared to him.Russell came walking down the stairs slowly and occupied his seat. Russell’s biological mother was a foreigner, so he had a different skin complexion and facial structure compared to his step-siblings.Russell didn't greet anyone, and he looked dull.“Brother Russell? Why are you acting a bit strangely since yesterday?” Violo asked, looking a little worried. “Did you hurt your foot or something? Is everything alright?”Russell didn’t say anything.“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Viola pressed him for an answer.James nudged his sister and whispered, “Maybe he’s got a rash or something. Women aren’t the only ones who get moody every once in a while or fee

Russell’s house was on the northern side of the city, where his father and everyone else from the family except Elora lived.Elora was living in a small farm house bought on the southern side of the city. This was done so she would be staying as far away from the main house as possible. Russell didn’t like that. However, he could understand why his father had to do it. Elora was no longer Arnold’s wife. There was no need for him to take care of her, but for her sake and for Russell’s sake, he was taking care of her medical bills and other expenses. Then again, if Elora had filed for alimony, she would have made Arnold’s life difficult.Now, Arnold had spent only 10,000 dollars on the farm house in the past, and it was still his house. Its price kept increasing with every year. Today, it would sell for more than 70,000 dollars, so Arnold didn’t really lose anything, and he was also getting his mother treated by a friend, so the expenses were kept to minimum.Russell’s mother was suffer