Unexpected Inheritance

Chapter 7

Arthur looked at David, his expression gentle but serious. “I’ll arrange it, but we have to be careful. Things are... different now.”

David could sense the underlying concern. It was just a visit to his mother’s grave, yet it carried a weight he hadn’t anticipated. His identity, the family fortune—everything he’d recently learned about his inheritance made even simple acts seem dangerous now.

Several days later, under cover of night, Arthur drove David out to the cemetery. The quiet was almost oppressive, the only sound the gravel crunching beneath their feet as they moved through rows of graves. Standing in front of his mother’s grave now felt surreal. 

For a long time, he just stared at the headstone, unable to speak. The stone was cold and unyielding, a stark contrast to the warmth of his memories—distant yet vivid flashes of her smile, her comforting words, and her gentle touch. His chest tightened, an ache that grew deeper as the reality of his new life clashed with the innocence of his old one.

Finally, he whispered, “Mom… I didn’t know. I didn’t know about any of this. About the family, the power, the secrets... what people are willing to do to get it.”

Arthur stayed a respectful distance back, silent and watchful, understanding that this was a moment for David alone. Yet, he was present, a reminder that someone was still there, in David’s corner, even in the quietest, hardest moments.

The truth weighed on him heavily. His family was powerful, yes, but that power had been a double-edged sword. It had brought them influence and fortune, but it had also drawn enemies, dangers, people who wouldn’t hesitate to destroy anyone in their path. Now, David was a part of that reality, whether he wanted to be or not.

After what felt like hours, he tore his gaze from the headstone. Arthur was waiting, and as David met his eyes, he saw an understanding there that felt grounding.

“It’s a lot,” David muttered, trying to absorb everything he’d been told. “I barely remember her… or my father. I was so young when it all happened.”

“I know,” Arthur replied, his voice low. “But they had their reasons for hiding it all from you, for trying to protect you. They hoped to keep you out of this world’s dangers. That was their way of caring.”

David looked down, fists clenching and unclenching as he struggled to process his feelings. “And my uncle? The man who should’ve been there to help raise me? He’s the one behind all this?”

Arthur’s expression darkened. “Your uncle… he was your father’s brother, yes. But he’s a man consumed by greed. He’s waited years, patiently circling, gathering his own alliances, waiting for a chance to seize what he could never claim for himself.”

David’s mind spun. His father’s own brother—someone he should have trusted—was now his greatest threat. “What about the rest of the family’s network? Aren’t there people who can help?”

Arthur nodded, though his face remained grim. “There are allies, those who were loyal to your father. But many of them have been intimidated or bribed. Your uncle’s influence is strong. To step up now would be to risk everything.”

The air felt colder, sharper, with each passing second. David realized that he was not just an heir; he was a target in a game he hadn’t even known existed until a few days ago. His uncle was a man with power and ambition, willing to crush anyone who stood in his way—including his own family.

Arthur’s voice broke through David’s thoughts. “We have a plan, but you’ll need to tread carefully. He’s watching, waiting for you to make a mistake, any sign of weakness he can exploit. But as long as he doesn't have the other piece of the heirloom. He can't take your inheritance.”

David straightened, the fear inside him hardening into something else. He’d been blindsided, thrown into a world of wealth, betrayal, and danger, but he wasn’t about to let anyone—especially a man who’d betrayed his own family—take what was his.

“When my parents hid this from me,” David said slowly, “they thought they were keeping me safe. But that’s not an option anymore, is it?”

Arthur shook his head. “No. Now that you’re aware, you’re involved. And you’ll need to be ready. This life doesn’t just come with privilege; it comes with a price.”

A fire ignited in David’s chest, fierce and unyielding. He wasn’t the same man he had been just days ago. He wasn’t just a factory worker anymore. He was the rightful heir to something far bigger, something that was his by birth. And he wasn’t about to let anyone strip it away from him without a fight.

“Then I won’t back down,” he said, voice steady, eyes locked on Arthur’s. “If he wants a war, I’ll give him one. I’m not going to lose everything just because he thinks he’s entitled to it.”