CHAPTER SEVEN THEME: Where it all began

“The Blackwood Academy—a place where Elites connect to Elites, and the rich get richer.”

By the time Dre and Ethan got back to their rooms, the news of their arrest and the president’s visit was already all over the school. It felt like they were the rebels now, the ones every student needed to stay away from.

“Don’t you find it suspicious that he let us off the hook without saying anything?” Dre asked curiously.

“He has his suspicions. Mr. Thane comes off as a very intelligent man. He let us go so he could get us when we least expect it. We shouldn’t let our guard down,” Ethan said, and Dre nodded.

Ethan then received a text from Vincent that made him stare at his phone screen before cursing under his breath.

“What’s wrong?” Dre asked as he walked beside his best friend.

“Reina had an attack again, so they rushed her to the hospital,” Ethan said. Jax offered to drive while the boys stayed in the back seat. Ethan felt nervous; the more he tried to wrap his head around what was happening, the more anxious he became—and it was killing him.

As they rode out of Blackwood, Thane stood at the top of his office, staring down at them with calculative eyes. He had to keep his eyes on this La Rosa boy before he brought more trouble than they were ready to face.

Being rich and managing a school as big as Blackwood Academy wasn’t as easy as it seemed. It involved a lot of dirty business that Thane wasn’t exactly proud of. If he could change the hands of time, he would have done it a long time ago, but this was their life, and it was where they belonged.

Thane took a deep breath, drank from his glass of water, and picked up a phone call. “Keep an eye on the La Rosa boys. We need to have something on them if we want to keep them in check,” he advised, then placed his phone on the table.

Caspian and his father shouldn’t get their hands on Ethan first, or it would end badly—and that was exactly what Thane was trying to avoid.

When they arrived at the hospital, Ethan made his way to the ward. Lilian raised her eyebrows and burst into tears immediately upon seeing him.

“Ethan… Ethan, it’s Reina… she had another attack,” she stammered, her voice shaking as she cried bitterly.

“Mom, look at me. We will make this work, no matter what. Reina can’t die on us; she’s been strong for the longest time,” Ethan said as he pulled her into a hug and rubbed her back.

Reina was one of the reasons Ethan and his mom had used up all their savings. It wasn’t just about the operation; her medication alone was expensive, and they had done everything possible to keep her alive.

“Mom, look at me. Reina will get through this,” he said, kissing her forehead. Dre went ahead to get the needed information from the doctor, and his eyes softened as they met Ethan’s.

Ethan couldn’t leave his mom, so he stayed with her until she fell asleep.

“What did the doctor say?” he asked.

“Reina’s health has been deteriorating lately, and they haven’t been able to determine the right medication for now. She has to remain in the hospital…” Dre trailed off.

“Up until when…?” Ethan asked, his voice cold as ice.

“For now, it’s indefinite,” Dre replied. His heart sank, but he tried to keep a straight face—not easy when it felt like he was losing his sister.

“Ethan, I know you’ve done everything in your power for Reina and your mom all these years, but take it easy on yourself, please,” Dre said gently, and Ethan stood up.

“Stay with them. I need to speak with the Enforcer,” he said and left the hospital.

Throughout the ride to Salvatore’s mansion, Ethan felt sick to his stomach. He just wanted to be far from all this madness, focus on his studies, and have a peaceful life. When he arrived, the men in black suits let him in—after all, it wasn’t news that Salvatore had adopted them.

“Boss,” Ethan called, and Salvatore’s cold eyes met his. It didn’t even look like the man cared about what he had to say if it wasn’t business.

“Reina had another breakdown. She needs the best doctors to figure out what medication she needs…” Ethan trailed off.

“Which, of course, isn’t free, Ethan. I’m not Santa Claus. I am a man who built an empire for myself, struggled to get to these heights. Who better than you would understand that? You’re from the streets, after all, and you know how expensive everything is when you come from there,” Salvatore said, and Ethan sucked in a breath.

“So, you’re not going to help me?” he asked calmly.

“I don’t help anybody; I invest in people. Are you worthy of being invested in? You show too much emotion when it comes to your mom and sister, and that’s making them your weakness. I don’t need that energy around here, Ethan! Or I’d shut you down!” Salvatore barked, and Ethan kept a straight face, eyes burning with unshed tears.

“They’re… all I’ve got after Dad…” he trailed off.

“Well, that’s exactly what I had after losing everything. I want you in my well-sorted game, and if you’re going to climb my ladder with that baggage, you might as well leave,” Salvatore said sternly. Vincent stood at the door, concerned, but smart enough not to show it.

“You’re going to have to do something real quick for me—get into the Al Khaleds. I don’t know how you’ll manage it, but we need intel on them,” Salvatore revealed, taking a drag from his cigarette.

“Reina…” Ethan started.

“Will be handled. Your sister has a rare sickness; even the doctors can’t comprehend what’s wrong. We’ll fly in the best doctors to research and find the right medication pattern to keep her alive. But there’s a 70% chance her body will reject it,” Salvatore said. Ethan blinked back the urge to break down.

“What exactly do you have your eyes on?” Ethan asked calmly.

“I’ve got too many scores to settle, Ethan, but the Blackwood Academy’s board of directors aren’t who they claim to be. You’re restricted from seeing Reina and your mother for the time being,” Salvatore said, and Ethan froze.

“That’s not possible. My mom needs me now more than ever! Reina… Reina needs me. I wasn’t even there when she broke down, and now…” he trailed off.

“What your mother needs now isn’t you. She needs money. Your presence here wouldn’t do anything!” Salvatore declared, and Ethan felt numb.

“Get ready for the party tomorrow night. Invitations have been set for both of us,” he added, walking past Ethan.

“That’s unfair! He has to let me see them! How am I supposed to stay away from my mom and sister, especially now when Mom is so vulnerable?” Ethan asked, voice breaking.

“Seeing them would give the Blackwoods direction to your weakness. Our men traced you to the hospital. For now, they haven’t found your mother and sister, so Salvatore plans to move them out. Even Dre will be barred from seeing them,” Vincent said, and Ethan felt sick.

“I just want to do something—be there for my mother. Please, I can take anything but not staying away from my family,” Ethan cried. Vincent pulled him into a hug.

“Everything will be okay, but you need to stay calm. Keep your head in the game, Ethan. Your life will keep changing from one situation to another.”

“Salvatore is making arrangements to move you both out of the Academy penthouse. It’s deeper than you think.”

“Why isn’t he telling me why he wants us part of this game? Why are we pawns in his mastermind plan? …I—”

“Because luxury comes with a price. It’s not as easy as it seems,” Vincent said.

BLACKWOOD

Marlene stared at the mirror in her room as the maids walked around, fixing everything in its place. She was fully dressed for the party at the Al Khaled mansion.

“Marly, it’s time to go,” the maid announced, smiling when her eyes met Marlene in a gorgeous black dress.

“Oh, my darling! You look exactly like I did at your age. The guys couldn’t stop staring. It was at one of these parties that I met your father,” she said, smiling. Marlene chuckled.

“I’m just 21. I don’t even feel like I should be worrying about meeting my soulmate and all that, Mom,” she replied.

“There’s no age bracket for matters of the heart. They just happen, and when they do, it’s our duty to embrace them and find genuine peace for the one we love,” Georgia said with a smile.

“I honestly don’t want to meet the love of my life at these boring luxurious parties,” Marlene said. Georgia chuckled.

“Oh, c’mon, Kiddo. Sometimes things don’t go the way you want. They just happen.”

“Mom, we’re running late. Let’s go,” Marlene said, her mind replaying those words over and over again during the ride to the Al Khaled’s.

At the entrance, her parents and brothers not far behind, her eyes caught someone she didn’t expect—on the other side of the room in a dark suit.

“Oh my goodness,” Marlene muttered under her breath.

Ethan turned, and their eyes locked—one filled with shock and hate, the other showing no emotion. This was going to be a loooooong night.