Family’s Legacy

Raven

"Two words. Marry me."

The words hung in the air, heavy and absurd. I stared at Liam, my mouth slightly agape, waiting for the punchline, for the smirk that would tell me he was joking. But the intensity of his eyes told me he was serious.

Aiden was watching with a glint in his eyes, while Leo remained impassive, his dark gaze still fixed on me.

"You're joking, right?" I finally managed to say, my voice like a strained whisper.

Liam didn't even crack a smile. "No, I’m not. I'm proposing a mutually beneficial arrangement, Raven. You get your revenge, and we get something in return."

My brows furrowed. "What do you mean, 'something in return'?"

He took a step forward, his presence filling the space between us. "My company, Knight Corp, is one of the biggest real estate companies in the country. Your company, Brandon's Corp, is also the biggest. Individually, we're powerful. Together, we'd be unstoppable. We want to merge the two entities."

My eyes widened. Merging Brandon's Corp? My father's legacy, the company I had poured my entire life into? It felt like another punch to the gut. "Merge? Why? What does that have to do with my revenge?"

"Everything," Aiden chimed in, stepping closer, his voice smooth as silk. His eyes were twinkling with excitement as he spoke. "As the CEO of Brandon's Corp, your brother Ian holds all the cards. Your 'suicide' story has been widely accepted. To challenge him, you need undeniable power, legal standing, and resources that even your family's personal wealth can't easily match right now. Getting married to Liam, the president of Knight Corp, a company whose reputation is without any fault and whose reach is global, would give you that power. It would help you regain the reputation and respect you lost."

"And merging?" I asked, a bitter taste in my mouth.

Liam answered, his blue eyes piercing through mine, "It would be a strategic alliance. A public declaration of unity. You'd still keep your shares in Brandon's Corp, of course, and all your personal assets. You could even be the sole CEO again, once Ian is out of the picture.

"But the main thing," Leo's low voice cut through the air, drawing my attention. He hadn't moved from his spot, but his words commanded attention. "The main goal for us is for Knight Corp to become the sole owner of your company."

My jaw clenched. "You want to take my company." It wasn't a question. More like an accusation.

Liam didn't miss a beat, as if he was prepared for this. "We're offering you a path to revenge that you can't get on your own, Raven.” I didn’t like how him saying my name did something to my stomach. “See it as a way to get back your life and punish those who wronged you. In return, we get what we want."

The anger that had been simmering inside me, the fury that I was barely holding at Ian, Marco, and Selena, suddenly turned outward, directed at these three men. They had saved me, yes, but now they were asking for a very unimaginable price.

My company. My family's legacy.

It felt like another form of betrayal, even though it wasn’t personal but rather a more calculated one.

"No," I said, the word coming out sharp and decisive. I shook my head. "No way. My company is my family's legacy. I won't just hand it over, not even for revenge. I'll get my revenge myself." My eyes flashed, and my voice gained strength. "They may have taken everything from me, but they won't take my company.”

Liam's face remained impassive, as if he wasn’t surprised by my rejection. Aiden sighed, a hint of disappointment in his eyes. Leo simply watched, his expression unreadable.

"You're not in a position to do that," Liam stated, his voice flat. "They've painted you as mentally unstable and suicidal. Even though you still have major shares in the company, no one will believe you. Your word means nothing against their fabricated evidence and the power that they now hold."

My chest heaved. He was right. But I would get my company back, even if it wasn't going to be easy. "I'll find a way," I insisted, desperate to cling to some shred of control. "I'll go to the police. I'll expose them."

"And they'll say you're delusional, suffering from a breakdown," Aiden countered, his voice gentle but firm. "They've already laid the groundwork for that, Raven. You saw the videos. They control the story."

A cold dread settled in my stomach but I pushed it back down. The thought of giving up Brandon's Corp... it was unthinkable.

"No," I repeated, my voice weaker this time. "I can't. I just... I can't."

Liam simply nodded, his jaw set. "Very well. We've given you the offer. The choice is yours." He gestured towards the door. "You’re going to stay here until you’re healthy enough to leave. Leo will take you home when you’re ready."

My gaze snapped to Leo, then back to Liam. I raised my chin. “I want to go home now.”

****

The city lights blurred past the window of the sleek black car. Leo drove silently, his focus on the road, an aura of quiet power radiating from him. My stomach churned with a mixture of hope and a slight chill of fear.

What if I couldn’t get my revenge alone, like Liam had said?

The possibility of that was making me more nervous the closer we got to my family’s mansion.

As the car pulled up to the familiar wrought-iron gates of the Brandon mansion, my heart swelled with a desperate longing for comfort, for the embrace of my father. The security guard, Mr. Jones, opened the gate, his eyes widening in shock as he saw me. He started to speak, but Leo gave him a look that silenced him instantly. The car stopped at the front door.

I took a deep breath and unbuckled the seat belt, feeling Leo’s dark eyes burning the side of my face.

I turned to him, “Thank you for your help.”

He reached into the compartment at the side of the car and pulled out a card. “Call me if you change your mind.

My fingers twitched. I didn't want to think I would fail, which is why I didn’t want to collect it. But these men literally had saved me. I owed them my life. I collected it from him with the hopes of paying them back. A tingling feeling spread through me at the grazing of our fingers. I ignored it before sliding off the car.

As soon as he drove off, and I started to walk towards the house, the huge oak front door swung open. My father stood there, his face contorted with what looked like anger, his eyes blazing.

I guessed Mr. Jones had called and told him I was here.

My stepmother, Rachael, was behind my father, her expression a mix of disdain and fury.

"Father!" I cried, a sob catching in my throat. I opened my arms, desperate for his embrace, for the warmth of his family hug.

But instead of pulling me into his arms when I got closer, his hand shot out.

SMACK!

The force of the blow snapped my head to the side, and a pain spread across my cheek. My ears rang, and a metallic taste filled my mouth. I stumbled back, clutching my stinging cheek, my eyes wide with shock and disbelief.