5. Inheritance Games

AYRA

 I could see the glint in his eyes as he watched me realize who he was—and is that a smirk I see curling his lips?

 At this moment, I didn’t know if I wanted to faint, scream, or let the ground swallow me whole out of pure, undiluted embarrassment. 

 Chris looked like he could commit actual murder. His face twisted, the vein in his forehead pulsing before he spat out, “Why should a bastard be speaking to me about my private affairs? 

 Don’t you have other things to worry about, like being recognized as family? No one knows or cares about you, Liam. Check the photos on these walls—you aren’t there because you are a nobody. So do not try to act all familiar with me.”

 His words were sharp enough to cut through steel. He said it loud enough for everyone to hear, like he wanted the insult to sting not just Liam but to make a statement. 

 And I winced for Liam.

 But Liam, whom I had expected to explode, didn’t even blink. Not a twitch, not a single flinch. Unbothered to the point of being unnerving. In fact, his left hand found its way to his jaw as he stroked it, pretending to ponder in mock deep thought.

 Then he said calmly, “You’re a Yaldon, alright. You’ve got that prissy attitude just like the rest of them. The one that makes you think you’re better than everybody else, that makes you think you’re special, while the reality is you’re just a spoiled brat with access to wealth that isn’t his.”

 He tilted his head slightly and added, almost like it was an afterthought, “But who are you without your family’s name? Tell me, Christopher?”

 Silence.

 Chris stared at him, stunned into speechlessness. But his anger was written all over him, his tense shoulders, clenched fists, and grinding jaw. “You’re suddenly back here for one second and you think you fucking know me?”

 Liam smiled, that same annoying calm dripping from his words. “Do you even know yourself? You’ve got no identity outside your family’s name, and that, my boy, is a fact.”

 He said it casually like he was commenting on the weather. Then, without missing a beat, he took off his suit jacket and dropped into his seat like he was in his private lounge. Like, none of this concerned him in the slightest.

 Chris was fuming, visibly shaking. I forgot my own predicament for a minute because, damn, it was delicious to watch him squirm.

 Olivia looked bored with the whole interaction, like she was just waiting for them to get done with this…child’s play, so she could start her usual criticism.

 Lucy was practically choking on her own amusement. The girl couldn’t hide her grin if her life depended on it, and honestly, I didn’t blame her. She’d had her spats with Chris, too, so watching someone else knock him down a peg was probably therapeutic.

 Then there was Ryan, silent and still, like his brain had left the building and forgotten to take him with it. And this was the same man who had so much to say when my family was going bankrupt. But now? Not a word. Not a single eye roll. Just…nothing.

 And that made me wonder what it is about Liam that’s got his dick all twisted in a knot?

 Chris finally snapped. “I’m not your ‘boy,’ and stop acting all wise and elderly like you aren’t just two years older. And you claim to not want anything to do with us, but here you are… still crawling back to us for handouts.”

 What Liam said next made everyone, even Olivia, lose composure.

 “I’m taking Mr. Cane up on his offer,” he confessed, a lazy little smirk tugging at his mouth.

 “What… You can’t be serious,” Olivia said, and I swear, that’s the first time I’ve seen her phased in years. Her tone cracked, just slightly, but enough for anyone paying attention to catch it.

 Ryan’s eyes went wide. Practically bugged out. “What do you mean by this? I thought you weren’t interested in being his successor.”

 Liam tilted his head back, relaxing even more into his seat like this was just another Tuesday for him. “I wasn’t. But I decided it would be fun to join the race, or should I say, the battle for who gets to inherit the Yaldon fortune.”

 No one spoke.

 Olivia looked like someone had pulled the rug from under her designer heels. This was not part of the plan. She was too calculating for surprises, and Liam’s announcement was one hell of a curveball.

 Liam, the shameful illegitimate son of Mr. Yaldon, whom he sent to live in Switzerland in his early teens, was back, and he was making a claim to participate in the inheritance games.

 Chris had told me all about how his father reassured him that the money would be going to them, his father making silent moves with some investors. But everyone knew Ryan wasn’t the best businessman.

 Olivia… sweet Olivia was the best bet.

 But now, a new player has stepped up. One as formidable as Liam seemed. It was evident she felt threatened.

 I, for one, am interested in who Liam is—not who’s beneath his clothes, I already got that figured out, but who this mysterious man is, the one who brought a storm with him into the Yaldon family.

 I loved the chaos he’s currently causing, and if he keeps tormenting them this way, I have to say he would be the best fucking thing this family has to offer.

 Our eyes met across the room. I wiped the amusement off my face and schooled my features, making them unreadable. But he was watching me closely. Like he could sense my thoughts. Like he was trying to crack them open with just a look.

 The silence was finally broken by Chris, who stood so fast his chair screeched against the floor.

 “He can’t be serious… Are we seriously going to let him do whatever he wishes? Why aren’t you all saying anything?!”

 “Shut your fucking mouth up while I think,” Olivia snapped.

 Chris turned pale.

 I wanted to laugh so bad. It’s not every day you hear Olivia curse out loud. This scene right here was freaking gold.

 Then she turned her eyes on Liam, her tone low and cold, the kind that promised war. “Rethink this decision, Liam. You do not want to make an enemy out of me.”

 Liam’s smile spread, slow and dangerous. He stood, reached for his jacket, and looked her dead in the eyes.

 “You’ve got it twisted, Olivia. You don’t want to make an enemy out of me.”

 And just like that, he turned and walked out.

 This was about to get messy…