All Chapters of HEIR OF PAIN: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Arden walked quickly down the dark street, He hated coming home late, but tonight he had no choice. The later he returned, the fewer chances he had of meeting anyone in the house—especially Derek. Derek. Just the thought of him made Arden’s stomach twist. He had been avoiding Derek for weeks now, slipping in and out like a thief. Every morning, he woke earlier than the rest, quietly did the house chores, and left for university before anyone else stirred. Every night, he stayed out as long as possible with Kyle, until he was sure the house had settled down. Then, he would sneak into his room, lock the door, and pray no one would bother him. It was a routine that had kept him safe. Until now. He slipped into the house quietly, his shoes barely making a sound against the floor. The place was quiet. Arden’s breathing slowed as he moved carefully. He could hear faint voices from upstairs but, he didn't care to listen as his mind focused only on getting to his room. When he reache

Arden sat cross-legged on the thin mat in front of twenty children, their small voices filling the air as they repeated the names of colors after him. It wasn’t much of a classroom—just a small room with faded walls, a cracked chalkboard, and some old benches lined against the side. The kids didn’t mind. They were eager to learn, even with so little. “Red.” “Red!” “Blue.” “Blue!” “Green.” “Green!” Arden smiled faintly, though the exhaustion in his eyes betrayed him. Teaching was not what he thought he would ever be doing in life, but here he was, spending his weekend with children who looked up to him as if he carried all the knowledge of the world. For a moment, he forgot about his own troubles—his uncle’s cruelty, Derek’s harassment, and the constant fear that lived in his chest. But as the class continued, Arden noticed something odd. He scanned the little faces and realized that Andy, one of the younger kids, wasn’t in the circle. He frowned. “Kids, where is Andy?

Arden ran and ran, his legs burning, chest tightening with every step. He didn’t dare look back. The only thought in his mind was escape. If he slowed down, they would catch him. If he stopped, it would all be over. When he was finally sure no footsteps followed, Arden slowed down and bent forward, hands resting on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. His heart thumped wildly in his chest, sweat dripping down his face. He raised his head and looked around. It was dark. Not the gentle darkness of a quiet night, but the heavy, suffocating kind. The streetlights in this part of town were broken, their glass shattered long ago. The only light came from the pale moon above. Arden swallowed hard. He had no phone. No money. No place to go. He hugged his small bag tightly against his chest, the bag that carried all he owned, and for a moment he felt completely helpless. Then one name came to his mind: Kyle. He knew if he could just make it to Kyle’s house, he would be safe. “O

Arden stared at the flowers with boredom and sighed again. He had never felt bored whenever he was alone, because books were always there for him. His books were his best friends, his comfort, his shield. But now, they were gone. There was no way he could go back to his uncle’s house to take them. Going back there would be like stepping into a lion’s den. Arden knew too well what would happen if he showed his face near that house again. He sighed again and let his eyes wander to the window. The world outside looked peaceful, It was already night as the hours stretched endlessly and still Kyle hadn’t come back yet. He had insisted that Arden stay home, refusing to let him follow to the university. At first Arden wanted to argue, but he quickly realized Kyle was right. Xavier’s men might be searching there. If they spotted him on campus, it would be over before it even started. So here he was—indoors, safe but trapped. I’ve never hated silence so much, he thought. His body

Ryder pushed the door open and stepped into the room without hurry. Ryan followed close behind, his shoulders tight. He told himself he was only there to keep Ryder’s temper in check because he just couldn't leave Ryder with him. Arden crouched on the cold floor, eyes fixed on the scuffed concrete. His face was washed-out; his teeth trembled in a thin, line. When Ryder’s shadow fell across him, Arden flinched in fear of what he was about to do. Ryder crossed the room and let the chair scrape hard across the tiles as he dragged it to the center. He sat down and laced his fingers, looking down at Arden as if studying an insect. There was no softness in his face. “I hope you are fucking ready to talk now,” Ryder said. The voice had no warmth. Only the edge of command. Arden swallowed. “I already told you the truth,” he said, small and hoarse. Ryder didn’t bother to answer. He reached into the drawer of the table and produced the small, precise knife they kept for cutting ropes.