جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 130

"It's just a little cold. You're a grown man. Don't tell me you need us to hand-feed you."That was what they had said.When the dream broke, reality came into focus with painful clarity. Now the roles had reversed, and he had no one."Bro, are you really Remi? I went to Melanie's house today. Her father is on the Painters' Association board. He said the brushwork in your painting is identical to Master Remi's."Oscar spoke lightly. "Maybe I'm just a very good forger. So good the old man couldn't tell the difference." Real pride filled Rebecca's voice. "No, no. Even if that painting were fake, what about the bicycle? The one worth tens of millions? My classmates said that kind of custom-built piece isn't something just anyone can commission. You're someone important. And not because of the Chamberlains. You got there on your own."She was happy for him and quietly pleased with herself for figuring it out.Her indignation returned at once. She balled her small fists, her cheeks

Amara stepped forward and grabbed Bella by the collar. "Bella, tell me what happened. Say it out loud so we can help you."Bella looked up at her for the first time. She still said nothing."Diana, go get a bowl of ice water," Amara instructed. "If she won't come to her senses on her own, we'll help her along."Diana blinked and started to rise.Bella finally spoke. "Never mind. Diana, stop."She pushed Amara's hands away and pressed her fingers against the bruising on her still-swollen face. "Amara, I want to ask you something."Amara did not relax. "Go ahead."Bella's behavior still felt wrong. The real Bella would have come home with those injuries and immediately started planning how to burn down the house of whoever had caused them."Was Oscar any good in a fight?"The question made no sense to Amara."That piece of trash? He could take a beating, I'll give him that. Every time you came home, he was either in the kitchen or on his hands and knees scrubbing the floor. Wha

The steward let out a short, rasping laugh. "So this is Arthur's son?"Amara nodded. "Robert, this is Jason. He was adopted out at a young age. His character still needs some work."Robert Fuller laughed again in the same dry, uneven way.Jason felt it settle uncomfortably in his chest."Whoever he is, once he is in my hands, I will shape him properly," Robert remarked.The tension in Amara's face eased. She gestured for Robert to sit. "Before Father passed, he told me again and again not to disturb your life unless there was absolutely no other way. But tonight, our family nearly collapsed in a matter of hours. I had no choice but to come."Robert leaned forward. "Tell me what happened."Amara recounted the entire evening from the beginning."Father once told me that Silverton would enter a period of peace, that we would never need to call on you again. I believed him. But tonight made it clear. Without your eyes and ears, I have been operating blind in this city. That is how

"Bro, isn't this a little much?" Rebecca complained.Oscar shook his head. "Not at all. You are fully capable of filling the role of the Draconia Group's CEO. The problem is that your world is too small. You have never seen how people with real money actually live."That gap will show. The moment it does, people will see through you. I am making sure that when you walk into any room, you carry the kind of mindset that looks down on all of it."Oh, this? Nothing special. That is the only way to make people look up at you."Rebecca's mouth fell open. It sounded like nonsense, yet it also made complete sense."Tonight after school, you will attend a dinner. It will be your first public appearance in Silverton," Oscar said. "I will be there. After that, the rest will be yours to figure out."Rebecca stopped arguing. She understood what he was doing. Oscar did not have much time left. He was trying to build her up as quickly as possible."Understood. And you have to stay alive. As lo

Amara let out a cold laugh. "What to do? The only reason we ever invested in that school was because of Elara."Frankly, the principal of Silverton High is a dog we put there to guard the gate. If a dog cannot even do that, what use is he to me?"Jason understood. "Got it."Amara gave a small nod. "Take a few of Robert's people with you. The Chamberlains have kept their edge hidden for too long. It is time to let people see the blade again."Jason's excitement rose another notch. "Understood."The moment Amara left, his modest smile dropped. She had given him Robert's people. That was real trust. Before long, the whole family would be his.He picked up his phone. "Tyler. Drake. Come over. We are going to make some people's jaws drop."Tyler Walker and Drake Ryder were part of Jason's old crew, from before all this. Before the Chamberlains, he had been just another drifter on the street. People like that gathered their own kind, and Tyler and Drake were the ones he had kept close