THE INHERITORS

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Chapter 1: Darius & Amoy

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Darius stirred the cake batter swiftly as the maids rushed around the kitchen preparing dinner for the family gathering that was being held tonight. "Sir, you should be getting ready for tonight we can handle this." He shook his head pouring the batter into a cake pan.

"It's fine Linda and call me Darius, I think we've passed the formalities." She sent him a worried smile.

"Well, Darius I'll handle this, go feed the horses in the stable, I'm sure Lily misses you but set the dining room table before you go outside." He departed to the dining hall, getting the bucket and rag from the corner of the room, cleaning the table where his wife's family would be eating.

Soon he used the mop, cleaning the floor, once he was finished he went to the stables where he saw his favourite black horse.

Darius brushed the horse tenderly, as he fed her an apple. "You're getting so big now." The horse neighed in response making a smile appear on his face but it soon disappeared as he heard his wife's voice.

"Darius!" She shouted approaching him with a scowl, "What are you doing out here?!" He raised his eyebrow gesturing towards the horse as it was very obvious as to what he was doing.

"Feeding Lily."

"Grandmother would kill you, kill me if she found out you were out in her stables touching her horses come now, the rest of my family should be arriving shortly, we need to get you out of these clothes." He sighs following behind her as they walked towards the mansion.

He took off his shoes, she did the same entering the house through the back not wanting to be seen as they went into the room they were staying in. "Change, quickly we can't be the last to arrive, again." She ordered, he did as told not wishing to upset her anymore.

Darius changed into the suit he had rented, his 4C hair was cut low, he washed his hand getting the dirt off them, he looked into the bathroom mirror, he was still confused as to how he got here.

It felt like just yesterday he was a child on his parent's farm playing with the animals, now he was married to a woman who didn't care for him, only her image, he wondered why his parents forced him to marry her, was it for money? Or-

"Darius! Hurry." He sighs moving out of the room seeing, Amoy leaving, he quickly followed her as they went downstairs entering the living room where her family sat engaging in different discussions, their eyes went to the couple, judging them—judging Darius as they took in his rented suit and old shoes.

"Amoy late as always, you're lucky grandmother is still in her room." Her sister, Trinity scolded, completely ignoring Darius.

"You look beautiful tonight Trinity." He complimented, the woman continued ignoring him as she turned back to her conversation.

"Darius, don't talk or look at them," Amoy whispered to him, he silently complied.

"Is your father coming?" He asked her quietly.

"I said don't talk."

"To them." She glared at him making him sigh. "Fine, I'll keep quiet."

Darius would be lying if he said playing the perfect husband wasn't tiring, but he played along either way knowing that Amoy was just stressed, she was despised by her family because her father was the least favoured child amongst his siblings.

Her sister Trinity was an exception as she was her grandfather's favourite before he passed.

Amoy always tried to be the best at everything, she always tried to be perfect, even though her efforts were always deemed useless, she continued to work hard.

A familiar man, Darius knew as William, approached them. "Dad, why are you here?" He shrugs, hugging his daughter and sent Darius a quick smile. Amoy looked exactly like her father, they both had coffee brown eyes, her skin was copper coloured while his was golden black. They both had 4B hair, he would keep it in a low cut while Amoy had her hair in a cornrow.

"Believe me when I say, I would rather be anywhere but here, how are you both?" Her eyes met Darius briefly, it was rare for her to look at him, at least in the eye.

"We're fine, but why would grandmother invite you?" His daughter questions.

"That, I don't know, I wish I didn't come, I forgot how judgemental my family could be." They all silently agreed as they watched his siblings and their children give him disgusted looks.

Darius always wondered what he did to make them hate him this much, he was always taught that family was everything, that family was power, but this family was like a bunch of high schoolers, always gossiping about one other, they didn't even trust each other, but how could you trust someone who fakes a smile?

"Why do you continue to live like this Amoy?" She sighs.

"We both know this is how I was grown, this is the family I was born into, I want to prove myself." Her father scoffs.

"Prove yourself to them? They view you as they do me, a disgrace. I'm sorry but that's the harsh truth, they don't give second chances." She frowns, displeased but she also knew everything he said held truth.

"I won't let that stop me from being the best of best, I know if I work hard enough grandmother might choose me to be the inheritor of the company. Excuse me." They watched as she walked off, William sighs looking at Darius.

"What are your thoughts on this?" 

"Your daughter is hardworking, she has proven herself worthy many times, your family sees that as a threat, which is one of the reasons they treat her the way they do."

"You're not just saying this because I'm your father in law are you?" Darius shook his head.

"I'm saying this because I mean it, your daughter treats me terribly but I know she means well." He smiles.

"I'm glad I choose you to be my son-in-law." This made Darius curious and confused again.

"Why did my parents just hand me to you?" William gave him a look of pity.

"That's a story for another time, should we mingle?"

"Amoy told me to stay put." His wife's father chuckles.

"Do you obey her like this all the time?" He nods.

"I don't want to ruin her chances of being something great, so I'll stay here as she asked." He patted him on the back.

"Good luck." He watched as William walked over to the maids engaging in a conversation this made Darius amused as Amoy's family watched displeased.

"What is he doing?" He heard Trinity.

"It seems your father has gone mad." Amoy's aunt, Lin states, Darius knew William could hear them but he chose to ignore them.

"William." It was a voice Darius had heard many times, all eyes went to the stairs as an ebony coloured woman walked down them with a frown, her hair was in a low bun a streak of white was mixed with her black, she wore a silver dress, along with an elegant pair flats, the look she gave William was dangerous. "We do not talk to the help."

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End of Chapter 1: Darius & Amoy

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