Chronicles Of An Aristocrat Novels & Stories

She’d heard them framed as virtues once, spoken with pride at a dinner table she no longer visited. “Read the annotations,” Arthur said, tapping a page. “Cross-referenced payments. Shells feeding shells. Clean on the surface.” The chairwoman’s brow furrowed. “Names,” she said. “Who signed off?” Arthur hesitated, just long enough for tension to spike. “Multiple,” he said. “Including—” Julia’s eyes snagged on a line halfway down the page. The world narrowed to a single surname, elegant and unmistakable. Her father’s.

"I suggest a small-scale pilot investment to test the market first." My father nodded, a flicker of pride in his eyes. "You have a natural instinct for this, Vivian. I always knew you did." An assistant knocked and entered. "Mr. Sterling, the financial news is on." A familiar scene appeared on the television screen: a rerun of the scandalous Blackwood wedding. I saw Felix standing frozen on the aisle, Isabella sobbing on the floor, and the guests in an uproar. I suddenly remembered what it was like when I first came back to San Francisco.

SERA The moment we stepped through the grand glass doors of the ballroom, the world inside greeted us with golden light and soft orchestra music. Crystal chandeliers hung high from the arched ceiling, scattering warm reflections across silk gowns and tailored tuxedos that moved gracefully through the room. The air was a blend of expensive wine, fresh peonies, and perfectly curated luxury. I felt heads turn in our direction. Camera flashes began to click, one by one finally catching the elusive Ace Vance, the oldest Blackwood son who’d always existed as little more than a whisper.

Now that word of her fall from grace had spread, they wouldn't even pick up her calls. And Claire, used to spending money like water, was now hounding Arthur every single day for cash. Arthur had come back expecting to live the high life as the heir to a wealthy family. Instead, he'd ended up with a burden he never asked for. He was regretting everything now too.

My fingers trembled slightly as I gripped the fabric, my face flushing with equal parts of disdain and fury. He wasn’t done. “I expected better from you, Arlene. Judging by how you bragged about getting a hundred of these and how you so proudly shoved that note into my hand.” “They’re just jackets,” I snapped, refusing to let him have the upper hand. “If they don’t meet your royal standards, maybe you should be more specific next time.”

"Estelle is very dangerous, and you know that, Annette. I trusted you with this task." "Well," she drawled, picking at her nails. "She's kind of like…." She trailed off as if searching for the words. "Why can't... what's... Estelle is having the time of her life in Alpha Zen's pack," she said, standing up. She threw her hands up in exasperation. "This man literally threw a ball and took her on his arm. He paraded her around as if she was his bride. The rumor is that she's now his princess, and he's thriving."

But this time, I would weave it. Marisol Abram. The name tasted of power, danger, and questions demanding answers. I would find them, no matter the cost. I closed my eyes, inhaled deeply. Ashes. Inheritance. Identity. Survival. The pieces were in place. The game had shifted. I would not be a pawn. I would uncover the truth. And anyone who tried to stop me would soon learn: even from ashes, a queen could rise.

I was walking straight into the den of my enemies. Even if I was Mia Roberts on the outside, Athena Mallway still lived beneath the disguise. And Athena remembered everything. I inhaled deeply and stepped into the mansion. The interior stole the breath from my lungs. Crystal chandeliers hung from impossibly high ceilings, casting golden light over polished marble floors. A sweeping staircase curved gracefully toward the upper levels, and the air carried the faint scent of expensive flowers and aged wood. Every detail radiated wealth This was the kind of life that should have been ours.

A high-ranking official, touted as the top talent in Aston State, was involved in such a scandal! He immediately announced that Christopher would be dismissed from all of his positions. He also wiped out all of Christopher's subordinates. In Centropolis, Christopher became the laughingstock of everyone. This was the biggest scandal in the wealthy families of Aston State in fifty years. The Smith family's patriarch ordered Christopher to be confined, and stripped him of his heir position. He then appointed Jasmine as his successor. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that Christopher was a complete outcast now. He was powerless and thoroughly discredited, despised and rejected by all.

It was not an unwelcome look. "No offense taken, sweet," I winked, making sure to lean into the bar and spread my legs a little, the snugness of the leather breeches I'd chosen leaving me on full display. His spurned lover had made mention that her fiancée had had certain…proclivities that he'd hidden from an overbearing father. Nobel houses always wanted an heir, and though these relationships weren't unwelcome, aristocracy tended to favor one over the other great hypocrites that they were.