THIRD PERSON'S POV
Alexander's eyes twitched before his lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile. For the tenth time, he read the message on his phone, and then a low laugh escaped him, soft at first, then louder until it filled the room. He clenched the phone so tightly that if it were made of anything weaker, it would have shattered.
Sebastian, Redmond, and Stone exchanged uneasy glances. Worry etched lines across their faces- Sebastian bowed his head and sighed, Stone ran a hand through his grey hair, and Redmond's jaw locked tight.
"Master," Redmond said carefully, "shall we debunk the news? We can tell the PR team to inform the public that it's a misunderstanding."
Alexander stopped laughing but kept that unsettling smile. He looked down at the article again. Each line seemed to amuse him even more.
"Master," Stone called softly. "Your orders?"
Alexander tilted his head slightly. "This news was released twenty-three minutes ago." He paused, the silence heavy. "Debunking it would do no good. Miss Hazel is well-loved in the jewelry and fashion world. She's shy and sensitive. If I refute this, the backlash will crush her, and that would hurt her company. I'll accept it."
"But Master," Sebastian said, hesitant, "you'll be playing right into their hands."
Alexander's grin widened. "I love playing games with the enemy."
Stone rubbed his forehead helplessly.
"Change of plans, Sebastian," Alexander said. His voice dropped into a smooth, dangerous calm. "We're going to Ever-shade Manor."
*****
The Tidor X9, a Blackwood creation, was a masterpiece- all sleek lines and power, its dark metal glinting like midnight glass. The low hum of its engine was almost musical. Only the truly elite could afford one; seven billion farqus was a price reserved for royalty.
Alexander reclined in the passenger seat, the very picture of supreme dominance- his platinum hair spilling over his shoulder, the faint glint of his wristwatch reflecting the morning light.
Sebastian ended the call and said, "Have a lovely day, Elder Jade."
Alexander didn't look up. "What did he say?" His voice was indifferent.
Sebastian hesitated. "The old man's been battling cancer for six years. The doctors say he has six weeks left."
Alexander glanced at him, expression unreadable.
"He's close to your grandmother," Sebastian continued, "and wanted to meet you directly, but when he heard you were with her, he went to your father instead. He just came from the Blackwood head office, where he transferred full ownership of Jade Maple to you. Joseph Hall witnessed it. Your father doesn't know yet."
Alexander gave a short laugh that was quiet and cold. "So, my adorable father and his peacock of a mistress orchestrated this rumor to trap me. How… predictable."
No one spoke after that. The hum of the car filled the silence.
When Ever-shade Manor came into view, Sebastian said, "Master, we're here."
Alexander burst into laughter again- that strange, unrestrained sound that made even Sebastian's skin crawl. "What was his Master up to?", Sebastian thought.
Stone stopped the car. Redmond opened the door, and Sebastian stepped out first before Alexander followed- tall, composed, and terrifyingly calm.
****
INSIDE EVER-SHADE MANOR
Alexander sat like a king on a throne, one leg crossed over the other, posture perfect. His platinum hair framed his face, his sea green eyes distant yet piercing- as though he saw both the present and the past.
Across from him sat Malcom Blackwood, his father, beside his mistress Vivian Laurent, and their three children. They looked at Alexander with the hostility of predators cornering prey.
"Alexander," Malcom began, voice proud, "as you must have seen, your engagement to the heiress of the Jade Maple legacy has been announced. The ownership of Jade Maple Jewelry has also been transferred to me- head of the Blackwoods."
Alexander smiled faintly. "I'm elated, Father. But…" He leaned forward, voice calm but sharp. "There's one tiny detail you always forget."
Malcom's brows drew together. "And what might that be?"
"You," Alexander said softly, "are not the head of the Blackwood family. Grandma and I are."
Confusion flickered across Malcom's face.
"For three generations," Alexander continued, "the Blackwoods have been led by women. Great-grandmother Isolde was the last survivor of her line after polio took her siblings. She raised Grandma Helena through strength alone. Helena raised my mother, Amara Blackwood. And Amara… raised me."
For a moment, his gaze turned distant. There was a flicker of pain beneath his composure but he blinked it away.
"I'm the firstborn and only male heir of the Blackwoods," he went on quietly, "and my mother recognized me as her sole successor. Even Jade Maple himself knows this and that's exactly why he transferred ownership of the Jade Maple high end jewelry to me. And yet…" His eyes found Malcom's. "You changed your name from Vale to Blackwood exactly seven days after my mother disappeared lying to yourself that you are the heir to the Blackwoods legacy. I was only twelve."
Kellan, Vivian's second son, laughed and stood. "Big brother, you have two brothers here. Or do we look like women to you?"
Alexander's laughter echoed through the manor- sharp and mocking. He laughed until tears slipped from his eyes, until even Kellan's smirk faltered. Then he wiped the corner of his eyes with a handkerchief and smiled again.
"You brought your mistress home less than two weeks after my mother vanished," he said softly. "And your first son with her was a year younger than me. You told the media my mother cheated, called me illegitimate, and used that lie to claim her inheritance. Then Grandpa died mysteriously three years ago- right when he decided to reopen her case."
"Enough!" Malcom shouted, face red. "You will speak to me with respect. I am still your father."
Alexander rose slowly, his presence filling the room. "A father?" His tone dripped with disbelief. "The will states that I, Alexander Blackwood, take full control of the Blackwood legacy on my twenty-eighth birthday. You yourself declared to the world that I am not your son. Which means," he smiled, cruel and sad all at once, "we share neither blood nor bond."
"You..." Malcom started, but Alexander's glare silenced him.
"In two weeks, I'll turn twenty-eight," Alexander said, his voice calm again. "And on that day, I'll announce my decision concerning my engagement to Miss Hazel… and reopen my mother's case."
He turned toward the door. Sebastian and the others followed.
Behind them, Vivian's face had gone white. Her breath came sharp and shallow. Then slowly, as her thoughts darkened, her lips curved into a smirk.
Why not kill him too? she thought. He can go say hello to his grandfather.