As I stepped through the grand entrance of the extravagant hall hosting the Gala night, a smile curled upon my lips, one that masked the storm brewing within.
This was no ordinary evening; it carried a weight of justice, a moment I had meticulously planned for.
Tonight marked the beginning of the end for those who had taken my father's life, and I was determined to unveil their treachery to the world.
With every footfall echoing against the polished marble floor, I felt a surge of resolve,
transforming my sorrow into a powerful fuel that would drive me forward.
Amanda, steadfast and supportive, wrapped her arms around mine, her presence a comforting reassurance amidst the chaos around me.
Together, we glided into the sumptuous hall, vibrant with opulence, as the announcer's booming voice filled the air.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he declared,
"please welcome the Heir of the Drakes Conglomerate, Mr. Killian Drakes, accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Amanda Drakes!" The spotlight fell upon us, and the crowd's attention shifted in our direction.
Amidst the applause, I caught sight of Vanessa and Vivian in the audience.
Their wide, sly smiles told me they thought they could savor their moment, perhaps believing they were on the brink of victory.
I couldn't help but smirk back; they were unknowingly dancing on the precipice of their own downfall.
As the Michaelsons entered, they wore expressions of feigned innocence, their smiles meticulously crafted to mask their true natures.
Amanda's grip on my arm tightened instinctively, and a wave of nostalgia washed over me.
Her warmth was familiar, a reminder of the numerous dark days we had navigated together.
I gently tapped her hand, a silent exchange of strength and gratitude.
"Thank you," she whispered, her breath soft against my skin, igniting a determined fire within me.
We had grown close, particularly after she had shown me her true allegiance, breaking free from her parents' sinister schemes.
As the time came for me to address the gathered crowd, I took a deep breath, scanning the room.
The audience was a sea of faces, numbering in the thousands, a testament to the Drake family's prominent status as the wealthiest in the city.
"Ladies and gentlemen," I began, my voice steady and clear,
"I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your attendance here this evening. As many of you are aware, the respected Patriarch of the Drakes Conglomerate, my father, has passed on, and it is now my honor to assume his position as his heir." A round of applause erupted, and I savored the moment,
locking eyes with Vanessa, who sat upright as if she were the queen presiding over her court.
"You lie Killian," Vanessa said, her tone laced with mockery, sparking gasps of surprise from those present.
"Edson already had a firstborn son; he should be the one in your place," she continued, her words dripping with cynicism.
"What? What is she saying, Killian?" Amanda asked, bewildered, her eyes wide with disbelief.
I felt her anxiety radiating through our connection, a pulse of uncertainty.
To calm her, I tapped her back gently, trying to convey that I had everything under control.
I replied to Vanessa, raising an eyebrow,
"Yes, she's telling the truth, isn't she, Mr. Drakes? Everyone in the Drakes Group witnessed it firsthand." Mr. Herald, my father's most trusted assistant, stepped forward, his face a mix of concern and support.
"Oh really?" I challenged, crossing my arms. "Are you suggesting that I am no longer your son?"
"Excuse you, I could never have a loser son like you! You thought you were clever, that you had finally arrived, didn't you? But my son is the real heir to the Drakes fortune!" she retorted venomously, each word slicing through the air like a dagger.
"What? No, no, no!" Vivian screamed as her face turned pale, tears shimmering in her eyes, a look of pure disbelief etched upon her features.
"What's wrong, Viv?" Vanessa asked, her tone sweet yet tinged with sugar-coated maliciousness.
"Liam, Liam had an accident! I'm going to the hospital!" Vivian exclaimed, her panic palpable as she dashed away, her footsteps echoing in the silence left behind.
I exchanged glances with Vanessa, a smirk tugging at the corners of my mouth.
"What do you hope to achieve with all of this? You killed my father, conspired against him, was that not enough?
You've kept my mother imprisoned in a psychiatric hospital all this time, and now you want to have Liam eliminated again?" The room fell into a hushed murmur, shocked gasps rippling through the attendees.
"You're a liar! How dare you sully my name? Your father was shot…" she began, but I cut her off.
"By your son, Klein!" I shouted, watching her eyes widen in disbelief.
"Do you think I'm as naive as you are? I know the plots you and Klein have devised to eliminate both me and my brother."
"Shut up! How dare you accuse me? After all these years, I raised you, and this is how you repay my kindness?" She pretended to tear up, attempting to weave the narrative of the victim.
"I'm simply doing what is right," I retorted. "Klein is not a Drakes."
At that moment, the projector flickered to life, flooding the room with damning evidence.
"I married him because of my son, Klein. I promised him a good life, and that's what I will deliver.
I want you to send this to his room; I want everything to proceed just as planned. That foolish son of his won't know what hit him. Once Edson gives his signature, it's all over," she chuckled darkly in the video, a chilling reminder of her ambition and malice.
I reveled in the horror etched across her face, a smile of vindication on my own. "Hmph, such a dreadful woman," I remarked softly, relishing the collective murmuring of the crowd around me.
"You don't deserve the name 'Drake' at all," someone in the audience said, another voice adding in agreement, "So scheming."
"I once respected her," I could hear another comment, underscoring the mistrust and disapproval growing toward her.
But as everything seemed to hang in the balance, Vanessa turned her ire upon the crowd, desperation in her voice.
"He's lying! He's a fraud! Listen, Killian, your father married your mother when she was already pregnant; he chose to take you in! You're not even a true Drake!" she scoffed, desperation leaking from her words.
"I am my father's flesh and blood, and it is written in our family history for all to see," I asserted boldly, my conviction ringing true.
The night was far from over, and I was only just beginning to take back what was rightfully mine.