Blood and Flesh

You're just a stepdaughter. I wasn’t talking about you." Grandpa snapped. He jerked his hand away from hers with a scowl. It clearly showed Grandpa didn't like her.

"Grandpa, it's okay. You don't need to be worried now." Alan approached and placed his hand on the grandpa's shoulder calmly. He whispered something in Grandpa's ear, and Grandpa nodded in agreement.

"This party," Grandpa began, "was held to introduce the new managing director of Weber Group." Grandpa called me on stage. I smiled and approached the stage. He held my shoulder and watched me with pride in his eyes.

"Miss Ashley is our new managing director. She is very capable and deserving of this position. I hope our business partners get an opportunity to introduce themselves," Grandpa said, and everybody seemed shocked.

Alex and Vini appeared dumbfounded. I had never seen Vini's face this displeased before. All the staff and other people gathered around me and started pestering me. A tall and handsome man approached me; he raised his hand ahead.

"Miss Ashley, I am Markle, Vice President of Weber Group. Nice to meet you," he introduced himself. One by one, I shook hands with most of the partners. Alan just stood beside me so that he could help me well.

"They all are so handsome," he called to me teasingly. "I convinced Grandpa as you told me. Now find a good brother-in-law for me," Alan whispered in my ear again. I poked my elbow into his abdomen.

He helped me in convincing Grandpa to change his decision about introducing me as his granddaughter. After all, I had been missing for over a decade, and I still hadn’t regained my memory. How could I be sure I was the rightful heiress of the Weber family? I couldn’t accept the privileges of the Weber house without confirming that I was truly Ashley.

"You’re insane, you know that?" Alan whispered fiercely. "Do you have any idea how many girls came before you, pretending to be you just to enjoy the luxury? And here you are refusing everything, you must be crazy.

I laughed and touseled his hair playfully.

"Yeah! That’s why I asked you to give me the lowest position in the Weber Group. Why did you ask for the managing director's role instead?"

"You told me yourself that you have some knowledge of business."

"But I still need to learn more." We started arguing. I could confirm he is my real brother because he was really stubborn like me. Alan went to help Grandpa to take a rest.

"What the hell? How is this possible? What experience does she have to be a managing director?" I heard few staff werre disappointed.

Weber Group was one of the most powerful groups in the country, and I was a newcomer—no one had heard my name before.

I headed to the bar counter to grab a cold drink. My throat was parched under strong air condition. Just as I reached for a glass, someone else grabbed it first. I turned to see Vini standing there, a smug look on her face. I ignored her and filled another glass.

"You know black magic, I must say..." Vini swirled the wine in her glass, her words tinged with jealousy. "I can’t imagine whose bed you jumped into to get this position—was it Alan Weber or Dylan Marcov?"

The insult was enough to make my blood boil. I could have slapped her right there, but instead, I smiled.

"Jealous, are you? Or just scared that your lies are catching up with you?" I gestured toward the balcony.

Melissa and Vini's mother were arguing, loud enough to be heard over the chatter in the main hall.

"Your daughter is just a stepdaughter. How could you lie? Do you want her to marry into a rich household, am I right?" Melissa was shouting at Vini's mom.

"I told you my daughter is the only daughter of the family. Stepdaughter or not, it doesn't matter," Vini's mom was trying to whitewash everything she did. I had already seen my stepmom three times at Alex's mansion.

"But she is not Weber blood. You are a liar," Melissa insulted Vini's mom. It was quite the spectacle to the crowd. Vini’s face flushed with embarrassment.

I rolled my eyes and turned, only to bump into Alex. His gaze was piercing through me. I took few steps back.

"Diana, where have you been for last six months? I searched for you everywhere," he said, grabbing my hands tightly.

"You searched for me? Why? Do you want me to attend your engagement with Vini?" I said and jerked his hands away as if it was something dirty. His eyes filled with extreme shock.

"And how could you possibly be the managing director of the Weber Group?" He demanded an explanation, his forehead creased with frustration.

"What are you even asking? Your ex-wife hooked up with someone as soon as you guys divorced. Do you think she is pure?" Vini's tongue dripped with venom, loud enough to draw the attention of those around us.

"Is that why you divorced me without complaint?" Alex ranted, but my attention was already shifted to Dylan Marcov, who was making his way toward the exit. His bodyguards were already in position by the door, and his driver waited beside a sleek black Rolls Royce.

"Stop with your drama," I muttered to them as I rushed over to Dylan. I stepped in front of him, blocking his path. His eyebrows lifted in surprise, clearly unused to being stopped this way.

The bodyguards tensed. They gathered around us as if he was in danger.

Dylan raised his hand and signaled them to stop.

"What's the matter, Miss Ashley?" he asked me, his tone still serious. Just like how I had seen him in the hospital. A while before, he was so protective of me, and he was indifferent at the same time. It amazed me.

"I need to speak with you, Mr. Dylan," I said. His presence radiated an aura that commanded both fear and respect. Even the major stockholders of Weber Group appeared nervous while talking with him.

"What do you want to discuss?" His voice was still firm, but now it had a hint of curiosity. I hesitated, assuming there were many eyes watching us.

"Speak, Miss Ashley," he said as he dug out a cig and held between his lips.

"I wanted to thank you for saving me… and to apologize." I gulped hard. My voice trembled under his intense gaze.

"Apologize? For what?" His eyes narrowed even more.

I could feel the weight of everyone's stare, including Alex and his family. They were staring at me as if I were some kind of culprit.

"The way I behaved with you." I said, taking a deep breath. "I shouldn't have acted so impulsively."

His glare falling on me like a shadow. His expression was unreadable, as if he was calculating my every word. I was about to say something, but what happened next was unbelievable.