Chapter 6 A Family Heirloom

NATHAN

*** Hours Earlier ***

HAMILTON GROUP It had read in bold letters.

There was once a time where Fairchild filled the walls and consumed the mouths of those who uttered them but strangely that felt like such a long time ago. I hardly even remembered it.

My existence brought out Hamilton and there were times I wondered if it should’ve happened in the first place.

When Née Fairchild died, or rather, Tina Hamilton—I liked to remember her with the name she was born with—the name Fairchild sunk into oblivion, never to be heard again.

Sometimes I think my late mother regretted that decision, letting it all disappear into nothing.

My father, William Hamilton, took over after her death, after all he was her husband but she had a child, an heir in which she left everything to—much to his displeasure.

But there wasn’t much he could do against a will that stipulated the company would be transferred to my name once I was of age.

If we had a good relationship, or at least managed to salvage a bond I could’ve, maybe, left him to handle the company for much longer, and maybe did things eighteen-year-olds usually did.

I could’ve lived for a little while.

But my father was not only a dictator, he was also bad at his job. Extremely much so that the board did all it could to overthrow him once the time came.

He put up a fight, at least to salvage his pride but he knew there wasn’t anything he could do. He’d been trying for a long time without fail.

He tried to get me into submission rather than be a supportive father but I wasn’t going to submit to a lousy guy, that’d be too insulting.

Plus, the company was already standing on its last legs and I wanted to preserve it. I wanted to preserve my mother’s work as much as I could.

So I took the position and luckily, I wasn’t bad at it. I wasn’t trying to be kicked out of the company so that was a good sign at least.

Well, again, how could they? The company made enough money to sponsor their yachts and their sometimes unnecessary luxurious vacations. Plus, Hamilton Group was the most talked about enterprise in the country. They couldn’t complain.

I kept my interactions both in the office and at home to a minimal and only offered conversations if necessary.

There were rumors that I was cold, arrogant and aloof and while I was neither of these things I didn’t bother correcting the impression people had of me.

However, there was only one person who had me opening my mouth and being my true self freely. It was the child of my nauseating half-brother. A little handsome boy named Charles.

How it began was on a particular morning when the both of us had eaten together. Luckily it was just the two of us that morning or I probably wouldn’t have noticed as I normally shut everyone out at the dining.

It was a surprise seeing a toddler at the table that day, and at first I didn’t say a word. I just watched him.

Unlike other children he wasn’t picky with his meals and ate his greens religiously. I suspected it was because he would be scolded at if he did.

I watched him aimlessly eat his meal as I did mine and for a brief moment was transported to a time in a childhood when I ate the same.

That was when I voluntarily spoke, “Do you not like your meal?”

He didn’t bother to look up and shrugged, “It’s okay.”

He was right.

If I were to judge the food, that would be the exact same thing I would say. In that moment, he froze, and looked up at me timidly. There was surprise etched on his face but he didn’t say a word.

I decided to continue the conversation, “Are you in school?” He nodded in response. I spoke more, “Do you like it?”

He paused, tapping his index finger on the table. An action I didn’t fail to notice. “Some days it’s fine but I can’t complain. At least I get to leave my daddy and this house.” My eyes widened at his words.

“Do you have toys?” I asked out of the blue.

“No. Daddy seized all my toys and my mommy isn’t here to get me new ones.”

I gritted my jaw tightly. “What toys do you like then?”

Instantly his eyes brightened.

“I like Spiderman!” He spoke loudly and laughed his eyes crinkling.

And again it hit me. From his tapping fingers, to the sound of his laughter, and the crinkling brows…they were too much of a jarring familiarity. Just like when I was little and… I shook away the thoughts.

It was just a coincidence. That was all.

That day when I returned, I got him a Spiderman set and several wallpapers. To this day, he still thanks me for them.

After that encounter I decided to remain close with him, I discovered the bullying he endured in this house, and I began to stand up for him.

Also it was the first time in a long time that I decided to open up my attention to another person and see how much they suffered. And seeing the things he suffered in the house, a form of guilt overcame me, for not seeing it sooner.

Today when I witnessed the maid bullying him again, I’d stepped in, however I was surprised to see a woman protecting him with so much fervor only a mother could.

When the maid left and I took a closer look at her features, I instantly recognized her.

It was Charlotte, his mother.

I hadn’t seen her in three years since she went to prison.

Seeing this contrast of her — sullen, thin and vastly pale, compared to the cheerful, bright faced and very beautiful woman I remembered, it caused certain feelings to erupt, one of them I recognized to be protectiveness and something warmer.

Timidly, she’d lowered her gaze and thanked me, “T…Thank you.” She’d said but I said nothing in response.

I only turned and returned up the stairs, back into my study where I locked myself in.

While I worked though, I couldn’t get the picture of her out from my head. At times, I would drift off thinking about her before the bright screen of my laptop would bring me back.

It was strange… so so strange… and I didn’t like it. Maybe it was time to slip in my cold mask because I had no intention of ever talking to her.

~•~

I groaned slightly, stretching my back, and shutting my MacBook down.

It was already late and luckily I was done with work. Now I just had to get some rest and…

“Thief! She’s a thief!”

I froze hearing that statement at the same time a loud bang from downstairs reverberated through the entire mansion startling me.

Normally I would’ve ignored it, and gone to sleep regardless but something… I didn’t know what… pushed me to go have a look.

And so I did. Standing up, I walked out of my room and immediately traced the source of the commotion to the living room.

The first person I saw was my stepmother, Melina, yelling at the top of her voice.

“Strip that bastard off her clothes!” She ordered and my brows furrowed.

Strip who?

“I…I didn’t steal anything!” A soft teary voice begged, and I dragged my gaze to it.

Charlotte. She was on her knees, tears streaming down her face.

There were several maids and guards around her and I knew they were there to force her into submission.

Melina didn’t like to operate alone.

“Shut up, you conniving wretch! Return my diamond!” The old hag turned to the maids, “Didn’t you hear me? Strip her of every single item on her body.”

“No. Please believe me! I didn’t take your diamonds, I don’t even know where your room is, I just got back today. Don’t do this please.” Her voice trembled. “Don’t do this to me. My son is watching. No…”

What the fuck? My jaw hardened.

“How come it is that the moment you return to this house suddenly my jewelry is mine. It’s the most expensive diamond I have. A diamond with a ruby pendant and it suddenly vanished…”

I froze when I heard it. “A diamond with a ruby pendant.”

There was only one jewelry I knew of that manner that existed in this house and it didn’t belong to Melina. No it couldn’t be, but it was.

With haste I walked down the stairs and straight to the large cupboard in the room. I opened a particular drawer and brought out a wooden box with gold embellishments.

Opening it, the first thing I saw was a diamond necklace, with a drooping ruby pendant. My face hardened.

I took the necklace in hand and turned to face Melina.

“By chance, are you looking for this?” I spoke, diverting their attention and instantly all eyes were on me.

God, I was so angry. I took some steps until I was directly in front of Melina, and I asked again, “This necklace belonged to my mother. My mother!” I heaved slightly, “What audacity did you have to declare my mother’s heirloom as yours?”