Adrien Groggily, I extended my hand towards the buzzing phone on the nightstand, curious about the caller interrupting my peaceful sleep. The previous night, I had been awake for most of it, comforting Maya after her forgotten nightmare. Her siblings, seemingly connected by telepathy, joined us in her room, prompting me to invite them to my bedroom, due to the bigger space on my bed, where we all eventually drifted off while watching an animated film. Answering the call, I carefully rose from bed to avoid waking up my kids, crossed the room to the French doors leading to the balcony, opened them, stepped outside, and closed the door. "Hey, dad. What's up?" I greeted, hoarsely, rubbing my eyes. "There's a problem, son," Dad's voice trembled with anxiety, sending a wave of dread through me. "What's wrong, dad? Are you okay? Are you sick?" I questioned, anxious. "No, it's not me. It's your brother," Dad replied. Slightly relieved that I wouldn't have to fly to Mexico, I inqui
Adrien Directly heading to Rosalie's hospital room after arriving in the hospital, I found a nurse monitoring her vitals. "How's she?" I inquired. "Still the same, sir," The nurse replied. "Fortunately, Dr. Simmons intervened before she could carry out her mission and called security." My tone hardened, "Where's she?" "In Dr. Simmons's office. The police are waiting for you." The nurse disclosed. I growled, "Thank you," and left the room. Accompanied by Martinez and Santiago to the hospital to protect Rosalie, I instructed them not to allow anyone in unless it was her doctor before heading to Dr. Simmons's office. There, the nurse sat in front of the table, hands bound in front of her in handcuffs, her hair veiling her face. Taking the chair beside her, I settled down, crossing one leg over the other. She, being about five years younger than me, had her entire life ahead of her, yet she opted to shorten it by involving herself with the wrong person. I saw myself as a gene
Brandon Although this wasn't the first time I was hearing about Yelena's demise, it still surprised me. It was difficult to believe that my seemingly faultless brother - the one who my father worshiped - had taken the life of a good woman. Yelena had her flaws, yet she had been a wonderful mother to Yvette and a talented actress. Within a short period of time, she accumulated more than two million followers on social media. It's regrettable that her fans won't see her on screen anymore, and Yvette is left without her mother. Yvette cried profusely upon hearing the news, venting her emotions by destroying everything within reach. The situation worsened with the revelation of her arrest for orchestrating Rosalie's accident and attempting to murder her by hiring a nurse working in the hospital where Rosalie is admitted. We had become fugitives, avoiding venturing out in daylight to evade capture and arrest. I was convinced my brother intended to ensure we spend the rest of our lives i
BrandonYearning for a run, I arose early and left the house, seeking to clear my head by venturing out. Amidst various contemplations, my foremost concern was unraveling the path that led my life to its current state. Despite being the second son of the nation's wealthiest individual, my existence turned out differently from my brother's after our mother's demise.After her demise, she, the adhesive binding us men, was no longer present, and we drifted apart. I veered into the company of the wrong crowd in high school, engaging in drugs, promiscuity, and various activities that would not have made my mother proud.I didn't consider how she would feel about my actions, and I persisted in that lifestyle. While my father and brother remained indifferent, although Adrien attempted to guide me, I consistently dismissed his efforts until he eventually conceded, leaving me to my fate; at that point, I saw no reason to care either.Reflecting on the past, I had craved my father's attention,
Adrien Two weeks have passed since Yvette vowed to retaliate for her mother's death. While I didn't dismiss her empty threats, I also didn't ignore them. Concerned, I increased security at the hospital for Rosalie, unsure if Yvette would return to finally carry out her revenge or not, and unwilling to take any chances. Despite my efforts to persuade my dad to stay in Italy, he grew weary of the country and opted to return to Aldovia to be with his grandchildren. He maintained a strong belief that Brandon wouldn't harm him, even as I reminded him of the past threat involving a gun. Disregarding my concerns, he brushed them off, and I reluctantly let the matter go. The sound of a knock on my office door interrupted my thoughts, prompting me to turn away from the window and invite the person in, and the door swung open, revealing Emerson. "Ah, Emerson, any news?" I questioned. "Still the same, sir." He replied. "They're still in the country." "I see." I nodded. "I wonder what they
Brandon "It's regrettable that I had to resort to this," I confided in Renner, observing my brother's kids, who were visibly frightened. "I mean, they're innocent." "I have a soft spot for children, but sadly, I can't have any of my own," Renner remarked with feigned sadness. "Maybe I'll adopt them. What do you think?" He grinned. "I give you my blessing," I stated, chuckling. "Now that we have them, what's next?" He questioned. "Now... I call my brother," I said triumphantly, pulling out my phone and dialing his number. "Make sure you tell him to come alone," Renner cautioned, adding, "If he involves the police, his children will die." "Of course," I snorted. The call connected immediately, and I laughed. "Hey, bro. What's up?" I greeted him. "You bastard!" He bellowed, causing me to pull my phone from my ear. "Where are my children?" "No need to be so upset, brother," I retorted. "They're unharmed." "I want to hear their voices," He ordered. "I give the orders here, bro,"
Brandon "You're adopted, Brandon." His words hit me like a shockwave, and I stumbled back, staring at him as if he were crazy. Did I hear him correctly? I knew Adrien disliked me, but I hadn't realized it extended to the point of fabricating lies about my identity. "You're lying!" I exclaimed. "That's not true." "My father didn't tell me. I had a DNA test conducted to see if we were related because you didn't look like my dad or my mother, and I was right," Adrien said. "You're not my brother." "How... What the hell?" I stared at him in disbelief. "Are you messing with me right now? You better take it back if it's a joke." I ordered. "Your biological father, Brandon Ritchie, was a criminal whose favorite place in the world was the state penitentiary. He was arrested for drug dealing, rape, and murder but escaped from prison at twenty two, got a girlfriend named Hilary Kale, and got her pregnant." "I still don't believe you." I muttered, shaking my head. "Hilary wasn't a saint
Adrien Arriving at the hospital, I rushed to Rosalie's room, wearing a huge smile on my face and clutching a bouquet of roses in my hand. Aware that she might still harbor resentment from our last conversation before her accident, where I blamed her for ruining my company's image, I hoped the flowers and a sincere smile would mend things. I encountered Norman seated on the recliners outside her room in the hallway, engrossed in a conversation with Ariadne. Spotting me, he cut the conversation short and promptly ended the call. "Sir." Norman stood up, grinning. "I just sat there, watching her when her eyes suddenly opened. I was so shocked, frozen, thinking it was a dream. Then, she turned to look at me, she blinked and I almost cried. The doctor is checking on her now." He stated. "Thank you." I smiled, patting him on the back. "Finally." I breathed. "Your father is on his way." Norman informed me, smiling sheepishly. "And her friends." "You were that excited, weren't you?" I c