The New Heir

James

My heart dropped when Mr. Corleone announced that Katniss would soon be Mrs. Corleone. Since when was she involved with one of the most powerful CEOs in Europe? Questions swarmed my mind.

“Pardon, sir?” Katniss looked just as shocked, her expression puzzled. A flicker of hope sparked within me.

Mr. Corleone chuckled, glancing at Katniss before looking back at me. “Just a joke. The atmosphere was tense, and I was trying to lighten the mood,” he explained. “Or maybe not?” he added with a small laugh, making it clear he was joking. Katniss responded with a faint smile.

"Ah," Katniss said, her smile barely there. My heart burned with jealousy. What was happening? Why did I feel this way?

"I was really shocked. I thought my ex-wife had already found my replacement," I blurted out, locking eyes with Mr. Corleone, a silent challenge hanging in the air. It was as if I was staking a claim, reminding him that Katniss had once been mine.

“James,” Katniss protested softly, my words making the atmosphere unbearably awkward. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. My gaze shifted to Ethan. He didn't seem surprised by my outburst, almost as if he had expected it. A thin smile played on his lips.

“Only ex-husband, right?” he asked, his tone dripping with mockery. There was a challenging note I couldn’t ignore.

After that, the conversation turned to business, but I couldn't focus. My attention kept drifting back to Katniss. A month ago was our first meeting after years apart. Katniss had seemed ordinary then, but now she had transformed completely.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Every gesture and every word she spoke captivated me. Was it the newfound confidence in her eyes, or the way she effortlessly commanded the room? It was as if she had become a different person overnight.

There was something mysterious about her sudden rise, something that didn’t quite add up. And what about this so-called relationship with Ethan Corleone? Was it really just a joke, or was there a hidden truth behind his words?

The meeting finally ended. I stood up as Mr. Corleone did, followed by Katniss.

“Let’s hope this collaboration goes smoothly, Mr. Kent,” Mr. Corleone said. I nodded. Katniss remained silent and then followed her boss out of the room. Both my hands clenched into fists, an unexpected surge of emotion washing over me that I couldn’t quite understand. I kept my eyes on them until the ringing of my phone broke my concentration.

It was my father. I knew something unpleasant was coming and I was right.

“Get home quickly. There’s something urgent we need to discuss,” he said, his voice firm. He didn’t wait for me to respond before hanging up.

I took a deep breath, bracing myself for whatever was coming next.

***

Finally, I arrived at the main mansion, and as soon as I stepped inside, my wife blocked my path. I took a deep breath. This isn't going to be good. She always confronted me with arguments that left me drained.

"Who have you been meeting?!" she demanded, pointing a finger at me. Her brows were furrowed in anger. She was always so irrational.

"What do you mean? I told you I had a business meeting with Mr. Corleone. You know how difficult it is to secure a meeting with him. This is a golden opportunity," I explained.

“But you were in that city!” she yelled. Why was she so sensitive about me being in that city? Maybe she knew something. But I didn’t want to be suspicious.

“Look, I don’t want to argue. My father asked me to come back; I have to see him right now,” I said, my face showing my reluctance as I walked away from her.

“James!” she screamed, but I ignored her.

“JAMES!” she yelled again, but I kept walking. By now, her shouting was just background noise.

“I’m talking to you!” she demanded, refusing to let me have a moment of peace. I tried to hold my anger, but she kept pushing my limits.

“You’re cheating on me, aren’t you?!” she accused.

I yanked my hand out of her grip and spun around. “Can you stop, Renata?!” I shouted, my voice rising. All my emotions were swirling together, threatening to spill over.

“You keep accusing me of the same thing. Cheating, cheating, and cheating. Don’t you have any other topic?! Do you understand the situation we’re in right now?!” I asked her, exasperated.

"Your husband is struggling to revive a company that’s on the brink of collapse, Renata!" Her eyes widened in shock as I pointed at her face, but her expression remained defiant, her chin held high in challenge.

"Oh, so now you're pointing fingers at my face?! You dare do that to your wife?!" she snapped back, jabbing her finger at my face. Her face turned red with anger. I tried to calm myself.

"You've changed, James! You've really changed since then!"

Not again. She's bringing up that issue. "Stop it, Renata. I don't want to argue with you."

She scoffed. "See? You're always avoiding it. Why? Are you thinking about her again, huh?! Don't you remember how cruel she was to you?! And you still have the nerve to keep her in your mind?! Are you stupid or something?!"

I decided to stay calm; she would eventually calm down on her own. "My father is waiting for me," I said.

"Don't walk away from this! Tell me, you still have feelings for her, don't you?! Admit it, right now!"

"How many times do I have to tell you that I wasn't aware when I did it? Don’t be ridiculous, Renata! You are my wife. You should be the one who always trusts me! But you keep bringing more and more drama. Accusations and everything else!"

This had become our daily routine. Argument after argument. Since we got married, Renata has shown her true colors—always angry, always accusing me of something. Cheating and other nonsense. Even when it's work-related, she always finds a way to corner me. I used to think that with time, our marriage would improve and we would understand each other better, but it has only gotten worse day by day, and we're just pretending that everything is fine.

Renata scoffed. "Yeah, you weren't aware. But does it have to be every time you get drunk?! You always mention her name. ‘Oh, Katniss, please forgive me, I'm so sorry. Please come back, blah blah blah,’ as if she's the only woman in the world! You're completely in love with her!”

I clenched my fists at hearing that. I didn't even know if what Renata was saying was true until she showed me recordings of me drunk, repeatedly mentioning Katniss's name. I was a wreck, deeply depressed, begging and pleading. I didn't even understand why I was doing that.

But every time I remember Katniss, what I did to her brings an unbearable pain to my heart. It wasn’t just that. After Katniss left, my life turned upside down. My company used to be one of the most successful, always in the news for its achievements, a testament to the greatness of the company I led back then.

The aviation business I ran went bankrupt after two crashes in two years that resulted in hundreds of deaths, destroying the company's reputation and leaving me with massive liabilities to the victims' families. It felt like karma for what I did to Katniss. Maybe that's why I kept dreaming of her, seeking forgiveness. But meeting her again, I knew she hated me more than anyone.

"JAMES!"

I ignored the call this time. Today couldn't get any worse when I saw my brother standing there, arms crossed in front of my father's room. He smiled at me—not a smile, but a smirk.

“Good luck,” he sneered. I shot him a sharp glare.

"Move. "

Turning the door, I looked at my father sitting in his proud chair.

“I want an heir,” he stated rather bluntly.

I sighed. This conversation again. ”I said, I’m on it. “

“It is a year now since you promised the same thing, son. Don’t tell me lies.”

“I’m trying, Father,” I said slowly.

I simply observed him coughing. My father was suffering for two years and his diseases were getting out of hand. He wanted an heir before he passed.

"I don't want to hear excuses. I'm giving you a few months. Give me news that your wife is pregnant or, if not, your brother's child will be the heir."

I clenched my fists at that. All this time, I've been the one working hard, while that bastard, my brother, shirked responsibility and ran away. And now, after a year of his return, he wanted the inheritance.

"Not just that. If you fail again, all your positions will be transferred to your brother."

"What? Father, that's not—"

"No arguments. Do what you have to do. Now, get out," he ordered, his voice firm.

I left the room. He was still there, his smirk even wider. “It’s not your fault that you are impotent,” he said as if trying to comfort me but clearly mocking me. I didn't want to give him any reaction because it would only make him feel like he had won if I got angry.

I walked past him without a word. As I walked, my hand clenched into a fist. There was no way I would ever let that bastard who made my life hell take everything from me. I had to find a way. But how?

“Giselle.” Suddenly, the name of that beautiful girl came to mind. Katniss, her daughter. Her face looked so similar to mine, but... wasn’t she cheating? How could her face look so much like mine? I had to find out!

To be continued...