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The Heiress and the Four Brothers
The Heiress and the Four Brothers
Author: Anne Joyce

1. It's a matter of blood and legacy

Author: Anne Joyce
last update Last Updated: 2024-12-12 15:46:01

SERA

“If I die tomorrow, will you cry for me?”

The question slipped from Reggie Blackwood's mouth, accompanied by a lopsided smile that did not reflect the weakness of his body. Even with a pale face and frequently interrupted breathing, the old man still carried an aura of power.

Sitting opposite him, I was transfixed. My hand holding the teacup suddenly felt too heavy, and silence crept into the room like fog.

“Of course I'll drink champagne with your corpse,” I said after sipping the tea, trying to cover up my anxiety with a joke. 

A crisp laugh escaped the 66-year-old's lips. “Good idea,” he commented. “Who else are you going to drink with anyway?”

I finally let out a long sigh, feeling tired. “You're being overly dramatic, Reggie. Your health is already much better. The doctor said—”

“That pretentious man just wants me to survive longer.”

“That's what a doctor does, isn't it?” I did not expect there to be a tremor in my voice, even though I wanted to sound cynical.

“Sera, I'm serious. I didn't call you in between your busy schedule to talk about my health.”

I made no further comment, just looked at him silently. For some reason the turtleneck I was wearing began to feel so suffocating and itchy. 

“Why didn't you ever ask me why I adopted you?” asked Reggie. The topic that we had not spoken about for years was suddenly brought up. And that meant, I knew that our conversation was really going to get serious. And this was about our relationship, not business or anything like that.

“Because I couldn't question your decision in the first place,” I replied, not entirely lying.

“But do you ever wonder?”

Yes, often. On certain nights over the past 16 years, I would think about it. And more often than not, it was in the form of my gratitude. “I told myself that it was because I'm pretty and the smartest one in that place.”

Reggie laughed. “Well, that's not wrong.” He took a deep breath, then leaned forward. “But another reason is that it's as my penance. On the other hand, I know you are indeed suitable for the Blackwood family.”

“Penance?” I never thought that would be the answer to my question from those few nights.

“There's so much I could forget but that four people.”

“You killed four people?” I snapped, which made Reggie laugh again.

“No, silly. I mean, there are four men out there who have my blood running through their bodies. Four men who don't even know each other—and have never met me until the past few days. They are my sons, Sera. The sons of four different women.”

“You're joking, right?”

“I don't even take million-dollar business decisions this seriously.” Reggie leaned back in his chair, exhaustion evident on his face. “And they're coming here. I've called them all, and you'll meet them at dinner tonight.”

There was a moment of silence.  My mind was spinning wildly. Almost everyone in this town knew that Reggie in his younger days was an adventurer, a love adventurer to be more precise, a womanizer who captured the hearts of many women. But, four sons from four different mothers... I never imagined that. That's way too much!

 “Why didn't you tell me earlier? This is too sudden.” I emphasized my voice, before finally remembering something important. “Wait, do they know that I …?”

“Of course.” The old man smiled faintly, shrugging casually. “They know you're my adopted daughter. That you have an important role in Blackwood.”

“You know I love you, but this is crazy, Reggie.” I leaned closer, looking at him sharply. “They must think I'm just an appendage. Or worse, a hindrance!”

“Ah, they won't dare.” He chuckled, but a cough followed, forcing him to stop.

“You can't be serious about this. It's a matter of blood and legacy. Money and power. They'll be battling each other before you have a chance to introduce them properly!”

“And that's where you come in,” Reggie commented calmly.

The large window in Reggie's study suddenly caught my attention, as if calling me to jump out of there and leave this nonsense behind. “I'm not a martyr, Reggie. And what if I fail?”

“You won’t, I believe in your abilities. You've been a Blackwood longer than any of them, and you know what that means.”

I swallowed. My breathing was getting heavy. “So, what do you want from me tonight?”

“It's simple. Don't let them kill each other at the dinner table.”

“That's madness.”

“All great things start with madness, my dear. Now, prepare yourself. They'll be here in a few hours, and I don't want this first dinner to turn into a battlefield. You are my strength here.”

I closed my eyes, trying to digest everything. When I opened my eyes again, Reggie was leaning back casually in his chair, with a small smile indicating that this conversation was over.

I had no idea where Reggie's plans would take me this time. However, one thing I was sure of was that after tonight, my life would never be the same again.

***

Dinner time had come. Grant, the majordomo of the Blackwood family said that the “guests” were waiting at the dining table.

I stepped up to the table, feeling the attention on me. The first man seated directly in front of me, with a firm jaw and a serious face, was dressed perfectly in a suit like a CEO. His dark blonde hair was neatly combed back, while his sharp blue eyes stared at me with slightly raised eyebrows, as if judging, but then he covered it with a faint smile.

To his left, the second man smiled in a softer, more open manner. Although his slightly glazed eyes revealed a hesitation that he could not hide, as if he was unsure of how to behave. He was wearing a slightly rumpled casual jeans jacket, with his blonde hair looking a little messy.

Shifting to the left again, the third man smiled in a warm way. His broody gray-brown eyes were full of serenity, as if he was a counterbalance in the midst of this tension. He was wearing a plain white shirt with the top two buttons undone. His eyes looked at me softly, as if he wanted to talk, but preferred to remain silent and respectful of my presence.

And finally, the fourth man sat in a more relaxed manner, but there was tension all around him. His smile was slightly lopsided, with a slightly more intense gaze than the others. There was a mixture of anxiety and tension that was hard to explain there, but I felt like there was a part of him that wanted to fight, while another part just wanted to give up. His black outfit, which seemed like a spontaneous choice, even gave me a slightly interesting impression.

After meeting the Blackwood Brothers—I decided to call them that from now on—there was one thing that immediately intrigued me. I was curious—curious to death—about Reggie's appearance when he was younger. Because, gosh, just look at his four sons: they're all incredibly handsome with their own distinctive features. I no longer doubted that Reggie was a lady-killer back in the day.

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Latest chapter

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  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   57. I can't lose him

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  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   56. Scream for me, Sera

    SERA“You’ll come when I let you,” he whispered like the devil himself. “Be a good girl and tell me what you want.”“In your dreams.”I felt his smirk on my neck. “Come on, don’t be shy. Beg for it, and I'll give it to you.”I bit my tongue. I refused to give in. But my body told a different story—it had already surrendered to him long ago. And he knew it. He knew I was on the edge.His kisses trailed lower, teeth grazing my shoulder before he whispered in a tone that made my body tense. “I can wait all night, Sera. But the question is… can you?”A quiet growl escaped me. This man … he loved dominating me, pulling me into the rhythm of his game until I had no way to fight back.“Sera.” His voice dipped lower, firmer. “Say it.”I clenched the sheets beneath me, my entire body tense from the urges I could no longer contain. My breathing was ragged, and finally, the sound escaped my lips.“Fuck me,” I whispered, so damn low, but I knew he heard it. Swallowing hard, I gathered the last bi

  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   55. Say my name until you forget everyone else's

    SERA“Do you feel this?” he whispered. “It beats just as strongly as yours, doesn’t it?”I should have pulled away. I should have denied his words. But I didn’t.Instead, my hand slid lower, tracing over his toned abs—the body of a man built on discipline.And that was when Ace smiled in satisfaction. He knew I was mesmerized by him. And he was right. But I wasn’t going to admit it.“I knew you wouldn’t run.” His hand moved down, gliding over my thigh. “And I’ll make sure you never want to.”I was trapped in the way he controlled everything. Controlled me. And I hated how much I liked it. How much I wanted more. Ace and his game of dominance—this time, I had a feeling he was going to win.His lips brushed against my collarbone, trailing soft kisses before pressing deeper into my skin.“Ace…” I finally spoke, my voice hoarse and uncertain. My hands pushed against his shoulders—too lightly, too weak to be a real push.“It’s too late to hesitate, sweetheart,” he murmured with a deep voic

  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   54. Do you feel this?

    SERABy the time we reached his bedroom door, I swallowed hard. I should stop this. I should pull my hand away, take a step back, say something—anything—that would give me an excuse to leave. But I just stood there, letting him open the door and pull me inside. The sharp click of the door locking behind me rang in my ears, sealing off any chance of retreat.I looked up, meeting his intense gaze. My breath felt heavy, my chest rising and falling abruptly, whether from the tension that still lingered from something happened in the car or the realization of what might happen tonight, I wasn’t sure.He didn’t say anything, but I could see the hunger in his eyes. The way they traced my face, the way they lingered on my lips. My body waited, while my mind desperately searched for an escape.Then he pulled me closer, and I could feel the heat radiating from him, smell the mix of his masculine scent and the faint trace of wine from dinner. And now, he was only an inch away, his voice filling

  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   53. I want you to feel it everywhere

    ACEThe air inside the car felt warm, even with the AC still on. The night outside was eerily quiet, broken only by the rustling of leaves swaying in the wind. Dim street lights cast a faint glow on the dashboard, creating soft shadows on Sera’s face.I sat in the driver’s seat, one hand resting on the wheel while the other lay lazily on my thigh. Sera, seated beside me in the passenger seat, still wearing her night dress—the one I chose. A deep blue that blended into the night, baring her shoulders in just the right way. The fabric clung to her body like it was made for her. She turned her head toward me, her gaze searching mine for something.“I’ve kept my promise,” she murmured.I turned to her, locking eyes. “And you think that’s enough?”She was silent for a moment, then a small, challenging smirk tugged at her lips. “You really are never satisfied, are you?”I knew this game. I knew when she was teasing and when she was trying to deflect. And I wasn’t in the mood to play along.

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