2. I will make him the main heir of Blackwood Group

SERA

I stood in front of the large mirror in my room, wearing a simple black dress with open shoulder cutouts. I twisted my body slightly, making sure the dress was modest but still elegant. As always, Reggie's taste in choosing clothes never fails. My hair was neatly styled, but I deliberately let a few strands fall down the side of my face to give it a relaxed look.

As I tightened the bracelet on my wrist, a soft knock came from the door.

“Come in,” I said, without taking my eyes off the mirror.

Grant, the majordomo of the Blackwood family, stepped in quietly. The old man always looked immaculate in his black suit and calm expression that never changed.

“The guests have arrived, Miss,” he said, his body straight as a soldier's. “Time to go downstairs.”

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. “How's the atmosphere downstairs?”

“Quiet,” Grant replied briefly. “Everyone's at the dining table. They're waiting for Mr. Blackwood to join them.”

Quiet. I imagined the four men sitting tensely in the dining room of the grand Blackwood Estate, only the sound of scraping cutlery or heavy breathing audible.

“All right.” I smiled faintly, though Grant probably knew the smile was a front. “I'm ready.

I followed Grant gracefully down the large, curving staircase, my steps slow but steady. The family dining room was already visible from the long hallway decorated with classical paintings.

When I entered the dining room, a cold atmosphere immediately enveloped me. The long white cloth-covered table was full of dishes, but none of them had been touched. Four men sat quite far apart, each exuding a different aura. I stood in the doorway, trying to assess them quickly without being too conspicuous.

Grant pulled up one of the chairs on the right side. “Please, Miss.”

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.

A few seconds passed in silence before Reggie's heavy footsteps and slow breathing could be heard. The old man walked in, cane in hand, heading straight for the prepared chair at the end of the table. “Ah, you're all here,” he said, his voice calm but authoritative. Grant pulled out Reggie's chair then excused himself. “And I see my beautiful daughter has joined us. Good, so the four of you have met her.”

I smiled faintly. Reggie referred to me as his daughter, which I thought was the best way for him to introduce me, confirming my status here.

“This is the first time we've all gathered here.” Reggie broke the silence, his heavy voice completing the stillness. “But there's no reason to be awkward. Come on, introduce yourselves to each other.”

He then glanced at me, as if asking for my approval, and I nodded slowly, though my heart was still full of question marks. Reggie took a deep breath, then began to speak, breaking the silence that hung over the room.

“Ace, as the eldest, perhaps you could start first?” said Reggie in a tone that was casual but contained a hint of desire to liven things up.

The man across from me nodded in a calm and confident manner. “Okay, everyone, my name is Atticus—or Ace—Vance. I'm an attorney at the Hayes & Chan Law Firm.” I glanced at Reggie, asking silently, and he nodded.

I smiled slightly and nodded, but the tail of my eye caught the response of the fourth man who seemed to be holding back laughter. When our eyes met, the man's expression fell flat again. I tried to ignore him and turned to the second man next to Ace.

“I'm Beck Archer, an artist,” he said with a half-flipped smile. “I've also studied computer science, but nothing can separate my passion for art.” He looked at me for a moment, as if gauging my reaction, then continued. “Even though life is messy sometimes, I always try to find beauty in the mess.” There was something evocative in the way he spoke.

A faint smile played on Ace's lips, but there was no admiration in his gaze. “Finding beauty in the mess,” he murmured softly, nodding his head, as if he thought Beck was a bit naive.

“That sounds lovely,” I commented with a genuine smile when Beck turned to Ace with a displeased face, which made Beck smile brightly again as he looked at me.

Don't make them kill each other at the dinner table. That was Reggie's message to me a few hours ago. And that was my best way to prevent it from happening.

It was now the turn of the man to Beck's left to speak, the man who had been staring intently as Ace and Beck introduced themselves. “Callum Hart,” his voice was exactly what I had envisioned. It was the kind of calming voice that would make you feel like you could sleep comfortably anywhere as long as he was around. “I work as a doctor by day. If you guys need medical help or just a wiser conversation, I'm here.”

“Cal?” I chirped.

His smile was a genuinely warm, caring smile. “My friends call me that.”

Ace just gave a small nod, maybe feeling like finally someone was at least approaching his class. Beck only responded with a soft smile and a subtle nod. The fourth man didn't react much, his expression static.

Then finally, the man with a mysterious aura who sat at the end of the table and watched with a sharp gaze. “Damon Wolfe,” he said in a low voice. His sharp blue eyes similar to Ace's looked straight at Reggie, then me. “I'm ....” His words hung in the air, people waiting for him to continue, but all had to swallow their disappointment when he finally ended it with, “maybe that's it.”

I opened my mouth to comment, but I couldn't find the right words except, “Very good.” And I hurriedly wanted to slap myself for … what was that comment?

My eyes caught a lopsided smile from Ace, who was obviously mocking. Just like what Damon did when Ace introduced himself. Great, we've found the top candidates who will kill each other in this house.

“Sera ....” Reggie interrupted, fixing his eyes on his daughter. “The four of them were part of my past, and each of them have a different way of living their lives. But now, they are part of my future—and perhaps Blackwood's future as well.”

The four men said nothing, just stared at each other for a moment before looking back at Reggie with different expressions. Ace, with a determined look. Beck, with a focused but anxious gaze. Cal, with a thoughtful gaze, and Damon, with a deeper gaze, as if waiting for orders.

Dinner began, but I felt that what started with this simple introduction would lead to something bigger. Something that would change my life forever.

I watched them again. Ace, Beck, Cal, and Damon. I didn't know if their names in alphabetical order were coincidental or intentional. However, if it was intentional by Reggie, I liked the man's sense of humor. Was he inspired by Bridgerton or something?

“So, Sera, when I said this afternoon that you have an important role here … I meant it.”

I did not reply to my father's words, I just stayed silent and watched, waiting for his next words.

Reggie smiled facing his four sons. “Whoever among the four of you can win Sera's heart and marry her, I will make him the main heir of the Blackwood Group.”

I spit out my drink. “WHAT?!”

***

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121224, Anne Joyce