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29. I'm happy to come with you
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-01-13 19:00:22CAL
Turner sat in the driver’s seat, fiddling with his phone while waiting. I leaned back in the rear seat, gazing out the window and enjoying the crisp morning air.
“Turner,” I called, breaking the silence as I glanced at his reflection in the rearview mirror.
“Yes, Mr. Cal?” he replied politely.
“You’re pretty close with Damon, aren’t you?” I asked, keeping my tone casual.
Turner turned slightly, then fixed his gaze back on the front. “You could say that. It’s nice having someone to talk to about spare parts and such.”
I nodded thoughtfully. “Seems like he treats you nice. He talks to you more than he does with me or anyone
Bab terkait
The Heiress and the Four Brothers 30. A lot can happen in one night
CALLos Angeles greeted us with typical early fall air, slightly warmer than in San Francisco. The blue sky was cloudless, and the leaves were beginning to turn yellow on some of the trees along the streets. Vehicles passed by without stopping, creating a chaotic harmony that felt typical of this big city.In front of the terminal, a young woman stood with a professional posture. Her shoulder-length brown hair was neatly styled, and she wore a chic yet understated business suit. It was Gia, Sera's secretary. Despite her youthful appearance, she exuded an aura of confidence that was hard to ignore.“Miss Sera, Mr. Cal.” Gia greeted us with a warm smile as we approached. “Welcome to Los Angeles. The car is ready.”Sera returned it with a faint smile that was more friendly than formal. “Thank you, Gia. Everything go well?”“Of course,” Gia replied as she signaled the driver to take our luggage.I watched their interaction. There was a familiarity there, something I rarely saw in professi
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-14The Heiress and the Four Brothers 31. You’re too kind, Sera
CALWe stepped into the main hall of Aspire Heights Kindergarten. The room was spacious and vibrant, its simplicity infused with warmth. Rows of tables were adorned with children’s crafts—colorful paper cutouts, small vases holding fresh flowers, and family names written in tiny, clumsy handwriting. The air carried the comforting scent of baked goods and coffee, a nostalgic contrast to the buzz of adult conversation.I walked beside Sera, one step behind her, keeping my stride relaxed yet purposeful. As per our earlier agreement—my suggestion, of course—I’d play the role of her personal bodyguard. Though hesitant at first, Sera had eventually agreed, considering that my status as Reggie's son was yet to be announced at an event like this.Sera, as usual, was the center of attention. Her appearance was stunning, dressed in a soft blue dress with a simple yet graceful cut. A calm and confident air emanated from her. Her eyes scanned the room quietly, occasionally nodding or smiling at t
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-17The Heiress and the Four Brothers 32. Missed you already
SERAI smiled at the short message Beck sent me. It was a picture—a selfie of him in front of the newly renovated pavilion in the backyard. Underneath it, he wrote: missed you already.I typed back: We’ll see each other tomorrow afternoon.The bathroom door creaked open, and Cal stepped out, already dressed in a loose white shirt and tartan-patterned pajama pants. Our eyes met briefly before his gaze shifted to the sofa I was sitting on—now neatly prepared with a pillow and blanket.“I think I’ll sleep here. The couch is comfortable enough for me,” I said softly, avoiding Cal’s eyes.“Don’t be ridiculous, Sera.”I gave him a stubborn look. “I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. Besides, it’s my fault for not making sure the extra room was booked.”Cal let out a long sigh, walking over to grab the pillow and blanket. “If you keep this up, it’ll feel like you’re the one uncomfortable. And if that’s the case, I’ll sleep on the couch, not you.”I snapped my head up, frowning. “That’s no
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-19The Heiress and the Four Brothers 33. I heard someone missed me
SERAComing home from work, I felt too tired to go straight into the house. Upon returning from LA this morning, long meetings and endless discussions immediately filled my head. Yet, as I pulled into the driveway, one calming thought stood out amidst the chaos: Beck.“The Brothers are all home, right?” I asked Turner.“They came back from their class around three this afternoon, Miss. I’m not sure if anyone has gone out again.”“All right,” I replied. The least I was sure of was that Beck couldn't have left. He must be in the pavilion, doing God knows what in his newly revamped art studio.After getting out of the car, I decided to bypass the main door and sneak into the back garden. The sky was starting to turn red, giving a beautiful golden hue around Beck's small pavilion.Back then, this pavilion in the back garden was like a building forgotten by time. The paint on the walls was faded, with tiny cracks running through it like a secret map. I could count on one hand the number of
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-21The Heiress and the Four Brothers 34. A little girl
BECKLiving at Blackwood Estate, I felt like a part of me was missing. I never touched a brush or scribbled a sketch, there was no spark of color burning on the canvas. Life here was too quiet, too controlled, making me feel like a bird that had lost its wings.But when Sera told me I could use this pavilion as my own personal art studio, hope flickered back to life. I spent my free time ever since doing a major renovation—with a little help from some of the super reliable house staff. And though she might not realize it, Sera gave me more than just this pavilion. She gave me hope, freedom, and a reason to live again.“I want to take a look around,” she said softly, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, mixed with a little bit of challenge.I chuckled a little as I bowed my head—God, she’s something else. I kissed her lips quickly before lifting her off the table. She gave me a small smile, her cheeks flushed, then stepped away while gently shaking her hair back over her shoulder.She wa
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-23The Heiress and the Four Brothers 35. Go on, don’t mind us
CALI walked down the corridor after spending some time in the library, my steps light and steady. But I came to an abrupt halt when the sound of loud punches and shuffling feet echoed from the direction of the gym. That kind of noise was unusual in this house—especially in the gym, which was usually my private training space, occasionally shared with Damon or Ace. Curiosity tugged at me, drawing me to the gym door.As I opened it, I froze, my mind struggling to process the scene before me.Ace and Damon. Together. Practicing boxing.I stood there, rooted in the doorway, too stunned to move forward. Ace—his posture tall and commanding—threw a punch that came dangerously close to Damon’s protective headgear. Damon, focused in a way I rarely saw, dodged with precision before delivering a counterpunch that nearly grazed Ace’s shoulder. The heavy breaths they exchanged filled the room, mingling with the sharp sound of gloves colliding.No taunts. No anger. Just focus.Ace lifted his chin
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-24The Heiress and the Four Brothers 36. Just the two of us
ACELooking back at the chaos I’ve stirred over the past few days, I’ve come to a stark realization: my strategy was flawed. Utterly flawed. And as much as I hated the idea, I aimed at the wrong target. I was too obsessed with my little game to forget my main objective.And I had to reconsider my strategy. Not out of guilt—regret isn’t something I romanticize—but because the outcome was far from what I'd hoped for. Maybe Beck’s idea of “making peace” with Damon was a move I need to consider. Not because I actually wanted to make peace—God, no—but because Reggie was watching. And if playing nice got me the “maturity” points Reggie was so desperate to see, then so be it.Still, I didn’t anticipate tonight’s surprise.Sera. She showed up at my door, knocking like some uninvited but very welcome guest. Wearing one of those button-up sweaters she seems to favor. Simple enough, but the way it fits her? Yeah, that threw me off for a second—a very brief second.“Sera? Can I help you?” I asked
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-26The Heiress and the Four Brothers 37. I think I like this better
SERAIt all felt like a carefully laid trap. His stare, his smile, even the way he said my name in that low, almost teasing tone. Ace always knew how to create tension in a room, and me… yeah, I was way too aware of it.I took a slow breath, trying to calm my heartbeat—which, for some reason, was racing faster than it should’ve been. My steps down the hallway felt heavier than usual, even though I knew there was no reason for Ace to follow me.Once I was done with Ace, I had to do the same with Damon—give him his gift. It was ridiculous, really. I felt more like a mom with four teenage sons than anything else.I knocked on Damon’s door a few times, but there was no answer. He was probably in the garage. But tonight was way too cold for me to bother looking for him there, so I decided to push it to tomorrow. Besides, I had other things to prep for—like the important presentation Reggie and I had been talking about earlier.Opening my bedroom door that night felt like walking into a tra
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-27
Bab terbaru
The Heiress and the Four Brothers 67. I won't forget
ACEI set my alarm for 2:40. Three nights in a row. Not because I had insomnia. I just … needed to make sure of something.The first night, I just sat here. Nothing happened.The second night, I made chamomile tea. Still nothing.The third night—tonight—I sat on the old leather couch facing the door, turned on the dim reading lamp, and opened a book I wasn’t really reading. The tea I made was still steaming on the little side table next to me. Two cups. I didn’t even drink tea, but I kept putting it there. Some kind of ritual I made up for myself. The reading lamp cast a soft glow, lighting up a random stack of books I picked just to make it look like I was reading. And the door … I left it open. Just a crack. Just enough for someone walking by to see the light inside. Just enough to be a quiet invitation.Until I finally heard it—the bedroom door creaking open, then light footsteps in the hallway at 3 a.m.And there she was.Sera stood in the library doorway. Her hair was messily ti
The Heiress and the Four Brothers 66. Is it okay if I do this?
SERA“For you, I would.”I froze. Breath catching. Before I could say anything, he turned back to the screen—as if nothing had happened. As if he hadn’t just dropped a line that made my heart skip a whole damn beat.A few minutes passed in a comfortable silence, until suddenly, I heard him speak softly. “Thank you.”I frowned and turned a little. “For what?”He didn’t look at me right away. His eyes were still on the screen, like he was trying to find the right words. “For not asking.”And just like that, the mood shifted. I knew what he meant. That scar I saw at the gym. But it wasn’t just that. It was the way he said it. The way his shoulders tensed, the way his breathing slowed—controlled. Cal, who was usually so gentle and relaxed, now felt … intense.“Because I know what that feels like,” I said softly.He finally looked at me. Our eyes met, and this time, neither of us looked away. His eyes were darker than usual, like they were holding in way more than he’d ever say out loud.I
The Heiress and the Four Brothers 65. For you, I would
SERAThe moment Beck disappeared past the door, I knew Ace would go right after him. His shoulders were stiff, his jaw clenched like someone holding back a whole ocean of rage.Before he could leave, I grabbed his hand. “Come here,” I said softly, pulling him closer and giving him a quick kiss on the lips—gentle, light, just enough to cut through the tension between us.“I know you can handle this,” I whispered, still close enough to feel his breath. “I trust you, Ace.”For a second, something in his eyes softened. Just for a second. His gaze stayed sharp, still like Ace's—never fully readable. “I’ll be good. Because you
The Heiress and the Four Brothers 64. I missed you
BECKToday, the first class after the announcement felt heavier than usual. Not because of the material, but because my chest felt … tight. Like Reggie didn’t just leave behind a legacy, but also left a weight way too big for me to carry.Legacy. It sounds like a gift, right? But it feels more like a curse. Like a crown of thorns handed to us not out of hope, but as a reminder that we’re never really free. That now we all have something we’re supposed to protect.And the truth was … I still didn’t know what it means to be a Blackwood. Even I was not sure I deserved to carry that name.My steps were heavy as I crossed to the pavilion to grab my favorite leather jacket. The plan was to grab my stuff and leave with Ace. We were supposed to go driving.Yeah, Ace insisted on teaching me how to drive. He said, “A grown man who can’t drive is embarrassing. What, you think you’ll survive an emergency driving with crayons?”Which was dumb. I didn’t even use crayons. (Anymore.)Then I heard so
The Heiress and the Four Brothers 63. There you are
SERAI never questioned Reggie's decisions.He must had his reasons.That was the line I kept replaying in my head, like some mantra, every time that stubborn old man made a decision I couldn’t fully accept. But today—tonight—that line felt like poison slowly tightening around my chest.I sat at the edge of his bed, right where I always sat whenever we talked. My spot. From there, I could look at him across the room, lounging on that worn-out leather sofa, complaining about corporate politics. I could still feel him there somehow. Like a ghost that refused to leave.My hand clutched a letter. Edward had given each of us—me and the Blackwood brothers—a personal letter from Reggie.The edges were already crumpling under my shaking fingers, but I couldn’t let go. This wasn’t a contract, or some company memo, or a blood-chilling will. It was just a letter. In Reggie’s handwriting, I knew those strokes by heart.I had read it twice. Maybe three times? I wasn’t sure anymore.***Dearest Ser
The Heiress and the Four Brothers 62. I couldn’t stand it if she had to hurt any more than this
ACEBy nine in the morning, we were already in Blackwood’s main hall—a place that only ever got used for events like this. The kind where silence is heavy, and everything smells like old money and regret. The sky outside was overcast, shadows of gray-blue light creeping through the tall windows and soaking the room in a cold hue. The Blackwood family portraits lined the walls like judges. Reggie’s was one of the biggest—arms crossed, chest puffed, staring straight at the spot where we were now all seated. It felt like he was still watching. Even from the grave.People had started to arrive—major shareholders, a few board members, and of course, him: interim CEO, Albert Coleman. His smile was stiff, like he knew he was the most unwelcome guest.And then there was us—the four of us. Beck sat to my left, arms crossed, looking like he could walk out at any second. Cal sat perfectly straight, his expression nearly unreadable. Damon, all the way at the end, scanned the room with those dark
The Heiress and the Four Brothers 61. Just for a moment
ACEIt had been a week since Reggie’s death, and Sera was still standing tall in the middle of the storm. At least, that’s how it looked from the outside. But I knew she was barely holding herself together.Blackwood Group was in a state of uncertainty. The CEO’s absence left the giant corporation unsteady, and just as I expected, the board of directors and shareholders were starting to question who would take over.I got that information from my tutor.As the COO and a 10% shareholder, Sera was technically one of the key figures in the company. Being Reggie’s only child, she should’ve been in a strong position to take over.But things weren’t that simple.She wasn’t chosen as interim CEO. Someone with a larger stake—someone the board trusted more—ended up taking the position.I wondered how Sera was handling it all.Losing Reggie was already enough to shake her, but now, she had to deal with business politics on a level she’d never faced before. One wrong move, and she could lose eve
The Heiress and the Four Brothers 60. Cal is the only one she needs
ACEI didn’t expect the night to end like this.This wasn’t how I wanted it to be.The heat of her skin, the way her breath hitched, how she gave herself to me completely … I wanted all of that. But not this. I didn’t want Sera sitting there in silence, her expression empty, while the people around her talked as if she were nothing more than a bargaining chip in a transaction.I always knew Reggie and Sera only had each other. But tonight, in a room full of men in black suits who cared more about assets and stocks than memories and loss, that fact felt more real than ever.There were no relatives of Reggie here. No one claiming to be his brother, cousin, or even an old friend. Just people who, at some point in their lives, had a professional interest in Reggie or Sera. And now, after Reggie’s death, they watched Sera like hawks circling their prey, waiting to see if she was strong enough to hold onto what he left behind or if she would crumble under the pressure.Meanwhile, the four o
The Heiress and the Four Brothers 59. You're not alone
CALThe repast was held at Blackwood Estate. The main hall was filled with mourners standing in small groups, each holding a drink, their voices humming softly in the air.But not with grief.From the start, I knew this wasn’t just a gathering to remember Reggie. It was a stage for his business associates to secure their positions in the world he left behind.The guests spoke in hushed tones, but their conversations lacked the weight of loss. Their words were the same ones they’d murmur at a gala or a corporate summit. Their clothes were black, but their expressions didn’t carry sorrow. Their discussions revolved around stocks, assets, and speculation about who would take control now that Reggie was gone.I caught pieces of their conversations.“Sera Blackwood might sell off the assets in a few months. She’s too young to handle this alone.”“Or maybe she’ll hold onto them. We know she’s smart, but without Reggie … is she strong enough?”“She can’t run it by herself. A board of directo
