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3. I'm not interested in them

Penulis: Anne Joyce
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2024-12-12 15:51:37

SERA

This was the day Reggie had promised. Since a few hours ago, he'd actually sent four cars at different times to pick them up, the Blackwood Brothers. Betting my ass, Ace would definitely rise to the ridiculous challenge and come here in his CEO suit—err, his lawyer suit. As for the remaining three, I couldn't guarantee their arrival.

And me … I couldn't say no, I probably didn't even have the courage to say no to Reggie's wishes. He's been very much a part of my life and I respect him immensely.

“Is there anybody you expected to show up today?”

I blinked, realizing I had been lost in my thoughts. “Wh-what?” I asked, coming back to reality and looking at Reggie. His thick book rested on his lap, his eyes behind his reading glasses looking at me attentively.

“You've been... staring out the window for minutes.”

I closed the window curtains. “Don't talk nonsense. I'm not interested in them.”

“None?” Reggie raised one eyebrow.

“Not a single one,” I insisted, then walked over to him.

“Well, whereas I'm just proud that my sons are so fine looking,” he said, shifting slightly to give me enough space.

“Oh my, what a proud dad you are,” I sneered, then leaned my head on his big arm, floating a little because I didn't want to give him too much of a burden.

I often took the time to accompany Reggie to our home library on weekends, enjoying our time together as father and daughter. Reggie now has more free time than he did two years ago, after the disease began to consume his body.

Reggie giggled softly, which I could feel he was exerting quite a lot of energy to do so. After one long breath, he asked, “Have you made the decision to participate with them?”

“You ask as if I have a choice.”

“You always have a choice, my dear.”

Yes, but the choice he gave was ninety percent versus ten percent. Even a pig knows which one to choose.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, the weight of Reggie's expectations heavy on my shoulders. “How am I supposed to choose between them, Reggie? With eenie meenie miney mo?”

He chuckled softly. “I'll give you times. All of us will live here together, and they'll know what to do. They will be desperate to prove themselves to you, and when the times comes, you will know. Just believe in yourself like I do in you.”

I let out a long breath.

He had been the only stable presence in my life, the one who had raised me with love and care when no one else would. The thought of disappointing him was unbearable.

“By the way, do you think all four of them will come?”

“Yes, without exception,” Reggie replied confidently.

“Wanna bet?” I challenged. There was a possibility in the back of my mind that one of Beck or Damon-or maybe even both-wouldn't show up. Damon had shown too much dislike for this family—especially Reggie—during dinner that night. As for Beck, I guess he was still too naive to judge what was really going on.

“I know more about them, Sera. Whether they like it or not, they will come. Trust me, the Blackwood blood runs deep in them anyway."

“Why are you so sure?”

“We'll see.”

I quickly straightened up, “That means we'll make a bet.” I reached into my cardigan pocket as well as my pants pocket, searching for the contents, and finally collected a 100-dollar bill, three 50-dollar bills and some 5-dollar bills. “I bet at least one of them doesn't come,” I said, placing the money on the short table in front of us. ”Well, at least today.”

Reggie grinned, it was the face he put on when doing business deals that would bring him huge profits. “I'll give you five times that amount of money if you win.”

“Deal!” I said cheerfully.

“Looks like someone's coming,” Reggie said, as I heard the sound of cars below.

I ran to the window and opened the curtains wide, seeing a black car coming. And when a tall man in a neat gray suit stepped out of the car, I grinned unconsciously. I knew it was Ace Vance who was the most excited about this inheritance battle.

“Who's there?” Reggie approached me.

“Your highly ambitious eldest son.”

Reggie chuckled. “Not surprisingly, he’s as ambitious as his mother.”

I rolled my eyes and faced the window again. Reggie beside me seemed enthusiastic.

Moments later, two cars arrived in tandem. Two people each got out of it: one wearing a white shirt with rolled up sleeves and chino pants—Cal, while the one from the car behind him was a lean man in a loose plaid shirt with jeans—Beck, which made my forecast miss.

I heard a proud murmur from Reggie beside me as I watched them each being escorted by our house servant.

My heart beat faster with anxiety when the last car arrived. A man in a black shirt approached the stopped car, but refused to open the door as the driver engaged him in conversation. He then retreated to his spot again and the last car followed the other three.

“Ha! That punk don’t come!” I taunted Reggie cheerfully, but his expression was undeterred. “You owe me atleast 1500 dollars!”

Reggie stopped me from closing the curtains. “Wait,” he said. I gave him a questioning look, but Reggie's gaze was far away. His eyes narrowed, his forehead wrinkled. And when he started grinning, I turned to look out the window.

“Fuck,” I cursed, unable to believe what I was seeing. Down below, a man in a black leather jacket and black pants was gliding like a superstar on his big motorcycle.

“Well ....” Reggie said. He folded my money—which he had taken from the table—and put it in his pocket. His grin grew wider when I squinted in annoyance. “Let's welcome those special guests, shall we?”

***

Having dinner together for the first time as a “family”, Reggie used the historic moment to emphasize his rules. He required all of them to quit their respective jobs and get to know the Blackwood Group.

“You'll be undergoing specialized education in business and management, which I think is fair considering none of you have a business background,” Reggie said, his voice was weak, but full of authority. His presence commanded attention, and even I found myself straightening up whenever he glanced in my direction. “I expect each one of you to dedicate yourselves fully to the Blackwood Group.”

“I was wondering,” Damon said in a tone full of irony, “how long did you think it would take to gather us here, Father?”

The room felt smaller with the growing tension. I recognized him for his courage—or perhaps his indifference.

I glanced at Reggie, hoping he would defuse the situation. Instead, the old man straightened up, ignoring Damon's taunts as if he'd never heard them. “On Monday, you'll start your business and management classes. I want you all to know everything about the Blackwood Group before I introduce you to the public as my heirs.”

“The public?” Beck repeated with a surprised look. “You seriously want us to appear in front of the world like this? We don't even know anything about your company.”

“That’s why I said you will have a special class. “You all have time to learn.” Reggie replied then glanced at me. His gaze softened, and there was a small smile there. “So, Sera, you don't have anything to do tomorrow, do you?”

“I actually intend to—”

“That means no activities,” Reggie cut in, I glared. “Tomorrow it's your job to accompany them and start introducing Blackwood to them.” Reggie rose from his chair. “Well, perhaps we could start with a tour of the Blackwood Estate. And... you're at liberty to choose to guide whoever you want.”

I cursed inwardly when Reggie gave me a wink before leaving the dining table. My gaze shifted to look at their faces.

I think I just want to die.

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  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   5. I knew I could count on you

    SERAThis was my first morning as part of the “new Blackwood family”. Since their arrival yesterday late afternoon, the atmosphere in the house is much different than usual. Especially in these transitional times, almost all the house staff were mobilized to take care of the Blackwood Brothers' move.They occupied the rooms on the second floor. Ace and Beck's rooms were in the left wing, close to mine and Reggie's. Meanwhile, Cal and Damon had rooms in the right wing. I rarely set foot there other than to workout.I walked out of my room, wearing a warm gray sweater. The sound of quiet conversations and things being moved caught my attention, coming from the room closest to mine. I looked into the room whose door was slightly open. There, Beck was busy giving directions to a staff member who was arranging books on a shelf. The room looked only half tidy, with other items scattered over the bed and floor.“Morning, Beck. So busy this early in the morning?” I greeted with a smile, leanin

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  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   6. What about you?

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  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   7. Messy

    SERAThere was no sign of Ace and Damon returning. Reggie wasn't concerned about it, not even curious about where they were. He was even more enthusiastic about having me take a tour of the house with Beck and Cal—Reggie actually suggested I choose one of them, but for many reasons, I chose not to choose.The cold air blew softly, making the orange and gold leaves fall around the vast grounds of the Blackwood Estate. The sun shone slightly from behind the hills, creating a calm and warm atmosphere. Beck, Cal, and I walked hand in hand down the stone path to the back garden.“I bet you guys rarely get this kind of atmosphere in the hustle and bustle of your jobs.”Cal snorted with laughter, tucking his left hand in the pocket of his chinos. “I admit, I've actually forgotten what a peaceful morning feels like. Usually, I start my day running around the hospital.”“Even on weekends?” I asked curiously.“I've got stuff to do on weekends too.”I looked at him, giving him a wry smile. And h

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  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   8. Want to talk inside?

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  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   9. Don't go too far

    SERADamon was nowhere to be found. He skipped dinner. Reggie finally asked about Damon's whereabouts, but I couldn't answer because I really didn't know. From there, I knew that Reggie wasn't too happy with my answer. He felt that I was ignoring Damon too much, especially considering the fact that I didn't try to find out or contact him. Geez, I don't have to know where everyone is all the time, do I?To mediate, Cal said he had texted Damon, but got no reply. I smiled at him, silently sending him a thank you.Ace also didn't escape Reggie's interrogation. This morning when I said that Reggie didn't care about Ace and Damon leaving, it turned out to be a mistake.Ace said, in his diplomatic tone, that his mother—whose name I know is Vivienne—called him for an emergency. Reggie was worried that it might be bad news, but apparently Ace could calm Reggie's worries.After a long day—I didn't expect that spending the weekend with four new people would overwhelm me like this—I decided to go

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  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   10. First time?

    DAMONShe found me.Sera suddenly appeared in the shadows of the garage door, her body photographed in the dim lamplight, wearing slightly oversized dark blue pajamas. Her eyes were sharp, sparkling with a curiosity she couldn't hide.“Damon.”I didn't have to wait long to find out what she wanted, but I wanted to tease her. “Are you looking for something?”“Where have you been all day?” Sera asked, her voice firm, though slightly guarded.She approached, her steps unhurried, but full of confidence. Her face was slightly pale, but always beautiful in that crowd of shadows.I shrugged, taking another drag from my half-empty cigarette. “To my old place,” I replied shortly, ”to take care of some things.”She stood there, her eyes fixed on me, it was obvious she wanted to know more, even though she tried to hide it. I could feel the tension starting to build.Then, without saying much, Sera stepped forward and decided to sit beside me, on the cool car hood. Her body was a bit stiff, as if

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  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   11. I'm not intense

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  • 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

  • The Heiress and the Four Brothers   58. We do this together

    CALI knew this was coming.For days, I’d seen the signs. Every chart, every number, every response from Reggie’s body—it all pointed to the same thing. His time was running out. I wanted to deny it, to believe maybe he had a few more days. But no. Tonight, it’s happening.Walking out of the ICU, my breath felt heavy. I was used to death. As a doctor, I had delivered bad news to countless families. But this was different. This wasn’t just another patient. This was Reggie.And this was about Sera, too.That’s why I convinced her to wait in the suite—the place where we always stayed while waiting for Reggie. I knew she wouldn’t like that decision—Sera hated being controlled. But she was also too exhausted, too fragile to witness this firsthand. So I made the choice for her, even knowing she’d probably hate me for it.As I closed the door behind me, I saw Ace at the end of the hallway. He wasn’t leaning against the wall or sitting on the bench. He stood tall, hands buried in his jacket p

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

    SERAI didn’t remember how I got to the hospital.Everything felt like a thick fog. The city lights flickering through the car window, Ace’s voice constantly speaking beside me, but I couldn’t catch a single word.All I could think about was Reggie. And fear.Fear of the worst possibility, one I didn’t even dare to name in my mind.The moment the car stopped, I pushed the door open before Ace could stop me. I ran through the hospital corridors, past unfamiliar faces—doctors, nurses, other visitors. I didn’t care about them—I didn’t even care about my own unsteady steps.I almost crashed into a nurse when I turned the corner, but I didn’t stop. My breath was ragged as I kept running until I saw that door. And Damon.He was standing there, steady and unhurried, as if he had been waiting for me. I could barely recognize the expression on his face. No fear, no shock. Just silence, hinting at something I didn’t want to hear.Beck was there too—sitting on one of the chairs outside the room,

  • 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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