SERA
This 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, leaning my side against the doorway.
His attention was instantly drawn and a smile spread across his face. He proceeded to put a book on the shelf before replying, “Oh, morning too. Well, it should start to feel like home, right? There's a lot to take care of.”
“Getting settled into your new room yet?” I asked, then gave a small nod to the staff member who greeted me. If I remember correctly, his name was Jonas.
“Well, it's still a mess, but it's gonna get neater slowly.” Beck's smile could have illuminated all the darkness in this world.
“Oh, that's obvious. You brought more stuff than anyone else here,” I joked, secretly looking around at his stuff: books, a guitar, some figure characters, a pile of vinyl, posters, two mugs that were probably his favorite mugs, and more. Oh, and there's a small restoration-like sofa sitting in the corner of the room.
Bet he's the kind of guy who listens to Lana del Rey.
Beck shrugged with a faint smile. “I just need my stuff to feel at home. How about you? It must be weird to suddenly have all of us invading this house.”
I was still eyeing the surroundings as I made my tone as casual as possible. “This is a pretty big house, and it always feels lonely when it's just me and Reggie. So, don't worry. I'm kind of enjoying the change in atmosphere.”
“Well, it's somewhat luxurious for my size. Blackwood Estate is like a castle. I guess I'll have to get used to it.”
“Don't worry, you'll feel at home in a week.” I took one step into his room. “Is there anything I can help you with?”
Beck's shake stopped me from joining him. “No need, but thanks. The people here are like ninjas. They know what I need before I realize I need it.”
I chuckled softly, glancing at Jonas who was also smiling at Beck's words. “They are indeed reliable.”
The sound of a door slamming startled the three of us. Jonas and I met eyes for a moment, it was like a new experience in this usually quiet house.
A second later, Ace passed by with a tense face. His jaw hardened, his steps heavy and quick. Perhaps because he was so upset, he almost didn't notice me. I could hear him murmuring in an annoyed tone.
“Uh-oh, what's going on over there? Ace looks like he just lost a big bet.” I looked at him from the door, the thing I saw was how his shoulders swayed as he walked like thunder in the middle of the day.
Beck put the last book on the shelf. “Maybe he just talked to Reggie. You know since dinner he's been a little tense.”
I looked back at Ace who was disappearing at the end of the hallway. A sigh escaped my mouth when I realized something. My gaze was drawn to Reggie's study, the place where Ace's antics had started. “I'll figure out what's going on. Enjoy tidying up, Beck. Don't forget to rest.”
“Have fun taking care of the drama this morning.” Beck's joking voice accompanied my steps to Reggie's office.
I walked in without knocking, as I'd done for all the years I'd lived here (maybe I should change this habit now that there were a few more family members). Reggie sat behind the desk, a pile of papers scattered in front of him. He massaged his temples as if he was enduring a headache, his eyes focused on reading a document in his hand.
“Morning, Reggie, are you deliberately making Ace look like he's about to explode this early in the morning?” My steps brought me to sit on the chair in front of his desk.
“He came to negotiate. I just gave him a logical answer,” he replied, without looking at me.
I raised an eyebrow, leaning back in the chair. “Logical for you or hurtful for him?”
Reggie sighed, then finally closed the folder and gave me his full attention. “He's stubborn. He won't give up his job at the law firm.”
I frowned, looking at him as he took off his reading glasses. “But didn't you say he could focus here?”
Reggie nodded, crossing his arms over his chest. “Ace is pursuing a partner position at the firm. His ambitions are big. Bigger than I imagined.”
I smiled slightly, trying to digest the situation. Hayes & Chan was a large and prestigious law firm. Becoming a partner there would be very lucrative. “So, did you tell him to choose?”
“No,” he replied softly. “I'm just trying to give him some perspective, but Ace … he's not easy to direct, especially when it comes to his career. This could get complicated.”
I looked at Reggie with a thoughtful gaze. “Maybe he just needs time. I don't think Ace is the type to just … give up?”
Reggie looked tired, but his face seemed to show that my words about Ace's persistence made him a little proud. “Right, and that's the problem. I just wish he could focus on what's really important.”
Silent for a moment, I looked at Reggie with much judgment. He couldn't tell what is and isn't important in a person's life, even if it's his biological son—whom he had only met recently. I could even imagine how Reggie talked to Ace and said that the Blackwood Group was far more important than Ace's career at that law firm, or any law firm for that matter.
I let out a long breath. “I'll try to talk to him later. Maybe he's more willing to hear from someone else.” And in a different way of speaking.
The man smiled slightly. “Thanks, Sera. I knew I could count on you.”
I nodded, then walked out of the room, closing the door carefully.
My new life and challenges officially started today.
***
141224, Anne Joyce
SERAI stepped out of Reggie's study with my mind spinning. Reggie had clearly taken the wrong approach. Instead of giving his sons a choice, he'd given them an ultimatum. I knew he had a good reason, I really did, but I hoped he could differentiate between family and business relationships.As I descended the stairs, I caught a glimpse of a black car speeding out of the driveway through the large window. I rubbed my temples; this was definitely not going to be easy.“Good morning, Miss,” Grant greeted me with his usual smile. He studied my face for a moment before returning to setting the breakfast table. “Couldn't sleep again last night?”I nodded. He always seemed to be able to figure things out just from my face. “I suppose waking up a bit later wouldn't hurt anyone, would it?”Grant chuckled softly. “Your habit of waking up early is impressive—though sometimes, a little alarming. Tea this morning?”“Tea sounds lovely,” I replied. I glanced back out the window, hesitating for a mom
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
SERAI made my way down the corridor to Ace's room, which was adjacent to Reggie's study. After the tension earlier, I was hoping to deliver the good news that I had managed to talk and convince Reggie.Ace had just come in about half an hour ago, and went straight to his room without saying a word. Beck told me when we passed each other in the kitchen.When I knocked on the door, Ace opened it with a face that looked relaxed, but his eyes were full of something hard to interpret. The cleanliness of Ace's room—too clean—seemed to reflect his perfectionist personality.I entered slowly, trying to smile to break the ice. “Ace, I want to talk to you for a moment. There's something that—”“I'm leaving Hayes & Chan.” Ace cut me off with a calm, yet authoritative tone.That sentence stopped me in mid-step. I stared at Ace wide-eyed, trying to digest what I had just heard. Although confused, I tried to remain calm. “Why all of a sudden?”He didn't answer immediately, instead gesturing for me
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
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
DAMONIt had been almost a week since that whole garage thing—me and Sera, we were so close but felt so far. She seemed to be dodging me more these days, and every time I got closer, there was a distance that seemed to widen between us-a space that I couldn't cross. It felt like she wanted to run away. I idn't know what from—from me, or from herself.I never tried to force it, but the frustration built up, thicker and thicker, every day. I knew the reason behind her behavior, or at least, I suspected it. My presence bothered her, whether in a good or bad way.Teasing her that night … this was not what I expected as a result.And the worst part, Sera seemed to be closer to Beck. I suppressed the anger that curled up inside me when I saw them talking, laughing together.I needed some quiet. And the wine cellar was the perfect place. It was my escape—separate, cold, away from the hustle and bustle of this family. In this dark, silent room, I sat with a half-full glass of wine in my hand,
SERAMy cell phone was ringing on the table. Cal's name flashed on the screen, and my heart inexplicably skipped a beat.“What's going on, Call?” I asked matter-of-factly. My anxiety was over the top, but I couldn’t control it—especially when it came to Reggie.“Grant is apparently out somewhere and there's one of Reggie's medical documents that wasn't brought with us. So, can you please check if it's left in his desk drawer?” My back instantly slumped against the back of the chair. I thought something bad had happened. “It's a light blue folder. It has the hospital logo on it. You'll know it when you see it.”“Okay, one second,” I replied and got up from the chair, walking out of the room.I was about to open the door to Reggie's study when it swung open from the inside. Ace's steps halted as he noticed me, our faces alike in surprise.“Ace?” I asked. His eyes were sharp as ever, but somehow there was something I couldn't decipher. “What are you doing?”“I meant to meet Reggie origina
ACEI returned to the room, breathing a sigh of relief after almost being caught by Sera. Once again, I had to admit my luck. If I had been a minute late, she would’ve seen me with that document in my hand—and the last thing I wanted was to give her any reason to dig deeper, especially about why I was taking pictures of it.My cell phone vibrated in my pants pocket. The name that appeared on the screen made me smile slightly. Mom. Of course.“Ace, dear, how’s it going over there?” My mom’s voice was a mixture of affection and expectation. A dangerous combination.“Everything’s on track,” I replied, walking to the window to make sure no one had heard.“And Sera? Has she figured out you’re the only logical choice in that family yet?”Not yet, of course. “She’s closer to Beck. For now.”She snorted, her low laugh full of contempt. “Beckett? A failed artist with no direction in life? That’s not competition, Ace. You two are worlds apart.”I frowned, even though I knew it was just her way o
ACEI didn’t know who started it. But the second our lips met again, I stopped thinking.This kiss was deeper—bolder. Her breath hitched, and her body shifted a little in my lap, like she was trying to find a more comfortable position … or maybe something closer. Something more.I let out a quiet sigh as my fingers slipped under the collar of her pajama shirt, brushing against her warm skin. She tensed for a second, but didn’t pull away. Instead, she reached up, grabbed the back of my neck, and kissed me harder. Her lips demanding, her tongue tracing mine in a rhythm that made my thoughts go static.My sanity was almost gone.She moved again—arched her hips, sliding in closer. Her knees were braced beside my waist now, bodies aligned. Her chest pressed to mine, her stomach against me. I could feel her heartbeat, wild and uneven.My hand slipped under her shirt, finding the smooth line of her back. I traced her spine slowly, deliberately.And yeah—I’d been hard for a while now.She kne
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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