It was not a surprise to Julian that his life might be in danger now that he had stepped into the scene as the heir of his family's old legacy. His life had always been on the line, even before he inherited everything.It was only because he had stayed hidden for so long that he hadn’t been found by the people hunting his bloodline.“It’s a precaution,” Celeste replied quickly, her voice reassuring him, “Vera believes it’s better to be prepared. These men are highly trained and will ensure no harm comes to you.”Julian glanced at the guards again, their watchful eyes scanning the lobby with precision. He sighed, feeling like his life was getting dangerous by the moment, but strangely he didn't mind it. He was coming to terms with it, plus he would rather live this life than his old one where he was looked at as a nobody.“Fine,” he said, his tone resigned. “Let’s just get moving.” He made his way towards the exit, Celeste following behind.Julian stepped outside the hotel and was poin
Gary’s insults made Julian want to punch him. His fists clenched at his sides, but he kept a cool and composed expression, because he didn't want to cause a scene.Stil, he couldn't stop the old animosity from bubbling under his calm exterior. He had never forgotten how Gary and his cronies had treated him, how they had used their position to make his life unbearable when he was nothing more than a janitor. Now, standing in front of him with that same smug face, Julian had no intention of letting Gary get under his skin again. In Fact it was time for revenge.“Funny,” Julian finally responded, his voice sharp but calm. “I wasn’t planning on working as a janitor here, but I’m honestly impressed you managed to land a job at all. I didn’t think places like this hired people whose IQ barely outpaces room temperature.” He smirked, raising an eyebrow as he let the words hang in the air. “Guess miracles really do happen.”Gary’s face reddened, his expression shifting from smug superiority
Gary’s sneer widened as a mocking realization seemed to dawn on him. His voice was filled with sarcasm. “Ah, I see how it works now. You don’t need hard work or respect, do you, Julian? You just latch onto the next wealthy woman who feels sorry for you. Typical.”His gaze shifted back to Celeste, his eyes roaming over her from head to toe. Her sharp features, confident demeanor, and perfectly tailored outfit all screamed sophistication. Her slender, elegant figure and natural beauty could put most models to shame. Gary’s eyes lit up with a flash of envy. How on earth did this loser always manage to snag women like her? Every time Gary wanted to get attention from a woman like that, he had to spend a fortune. Meanwhile, Julian just seemed to use his face and some unexplained charm. It wasn’t fair.But then, a spiteful thought gave Gary a sense of satisfaction. Whatever. This idiot will get dumped soon enough. Won’t be long until she realizes what a waste of time he is.The mental imag
Gary was momentarily taken aback, his smug expression disappearing for a split second as a flash of fear crossed his face. Mr. Blackwood? This Julian was Mr. Blackwood?Of course, he wasn’t. Gary knew better than to be fooled by this loser. There was no way someone like him could be anything close to someone of Mr. Blackwood’s caliber. How embarrassing, pretending to be someone he clearly wasn’t. It only solidified the fact that Julian was just another nobody, sinking deeper into his pathetic life. To make himself feel like he was something, he had resorted to lying.Gary quickly recovered, his frown returning as he shook his head, clearly unconvinced. "Yeah, and I’m the Queen of England," he scoffed. "Nice try, kid. You’re just some wannabe trying to get attention."Just then, Ms. Young was intrigued by Julian's statement, so she opened the tablet she was holding to see if he was saying the truth,“You said you're Mr. Blackwood? Hold on, let me check.” She’d been intrigued the moment
“Shall we go?” Julian asked Miss Young as he turned toward her.“Yes, Mr. Harper is eagerly awaiting your arrival,” Ms. Young replied, leading him toward the meeting room.A moment later, she held the door open as Julian and Celeste stepped in.The room was magnificent, lined with floor-to-ceiling windows providing a breathtaking view of the city skyline. A long mahogany table stretched through the center, surrounded by leather chairs occupied by key figures in the company.As Julian and Celeste entered, conversations came to a stop, and heads turned toward them.Julian, looking handsome and composed in his tailored suit, moved with confidence across the room. Beside him, Celeste looked elegant, her beauty and self-assured demeanor captivating the room.Glances were exchanged among the board members and shareholders, their expressions silently asking, "Who is this young man?" Most had never seen Julian before, so of course his arrival was a point of intrigue to them.One man got up fr
Smiling faintly, Julian replied, “I’m honored by the thought, but I don’t usually attend social events.” Ti Julian, Mrs Eliza Sterling came off as somewhat calculating and that made him slightly uneasy, like she was up to something. Mrs. Sterling’s smile didn’t waver, although deep down she was disappointed with his answer. He didn’t even sound enthusiastic to meet her daughter, which was something she hadn’t anticipated. Usually, people were typically eager to meet Charlotte, even if it's just to be friends with her, drawn to her beauty and charm. But Julian’s calm, disinterested tone suggested he wasn’t easily swayed by such expectations. “A shame. I think you’d find Charlotte... refreshing. She’s heard a lot about you, and I must admit, she was very curious when I mentioned today’s meeting.” She smiled, her gaze calculating, “Why don't you think it over? Just know that the right connections can make all the difference, Mr. Blackwood.” “I’m sure she’s as remarkable as you sa
"What are you doing?" Julian asked, his voice laced with mild surprise, but he didn't retract his arm from her.Scarlet's expression remained cool, her eyes steady as she met his gaze. "We need to play the part of the husband and wife," she replied, her tone matter-of-fact, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.A moment later, the two of them walked deeper into the hotel, heading toward the private event space where Scarlett’s family awaited. As they moved through the lavishly decorated hallway, the sound of laughter and music grew louder. Scarlett and Julian didn’t seem to care much for the grandeur around them as they walked towards where everyone was. Scarletts arm remained loosely wrapped around Julian’s, her posture stiff, maintaining the facade of a perfect couple. But as they stood so close, she couldn’t help but notice the faint yet captivating scent of his cologne, a sharp, clean fragrance that felt entirely out of place for a pauper like him.Her gaze dart
Scarlett’s frown deepened as Nolan entered the hotel. His presence was the last thing she needed. She despised him for good reason. Despite her clear lack of interest, Nolan couldn't take a hint. His obsession with marrying her was relentless.He’d even told her family it didn’t matter if she liked him; once married, he was sure he could make her fall in love with him. It was nothing more than a delusion. Scarlett would never fall for someone like him. He was the complete opposite of what she wanted. His pressure, and that of his mother, to force this marriage made him even more unbearable.“Keep up the act, that idiot doesn’t know how to take a hint,” Scarlett said sharply, meeting his gaze briefly.Julian nodded, noticing the simmering resentment in Scarlett's eyes. It wasn’t just irritation; it was something deeper.What puzzled him was why her family would push her into a marriage with someone she so clearly disliked. Was it purely for the prestige? A move to strengthen ties with
Meanwhile, Julian arrived at the headquarters of the Blackwood Consortium.It was a luxurious skyscraper, towering over the city with its sleek glass exterior reflecting the afternoon sun. The structure had an impressive modern design, with its dark tinted windows. It was a very tall building. Julian took a moment to admire the view. A faint smile made its way to his lips, a part of him was glad he was back here again after being away for so long. The building was one of the tallest and most luxurious buildings, with more than 200 floors and a design that stood as a testament to the sheer power and influence of the Blackwood Consortium. From the moment he stepped foot here, Julian felt a strange sense of belonging, maybe it was because he was stepping back into a world that had always been his. But at the same time, there was also an unease at the pit of his stomach. It scared him, knowing that he wasn’t just returning as an heir. He was stepping into a battlefield. His enemies
Julian stood over the captive, his cold gaze locked onto him, as he was lying on his back, still tied to the chair. There wasn’t a trace of mercy in his expression, only a chilling look and unrelenting determination.Without needing a command, one of the guards stepped forward, gripping the chair and hauling both it and the captive upright. The man gasped, his breathing ragged, his earlier smugness shattered and nowhere to be seen.When the captive realized that his earlier answer didn’t satisfy Julian, he was even more afraid. “That’s all I know!” the captive blurted, shaking his head violently. “I swear! I never met the guy who paid me. Got the job through a middleman. No names, no details, just a target and a payout!” The same person who was acting all tough earlier and claiming he would never break, was now revealing every thing before Julian, hoping that by the end of this, he would he able to save his skin.Julian stood still, his gaze cold as he studied the captive. He wonder
The shooter had a fearful look for half a second after he heard Julian’s words, but then he chuckled dryly, shaking his head. “Yeah? And what are you gonna do, tough guy? Older you lackeys to beat me until I pass out again?” He tilted his chin up, his smirk resembling that of someone filled with arrogance, despite the fact that he had no control here,“You’re wasting your time. I’m not saying a damn thing. So do what you gotta do.”Julian exhaled audibly, a hint of irritation flashing across his face. He was already getting fed up with this person. He was playing tough, but that wouldn’t last, not with what Julian had planned out for him. One way or another, Julian had to make him speak, and so he needed to shift tactics. Julian’s expression darkened as he shot a look at Nyx. No words were needed from Julian, Nyx already understood the assignment.Without hesitation, she stepped forward and grabbed the man’s hand, twisting it at an unnatural angle. A loud crack echoed through the holdi
Julian laid down on his bed, thinking about his and Scarlett’s relationship, eventually sleep overtook him before he even knew it.The following day in the morning, Julian arrived at a warehouse where he was keeping the person who had shot the mayor. He walked through the warehouse entrance with Nyx and a bunch of armed security personnel following behind him.He made his way into the holding area with Nyx, while the armed men remained outside, securing the perimeter for any danger. If the shooter’s associates, or anyone else, tried to interfere, they’d be ready. Inside there were about five guys dressed in tactical gear, watching over the shooter to make sure he didn't escape.Julian gave a small signal with his fingers, and one of the guards yanked the blindfold off the captives head. The man blinked rapidly, his eyes adjusting to the dim light, before they shifted slowly to stare at Julian and Nyx who stood before him. His eyes lingered longer on Nyx, remembering that she was the
After leaving the hotel, Julian returned home. In the evening around 10 pm as he lay on his bed, scrolling through his phone, trying to find some public Information about his enemies . His eyebrows arched when it suddenly vibrated. Seeing that Scarlett was calling, he paused for a moment.He had forgotten that Scarlett was in the hotel ballroom during the shooting. He wondered if she had made it out safely amidst all the chaos and panic.He answered the call and pressed the phone to his ear.“Hey, Julian,” Scarlett’s voice came through, soft but concerned.“Are you okay?” she asked. “How are you feeling?”Julian couldn’t help but grin, leaning back on his bed. She asked how he was doing. Was she worried about him now? He didn’t expect that. Honestly, Scarlett had always been aloof and cold toward him at first. It was hard to believe that now she could tolerate him like this. It was almost as if… she cared about him all of a sudden.“Aw, look at that,” he couldn’t stop himself from te
“Where is he?” the mayor demanded as Julian approached him and Helen. He rose from the stretcher, his face was a mask of anger and determination. “Where is the son of a bitch who dared to shoot me? Bring him to me.”Julian was taken aback by the mayors sudden behavior. All of a sudden he was acting like this? Julian expression remained calm, almost indifferent. “He’s in my custody,” he replied, his voice showing how much he couldn’t care less about the mayor's outburst, “I’ll interrogate him and let you know what I find out.”But Mayor Sullivan frowned after hearing Julian’s words. He glared deep into Julian’s eyes as if trying to scare him into giving up custody of the shooter. The mayor didn’t agree with Julian because he wanted to do the interrogation himself. Actually, he didn’t need to interrogate the shooter because he already knew who had sent him and why. But that wasn’t the point. He wanted to use the shooter to send a message to the organization, letting them know that the
The room froze, it was like everything happened in slow motion. Some couldn’t believe what they had just witnessed; had the mayor been shot right in front of them? Others, too terrified to think beyond their own survival, scrambled for safety.Panic erupted in the ballroom. Screams filled the air as chaos took hold. Guests scrambled for cover, tables overturned, and a stampede surged toward the exits. Julian’s heart beat rapidly, worrying for the mayor's life, but his focus never got affected by this. His eyes were still locked on the shooter, who was already making his escape.But Julian wasn’t going to let him get away, he walked through the terrified crowd chasing after the shooter. It wasn’t easy because bodies pressed against him, some ducking behind overturned tables, others panicking as they rushed for the exits. But he still pushed forward relentlessly. By the time Julian burst out of the ballroom and into the narrow corridor beyond, the assassin had gained significant groun
The man was unconscious, stripped down to his boxers and vest. Julian’s eyes narrowed in surprise. But, it didn’t take long for Julian to put together what was happening; the man who had left the room wasn’t a real waiter. He had overpowered the actual staff member and taken his uniform as a disguise.Julian crouched beside the unconscious man, checking his pulse. It was faint but still beating . Letting out a sigh of relief, he quickly activated his earpiece. “Celeste, the situation is worse than I thought. The suspect has incapacitated a real staff member and is disguised as a waiter. He just left the room heading toward the gala.”Celeste’s voice came through, calm but urgent as usual. “Understood. I’ll alert the team to keep an eye out for anyone acting suspicious. We’ll tighten security immediately.”Julian returned downstairs where the gala was taking place. His eyes scanned the crowd, searching for the suspect. The waiter’s disguise should have made him easier to spot, but ther
Julian? Her mind raced. What was he doing here… with Helen? Did the two of them know each other already? She watched how close Helen was standing to him, as if they were very familiar with one another, and it didn’t sit well with her. Perhaps it was jealousy she was feeling. After all, who would be happy to see their friend acting so close to their husband?Deep down, Scarlett knew it herself: the reason she was this uncomfortable seeing Julian so close to Helen was because she had started to develop a soft spot for Julian…. And maybe even feelings for him. She wouldn’t admit it to his face, though.Her expression shifted briefly, but she quickly masked her surprise,or the jealousy. “Hi,” she said, her tone smooth, her lips curving into a controlled smile. “What are you doing here?” she asked, directing her question at Julian.Julian smiled slightly. “I’m here on business.” he said casually.Helen didn’t pay that much attention to their exchange as she was eager to introduce them. Sh