"Hello, is this Julian Blackwood?" a smooth, feminine voice inquired. Furrowing his brows, Julian Blackwood replied, "Yes, it is." Standing just outside the mansion’s front door, he paused and asked in a curious voice, "Who’s this?" The feminine and professional voice on the other end of the line, sounded relieved to hear his confirmation. "Hi, Master Julian, I'm Vera Turner. Our firm has been trying to reach you for a while now," the woman explained. "I'm calling to remind you that you don't have much time left to claim your inheritance. If you don't act soon, the government will step in and seize everything." Julian frowned, realizing who was calling him. "Oh, it's you people again. I thought I made it clear the last time that I have no interest in inheriting anything. Let the government take it." His frustration was understandable. He’d changed his number to avoid these persistent calls, yet they’d somehow managed to track him down again. "Master Blackwood," Vera continued, he
Julian froze as he saw someone who looked like Claire disappear into the corridor with a man. His heart skipped a beat. Was it her? he wondered to himself. No, it couldn’t be. But that laugh was definitely hers. And the figure? No doubt about it. But what was she doing with that man she was with, walking hand in hand, like two people in love? Curious, Julian's feet moved before his mind could catch up, and he started moving towards the corridor, ignoring Gabe and everyone He walked through the corridor, hesitating as he wondered if perhaps he was mistaken and it was not Claire and his boss. The last thing he needed was to make a fool of himself, by badging in on people having a private moment. Deciding to confirm he followed the way they went. After walking on the opulent corridor, he turned a corner, and there it was the bathroom door. The door was slightly opened, and he could hear voices coming from inside. As Julian got closer, the voices became clearer. He recognize
Julian stormed out of the building, the sound of their laughter fading behind him. The feeling of betrayal was sharp, the worst of all the emotions coursing through him. How could she do this? He had trusted her, believed she was different—someone who could see beyond his scars. But now, as he replayed her cold, indifferent expression, he wondered if any of it had ever been real. Had she always been this heartless, or had he simply been blind to the truth? He wished it were all just a dream, that he could wake up and find everything back to normal. But it wasn’t. Julian’s thoughts wandered back to the haunting emptiness he’d carried since he was a boy. From the moment he lost his family at seven, that void had never left him. For years, the only family he’d known was the butler who had taken him in. But even that was taken away, and after the butler’s death, Julian was left alone, sinking deeper into darkness. Then he met Claire, and for a brief time, she had changed everything.
Julian blinked open, for the first time since he passed out in the bar the previous night and he had no idea of what had happened after he passed out. His vision was hazy as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. To his surprise, he realized that he was lying in a large, plush bed, wrapped in crisp white sheets that felt soft against his skin. The room around him was bathed in soft morning light, streaming through the large and opulence windows. The decor was rich, with dark tones accented by elegant touches, creating a sense of luxury and comfort. Everything around this room screamed of luxury and elegance, it was nothing like his cramped apartment or anywhere he’d ever been before. Questions flooded Julian's mind: What was this place, and what was he doing here? How did he get here in the first place? “Damn, here comes the hangover, maybe drinking a dozen bottle's wasn't really a good idea.” Julian's head pained him as he tried to sit up, memories of the previous night
The silence from the woman as she stared at him, was unsettling Julian. “I really have no idea, believe.” He said. The woman’s eyes narrowed, her voice cold. “You seriously have the nerve to stand there and pretend you don’t know what happened?” She sat up, wrapping the blanket around her shoulders. “Half-dressed in my bed. Do you just wander into random women’s rooms, or am I just the lucky one?” She didn't sound as angry as earlier, because she was starting to realize something. She suspected that she might be the one at fault here. Maybe she was the one who invited him, but with no memory of the night, she couldn’t shake the feeling that it could still be his fault. Julian clenched his jaw, frustration building. “Look, I don’t know what happened either. I was at a bar, had a few too many, and woke up here. That’s all I remember. I'm not at fault here.” He said. She raised an eyebrow, giving him a skeptical once-over. She wasn't as uncomfortable and enraged as she was initial
Julian and Scarlett averted their gazes from each other at the same time, turning toward the door as it swung open. Julian’s heart skipped a beat as people stepped inside. Scarlett muttered under her breath, her demeanour shifting visibly. "This is bad. I’m so dead," she said, barely audible. This was what she had been trying to avoid when she told him to leave through the window. She didn't want her family to see him. A striking woman in her mid-thirties, with curly brunette hair and a sharp, disapproving gaze, stepped forward. Her eyes swept the room: Julian, dressed in shabby clothes, standing awkwardly, and Scarlett looking uncomfortable as if she had been caught red handed commiting a crime. The woman smirked coldly. “Wow, Scarlett. Bringing men to your room now? But really, did you have to bring a homeless guy?” Not appreciating the remark, Julian shot her a cold look. She had barely met him, and yet she was already calling him a homeless man. How could she judge him so quic
Before Julian could reach the door, Scarlett’s cousin shouted, “Guards, don’t let him leave!” She instructed. Almost immediately, two burly men stationed nearby sprang into action. The door flew open, and they seized Julian by the arms before he could react. Their speed caught him off guard. Julian struggled, but it was futile. The men were too strong. They dragged him back to the room. “You think you can just waltz in here and act as you please?” Mr Lancaster leaned forward, his gaze locking with Julian’s. “You’ve overstepped, boy. And now, you’ll face the consequences.” “I didn’t ask to be dragged into any of this,” Julian said as he fought to free himself from the men's grips. Mr Lancaster straightened up, giving a subtle nod to the guards. They shoved Julian hard, forcing him to stumble but not fall. Julian straightened up his clothes, feeling so angry he wanted to fight the two men who had dragged him back here, however he didn't, not wanting things to get worse than they a
Julian barely acknowledged Viktor's presence as he didn’t reply. His attention was shifted briefly to Scarlett, who stood stunning in an ivory lace gown that caught the sunlight. The dress hugged her figure, flowing elegantly to the ground. Her hair was styled in an updo, soft curls framing her face. But her expression was far from joyful. Even in her seriousness, Scarlett remained beautiful. Their eyes met by accident, and Julian noticed the raw intensity in her glare. It was filled with so much hatred, it almost seemed tangible. He didn't understand why she would be so mad at him, he also had no idea how they ended up in this situation. After sometime, the officiant began the process of the wedding, his voice humming on as if reading from a script. Julian and Scarlet barely looked at each other, and they also didn't pay attention to any of the officiant's words, as they held no meaning to them. They were both only there because they had no choice. It wasn’t a ceremony, and
"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
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 say,” Jul
“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
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
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’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
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
When he awoke, it was already morning. Sunlight shined through the curtains, causing a warm glow across the room. Julian blinked, disoriented for a moment, before reaching over to check his phone. The screen lit up with notifications, and his eyes immediately went to the missed calls.There were two. One from Vera, the other from Scarlett. He frowned, unsure of what Scarlet could want. Whatever, he wasn't in the mood for her.He rubbed his face with one hand, still groggy, before deciding to return Vera's call. He didn’t have to wait long before her voice filled the line, sharp and professional.“Good morning, Julian,” she began, her voice businesslike. “I trust you had a restful night. However, we still have a few matters that require your attention.”Julian leaned back against the headboard, trying to shake off the sleepiness. “What’s going on?”Vera’s voice was direct and business-like. “There’s a meeting scheduled with Harper & Co. Enterprises, one of our key business associates.
"Please forgive us, Mr Blackwood," the receptionist stammered, her voice trembling. "We were wrong. We beg you to forgive our ignorance."But Julian remained unsympathetic to their desperate pleas. He glanced at them dismissively, his face still unforgiving. "Security, escort them out. They're fired," he commanded with no emotion, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. He paused, his gaze lingering on the receptionist and Hudson, however he didn't felt nothing for them. They had pissed him off so much that no matter how much they begged, he had no sympathy for them.Without another word, the security guards stepped forward, gripping the receptionist, the former manager Hudson, and Larry by the arms. They were embarrassingly dragged out of the hotel, their protests fading into the silence that followed. The room buzzed with hushed whispers from the onlookers, who had just witnessed everything. Those who had initially dismissed Julian as nothing more than a beggar were the most st