Semua Bab The Heiress and the Four Brothers: Bab 1 - Bab 10

“If I die tomorrow, will you cry for me?”The question slipped from Reggie Blackwood's mouth, accompanied by a lopsided smile that did not reflect the weakness of his body. Even with a pale face and frequently interrupted breathing, the old man still carried an aura of power.Sitting opposite him, I was transfixed. My hand holding the teacup suddenly felt too heavy, and silence crept into the room like fog.“Of course I'll drink champagne with your corpse,” I said after sipping the tea, trying to cover up my anxiety with a joke. Did he think he was the only one who could joke like that?A crisp laugh escaped the 66-year-old's lips. “Good idea,” he commented. “Who else are you going to drink with anyway?”I finally let out a long sigh, feeling tired. “You're being overly dramatic, Reggie. Your health is already much better. The doctor said—”“That pretentious man just wants me to survive longer.”“That's what a doctor does, isn't it?” I did not expect there to be a tremor in my voice,

SERA“So, Sera, when I said this afternoon that you have an important role here … I meant it.”I did not reply to my foster father's words, I just stayed silent and watched, waiting for his next words.Reggie smiled facing his four sons. “Whoever among the four of you can win Sera’s heart and marry her, I will make him the main heir of the Blackwood Group.”I spit out my drink. “WHAT?!”Reggie's words echoed in the room, and for a moment, everyone was frozen in shock. My heart raced, my mind unable to process the sudden turn of events. I felt all eyes on me, waiting for my reaction.Ace, Beck, Cal, and Damon exchanged shocked glances, their expressions ranging from disbelief to amusement at Reggie's unexpected proclamation. My heart raced in my chest as I stared at each of the men in turn, trying to gauge their reactions.Ace, always composed and collected, was the first to speak up. “So, we have to compete to marry her just to prove ourselves to a father we don't even know? How inte

SERAHaving 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 couldn't help but notice how different they all were. Ace's precise mannerisms clashed with Damon's laid-back demeanor, while Cal's gentle nature provided a stark contrast to Beck's enthusiastic energy. It was like watching four different puzzle pieces trying to fit together in a puzzle they didn't understand.“I expect each one of you to dedicate yourselves fully to the Blackwood Group. This is not just about inheritance; it's about legacy and honor.” Reggie's voice c

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'

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 & Ch