Chapter 3
Thompson offered a small smile. "Certainly, young master. You also control several high-end retail brands, luxury vehicle dealerships, and a unique chain of five-star hotels and resorts.
Andrew sat back, stunned by the information. “How… How did all of this happen? Why wasn’t I informed sooner?” His eyes widened as he took in the scale of the empire. “And how much is all this worth?”
Thompson’s expression darkened. “After your parents were killed in a tragic accident, your grandfather wanted to protect you. He feared for your safety and felt it was best to keep your identity disguised until the perfect time.” “He has been looking for you ever since, making certain that when the time came, you would be prepared to assume your rightful place.”
Andrew took a long breath, trying to grasp the magnitude of the situation. "I don't know what to say."
“You don’t need to say anything right now,” Thompson said softly. “Take your time to absorb this information.”
He smiled slightly. “The total value of the Blackwood empire is estimated to be over $10 trillion, including all properties, assets, and investments. You now hold control of this vast fortune and its opportunities. Moreover, your grandfather is excited to see you again, but he understands that you must first accept your new situation.”
Andrew absorbed the weight of the revelation, realizing the vast opportunity and responsibility now before him. He nodded slowly. “Thank you, Thompson. This changes everything.”
Thompson bowed slightly. “It is an honor to serve you, young master. Please remember that you have a tremendous legacy and the resources to achieve anything you want.”
Thompson handed him a business card, young master. You might need things you want me to handle, that's my number on the card, call me anytime as I am at your service, let me excuse you for now, he left.
Andrew focused on the black card in his hand, feeling a burst of determination. He now had the ability to save his mother and others.
He could finally take control of his fate and exact punishment on those who had humiliated him and his wife. But first, he needed to figure out how to free Clara from Gideon and Lady Johnson’s grasp.
With the strength of the Blackwood empire at his disposal, he was confident he could succeed. The game had only barely started.
Andrew took a deep breath, feeling a surge of determination. He now had the resources and authority to turn the tide in his favor, save his mother, and exact revenge on those who had insulted him and Clara. But first, he had to return to the mansion as their despised son-in-law and deal with the current situation.
Back at the Johnson mansion, the atmosphere remained tense with anxiety. Clara stood beside Lady Johnson, her heart hammering as she awaited her grandmother’s response to her desperate plea for help.
Gideon Stone, who arrived with his extravagant gift, stood smugly to the side, admiring the spectacle.
“Please, Grandma,” Clara said, her voice trembling. “Andrew needs the money to save his mother. She is the only family he has left since he was orphaned. I beg you to help him.”
Lady Johnson’s eyes twinkled with delight as she gazed at Clara and then at Gideon. “Very well, Clara,” she said softly, her tone laced with bitterness. “I will help him, but on one condition.”
Clara felt her heart skip a beat. “What is it, Grandma?”
“You must agree to leave Andrew and marry Gideon,” Lady Johnson demanded, her hungry stare fixated on Clara.
The man Lady Johnson wanted her granddaughter to marry was the son of one of the most prominent families in the upper social circle of Beverly Hills, far more powerful than the Johnson family. Lady Johnson had always wanted to get on their good side, and making Gideon her grandson-in-law would finally make that dream come true.
The room grew hushed, and everyone held their breath in suspense. Gideon's smile grew as he took a step closer. "You heard her, Clara." It's a straightforward choice. Leave the loser and be with someone who can actually support you and your family."
Clara's thoughts raced. She looked at Andrew, who had just re-entered the room, his face pallid but determined. She could see the sorrow and despair in his eyes, and her heart broke for him.
Andrew moved forward, his voice steady. "Clara, don't do this. We can find another solution. We don't have to come down to their level."
Lady Johnson let out a frigid, contemptuous laugh. "Oh Andrew, you're always the idealist. Do you truly believe you can provide for Clara better than Gideon can?"
Gideon chimed in, his tone condescending. "Face it, Andrew. You are nothing more than a burden to Clara. "She deserved better."
Clara felt tears pricking at the corners of her eyelids. She turned to face her grandmother, her voice quivering with passion. Grandma, please. Andrew is my husband. I love him. "Don't make me choose."
Lady Johnson's expression tightened. "Then you leave me with no choice, Clara. If you do not agree with my terms, you and Andrew will be cut off from the family. "You will have nothing."
The room was silent, and Lady Johnson's comments hung heavy in the air. Clara glanced at Andrew with a broken heart. She knew she couldn't abandon him, but she couldn't bear watching him suffer.
Andrew grasped Clara's hand, solid and reassuring. "We'll get through this, Clara. Together."
They all laugh and mock them as Andrew and Clara leave the hall and head home.
Andrew and Clara drove home quietly in Clara’s old Camry, a 2007 model, the weight of the evening bearing down on them. Lady Johnson’s ultimatum had humiliated them, as had the guests’ jeering laughter and the taunts from her cousins and nephew. Andrew’s grip on the steering wheel tightened as he thought about the severe payback he would plan to get back at them all and the challenges that lay ahead.
When they arrived home, Andrew assisted Clara out of the car, his expression softening for her sake. "I am sorry you had to go through that, Clara. "Everything will be alright soon, I promised."
Clara nodded, her eyes full of unshed tears. "I understand, Andrew. "I believe in you.