Chapter 2
Clara froze, her heart racing. The family trust was her only source of safety and protection. Her parents, Philip and Margaret Johnson, quickly grabbed her arms and drew her back.
"Clara, don't be foolish," Philip yelled. "You can't throw everything away for him."
Margaret said, "Think about your future, Clara. "If you leave now, you will have nothing."
Clara's eyes filled with tears as she glimpsed at Andrew. He stood in the doorway, his face a gloss of pain and resignation.
Despite his inner anguish, he addressed her gaze and spoke steadily. "Stay, Clara." Stay with them.
Clara shook her head, and her voice broke. "I can't let you face this alone."
As Andrew approached the door, he overheard a familiar, taunting voice. Gideon Stone, the man who had aggressively pursued Clara before she married Andrew and who was still pursuing her despite her married status, walked forward with a glittering, gold-embossed box.
"Lady Johnson, I present you with an heirloom sapphire necklace worth two million dollars that has been passed down through our family for generations. "May it grace your neck with the same elegance and poise that you exude."
Lady Johnson's eyes expanded with excitement as she received the present. "Gideon, you have always been really thoughtful. "Thank you."
Gideon turned to Andrew with a scowl on his lips. "It appears that some people know how to properly treat their families. "Unlike those who come begging for money."
Andrew tightened his hands, the shame hurting deep. He took one more look at Clara, who stood powerless, her eyes imploring for an explanation.
Andrew took a long breath, and his countenance softened. "I will be alright, Clara. Trust me. Just stay and care for yourself."
She saw Andrew turn and leave, the grand doors closing behind him, The laughter and bustle resumed, but Clara felt completely alone amid the splendor.
Andrew runs to the hospital to beg the doctors to help him. "Please, just a little more time. I'll find the money somehow.
The nurse approached, her look one of astonishment. "Mr. Andrew, the bill has been paid in full."
Andrew, perplexed, questioned, "By whom?"
A dignified man in his late fifties stood up, appearing in a well-tailored black suit. "Young master, we’ve finally found you," he said, bowing slightly. "I am Thompson Wellington, your family butler, sent by your grandfather, Lord Blackwood."
Andrew’s eyes widened in surprise. “What are you talking about, and who do you say you are?”
Thompson proceeded, "Your grandfather has been looking for you since the awful accident that claimed your parents' lives. The Blackwood empire is broad, ranging from banking to technology.
Your grandfather longs to see you and has planned everything for your return."
The discovery sent Andrew’s thoughts spinning. “I need time to process this,” he finally said. “Don’t reveal this to anyone yet.”
Thompson gave a nod. "As you wish, young master.
Here is a premium black credit card from Lord Blackwood as compensation for not coming to you sooner and letting you suffer,” Thompson said as he handed Andrew a sleek black card. “This is a premium black card from Sky Bank. There are only three of these cards in Beverly Hills—a credit card with access to $10 billion. It is for your maintenance and any other needs you may have until you decide when to assume your true identity.”
Ten billion dollars?!
Andrew was shocked, his eyes and mouth wide open. He had never known he was from such a prestigious consortium, let alone that the Blackwood family could be worth a fortune and give him $10 billion as pocket money.
Andrew sat in the softly lit hospital waiting area, the weight of the premium black card in his fingers almost unsettling. Thompson, the impressive man who had approached him, stood nearby, composed and respectful.
Andrew finally broke the silence. “Please, Mr. Thompson, tell me more,” he begged, his voice trembling with excitement and anxiety. “What precisely does this mean? Are you sure I’m the right person you’re looking for?”
Thompson nodded and swiped on the tablet, bringing up a series of images and documents. “To confirm that we’ve been searching for you and to show you how we found you, here’s some of the evidence.”
He displayed a photograph of Andrew from when he was Ten years old, taken at a family gathering. “This is a picture of you from your early years. We have maintained extensive records and kept track of your whereabouts for many years.”
Thompson then brought up a document with an official seal and the Blackwood family crest. “Here is a copy of the Blackwood family genealogy, showing your direct lineage as the rightful heir. This document was signed by Lord Blackwood himself.”
Andrew stared at the documents and the family tree, which clearly showed his name connected to the Blackwood lineage.
“This confirms my heritage?” Andrew asked, his voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and awe.
“Yes, young master,” Thompson said. “This official record proves that you are indeed a member of the Blackwood family, and you are now the rightful successor to the Blackwood empire.”
Andrew took a deep breath, absorbing the weight of the revelation. “Can you tell me how large the Blackwood empire is and what properties and corporations are under my name?”
Thompson nodded, taking out a sleek tablet and tapping on its screen. “Of course, young master. As the Blackwood empire’s successor, you now own a variety of assets. Permit me to name a handful of the more significant ones.”
Andrew inclined forward, his heart battering in his chest.
He commenced with a detailed exhibition of Blackwood Financial Holdings, one of the gigantic and most distinguished acquisition firms in the country. “Firstly, you own Blackwood Financial Holdings, which manages billions of dollars in assets, including major portfolios and private equity firms.”
Andrew’s eyes widened. He had heard of Blackwood Financial Holdings, which was a financial behemoth.
Thompson continued, showing a map with various locations marked. “In addition to the financial firm, you own several high-value properties, including the Blackwood Mansion in Beverly Hills, which is valued at over $500 million.”
He then swiped to the next porter on the tablet. “You also have broad real estate holdings, which include luxury properties in prime locations around the world: penthouses in New York, London, and Tokyo; sprawling estates in Beverly Hills and the French Riviera; and even a private island in the Caribbean.”
He then displayed a list of corporations. “You also have shares in several major corporations, including Blackwood Technologies, a leader in cutting-edge innovations, and Blackwood Enterprises, a diversified conglomerate with interests in real estate, manufacturing, and retail.”
Andrew couldn't believe what he was hearing. He had progressed from humiliation and poverty to controlling the reins of an empire. His thoughts reeled with the enormity of it all. "This is... incredible," he said softly.