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The Blood Heiress

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billionaire
love-triangle
powerful
heir/heiress
drama
bxg
vampire
self discover
slow burn
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Blurb

Finally free of the city orphanage, Adella is ready to take on the world. To spread her wings, prove her worth. But fate has other plans.

Thrust from mediocrity into a brand new world of pedigree and blood lines, this down to earth orphan's life takes an unexpected turn. Shocked, Adella is finally getting what she has always wanted but given up on finding - a home, a life, a family.

Her new life brings her into contact with new people. Business contacts, new friends and men. Two in particular take an interest. Cassian Moretti a playboy bartender and Evander Santos a successful CEO and acquaintance of her family. For a while, everything seems to be going smoothly. She eases in and begins to enjoy the perks and status that comes with it. And while she still has many unanswered questions, everything seems to be coming together.

However, just when she starts to feel comfortable, cracks begin to show a darker layer under the gilded façade. It becomes readily apparent that not everything is as it seems. Simultaneously, her ingrained feelings of not being good enough drive her forward. Running head long down the rabbit hole, soon everything Adella knows and believes in, everything she is - is torn up, laid bare, and challenged.

When the dust settles, and she can see everything for what it is; especially the past - how it is tangled in her present and dictating her future - can she handle it and assume her birthright? Or will she find herself broken and alone?

***This is a slower paced/slow burn of a story that follows our character through her journey's twists and turns. As the layers are peeled back revealing a tangled truth, there is action, angst and some steam. Just a heads up ;)***

weak to strong, rags to riches, self-discovery, love triangle, dark themes

#Dreame Writing Marathon - Love Story Contest.

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Change of Address
Adella The echo of the slap hit the ornate walls and traveled back towards my ears. I recoiled at the violence I had just inflicted and took a step back. What of it? I straightened and planted my feet. He had deserved it. An already fading red welt fanned out over his pale skin. I held my ground defiantly willing him to react. His icy eyes looked straight through me, he hadn't even flinched. "You...you..." my voice gave away my nerves, the flames inside dying down. I had been through so much. How was it that this was my breaking point? "I, what?" The hard edge to his words left no room for affection. His eyes narrowed as he set his jaw. His perfect features honed in on what I said next. "You..." my face fell. The effort of keeping my heart from breaking into a thousand pieces robbed me of the ability to keep up a strong front. "...monster." my voice carried a tremor as I pushed out the word. My insult lacked teeth, but it still hit its mark. His mouth twitched and he turned on his heel, heading for the door. "I will see myself out." With that he left me, alone with the box, his blood and a broken heart ready to crumble into rubble. The pained faces of two hooded men floated across my view, their twisted expressions as I robbed them of life making my stomach turn. Takes one to know one. *** Around 4 Months earlier... The door clicked shut behind me and I heard the bolt slide into place. That is that, I guess. I clung to my meager belongings and faced the harbinger in front of me. Harbinger of what, I wasn't exactly sure yet. However, the shiny black luxury car in front of me on the drive could only mean a drastic change had set upon my paltry existence. I couldn't decide if I wanted to accept the changes coming or to sink back into the archway and bang on those closed doors begging to be let back in. Even if I had just been waiting to escape them. A familiar, impeccably dressed man exited the driver's door and approached me. "Miss Adella" He bent in half at the waist, one arm bent behind and one arm in front. I found myself very uncomfortable with this unexpected greeting. "Mr. Benetto, get up. What are you doing?" "Apologies Miss, I did not mean to make you uncomfortable," He smiled his familiar and friendly grin and moved quickly to open the back passenger door. "Your new home is waiting, and we must get going". I swallowed the growing lump in my throat. Do you know what you are about to do? Take one step and everything is going to change. Benetto must have sensed my reluctance. "Please hurry Miss Adella…" "Call me Addie like before, please Mr. Benetto." My voice came out all cracked and hoarse as I clung to my things. "Only if you call me Ben." His graying hair tousled about in the late breeze playing about the air in the twilight. His wrinkles about his eyes creased a little more as his smile grew. "It will be okay child, you will see." With his words in my ears and a rush of courage, I dashed the distance to the back seat and sunk into the black leather decidedly unladylike. Ben shut the door and slid into the driver's seat. We began our descent from the orphanage's driveway and merged into the traffic already on the road. With the change in scenery, I let my thoughts run loose as we ventured towards my new home. Ben's home. He had visited me many, many times over the years. At least every month, sometimes more. The only real constant person in my life. There was a time that I had wished for almost this very thing. I watched as children came and left over the years. Prospective parents were ushered in and allowed to take their pick. A few looked my way here and there, but none ever bothered with me in the end. It had only ever been Benetto. Yet, I knew he would never adopt me; he would visit and check-up but never pushed his interest too much. As I entered my adolescence, I came to understand he was acting as more a guardian than a parental figure. It was then I resigned myself to be alone without a family to anchor me. My plans understandably changed, and I began dreaming of the day I could leave the orphanage on my own. Then my well-laid plans changed a final time two weeks before turning nineteen. A whole year beyond when I was supposed to stay at the orphanage. The headmistress had called me to her office and notified me that I was going to go home soon after my birthday. And that Benetto was the one who orchestrated it. I was surprised, to say the least. It wasn't as if I were even up for adoption at that point and home had always been a strange, mythical word to me. Trying to wrap my mind around what that even meant at my age, took the totality of the following weeks. I still wasn't convinced that I understood it well. After all, it wouldn't be my home at the end of the day, it would be Benetto's. He was too late. I was too old. Wasn't I supposed to be spreading my wings now and finding my own way at this age? With curiosity, I looked to the front, towards Ben. "Miss Addie?" His eyes met mine in the rearview mirror, startling me. "Yes?" I responded fully snapped out of my drifting thoughts. Breaking eye contact, I glanced outside. We had left the heart of the city behind and now wound through the streets of the wealthiest citizens of the city. Momentarily leaving my misgivings behind as large mansions rose from manicured gated estates on either side. Benetto turned and stopped in front of an imposing wrought-iron gate emblazoned with a fancy 'R'. After he hit a button on his visor the gate began to open. He looked up into the rearview mirror and smiled at me. "Welcome home" In shock that we were cruising now through those gates, all I could do was take in the spectacle before me. The largest, grandest home that I had ever laid my eyes upon rose up before me. Its features were well lit from the outside in the growing dark that was falling now. My battered belongings looked evermore insignificant in proximity to such overt grandeur. It looked old but not ancient and well made. I couldn't even begin to fathom how someone could be so lucky. Here I was though. There must have been some mistake. "Are you sure?" I asked Ben yet again. He smiled, ever patient with me and parked the car in front of the entry. "Yes, Adella. This is your home." He ducked out of the driver's seat and reappeared in front of my door, opening it. "You mean your home." My immediate reply was a means by which to mitigate my growing worry that this was too good to be true. Why me? Why now? "Mr. Benetto, are you sure you want me to live here with you? I am already nineteen." The car door shut behind me and my grip on my items tightened. Nowhere to go, no way to back out. His kind, grey eyes looked me over and he nodded. "Miss Adella, if you will follow me inside, I will put your fears to rest. And rest assured my dear girl, this home is yours." He lightly placed a hand on my shoulder, squeezing it gently and then removed it, leading the way inside. We went up the stairs and paused for a moment to open the large, sturdy front doors. A movie, I am in a gosh darn movie. Those oversized, carved front doors opened to reveal a cavernous interior entry. Marble floors. A grandiose curving staircase. Gold and crystal chandelier. My eyes widen to the point they felt like falling out of my head as I crossed the threshold. I saw Ben in a new light suddenly. Just who is Mr. Benetto? Sure, he always dressed nicely, spoke well, and carried himself like he was worth something. But this much something? Who is worth this much something? A woman dressed in a crisp maid uniform came into the entry hall and greeted us. "Mr. Costas you are back. A little later than expected, dinner is in the warmer. Shall I get it?" He has a last name…why does that sound so odd? Why haven't I asked for it before? I agreed to come live with this man, and I didn't know bother to learn his last name. It very well could become my own. My breathing dangerously tipped toward hyperventilating with my spiraling thoughts. "Maria, may I introduce to you Miss Adella," Ben made a sweeping gesture towards me, and my cheeks grew rosy at the lavish gesture and attention, and it snapped me back to reality. "My lady, so nice to finally meet you" Maria curtsied. "Nice to meet you as well, Maria" I attempted to curtsy back and failed miserably, dropping some of my things in the process. She rushed over to help me pick it all up. "There is no need to curtsy, Addie," Ben came up to both of us. "Maria will show you to your room and make sure you change for dinner and return so we may all eat together." He turned to leave. "Wait, Ben your last name is Costas?" I asked. That fact had already been covered, yet I was still compelled to ask. Here I was in his house, agreeing to let him adopt me and I didn't even bother to know his last name. Who does that? Ben turned his head and smiled indulgently. "Yes, Addie. My full name is Benetto Costas. Now off to your room to change for dinner." And off he went, disappearing further into the house. Maria cleared her throat and pushed her black hair away from her shoulders and face. "Oh, my yes, please follow me to your room. You must be ready for a change. Not to mention finally putting your things away. Is there more in the car? Should I get someone to grab it for you?" "Ah, no this is it." It was a strange thing to feel that your lack of things could insult someone. But that is precisely what I felt at that moment. How would I ever deserve this place with so little battered and well-loved things to pay for my entry? "Well, then right this way." She headed up the stairs and down a long well-lit hallway to a lavishly adorned door. "This is your room. Please make sure to let me know if it is to your liking." She opened the door and stepped out of the way so that I could pass through into an overwhelming space. A dark green carpet cushioned my feet and golden inlaid walls greeted my hands. This is my room. My very own room. An oversized lush-looking bed took up the most real estate and there was a set of overstuffed chairs in front of a fireplace, but best of all, there were large floor-to-ceiling windows looking over the property. "Your closet is in through this door," Maria guided me back to the present and I followed her to peek into a room far larger than the one I had shared at the orphanage filled with storage and stocked with fashionably labeled clothing. She gauged my reaction as I took it all in. Walking back out of the closet, she led me to the other door opposite. "This door leads you to your ensuite." My expectations were through the roof now. What kind of bathroom would match with this room? It was large and airy and oh so white, with a shower and a bathtub as well as a separate room for the toilet. I shook my head a little. "Miss, are you satisfied with your room?" "Very much" I whispered. "Though, now I am convinced there has been a mistake." Maria looked rather concerned. "Is this coloring not to your liking? A different style of chair perhaps?" "No, I meant a mistake with me." I nervously let out a laugh. "Rest assured Miss there is no way for us to have done that." She smiled at me and moved to the door. "Please take a little break and then change for dinner. I will meet you here in thirty minutes" And with that, she was gone. I finally dropped all my earthly possessions, a few books, writing supplies, and a couple of changes of clothing on one of the chairs and flopped on the other. Maria gave me some time to change and freshen up and then I was to meet her outside the room. Though I had yet to consider how hungry I was, dinner time was fast approaching. As she had promised, when I had finished, she was waiting patiently for me. I was glad for her company. A house this size was overwhelming, and I feared that I was always going to need a guide to navigate it. She led me down the hall, down the stairs, and to the dining room. Dinner was set and ready when we arrived. Benetto and Maria each stood behind a seat on either side of the head of the table. I was woefully underdressed for the grand dining room. They looked the same but somehow fit right in with the furniture and decor. Nevertheless, I made a move to take one of the neglected seats next to them on the rather large table but was interrupted. "Please take your place here, Addie", Ben gestured to the empty spot at the head of the table. "Are, are you sure?" A nervous smile came onto my face. "Of course, we have much to discuss it is best if we get started right away while you eat." I moved to the head of the grand, food laden table and pulled out the chair to sit. As I sat, they also pulled their chairs and settled at there spots. "May I?" I asked gesturing at the aromatic and inviting spread in front of me. "Of course," Ben replied. I began to take a little from all the dishes available and then dug in, it was so flavorful and delicious. Ben and Maria took only a little bit and looked at each other for a moment. "I know you have your reservations about being here." Ben started. "I don't blame you for your hesitance in believing this turn of events to be true or correct." He snapped his fingers and a man appeared holding a document. "You will have many questions about what I reveal next. Some you may not realize you have until later. I will answer all in due time. I ask only that you wait until I've finished my explanation before you ask them." I nodded in agreement with bated breath. "First of all Addie, due to the way things work at the orphanage I believe I may have given you the wrong impression. Rest assured, I will not be adopting you." The sound of my fork dropping echoed outwards from the room. Oddly, Maria smiled at this revelation and my reaction. I looked to Ben angrily, feeling very lost. Just as I was about to open my mouth in protest over this cruel joke they had just played on me, Ben chose to hold up an official looking set of pages. "Next and more importantly, this document is your parents' will." He looked my way to make sure he had my attention. Of course, he had my attention, he had mentioned my ever-elusive, nonexistent parents. My mouth closed immediately, and the indignant anger left. Satisfied, he continued. "It names you, Adella Beatriz Russo sole heir to all that was theirs. This encompasses this property and its staff and much more. So, you see no adoption is necessary." His words broke upon me like a tidal wave. I felt the room spin a bit as I grasped out for something to hold onto. This house is mine...? No, that wasn't right. My last name was Smith. I knew it was a mistake... My heart plummeted, all the doubt that had been slowly growing grew exponentially. I was certain now that there had been a mistake. That they had the wrong person, and I couldn't keep it from my face. I didn't miss Maria's worried look at my reaction. Ben also noticed and shook his head at me, as if he was reading my thoughts. "No mistake was made Adella, I assure you. You are indeed a Russo and not a Smith. Smith became your name to hide you and protect you. It is not the name that your parents carried. It is not the name on your birth certificate or any other legal documents. So please put any notion that you are not meant to be here or deserve this out of your mind." "What happened to my parents?" I was still unsure of their repeated confidence in my identity, but curiosity pushed the doubt out for now. "Your parents passed away some time ago. Your father before you were born and your mother sadly a little while after. Before she passed, she charged me to bring you somewhere safe. To protect you and bring you up until you were of age and it was safe to come back here and claim what is yours by birthright." I nodded my head as he once again paused to gauge my reaction. He took it as the intended assurance to continue. It was all I could do to half listen to what he was saying. The life changing news he had just shared was running a gamut of emotions through me and I had very little control. When it was apparent that I had nothing to say Ben continued. "Right then, to make all this legal you will have to sign this will and separate trust documents tomorrow. But I want you to get some sleep and think on what I have told you tonight. You may ask your questions now." Right... I was supposed to have more questions. I had more questions, didn't I? I felt put on the spot, and asked whatever came to my mind first. "So, I am not a Smith. I am a Russo?" "Correct" Luckily, my poor first attempt jogged some better ones loose. "Who were you to them, Mr. Benetto? You are not a Russo. Are you, my uncle?" "Ben is fine, as we agreed Addie. That is, of course, if you are still alright with our prior arrangement." I nodded to indicate I was alright with it, and he continued. "I was their butler and now I am yours. I have been the caretaker for their property and your guardian up until tomorrow, when it all becomes yours. But I will remain on, serving at my original post of butler." "How did they die?" "I will answer this question, but not tonight. I will tell you that they loved you very much, more than life itself, and you gave meaning to their existences that they never knew was missing." I felt some tears come to my eyes. It hit me hard then, that being an orphan was the only part of my life that had been true. We were all silent for a good moment before Ben spoke again. "Are there any more tonight? It is understandable if you need some time to think all this over. It is a lot to take in at once." "Just one more Ben. What were their names?" "Armand and Madeline." Ben gave me a sad smile and spoke their names with reverence. I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat, names made them real. I may never have had the chance to meet them, but they had existed. "Thank you" I said quietly. I then looked at Maria with tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. "Will you help me find my way back to my room please?"

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