The Return Of The Forgotten Heir

2 - Born Into the Cross Family

Adrian remained beside his desk for several minutes after his father left the room. Jonathan's words kept replaying in his mind, especially the warning about people who wanted him gone and the reminder not to trust everyone who called themselves family. It was the first time his father had admitted that he was keeping Adrian away from something dangerous, but it still did not explain why the Cross Family had treated him differently since childhood.

He slowly sat down and looked at the large digital display across the room. His reflection stared back at him, but only one question remained clear in his mind—the same question he had carried for years.

Why me?

Adrian had lost count of how many times he had asked himself that question while growing up.

Even as a child, he already knew that the Cross name carried weight. His father led Cross Group, his grandfather Sebastian was the family patriarch, and his uncle Marcus was one of the most trusted people inside the company. The family owned businesses, properties, investments, and companies across Aurelia City, and everyone understood that being a Cross meant having access to a world most people could only dream of reaching.

But Adrian had never felt lucky.

He remembered being eight years old and sitting alone in the dining room while his cousins talked about their private tutors and business lessons. They were already learning how to read company reports, how investments worked, and why certain decisions mattered to the family. Adrian listened quietly from his seat, trying to understand why no one ever invited him to join them.

One evening, he gathered enough courage to speak to his grandfather.

"Grandfather, can I learn about the family business too? I know I'm still young, but I want to understand what everyone is talking about. If my cousins are allowed to learn these things, I don't understand why I can't learn with them. I'm not asking to make decisions. I only want the chance to understand the world I was born into."

Sebastian looked at him over the top of his tablet.

"You don't need to concern yourself with the business. There are people in this family who are responsible for those matters, and you are not one of them."

Adrian frowned.

"But I'm a Cross too. If this family owns the company, then shouldn't I learn about it like everyone else?"

His grandfather's expression changed immediately.

"Being a Cross does not mean you are entitled to everything this family owns. You should learn your place before you start demanding things that do not belong to you."

Those words stayed with Adrian for years.

At the time, he did not understand what his grandfather meant. He only knew that everyone became quiet after Sebastian spoke, and no one tried to defend him.

Not even his cousins.

Adrian looked down at his hands as the memory slowly faded.

For a long time, he believed that maybe he simply needed to work harder than everyone else.

So he did.

When he was thirteen, he began studying business on his own. He read financial reports available to the public, followed Cross Group's stock movements, and studied how different industries affected the company's investments. Whenever his father left a tablet or printed report on the table, Adrian read it carefully, even when he did not understand everything right away.

He never took confidential information.

He only wanted to learn.

When he was fifteen, he showed one of his teachers a business analysis he had prepared about a Cross Group company that was struggling with its operations. His teacher was impressed and encouraged him to continue studying finance and management.

For the first time, Adrian felt that he might actually be good at something.

When he showed the analysis to his father, Jonathan read it in silence.

Adrian stood across from his father's desk, waiting for even a small sign of approval.

Instead, Jonathan closed the file.

"Don't involve yourself in Cross Group's business."

Adrian felt disappointed.

"I only want to know if my analysis is correct. I thought you could tell me where I made mistakes and help me understand what I missed."

"You're still too young."

"But I'm old enough to recognize when something isn't working. The company is losing money in that division, and the current strategy is making the problem worse. I'm not pretending to know everything, Dad. I'm asking you to tell me if I'm wrong."

Jonathan looked at him seriously.

"Adrian, listen to me. You don't need to prove yourself to this family. Your value is not determined by how useful you can be to Cross Group, and you should stop trying to earn approval from people who have already decided how they want to see you."

"But I want to prove that I can be useful too. I want them to know that I'm not just someone who lives in this mansion and carries the Cross name. I want to have a place here."

His father's expression softened for a moment.

"That is exactly what I'm trying to prevent."

Back then, Adrian thought his father simply did not believe in him.

But now, after everything Jonathan had said that morning, he was no longer sure.

Adrian stood and walked toward the smart glass window. Aurelia City was already busy outside. Cars moved along the roads, digital advertisements changed across the massive screens on the buildings, and the sidewalks around the Central District were filled with people heading to work, meeting clients, or rushing toward their next destination.

From the Cross Mansion, everything looked peaceful.

But Adrian knew better.

His entire life had been surrounded by things that looked normal from the outside.

He remembered family celebrations where his cousins stood beside Sebastian while important guests congratulated them. Adrian was always somewhere behind them, smiling politely as he listened to conversations about the future of Cross Group. Whenever someone asked what position he would hold in the company someday, the entire room would suddenly become uncomfortable.

His relatives would quickly change the subject.

He had noticed it even as a teenager.

He just never understood why.

One particular birthday came back to him.

He had just turned eighteen.

His cousins gave speeches about their plans for the company, and Sebastian openly praised their ambition. When it was Adrian's turn, everyone looked at him for a few seconds before his grandfather simply raised his glass and moved on with the celebration.

Adrian forced himself to smile.

That night, he went upstairs to his room and stayed there alone.

A while later, his father came to see him.

"Don't let what they say affect you. They have their own opinions, but those opinions do not define you. You should not allow their silence to make you question your worth."

Adrian looked at his father.

"Then tell me why they treat me this way. If their opinions don't matter, I should at least understand where they came from. I'm tired of walking into a room and feeling like everyone already knows something about me except me."

Jonathan remained silent.

"Why do they look at me like I'm something they regret? Why am I never included when they talk about the future? I'm your son, Dad. I'm part of this family. At least tell me what I did wrong, because I can't keep blaming myself for something no one will explain."

His father walked closer and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You did nothing wrong."

"Then why do they treat me like I'm a problem they have to hide?"

Jonathan looked away.

"I can't explain it yet."

Adrian remembered how painful that answer had been.

Not because his father had been cruel.

It was because Jonathan looked like a father who wanted to tell his son the truth but was afraid of what might happen if he did.

Adrian returned to the present and slowly sat down.

For years, he had blamed himself.

Maybe he was not smart enough.

Maybe he was not capable enough.

Maybe his family simply preferred his cousins.

But after what his father had said that morning, Adrian could no longer accept those explanations.

There was another reason.

Someone was hiding something from him.

He opened his tablet again and stared at the Cross Group financial report he had been studying earlier. The suspicious transaction was still there, waiting for him to open it.

Adrian did not open it.

Instead, he locked the tablet.

His father's warning was clear.

He would not investigate without enough preparation. If people were truly watching him, he needed to understand the situation before making his next move. Acting out of anger or curiosity would only make him easier to control.

For now, he would wait.

He had spent his entire life being patient with the Cross Family.

But this time, his patience would have a purpose.

Adrian looked at his closed bedroom door as he remembered his father's worried expression. He still did not know why he had been treated like an outsider since childhood. He did not know what secret his family was protecting, and he did not know why his father believed learning the truth could put his life in danger.

But for the first time, Adrian no longer believed he was simply the son the Cross Family did not want.

There was a reason behind everything.

And one day, he would find out what it was.