Veil of Inheritance

The Looming Gala

Jade’s voice trembled with anger and fear as he stood in the villa’s grand hall. “You, Mr. Hawthorne! You are the one who did this! You will be responsible. The new owner will demand money, and you will have to pay five hundred million rupees for this old vase!”

Frederick, still pale and shaking with his own hidden fear about that huge debt, watched Lucas closely. A cruel hope sparkled in his eyes. This was the moment he had waited for—Lucas’s end. Lydia stared, wide‑eyed, at the broken vase and then back at Lucas. Elle moved closer to Lucas, her hand finding his arm as if by instinct. She stood by him, quietly refusing to accept any blame. The strength of her silent support surprised even her.

Lucas met Jade’s furious glare with a calm face, almost peaceful. His expression did not change. He did not raise his voice or flinch. His eyes were steady and deep, seeming to hold a quiet power that needed no words. “Jade,” Lucas said in a low, clear voice that cut through the tension like a knife. “The owner already knows about this. You don’t need to worry about payment. Be sure it will be handled directly.” He paused and let his gaze soften just slightly, but his authority stayed strong enough to make Jade freeze. “You have your orders, don’t you?”

Jade’s anger vanished. His posture went stiff. He remembered the memo that had circulated among the estate staff just a few weeks ago—an order to treat Mr. Hawthorne with unquestioning respect. At the time, Jade had thought it was a strange mistake. Now, seeing Lucas standing there so calm and in control, Jade felt a cold dread creep up his spine. This was no ordinary guest. This was the Mr. Hawthorne of the memo. Jade’s eyes moved from the broken vase back to Lucas, and he looked confused and afraid all at once. “Under… understood, Mr. Hawthorne,” he managed, his voice small and shaky. He turned toward Frederick and Lydia, sounding almost apologetic. “You must leave now. All of you. Immediately.”

Frederick’s jaw dropped. “What?!” he shouted, disbelief and anger battling on his face. “He broke it! Are you letting him off? That huge cost—”

Jade’s face hardened, his gaze flicking once at Lucas for confirmation. Lucas only gave a tiny, almost hidden nod. Jade turned back to Frederick, his tone flat and emotionless. “My orders are clear, Mr. Thorne. You must vacate the premises right away.” He looked at the shattered vase, then back at Frederick with a cold glare that promised trouble if Frederick argued any further. “The matter of the antique will be handled between the owner and Mr. Hawthorne. You are no longer involved.”

A heavy silence filled the grand room, thick with unspoken threats and surprise. Frederick’s face twisted with rage, humiliation, and defeat. He glared at Lucas, eyes burning with angry helplessness, but Lucas met his stare with an unreadable calm that seemed to mock him. Lydia, frightened by Jade’s sudden change, simply stared. Her earlier teasing of Lucas was gone, replaced by a growing, unshakable fear. She grabbed Frederick’s arm and pulled him. “Frederick, let’s just go. Don’t argue.”

Without another word, Frederick turned and stormed out, dragging Lydia beside him. Lydia clung to his arm, eyes darting back at Lucas as if expecting him to reveal some hidden power. Jade, still looking confused but entirely submissive, turned away and made a call on a hidden earpiece. His voice was low and apologetic as he reported to someone above him.

Elle stayed by Lucas, her heart pounding not with fear, but with a rush of adrenaline and a torrent of questions. Every day with Lucas felt like reading another chapter in a magical story, each moment revealing something she never knew before. “Lucas,” she whispered, voice trembling, “what just happened? How did you do that? And what ‘instructions’ was he talking about?”

Lucas gave her a gentle smile and squeezed her hand. “I don’t know what you mean, Elle,” he said softly, pretending innocence while his mind raced. I will tell you my true identity when the time is right, he thought, imagining the looks on Frederick’s, Lydia’s, and even Eleanor’s faces when they finally learn the truth. The drama would be perfect.

He turned to Jade, who was still nearby, trying to process the new reality. “Jade,” Lucas said clearly, making sure the manager heard, “I want to reserve the conference hall in the estate.”

Frederick and Lydia, who were rushing out with their backs to Lucas, suddenly stopped. They had heard every word clearly in the now‑quiet villa. “What did Lucas just say?” Lydia whispered to Frederick, eyes wide with fresh alarm. Frederick’s mind spun in panic. Lucas is going to book the conference hall? He must be crazy. No, Jade must have wanted to protect him. Jade kicked us out so Lucas would be trapped with the vase debt all alone. Now Lucas is trapped! Frederick muttered under his breath, “He’s going to land himself in big trouble one day! Let’s pray he can get out of this mess! He’s digging a deeper hole!” Lydia, still thinking about the five hundred million rupees, pulled him harder. “I hope he doesn’t use Elle’s money to pay for the vase! He doesn’t have that kind of money!” They hurried away, frantic. “Let’s go before Jade changes his mind and holds us responsible for even more!”

While Frederick and Lydia ran back to the familiar Sinclair mansion, Jade moved swiftly. Lucas’s little nod had been a secret signal, and Jade now understood exactly what to do. His confusion vanished, replaced by nervous respect. “Certainly, Mr. Hawthorne,” he said, his earlier fear still there but mixed with obedience. “The conference hall is available for your chosen date. And for that day, the cost is just ten dollars.”

Elle, still standing beside Lucas, heard every word. Her eyes widened as a strange thought crossed her mind. Ten dollars for a hall that usually cost billions? What kind of luck did Lucas have? Or was there something else at play? Her mind whirled with extraordinary possibilities, hints of magic and destiny flickering in her thoughts.

By the time Frederick, flushed and upset, burst into the elegant living room of the Sinclair mansion, Lucas and Elle walked in right behind him. Frederick was mid‑sentence, voice rising as he told everyone how Jade had chased him away and how Lucas was now stuck with the huge debt. He raged about how the family’s name would be dragged through the mud.

Eleanor Sinclair, a woman who prided herself on controlling every family story, looked at Lucas with a furrowed brow. She needed a clear explanation. “Lucas,” she said, cutting into Frederick’s rant with a sharp tone, “Frederick has told everyone what happened at Grand Square. Can you explain yourself, clearly, without any more drama?”

Lucas met her gaze calmly, then turned to the stunned family. A faint, knowing smile played on his lips. “Not everything Frederick said is true,” he stated simply, his voice carrying an unexpected weight that hushed the room and drew every eye to him. “I have booked the conference hall at Grand Square.” He paused, letting the words sink in. “Not to pay for the vase,” he continued, looking briefly at Frederick, “but to celebrate your birthday, Eleanor, in two days.”

The elegant room, usually soft with polite chatter, was swallowed by a sudden, breathtaking silence. Every face froze, then shifted in a mix of disbelief and confusion. Frederick’s triumphant sneer vanished, replaced by utter stupefaction.