The Dark Heir

The First Rebel Celline

That morning, the Hartwell house felt quieter than usual. There was no sound of Celline rushing downstairs when Teresa called her name.

"Celline!"

There was no answer. Teresa sighed deeply, then called again, this time louder.

"Celline, come down now! What are you doing?"

A few seconds later, footsteps could be heard on the stairs. But they were not hurried. Not anxious. Not like usual.

Celline came down slowly. Her gaze was straight. Her face was calm. "There's no need to shout, is there, Mum?"

Teresa narrowed her eyes. "You took a long time."

"I was reading," Celline replied briefly.

That tone. Not a submissive tone. Not a fearful tone.

Teresa stood up from her chair. "This afternoon, you're coming with me to the orphanage. We're going to give some aid there. Don't talk too much. Sit nicely like you usually do."

There was a moment of silence.

Celline looked at her. "I can't."

Teresa froze. "What?"

"I'm not going." Her voice was soft. But it was firm.

Teresa's face changed slowly. "You won't come?" her voice rose. "You think this is a choice?"

Celline didn't blink. "Yes."

"Have you forgotten who raised you?" Teresa stepped closer. "Who took you from a place that wasn't even fit to be called a home?"

"I haven't forgotten."

“Then don’t act like you have the right to refuse!” Teresa began to get angry.

“I do have that right,” Celline said calmly.

The words fell like a slap.

Teresa laughed briefly. “Right? What right? Your name, your status, your life, all because of me!”

“And the price I have to pay is to be your tool,” Celline interrupted.

Teresa fell silent.

"Since I was little, Mother said I had to obey," Celline continued. "Had to be quiet. Had to be invisible. Had to sacrifice myself for the family."

"It was for your own good!"

"No," Celline's voice rose for the first time. "It was for your image. For your ambition."

The air in the room changed.

Teresa stared at her sharply. "How dare you."

Celline took a step closer. "Dare? No. I'm just tired."

"Tired?" Teresa laughed cynically. "You live in luxury! You're married to the Hartwell heir! You've never wanted for anything!"

"I'm missing one thing."

"What?"

"My own will."

Silence.

"Have you forgotten who put you in this position?"

Celline took a breath. "Because of my obedience to you."

"After I announced to the public that you are not my biological daughter, you dare to defy me?"

"It's not because of that, Mum. I'm just tired of being your tool. For more than twenty years, I have been a tool for you to achieve your ambitions."

Footsteps could be heard from the hallway. Brandon stood in the doorway of the dining room. He did not enter. He just watched.

Teresa did not notice his presence. Only Celline did.

"You think you can live without me?" Teresa whispered sharply. "You think Brandon will protect you?"

Celline did not turn to look at Brandon. "I don't need anyone to protect me."

Teresa moved forward quickly. "Don't forget, I know everything about your past."

Celline's gaze changed. "So do I."

Teresa froze.

"Don't threaten me with the past," Celline continued, her voice colder now. "If I open my mouth, Mum won't be safe either."

Teresa's face paled. "You wouldn't dare."

"Try me."

The silence felt suffocating.

Teresa raised her hand. Her movement was quick.

But her hand never reached its target.

Celline caught Teresa's wrist in mid-air.

For the first time in her life. "Don't touch me again." Her voice was soft. But it trembled with determination.

Teresa tried to pull her hand away, but Celline didn't let go.

"All this time I kept quiet because I thought I owed you," said Celline. "But that debt is paid. With my life."

She slowly released Teresa's hand.

Teresa took a step back.

Brandon finally entered the room. "Interesting," he said calmly.

Both women turned to him.

Teresa tried to regain her composure. "Brandon, tell your wife not to forget her place."

Brandon looked at Celline. Not with anger.

With curiosity. "Her place?" he repeated softly.

"She is still my daughter," Teresa asserted. "And as long as she lives in this house, she must obey my orders!"

"No, she has no right to obey your orders. Have you forgotten that you and Maxel will be leaving soon? You only have one more day in this house. So, legally, Celline is the mistress of this house. She has more rights than you."

Teresa was shocked.

Celline folded her arms across her chest.

"Celline is still my daughter, even though she is the mistress of this house," Teresa said loudly.

Celline chuckled softly. "Not anymore."

Teresa stared at her sharply. "What do you mean?"

"I am the legal wife of the owner of Hartwell Corporation," Celline replied. "Legally, I am higher than you in this house."

Those words were like an explosion.

Brandon raised his eyebrows slightly.

Teresa blushed. "You dare to use that status against me?"

"Why not?" Celline replied. "Haven't I always been just a tool?"

"You don't know what you're doing!"

"I know very well."

Teresa turned to Brandon. "You see? This is the woman you say you love!"

Brandon walked closer, standing between them. "I never told her to go against you," he said softly.

"Then control her!"

Brandon turned to Celline. "Did I tell you to go against your mother?"

Celline looked at him without flinching. "No."

An honest answer.

Brandon smiled slightly. "Good."

Teresa stared at them in disbelief. "Do you think this is funny?"

"No," replied Brandon. "This is progress."

Teresa shook her head slowly. "You'll regret this."

Celline looked at her straight in the eye. "I've regretted being an obedient child for too long."

She turned towards the stairs. Her steps were steady.

No hesitation. No looking down.

Halfway up the stairs, she stopped, without looking back. "Mother," she said coldly. "Starting today, I am no longer under your control." She continued walking. Teresa stood frozen.

Brandon looked at his wife's back. Something was different. She was no longer a fragile girl who could be manipulated. No longer a pawn that could be moved around.

This was someone who made her own decisions.

Teresa followed her, leaving only Brandon in the room. He smiled slightly.

"This is only the beginning, because next, it will be more painful."

**

"Brandon, why did you terminate the partnership with Falcon Corporation?" shouted Maxel as he walked quickly towards Brandon. "You know, I spent years trying to work with that company, and you destroyed it in an instant."

Brandon turned his head. "What does that have to do with you? You're no longer the owner of Hartwell Corporation, are you?"

"Brandon, but I used to be the owner."

"Used to be doesn't mean you still are."

"Falcon is a big company, don't let yourself regret this." Maxel glared at Brandon angrily. "And you, you'll be in for a surprise if you don't apologise to Falcon Corporation."