I Inherited Trillions, Now What?

Chapter 81 Alexander Day Four

"HA HA HA HA!" A deep, booming laugh filled the room as a man nearly tumbled over, his body shaking with amusement. He laughed as if he had just heard the greatest joke in the world.

The man had black hair and appeared to be in his late sixties. Sitting opposite him was another man, also with black hair. Their resemblance was undeniable—they clearly shared the same ancestry.

Unlike the laughing man, his companion was far from amused. With a sigh, he said, "Brother, are you done?"

Cassius Blackwell, the one who had been laughing, gradually calmed down, wiping away the tears that had formed in his eyes.

As Cassius finished laughing, he wiped the last traces of amusement from his face and said, "That's a nice joke. I knew keeping you around would pay off—congrats, you just earned your pay." His voice then turned cold, his smile vanishing. "That was good, Richmond. Nice joke." He repeated the last part with emphasis, making it clear that it should be a joke.

Richmond, who had silently endured his elder brother's laughter, finally spoke. "Brother, please. Desmond is really qualified. He would be an asset to the company, and he wants to work for Blackwell investments. Please, brother."

Cassius studied him for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, his voice dripped with venom as he spat, "That druggie wants to be part of Blackwell Investments? Are you serious?"

Richmond's voice came out pleading. "Brother, he has changed. He's been out of rehab and sober for months now. You know I wouldn't even be here asking if I didn't believe he had truly changed."

Cassius remained silent, his brow furrowed in thought. Seeing this as a chance, Richmond pressed on. "Please, brother. Please."

Cassius let out a long sigh. "Even if—and that's a big if—I wanted to, it's out of my hands. Alexander is running the company now. If you want Desmond in, go talk to him."

Richmond frowned at the mention of his nephew. He knew exactly how that conversation would go. Shaking his head, he said, "Brother, we both know Alex won't agree. That's why I came to you. Please, just accept him in."

Cassius sighed again, rubbing his temple. "I'm sorry, Richmond, but Desmond's appointment isn't up to me. I have no real power in the company anymore. It's all Alex now."

Richmond's jaw clenched. "But you're the chairman, aren't you?"

Cassius shook his head. "Just an empty title. I have no real decision-making power. I'm more on the sidelines now, really."

Richmond scoffed. "So that's it? Hiding behind your son to reject me?"

Cassius' face darkened at the remark, but before he could respond, Richmond pressed on, his words cutting deeper.

"We both know you own the shares, not Alex. It's all still in your hands. Sure, you've stepped back, but I know you, Cassius. If you really wanted to do this, you could. But no—you're just the same as you've always been. Lying and scheming your way through life."

Richmond leaned forward, his voice lowering into something almost venomous. "Fine. You don't want Desmond in the company? No problem. But be a man and say it to my face. Don't hide behind your son like some pathetic little boy."

Cassius narrowed his eyes, his expression unreadable. "What?" he said, his voice dangerously low.

Richmond didn't hold back. His voice rose, fueled by years of frustration. "Yes! A little boy! I ask you for one thing—just one damn thing! Help my son. Give him the job he rightfully deserves! You know how hardworking he is. But no—you always like to watch me beg, like you enjoy keeping me beneath you!" He shook his head, bitterness lacing his words. "I rue the day I became your brother."

The words barely had time to settle before Cassius' palm slammed down on his desk with a thunderous bang. The sheer force of it rattled the glass of water sitting on the edge. Richmond flinched, his words caught in his throat as he stared at his brother in shock.

When Cassius spoke, his voice was ice—slow, deliberate, and laced with fury. "You call me a boy?" His dark eyes burned as he leaned forward, towering over Richmond. "You dare?"

And for the first time in his life, Cassius found himself questioning everything.

The time away from his empire had softened him—or at least, softened him compared to the man he used to be. He found himself thinking more about his family—his wife, his daughter, the things he had spent a lifetime neglecting in his relentless pursuit of power.

His thoughts were interrupted as he turned a corner in the hallway, stopping in front of a familiar door. Without hesitation, he pushed it open and stepped inside.

It was a bedroom. Not his.

The dim glow from the bedside lamp cast long shadows across the room. In the center, sprawled on a massive king-sized bed, lay his son—his Alexander.

For a moment, Cassius simply stood there, watching him.

Despite everything, despite the battles between them, he couldn't deny one thing—that was his boy.

He sighed, running a hand down his face, thinking of what he wanted to say. But before he could even speak, Alexander stirred, as if sensing his presence.

The younger Blackwell's eyes fluttered open, dark and piercing, mirroring his father's own. A flicker of surprise crossed his face as he focused on the figure standing before him. His voice was rough with sleep, but steady.

"Father."

Cassius remained silent for a moment, then met his son's gaze with a rare openness.

"Son," he said, his voice low but firm. "We need to talk."

Hello, everyone!

First off, thank you. To every single one of you who has been reading up to this point, your support means everything. Writing this story has been an incredible journey, and knowing you're all here with me makes it even more special.

But today, I want to give a special mention to three incredible people:

TW_MIRAGE. A whopping five golden tickets. Five! Thank you so much. Fun fact—my phone keyboard has memorized your name. The moment I type "TW," it pops up instantly, which just goes to show how much of a presence you've been in this journey. I appreciate you more than words can express.

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You guys are the best. ❤️

Now, on to some updates! I'll be uploading artwork for some of the characters soon, along with updating the auxiliary chapters to reflect recent changes. Also, someone mentioned wanting a detailed chapter about the tests Barbara went through. So, I'll ask again—do you guys want that? Let me know!

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