Before proceeding with the reading of the will, Sir Austin Bush cleared his throat and addressed the room. "Master Kenneth left specific instructions for me to address any doubts that may arise," he began, his voice steady and authoritative.
He then opened a sealed envelope, extracting identical copies of a document. "These papers are to be distributed to everyone present, except for Aurora and Alexander," he continued. With a nod, he signaled the servant, who promptly began handing out the documents to each family member.
Aurora watched as the papers were distributed, curiosity mixing with a sense of apprehension. She could see the Graysons examining the documents with varied expressions - some with surprise, others with growing suspicion.
Sir Austin waited for everyone to receive their copy before continuing. "These documents contain DNA results of a certain individual present here today. They're meant to dispel any uncertainties regarding master Kenneth's decisions and intentions for the family and the company," he explained.
The room was filled with the sound of rustling paper as the family members began to read. Aurora could feel the tension in the air, the weight of Sir Austin 's words pressing down on everyone present. She glanced at Alexander, who gave her a reassuring nod.
"Now that you are all in possession of the document, Master Kenneth instructed me to read this letter to you," Sir Austin announced, his voice echoing through the grand drawing room. He unfolded a letter and began to read aloud, his tone firm and clear.
"All of you who are present here today, heed my will and bear witness to my eighth child, Aurora. In your hands, you have undeniable proof from a DNA company that shows the child is mine. Do what you will to verify the authenticity of the document. However, you will not dare stain my legacy by uttering words such as 'she does not belong.' She, Aurora, has every right to be here just as all my other children. I made the effort to dispel any doubts that may linger in your minds. That is all."
Sir Austin finished reading the letter and looked up, his gaze sweeping across the room. The family members exchanged glances, some of them shocked, others clearly angered. The air was filled with tension as they processed Kenneth Grayson's final, unequivocal declaration.
Aurora stood tall, her heart pounding but her resolve unwavering. She could feel the weight of their stares, the mixture of disbelief and resentment. But Kenneth's words gave her strength. She belonged here, and no one could deny her that right.
Elijah was the first to break the silence. "Very well," he said, his voice measured. "We will verify the authenticity of the document, as instructed. But let it be clear, Aurora, that you have a place among us, as our father wished."
"This is ridiculous!" shouted Stephanie Grayson, the third wife, her voice filled with anger. "This daughter of a mistress comes out of nowhere to lay her filthy hands on what's ours. Who put you up to this, young lady?" Her eyes bore into Aurora, her expression overly animated. "I said who paid you to do this?" she demanded, her voice rising.
Speechless, Aurora stared back at Stephanie, too stunned to respond.
"Stephanie, calm down. This is not the place. Control yourself," said Bertha Grayson, the second wife.
"How dare you tell me to control myself, you wench," Stephanie snapped back. "Don't act like you aren't displeased at this. Or wait - was it you who put this girl up to this?"
Bertha replied with a look of disappointment. "And why would I do that exactly? There's no merit in it. Your words blatantly announce your stupidity, Stephanie. Clearly, our husband married you for beauty, not brains, so I don't blame you for speaking like this."
Stephanie stood up, pointing at Bertha. "How dare you!"
Suddenly, a loud clank against the floor silenced the room. Aurora looked to the source of the noise and saw a walking cane. Holding it was Madeline Grayson, the first wife.
"Surely we did not come here to watch you embarrass yourself. Sit yourself down, Stephanie," said Madeline with emphasis.
"But - " Stephanie began, only to be cut short as Madeline shouted, "Shut up!" Her voice resonated through the whole room, her expression one of anger. However, it was clear that her anger was not directed solely at Stephanie; her eyes looked into Aurora as if to say, "This is all your fault."
"Father, I would never question your decision without proper reason," thought Elijah as he observed the escalating tension. "But this is a sign of what's to come. I fear your actions have left us with trouble to deal with. I fear our family will fall apart."
Hearing that loud scream, Stephanie sulked back to her seat, her demeanor similar to a child. "You didn't have to shout at me. I'm not a child," she muttered under her breath, looking away and making sure Madeline didn't hear her.
"It's pretty clear who's in charge of this household," thought Aurora as she observed Madeline. "As an outsider and a thorn in their family arrangement, I'm certain that glare she gave me was a warning shot. Her family's about to fall apart, so it's natural for her to blame me. Nonetheless, I'll be wary of you too, Madam Madeline."
Aurora smiled at Madeline, a subtle challenge in her expression. It was a mild declaration that she was here to stay and there was nothing they could do about it but accept it.
Suddenly, a laugh burst out, breaking the tension. "Wow, you guys are taking this a little too seriously. Loosen up, will ya? I mean, it's like a typical soap opera in here. All I'm missing are some popcorn and snacks," said Michael Grayson, the youngest son, giggling.
"Michael, you will keep quiet," a commanding voice resonated from Elijah.
"Ooh, scary big brother," Michael mocked, still chuckling.
"I will not repeat myself," Elijah added, his menacing glare directed at Michael.
Seeing Elijah's serious expression, Michael quickly stopped messing around, the laughter dying on his lips.
"Everyone is so serious and scary. I wish we'd just get along and stop being so hostile towards each other," thought Helen Grayson, glancing around the room at her tense and conflicted family.
"Since everyone is done acting out of place, Sir Austin, may you please continue with the will?" said Athena Grayson, the eldest daughter, in a cold tone. "Unlike others, some of us have duties to return to. Mirage Corp will not run itself. "
[9:30 - At The Hospital Morgue]
Meanwhile, at the hospital morgue, two employees were discussing a body that had just arrived.
"What do you mean you can't identify the body?" asked Damian, the coroner.
"I've run his prints through all the authorized databases and there's no match," said the employee. "It's like he wasn't even registered in the system to begin with."
"Is it even possible for people to live off the radar like this?" Damian wondered aloud.
"Maybe he's a criminal. I heard he collapsed inside a patient's room. Who knows what he was doing there," said the employee.
"Perhaps you're right. What about facial recognition?" Damian asked.
"Nothing. Like I said, it's like the guy doesn't exist," the employee replied.
"A face that handsome and no one knows who he is," Damian mused.
"What?" asked the employee.
"What?" repeated Damian as he cleared his throat. "I'll put up a request to do the autopsy even without identification. I still have to find out what killed him after all."
Damian went back inside the operating room, and the employee returned to her duties. The body laid on the table, covered with a white sheet. With a deep sigh, Damian started to examine the body.
"No sign of blunt force trauma," he noted as he looked over the body. "No stab wounds or bruising. To get conclusive results, I'll have to open him up. It's a shame, really - a body this perfect, and I have to stain it with cuts. But what can you do? It comes with the job."
Damian took off his gloves and hung his white coat on a chair. "Oops, it's 9:30. Lunchtime. Can't work on an empty stomach," he said, checking his watch. He started to walk out of the room, thinking, "I'll file the request after my lunch break."
He closed the door on his way out, whistling a tune as he walked away from the room. A few minutes passed before something strange began to occur.
First, his fingers twitched briefly. Then, a beat as his chest moved slightly. Gradually, his heart began to beat, sending signals through his body. Various parts of his body started to twitch as his muscles contracted. Veins became visible beneath his skin as blood flow increased, and his lungs began to pump air.
His light red-colored eyes opened suddenly, and his body jerked as he gasped for air. Breathing heavily, he struggled to sit upright on the table where he laid. His movements were unsteady, and he kept slipping and falling before finally managing to sit upright.
"What in the hell happened to me?" the man exclaimed, grabbing his head due to the ringing sound in his ears.