The next morning, William awoke to the oppressive weight of the previous night still clinging to him. His body felt sluggish, his mind clouded with the events that had shattered his world. He barely had the strength to get out of bed. His 21st birthday. It should have been a day of celebration, a turning point, but all he could feel was emptiness.
As he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, the memories of Ethan and Kate—of everything he had seen and heard—played on a constant loop in his mind. The betrayal cut deeper with every passing moment, and yet, there was nothing he could do. He had no one, no power, no future. His birthday had become nothing more than a cruel reminder of how insignificant his life had become.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed, breaking through the fog of his thoughts. William frowned, glancing at the screen. An unknown number. He almost ignored it, but something made him hesitate. With a sigh, he reached for the phone and answered.
"Hello?"
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, followed by a deep, composed voice. "William."
The voice was unfamiliar, yet there was something about it—something commanding, almost paternal. It sent a ripple of unease through William's already fragile state.
"This is Reginald," the voice continued. "Your father's butler."
William sat up in bed, his heart suddenly pounding in his chest. His father's butler? He didn't even know his father well enough to realize there had been a butler. The Rothschild name had always felt distant, like something unattainable, a legacy he wasn't allowed to touch.
Reginald continued, his voice steady but not unkind. "I've been watching over you, as per your father's wishes. Today, now that you have turned 21, it's time we spoke."
Confusion and suspicion flooded William's mind. "Watching over me? I don't understand. Why now?"
"Your father gave strict instructions before he passed," Reginald explained. "He wanted to protect you from the world he came from until you were old enough to make your own decisions. Today, that responsibility falls to you."
William's grip tightened around the phone as his mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation. "What world? What are you talking about?"
"I will explain everything," Reginald said calmly. "But for now, you need to come to the lawyer's office. There are matters of inheritance that require your attention. Things your father left behind."
The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. William had always known there was something more to his family, something lurking beneath the surface of his mundane life. He had heard whispers of his father's wealth and power, but it had never felt real. Now, standing on the edge of this revelation, he wasn't sure whether to feel terrified or relieved.
"I'll meet you there," Reginald said, his voice firm but reassuring. "I'll explain everything once you arrive."
Before William could respond, the line went dead. He stared at his phone, the weight of the conversation pressing down on him. His father's butler. An inheritance. Secrets hidden until this very day. What did it all mean?
For a moment, he considered not going. What good could come of it? His life had already been broken beyond repair, and this was likely just another layer of complication. But deep down, William knew he had to go. There was something about Reginald's voice—something that told him this was his chance to finally understand the truth about his family, about the life he had never known.
With a renewed sense of purpose, William climbed out of bed and dressed quickly. His heart still ached from the events of the night before, and the thought of facing the day felt like a burden he wasn't ready for. But now, there was something else. A thread of hope, however fragile, that maybe this birthday wouldn't just be another reminder of his failures. Maybe, just maybe, it was the beginning of something more.
The lawyer's office was quiet, tucked away in the city's financial district. It was an unassuming building, the kind of place that didn't draw attention but housed the people who ran the world from behind closed doors. William stood outside for a moment, gathering his thoughts before stepping inside.
As soon as he entered, he was greeted by a receptionist who, after hearing his name, led him to a private room where Reginald awaited him.
The man who stood before William was tall, dignified, with the posture of someone who had spent his life in service to others but held a quiet power of his own. His dark suit was impeccably tailored, and his gray hair was slicked back neatly. His eyes, though calm, carried a weight of knowledge—knowledge William wasn't sure he was ready for.
"William," Reginald said, offering a small nod of respect. "It's good to finally meet you properly."
William swallowed hard, his nerves getting the better of him. "What… what is this about? What did my father want with me?"
Reginald's gaze softened slightly, and he motioned for William to sit. "Your father left you much more than just money, William. There is a legacy—a life he kept hidden from you to protect you. But now, you must decide whether you wish to step into that world."
William frowned, sitting down slowly. "What world? My father—he wasn't involved in anything, was he?"
Reginald met his eyes, his voice steady but heavy with meaning. "Your father was a ruler, William. A leader in the shadows. He commanded respect and power, not just from business magnates, but from those who control the underground networks of wealth and influence. And now, as his son, that legacy falls to you."
William blinked, his mind spinning. Ruler? Underground networks? His father had always been a distant figure, someone he barely remembered. And now, suddenly, this?
Reginald placed a document on the table in front of William. "This is your inheritance. It includes everything your father left behind. But the decision to claim it is yours."
William stared at the papers, his heart pounding in his chest. This was it—the moment that would change everything. The life he had known was over, shattered by betrayal and cruelty, but now a new door was opening. One that would lead him into a world far more dangerous—and far more powerful—than he had ever imagined.