The Burden of Legacy
Sam's POV
The dim light of the library pooled over the pages spread out before me. I'd lost count of the hours I'd spent in here, poring over every detail, trying to unravel the layers of secrets woven into the family history. This wasn't just any study session. No, this was decades of preparation, a ritual passed down through generations. My grandfather, the Chairman, had told me countless times,
"The day you're ready to take over this company, Sam, is the day you'll understand the real reason it was created. And what you find out will determine whether you deserve this legacy."
I wasn't there yet. For all the hours, all the buried family documents, all the pieces of history that felt heavier each time I uncovered them, I still hadn't found the truth. And without it, I wasn't "ready" in his eyes, nor was I ready in mine.
I could run the day-to-day operations, handle the meetings, manage the board, even settle disputes within the family. But to become the heir of the Chairman's legacy… that required more.
My fingers brushed over an old notebook, its spine cracked and worn from years of handling. This notebook had been in the family for generations, each head of the family jotting down his thoughts, secrets, and regrets.
But there were pages missing key pages, I suspected, where my grandfather had once scrawled the motives, the secrets, and the foundations of everything he had built. I flipped through it, frustration building up inside me. There was no clear path, no simple instruction. Just fragments of thoughts, pieces of a puzzle that still refused to come together.
Finally, I closed the book, exhaling heavily. I was exhausted, and I couldn't keep chasing ghosts forever. As I left the library, I spotted Jacob waiting by the door, his face a perfect mask of composure. "Jacob," I nodded in greeting, but he was already moving toward me.
"Sir," he said, his voice low but calm,
"Miss Bella has been asking about you."
Bella. I'd almost forgotten she was here, living under the same roof. The contract between us had started out as a necessity a calculated move to secure both our futures. But the longer she stayed, the more I realized how easily she slipped into the empty spaces of this house, filling rooms that had been silent for far too long.
"Thank you, Jacob," I replied, keeping my tone neutral.
I'd check in on her, but the timing wasn't ideal. My family was waiting like wolves at the door, eager to catch any misstep. And having Bella here, especially now, was risky. They'd view her as an outsider, maybe even a threat, and I knew how my family dealt with threats.
I crossed the hall and paused outside her room. I could feel the tension seeping from her space, the way she'd locked herself away, possibly overwhelmed by everything she'd seen. But it was better that way for her safety and for mine. If she'd asked for privacy, I'd respect it. At least, for now.
The following morning, I found myself waiting for her in the dining room. I knew I shouldn't linger, but curiosity got the better of me. When she finally emerged, I was momentarily stunned. She looked… radiant, almost ethereal, as if she'd gathered all her strength and resilience and worn them as an invisible armor. Her gaze was focused, her steps confident, and it was a stark reminder that Bella wasn't just some accessory to the family's game. She was a force of her own.
She approached me, her expression set.
"Sam, I need to see my brother," she said, her voice steady but laced with determination.
"I haven't been able to check on him, and I'm worried."
I kept my face unreadable, but I could sense the urgency in her tone.
"Bella, you know the situation. Leaving now isn't an option."
"But he's my brother," she insisted, her eyes flashing with emotion.
"I have a responsibility to him, and "
"And you have a responsibility here, Bella," I cut in, perhaps a bit too sharply.
I took a steadying breath.
"You're not simply Bella Mark anymore. Soon, you'll be my wife. That means everything you do, every move you make, will be noticed by the family. My uncles, my sisters they'll be watching you, waiting for any reason to make this more difficult. If you leave, they'll take it as a sign of disloyalty, and believe me, they'll use it against you."
Bella's jaw tightened, her gaze searching my face. She was silent for a moment, but I could feel the storm brewing within her.
"Sam, all I want is to make sure he's alright. This family… your family… they won't even care about him."
Her words stung, but I held my ground.
"It's not about care. It's about protection. You're part of this family now, and that comes with sacrifices. This…," I gestured around us,
"it's all part of what you signed up for. You knew the terms, Bella."
She shook her head slowly, a look of disappointment flickering across her face.
"I didn't realize it would mean giving up everything that mattered to me."
Watching her walk away, I felt a pang of something I hadn't anticipated guilt. I knew I was being harsh, maybe even cruel, but it was the only way I knew to keep her safe. If my family sensed any weakness, any sign that Bella could sway my judgment, they'd tear her apart. And in the world we lived in, compassion was a luxury I couldn't afford.
After Bella left, I returned to the library, needing the familiarity of the old books and the quiet comfort of solitude. My grandfather's words echoed in my mind, a reminder of everything that was at stake. He was in the hospital now, his fate hanging in the balance, and I was next in line. My uncles and sisters wouldn't wait long to seize control if they sensed any hesitation from me.
Jacob entered the room, breaking my train of thought.
"Sir, if I may, Miss Bella is… resilient."
I glanced up at him, curious.
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
He paused, choosing his words carefully.
"Resilient people survive here, Sir. They adapt. Miss Bella… she has strength. Perhaps it's worth considering that she could be more than just a figure in the background."
I studied Jacob for a moment, surprised by his insight. He'd been with the family for years, always quiet, always observing. If he saw something in Bella, maybe there was more to her than even I'd realized. But I couldn't let myself get distracted.
"She'll be safe as long as she's here and stays out of sight," I replied, dismissing the conversation.
"That's all that matters."
But even as I said it, I knew that wasn't entirely true.