From his perch high above the streets, Aidan Pierce beheld the distant cityscape. Held in the grand ballroom of one of the city's most famous hotels, the event drew the most influential people from all walks of life, including politicians, celebrities, media moguls, and business tycoons. All of them showed up tonight, all dressed formally, with champagne glasses in hand, and engaging in polite but dubious small talk.
However, they remained in the dark. They had no idea what was going to happen.
Aidan kept his cool, but he was sure his thoughts were racing and his heart was pounding. He departed from our world a long time ago. For a long time, he had not supported these individuals, had no share in their riches, and lacked the power that came with being a Pierce. However, all of a sudden, things changed. He stood out.
A last look at the mirror was his last act. The untamed, courageous man who had lurked in the shadows for so long had vanished. With a clean-shaven face, neatly styled hair, and a well-tailored suit, he was once again the heir apparent to the Pierce empire. However, his eyes were even sharper than before, and a fire had never burned so brightly within them. The child who had to run for his life was not this one. This man would reclaim his proper place tonight. He was shattered and then put back together again.
Leaving the elevator, Aidan entered the ornately furnished entryway. The gentle tinkling of a piano and the whisper of voices blended together. He approached the ballroom entrance cautiously, his shiny shoes clicking on the marble floor.
The doormen greeted him courteously as he approached the enormous double doors; their eyes fluttered with recognition for an instant before they averted their gaze, uncertain of how to respond. Even though everyone in town knew who Aidan Pierce was, they thought he had passed away or disappeared forever. Victor hoped that was what they would believe.
That illusion needed to be shattered.
People from all around the city came to the ballroom to flaunt their riches and prestige. The gathering was illuminated by chandeliers as silver platters containing champagne flutes were brought around by servers.
Victor Pierce, who was the center of attention due to his natural charisma and unwavering self-assurance, was the one who really made an impression. From his vantage point, Aidan witnessed him mingling with influential politicians and businessmen, exchanging handshakes and jokes. Victor had honed the art of hiding the poison behind a smile over the years.
However, the atmosphere changed the moment Aidan walked in. Initially, it was dark. A handful of heads cocked their heads, then cautious glances and murmured chatter. People started paying attention as the time passed, and their astonishment grew as they beheld the newcomer.
Pierce, Aidan.
His presence echoed around the venue as he slipped silently through the audience. The smooth clinking of glasses ceased, laughter subsided, and murmurs of disbelief spread throughout the room.
"Is that...?"
"It isn't possible."
"He should be, right?"
With everyone staring at Aidan, the crowd appeared to be holding its breath as he entered the center stage. He kept a level head, but he could feel their scrutiny weighing him down. These were the very same individuals that turned their backs on Victor while he plotted his murder. His supposed guilt, shame, and absence had been spoken about by the same people.
But he wasn't trying to convince them tonight. He stood before them as a symbol of the lone remaining Pierce heir.
And just then, Victor beheld his approach.
It was as if time stood still as they locked eyes. As Victor shook hands with the man across from him, Aidan could make out his surprised expression, cautious grin, and motionless hand. For an instant, Victor's composed demeanor wavered, exposing his overwhelming fear. However, Victor swiftly got back on his feet, his demeanor changing to one of icy calculation.
Even though Aidan's grin was deadly, it never made it to his eyes. His uncle's astonishment, unease, and growing panic were all palpable to him. This was the moment he had been anticipating.
"Good evening, everybody," Aidan said, his voice slicing soundlessly through the stillness. "It has been a while."
Word of his unexpected return spread like wildfire, and the room was filled with whispers. Attending journalists started trembling into their phones, maybe to notify their editors of Aidan Pierce's resurrection.
With a stiff and tense smile, Victor advanced. He called out, "Aidan," in a strong yet angry tone. "I didn't think you would be here."
Cunningly, Aidan arched an eyebrow, his gaze icy. The odds are low that you weren't. Nonetheless, I feel compelled to let you all know that I am fully functional and living.
Victor was unfazed by the fact that his vision was impaired. Remarking quietly, "It's good to see you." "Everyone must be wondering where you've been for all these years."
No flinching from Aidan. He perceived Victor's attempt to reclaim command of the story by framing Aidan's return as an innocent family get-together. Unfortunately, Aidan chose not to participate in Victor's scheme.
With an air of casualness, Aidan answered, "Oh, I've been around," while scanning the room for the shocked onlookers. "I've simply been holding off on returning until the right moment."
There was a hidden meaning in every syllable, and the tension between them was electric. As they eagerly anticipated what would come next, everyone in the room listened carefully to every word.
Aidan cast a quick check over the terrified reporters seated at the next table. Knowing that his homecoming would be featured prominently in every major metropolitan newspaper by morning, he made sure to nod to them.
Severe jaw tension gripped Victor. It was already too late; he understood that. More than just a personal threat, Aidan's reappearance was an open challenge to his authority and further evidence that the future ruler of the Pierce empire had not vanished. All of a sudden, word would spread throughout the city.
His voice strained as he said, "Well, we're all happy you're back," Victor added. Because of you, the family has missed you.
Even though Aidan's grin broadened, it never made it to his eyes. "You have, I'm sure."
A feeling of unease and multiple whispered remarks pervaded the gathering. Everyone in the audience seemed enthralled with the anticipation, as if time had stood still. However, as soon as the guests started to whisper, as if they could sense a change in the atmosphere, the news of Aidan's homecoming spread like wildfire.
At the epicenter of it all stood Victor, his expressionless face betraying the terror that Aidan could see in his eyes. Aidan had made the initial step tonight to reclaim his birthright after his uncle had firmly controlled the city for years.
As soon as word got out, reporters began flooding the scene with flashing cameras in an effort to record the incredible comeback in its entirety. Knowing this was just the start, Aidan chose to disregard them and concentrate on Victor.
The crowd was left astonished and utterly bewildered as Aidan swiftly walked away as the tension had intensified. As he took a step back, he could feel their intense stares on him and hear their whispers in every direction.
This was his dream come true—a dramatic comeback that would rock the city and force Victor to cling tenaciously to power. Already, the most powerful people in the city were arguing and making assumptions about what Aidan had done while he had been gone and what his return would mean for the Pierce empire's destiny.
Aidan knew, above all else, that Victor was in a state of fear.
Later that evening, Aidan peered through the tinted windows of a black SUV parked outside the hotel as he watched the guests exit the ballroom. His intention in making an appearance was to damage Victor's standing in the community. Indeed, it had been effective.
Aidan stared at the screen of his phone as it buzzed in his pocket. A message had been left by Claire.
It has infuriated Victor. He's already making an effort to locate you. What comes next?
As Aidan was thinking of a way to respond, a smile spread across his face.
Soak him in it for a bit. He is exactly where he should be.
The next step in Aidan's strategy was already in the works as he congratulated himself. Victor felt anxious after tonight's victory.
As the vehicle departed from the motel, Aidan's thoughts turned to what was ahead. His return was monumental, but it was just the start. It was inevitable that Victor would pursue him, and Aidan had to prepare himself to face criticism. Knowing his uncle as well as he did, he anticipated a strong resistance from Victor.
However, Aidan had transformed once Victor had compelled him to go into hiding. Once he learned to hide in the shadows, he became even more cunning and vicious. Aidan had only just started fighting, so Victor should not have felt he had won.
Aidan was all set for the next battle. It would be too late for Victor to regain his birthright when he discovered what was happening.