The air was thick with the scent of freshly turned earth and blossoming roses. The rain has stopped and the weather has become clearer.
A faint drizzle fell over the tomb which almost everyone was facing with complete silence. "Alexander Wade, 1974 - 2024" was neatly written on the tomb.
Each face was scrunched up in grief, sorrows and regret. Their black umbrellas over their bowed heads couple with the sorrows weighing down on everyone.
Their designer black dresses, suits, jackets with the purses, showing these are no ordinary people. Elegance was written through the way they dressed and carried themselves.
The family of Alexander Wade was mourning. They stood at the first line, closest to the tomb. They were mourning but also watching as everyone dropped flower on top of the tomb and walked back to the gathering.
these went on and on until it was Alex Junior turn, the heir and the son of Alexander Wade. the atmosphere took a tense turn at one side of the gathering unnoticed by everyone else.
"you do know he is also one of your rivals in this competition of power right, Mason's" a scurly face man spoke in a low tone to another young man standing a bit further from the rest of the wade family.
He is the list of my problem Matt, if there is anyone I see as a competitor. it's Helene and her innocent facade
I just hate that b*tch to the point her harmless smile instigate the urge to snapp her neck"
at the same time Mason's said this, a young lady in the Wade family group turn towards him, beaming him a charm innocent smile.
"that b..."
"don't lose your temper Mason's, our competitor are way more than the stupid of a punny girl
not to mention we need to keep the wade family legacy strong"
Mason's nodded in agreement an kept his cool, fixing his gaze on the young Alex from earlier.
"Go on Alex." His aunt nudged him, pushing him forward. He sauntered to the tombstone with shaking shoulders and uneven breath.
Alex dropped the flowers and stood for a moment staring at the tomb. His hands clasped in front of him and his expression calm and unreadable. "So he is gone? he's truly gone and i will never see him again." he thought to himself stirring hard at the tomb
"It going to take him a while to get over it" his aunty murmur to her self stirring at the fifteen year old Alex face who is a replica of his dead father but a younger version.
stirring at Alex eyes which bore a weight that no child should carry, sh couldn't help but shake her head pitifully. "he really should have prep him up for what's to come"
Alex posture was stiff and his tightened jaw betrayed his inner thought. he knew his father's death wasn't natural.
The whispers, the look, he knew, his hunch has never been wrong. His dad was murdered but why? How? His father was the strongest, wealthy and kindest man he had ever known. Who would kill him?
The hushed conversations! and the winds whisper made it obvious His father's death wasn't natural. He was murdered.
But the Ward family is powerful, more than powerful, they were untouchable. Their wealth spanned continents, their influence seeped into politics, industry, and every part of the society.
They were a dynasty and Alexander had been its king. Now, with his death, the fortress was crumbling from within. It was dividing into different fractions
as inexperienced as he may be at the moment, he couldn't missed the infight going on within the family immediately his father died.
"power" Alex mutter in a low depressed tone, none of this things moves him. if he could wish for anything, it would be the return of his father even if it would cost the entire wealth of the wade family.
"Let's go Alex." His aunt came to pick him up, pulling him away from there. The moment of silence wavered off as murmuring broke among everybody as they all walked towards the nearby canopy to take shelter.
Behind Alex, the assembled family members murmured quietly among themselves. He didn't need to turn around to know what they were saying.
Some saw him as the rightful heir, the next leader of the family being his father favourite He was. meaning he is suited for the position of next leader of the family, a choice by favour.
Others thought him too young, too inexperienced. They were already aligning themselves, coming together, taking one another's hands. The seat is open and everyone wants it.
Alex mother Eunice face scrutin hearing the huch decision going on from different sides
where she stood a few feets to Alex left. she striding over to him with her lace handkerchief dabbed over her nose.
"Thank you." She whispered to Mason's aunt as they took a seat. Mason was sitting in between them.
His uncle, Victor Ward, a hulking man with a grizzled beard and piercing blue eyes came over and sat close to them offering his condolences. Victor had always been close to Alexander, but there was something in the way he carried himself today, a certain tension in his shoulders, a glint in his eyes, that set Mason on edge.
"Alex, you have to grow up fast now to take over the family business." He chuckled. "And that's if you can." He murmured looking around with his piercing eyes like a predator watching out for prey. His aunt nudged him and stared him down.
He rolled his eyes and stood up. "you do know they are they are everywhere right?." he relax back into his sit, rubbing his beard.
"the wade family is never short of enemies Victor, we've have a apple amount of them throughout time" Eunice chipped in while giving Victor a deadly glare.
He scoffed waving it off as he turn towards a group of people he could feel animosity oozing from their eyes.
"Don't worry Mason, you will be okay. We are here for you. that's promise you can count on because I'm no planning on breaking that my vow to your father, not in this life time"
Alex looked at his aunt with the same unreadable eyes he has been using to skim everyone. He could feel it, there's something going on and he doesn't know but his curiosity wants him to know.
He could feel there is more to what they were letting him on, this isn't just the tension of being a Syndicate Lord, the most powerful kingpin amongst the kingpin of the Syndicate.
Everything and everyone suddenly seemed distant, like the calm before the storm. a volcano ready to explode.
" Eunice" Aunt Mary called out to his mom "you will be okay, just hold on strong. if for no one else, do it for Alex, he needs you now more than ever" His aunt whispered the last part to his mom hearing.
She refused. "no, you can never be okay after losing a mate." She snapped back.
"Stop." Mary nudged her, her eyes darting back to Alex. "You have to be strong for him. Alex, we will be back. Stay here." She pulled Eunice away to a private corner
Alex couldn't hear what they were saying but from their expression, gesture and posture. he could tell his aunt his serving his mom a dose of her regular scolding and reprimand.
"boy am I glad I'm not in the receiving end, with how pissed she is recently and no outlet to pour out her grief
I would have been in for a long monologue" Victor stated shaking his head pitifully at Eunice plight as he stood to leave Alex side.
"be a man Alex, you days of playing boy is over. the future of the wade family rest solely on your tender shoulder now"
"but there is Helene and Ma....." he didn't get the chance to finish his speech before his uncle shut him up with a shushing gesture before walking away with a rather disappointed expression.
soon the priest's voice boomed offering prayers for Alexander and his family but Alex wasn't listening. His mind was everywhere.
The initial story was that his father had met with a gruesome car accident and wasn't able to survive it. But he had seen his body before he was buried.
He had sneaked into the room his body was since no one wanted him to see his father's body. He wanted to see his father one last time before they buried him.
there was claw marks on him and the claws, wound was deep and jagged which made him know that his death wasn't natural. He knew instantly there was more to it.
as for the he burial, he had gone to a ton of burial, okay, few, and he knew how the vibe has always been. But this, it was different, awkward, strange and more like everyone was watching their back.
Glaring eyes, hushed tone, Alex mind kept running and he kept hoping he was wrong. But he knew he wasn't. He could feel the tension and separation in the family as soon as Alexander's death was announced.