Chapter 1 – The Forgotten Heir
A faint laugh escaped Seraphina as she lowered her phone.
"Still carrying that old violin?" she mocked. "It's probably worth less than my handbag."
Several wedding planners chuckled.
Julian adjusted his cufflinks before gesturing toward the security guards.
"Escort her off the property."
Neither guard moved.
Not because they respected Evelyn.
Because they recognized the violin case.
It wasn't ordinary leather.
Burned into its surface was the original Blackwood crest—a crest removed from the family's branding decades ago after Julian's father transformed the family's music foundation into a luxury investment empire.
Evelyn slowly unclasped the case.
Inside rested an antique violin glowing beneath the afternoon sun.
Every conversation stopped.
One elderly groundskeeper dropped the tray he was carrying.
His voice trembled.
"...The Maestro's violin."
Julian frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
The old man looked at Evelyn instead of Julian.
"I polished that violin forty years ago for your grandfather."
Julian laughed.
"My grandfather donated every instrument to museums."
"No," Evelyn replied quietly.
"He left one behind."
She reached into the case and removed a yellowed envelope sealed with dark red wax.
"The one meant for the rightful guardian of the Blackwood legacy."
Seraphina smirked.
"Oh, please."
She zoomed in with her phone.
"This keeps getting better."
Evelyn handed the envelope to the groundskeeper.
"I think it's time someone else read it."
With shaking hands, he broke the seal.
The first line drained every ounce of color from Julian's face.
To whichever Blackwood forgets where this family came from...
May you like
...you have already begun losing everything.
Silence swallowed the estate.
