CHAPTER 2 — THE MORNING THE HEIR STOOD UP
The ballroom emptied just after midnight.
Champagne glasses disappeared.
Luxury cars pulled away one by one.
Only the staff remained.
Linh quietly folded the blanket that had covered my legs all evening.
"I'll bring you some tea, sir."
"Thank you."
She smiled.
"You don't have to thank me."
"I know."
"But I want to."
She looked surprised.
Most people didn't thank the help.
The moment she disappeared into the kitchen...
My father closed the study door.
"It's time."
The head of security placed a laptop on the desk.
The hidden camera footage began playing.
Evelyn's voice filled the room.
"I'll inherit everything soon."
Then another clip.
One of my cousins laughed.
"He won't last another year."
Another.
A board member whispered,
"Once Lucas signs the succession papers..."
"...we'll finally have someone we can control."
My father slowly closed the laptop.
"You heard enough."
I nodded.
"No."
"I've heard exactly what I needed."
The next morning...
The Lancaster Foundation hosted its annual shareholders' breakfast.
Every board member attended.
So did the press.
Evelyn arrived wearing white.
She looked like the future Mrs. Lancaster.
She leaned over my wheelchair.
"Smile."
"The cameras are here."
I smiled.
Not for the cameras.
For myself.
The chairman tapped the microphone.
"Ladies and gentlemen..."
"We'll begin with Mr. Lancaster's announcement."
I rolled my wheelchair onto the stage.
The ballroom fell quiet.
Every eye followed me.
I looked across the room.
At Evelyn.
At my cousins.
At the executives already dividing up my future.
Then I reached down.
Removed the blanket from my legs.
Evelyn frowned.
"What are you doing?"
I placed both hands on the armrests.
Pushed upward.
Slowly...
I stood.
A collective gasp swept through the ballroom.
Someone dropped a champagne flute.
It shattered across the marble floor.
Evelyn staggered backward.
"No..."
She whispered.
"That's impossible."
I took one step.
Then another.
Then walked to the microphone without assistance.
The room remained frozen.
I looked directly at Evelyn.
"You said I couldn't stand."
"I guess we were both wrong."
The applause never came.
People were too shocked to move.
Then I looked toward the giant screen.
"Play the video."
May you like
Evelyn's smile vanished.
END OF CHAPTER 2.
