Chapter 4: Inheritance IV
A day had passed since the funeral. Stephanie, her husband, and Richmond had all left the Blackwell estate to return to their respective homes. The island, which had once thrived with the bustle of mourners and the weight of the occasion, had returned to its usual tranquility. Alexander Blackwell, now the owner of his family's fortune, stood at the threshold of a new chapter in his life. His father's passing had left him not only with a vast empire but also with the weight of an unimaginable amount of wealth and power at his fingertips.
The inheritance had made him one of the richest men in the world, a trillionaire, to be precise. The amount of wealth that now belonged to him could make any man go mad, could drown a lesser soul in excess. Yet, Alex was no mere man. He had been prepared for this his entire life. He had spent the last two years at the helm of Blackwell Enterprises, his father taking a step back as chairman, presumably to enjoy the fruits of his labor. But the truth was, Alex had always been destined to lead.
As he woke up that morning, the cold, unfeeling light of early morning streamed through his windows, gently touching his face. For a moment, he just lay there, taking it all in. He had inherited his father's legacy—a legacy that now seemed both a gift and a burden.
He swung his legs off the bed, his feet touching the polished floor of his massive bedroom. The Blackwell estate had always been impressive, but now, it felt even more imposing. He moved through his home like a ghost, someone who had always belonged but now, more than ever, felt as though the house was simply too large for him to ever fully inhabit.
Entering his vast bathroom, he removed the clothes from the previous day and stepped into a shower of cascading hot water. As the steam filled the air, he allowed himself a moment to relax, but even in the shower, his mind raced. The weight of his father's passing pressed down on him, but so did the weight of the opportunity now before him. What would he do with all this power? What would he do with all this wealth?
After finishing his shower, he dried himself off and made his way to his walk-in closet, a space that could have served as a small apartment for most. His clothing choices had always been intentional, and today was no different. He chose one of his signature suits: black, with a hint of red. It was a blend of power and sophistication, the kind of suit that commanded attention but never screamed for it. As he buttoned his jacket, his eyes drifted to a corner of the closet, where a priceless item rested: his father's Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime, worth an astounding $31 million.
The watch had been a gift to his father from a close business partner—an indulgence that had become one of his father's most treasured possessions. After his father's death, it had now come into Alex's possession. The fine craftsmanship and history behind the watch called to him. It was a symbol of both the family's success and the fleeting nature of time. He picked it up, letting his fingers trace the edges of the fine timepiece, and for a moment, he allowed himself to reminisce. His father had always been an enigmatic figure, demanding yet distant, powerful yet reserved.
The watch was the last thing Alex would ever receive from him, a reminder of the man who had molded him into what he was today. But now, that same man was gone. It left Alex with a hollow feeling, a void that no amount of wealth or power could fill.
He snapped out of his thoughts and slipped the watch onto his wrist. He caught his reflection in the mirror, staring at the man before him. This was the man who now held the reins of an empire. This was the man who would shape the future of Blackwell Investments. But who was he really?
As he left his room, the maids who worked in the house greeted him, as they always did. He nodded in acknowledgment, though his mind was elsewhere. Walking through the hallway, he spoke to one of the maids without breaking stride.
"Tell Sebastian to meet me in the study," Alex instructed.
The maid nodded, and he continued on his way, entering the study—the room where his father had spent countless hours planning, strategizing, and building. Now, it was Alex's domain. The bookshelves were lined with leather-bound volumes, and the rich mahogany desk still had his father's personal touch.
He took a seat behind the desk, the chair feeling strange beneath him, as if it were too big for him to truly occupy. He opened the black leather book his father had kept—a journal filled with notes about potential investments, companies to avoid, and strategies for growth. Everything was handwritten, each page meticulously filled with his father's thoughts and ideas.
As he flipped through the pages, his eyes fell on a bold entry: Nvidia. He paused, his finger tracing the name. His father had clearly seen something in the company, something worth investing in, something worth nurturing. Alex hummed, deep in thought, as he closed the book and looked up, just as a knock sounded at the door.
"Enter," he called.
Sebastian, his long-time butler, stepped into the room. His appearance was unchanged, dressed in his usual black-and-white attire, but his presence was a reminder of the life Alex had inherited. Sebastian greeted him with a respectful, "Good morning, Master Blackwell."
Alex looked up at him, noticing the subtle shift in the way he now referred to him. Before, he had always called him "Young Master," but now, it was different. The weight of his father's passing had changed everything.
"Sebastian, where are my mother and Caroline?" Alex asked.
"They went to the garden this morning, sir," Sebastian replied. "They also extended their invitation for you to join them."
Alex hummed in acknowledgment but didn't immediately respond. The thought of joining his mother and daughter seemed… trivial in the face of everything that had just happened.
"My father spent his entire life building this fortune," Alex mused, his voice a little distant. "He worked tirelessly to accumulate this wealth, only to die just as he was about to enjoy it. What's the point of all this wealth if we can't even enjoy it?"
Sebastian remained silent, allowing Alex to continue.
"Now, don't get me wrong," Alex continued, "I know we need to keep working, keep building, keep the Blackwell name alive. But it's high time we start living like it too."
Sebastian tilted his head slightly, as if processing what Alex had said.
"Well, Master Blackwell, how do you propose we begin?" Sebastian asked, ever the obedient servant.
Alex leaned back in his chair, a faint smile playing at the edges of his lips. "I'm going to buy a car."
Sebastian blinked, clearly caught off guard. "A car, sir?"
"Yes, you heard me," Alex said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "I would need one now, wouldn't I? Considering Father gave all the cars to Mother. Well, not like we had the same taste in cars to begin with."
Sebastian stood still for a moment, blinking as he processed the request. But Alex, filled with newfound vigor, was adamant. He had been given the world, and he was going to enjoy every single bit of it.