“THIS HOUSE DOESN’T FEED DEAD WEIGHT,” my sister said, sliding a glass of water toward my son while her child enjoyed lobster.
My mother chimed in coldly, “KNOW YOUR PLACE.”
I smiled calmly. “Alright. I won’t forget.”
What they didn’t know was that moments later, the PRIVATE CHEF stepped out of the kitchen, fixed his eyes on me, and asked loudly,
“MADAM, WHICH DINNER MENU SHALL I PREPARE TONIGHT?”
Chapter 1: The Feast of Wolves
Greenwich in November possessed a cold, haughty beauty. The old pine trees, shrouded in the thin mist of New England, stood silently like sentinels guarding the Vance mansion. Inside, the aroma of butter, garlic, and fine seafood permeated the air, but it couldn’t melt the icy chill that reigned among the people seated around the long mahogany table.
I, Elena Vance, sat in the corner, as silent as a piece of old furniture. Beside me sat Leo, my five-year-old son. He sat motionless, his large, round eyes fixed on the empty plate before him.
Opposite us, Julian—my sister Sarah’s son—was excitedly using silver tongs to crack open the bright red shell of a giant lobster.
“It’s delicious, Mom!” Julian exclaimed, butter dripping from his chin.
Sarah smiled, a radiant but superior smile. She didn’t look at her son, but at Leo. With a cruelly leisurely movement, Sarah picked up the glass of water on the table and gently pushed it toward my son. The glass slid across the smooth wooden surface, stopping just before Leo’s small hands.
“This house doesn’t tolerate useless people, Elena,” Sarah said, her voice sharp as a scalpel. “Children need to learn that rewards are only for those who contribute. A glass of water is enough for uninvited guests.”
My chest tightened. Leo looked at me, his small lips trembling, but he didn’t cry. He had learned to be tough in this world full of lies.
My mother, Eleanor Vance—the iron woman who held the family name—simply took a sip of expensive white wine. She didn’t look at me, her gaze fixed on the portrait of my father hanging on the wall, as if she were reporting this purge to him.
“Know your place, Elena,” she interjected coldly, her voice low but authoritative. “You chose to leave this family ten years ago to pursue what you called ‘freedom.’ Now you’ve returned with a fatherless child; you should be grateful I still allow you to sit at this table.”
I looked at the two women dearest to me. Betrayal doesn’t begin with loud bangs; it begins with a glass of water and the silence of deep affection.
I smiled calmly. A smile I’d spent a decade honing in the most cutthroat financial boardrooms in Manhattan.
“Alright. I won’t forget,” I said softly.
Chapter 2: The Predator’s Silence
Sarah scoffed, mistaking my silence for submission. She began excitedly discussing her plans for renovating the mansion.
“Mother, I’m going to tear down the west garden and build an infinity pool,” Sarah said, her eyes gleaming with greed. “This mansion needs a breath of fresh air. After we officially finalize the inheritance tomorrow morning, I’ll turn this place into the center of Greenwich’s elite.”
Mrs. Eleanor nodded. “That’s right. The Vance family needs a visionary heir, not a fugitive.”
They spoke of me as if I didn’t exist. They divided my father’s inheritance right in front of me, using the feigned poverty I was wearing as a springboard for their arrogance. They didn’t know that the old car I drove here, the simple clothes I was wearing, were all just a final test.
A test they had failed miserably from the very first moment.
Chapter 3: The Climax – Andre’s Appearance
As the atmosphere in the dining room grew stifling due to Sarah’s boasting, the kitchen door suddenly opened.
Andre emerged.
Andre was no ordinary servant. He was a five-star chef who had served heads of state and was sought after by the super-rich with six-figure salaries. He wore a pristine white uniform, a silver-embellished silk scarf draped across his arm.
Sarah froze. She had never seen Andre leave the kitchen during a banquet unless requested by his master.
“Oh, Andre!” Sarah quickly adjusted her posture, her voice fawning. “The lobster was excellent. Did you come out to receive the compliments? Don’t worry, tomorrow when I take over, your salary will double.”
Mrs. Eleanor also smiled respectfully. Even she had to respect Andre because of his reputation.
But Andre didn’t look at Sarah. He didn’t look at Mrs. Eleanor either.
He strode straight toward me. To everyone’s utter astonishment, the legendary chef bowed deeply, a gesture of absolute respect befitting a monarch.
“Madam Chairwoman,” Andre said loudly, his voice echoing throughout the main hall. “What should I prepare for supper tonight? I’ve just received Almas caviar from Iran and A5 Wagyu beef. Would you like me to serve it in your office?”
Chapter 4: The Twist – The Real Will
The entire dining room fell into a deathly silence. Sarah’s fork clattered against the porcelain plate. Eleanor froze, her wine glass trembling so much that the wine spilled out.
“Andre… what did you say?” Sarah
“Ah,” she stammered, her face turning from red to pale. “Which president? My mother is sitting here!”
Andre remained rigid, not even glancing at Sarah. He was waiting for my answer.
I calmly picked up the glass of water Sarah had pushed to my son, took a small sip, and set it down. My eyes were now as sharp as diamonds.
“Thank you, Andre,” I said, my tone calm but powerful enough to make Sarah recoil. “Prepare Wagyu beef for Leo. He seems a little hungry after only ‘enjoying’ water.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Andre bowed again and turned to walk into the kitchen, not forgetting to glance at Julian’s lobster with the disdain of an expert looking at a pile of rubbish.
“Elena… what’s going on?” Eleanor’s voice trembled as she jumped to her feet. “Why did Andre call you that?”
I pulled a sleek black file from my handbag, bearing the anonymous seal of the Vance-Global Investment Corporation.
“Mom and Sarah love talking about Dad’s will, don’t they?” I leisurely opened the file. “But there’s one thing Dad didn’t tell everyone. Before he died, he secretly sold this entire mansion and 60% of the family corporation’s shares to an anonymous trust to avoid the tax debts Sarah incurred from her horse racing bets.”
I pushed the ownership papers toward them.
“That trust is called ‘Leo’s Legacy.’ And I am the sole administrator. In other words, ten minutes ago, you were all eating my lobster, in my house, and insulting my son – the future true owner of the Vance name.”
Chapter 5: The Extreme Climax – The Purge
Sarah lunged forward, snatching the paper, her eyes frantically scanning every line. She collapsed onto the marble floor.
“No… it can’t be! Your father loves you! He couldn’t possibly leave everything to you!”
“Your father loves the truth, Sarah,” I stood up, cradling Leo in my arms. “He knew you would ruin this inheritance within a year. And he knew how much your mother would tolerate you. He called me six months before he died. For the past ten years, I haven’t been hiding. I’ve been building an empire so I could buy back this very glass cage of yours.”
I turned to look at Eleanor. “You told me I know my place? My place is that of your biggest creditor. And starting at 9 a.m. tomorrow, this mansion will be sealed off for restructuring.”
“Are you going to kick me out?” Eleanor sobbed.
“I’m just giving you the ‘freedom’ you always mock me for,” I said coldly. “Mother and Sarah have 24 hours to pack. Don’t take anything that belongs to the Vance family. Not even that half-eaten lobster.”
Chapter 6: The End of Freedom
I walked out of the dining room, onto the luxurious velvet carpet that now truly belonged to me. Behind me, Sarah’s hoarse screams and my mother’s choked sobs echoed, but they no longer had the power to hurt me.
My silence of the past ten years wasn’t cowardice. It was the patience of a hunter.
That night, in my father’s study, Andre brought up a tray of perfect Wagyu steak. Leo ate heartily, his eyes sparkling with joy. I looked out the window, where the Greenwich moon illuminated the West Garden – a garden that would never again be demolished to build an infinity pool.
The Vance family died last night. And today, my kingdom officially begins.
