Seed of Possession

“All four people are in the hidden room of the mansion, and they are all facing each other at the long wooden rectangular table. They are waiting for the person who brought them to this place, but the longer they wait, the more tension builds up among them.

“Why are these two here? Aren’t you busy searching for your wife’s lost child?” Lorenzo mockingly said, breaking the invisible barrier that had kept them distant from each other.

“Shut your mouth. We don’t want to hear your voice,” Xander hissed, glaring at Lorenzo.

“As if I’m afraid of you. Do you want Round 2?” Lorenzo challenged Xander as he stood up from his seat. Chandrea shook her head in embarrassment at Lorenzo’s actions.

“Can you please sit down, Lorenzo?” Chandrea said firmly, emphasizing each word.

“It looks like your cousin is under the influence of a illegal substance” Giselle commented, drawing Chandrea’s stern gaze.

“Your opinion doesn’t matter in this room, Giselle,” Chandrea hissed, causing Giselle to giggle.

“Look who’s talking, a homewrecker and a drug pusher,” Giselle mockingly said, making Chandrea grit her teeth in annoyance.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“I can’t believe you’ve traded high-end with class for something cheap and low. Well, some people have weird tastes,” Giselle continued, further infuriating Chandrea.

“It looks like this b*tch is barking like a rabid dog right now. How brave of you,” Lorenzo said, trying to divert attention to himself and defend Chandrea.

“Oh, Lorenzo, I’m just getting started,” Giselle said in a seductive and alluring tone, leaving the men thirsting even though she was almost eight months pregnant.

Lorenzo immediately coughed, feeling the tension building up inside his body.

“BASTARD!” Chandrea said in disbelief, throwing a disgusted look at Lorenzo.

“It seems like something fun is happening in this room. That’s new,” the atmosphere suddenly changed as they heard the familiar voice of a powerful man, the head of the family, the family’s master.

“GRANDFATHER!” Lorenzo called out Perol’s name with joy, thinking that the day he would win this game had finally come.

“You’re finally here! I’m glad to see you!” Lorenzo said happily, and Chandrea awkwardly smiled at Head Master Perol, knowing her place in the family at this moment. She had brought scandal to the family last weeks, and her position as Lorenzo’s mistress had been established in the mansion. Knowing Perol, he wouldn’t let it slide, so she hoped the attention would shift to Giselle to make room a room for her in the family.

“Lorenzo, sit down. I don’t have time to play this game. I am here to end this!” Perol said in his authoritarian voice that chilled everyone in the room, except Giselle, who is now sitting comfortably while rubbing her big round belly.

Perol sat down in his chair as the head butler closed the door to make the meeting private and discreet.

“These past few weeks, many things happened in the mansion, especially to the two candidates who will inherit my position,” Perol started, putting his elbows on the table and clasping his hands together.

“A scandalous affair, the secret of my granddaughter-in-law, and the commotion that happened in my main hotel yesterday. What will happen today is like a trial because today is the day I will judge what should I do with the four of you,” Perol said, putting down his hand, signaling the head butler to ready all the things that were gathered for the trial.

“Shall we start?” Perol said, making Lorenzo grit his teeth as he looked at Xander, who is now calmly watching the Head Master of the family.

“Grandpa! Why won’t you start the trial by discussing the lies that Xander and his wife brought to this family? The things they did tarnished our reputation, especially the part where Xander did it to not be eliminated in the battle of succession.”

“Lorenzo, don’t call me Grandpa. Right now, I am the Head Master of the Monteverdes. Don’t use the bloodline on me,” Perol coldly warned Lorenzo, making his grandson freeze in his seat out of surprise because of the change in attitude of Perol towards him. It’s not a secret that Perol doted on Lorenzo for a very long time, and right now, it has suddenly changed.

“Lorenzo, calm down. Don’t make any scene,” Chandrea simply whispered to Lorenzo, as she doesn’t want to make things worse. In her mind, she just needs to wait for the opportunity that Giselle will be her decoy to escape the anger of Perol.

“Now, let’s start,” Perol continued, starting to wear his eyeglasses and flipping the documents.

“Let’s start with the issue that gave me a headache. The affair that was caught inside the mansion. Having sex in the room where you and your wife reside. I didn’t expect that from you, Lorenzo,” Perol said out of disappointment, glancing at him.

Lorenzo avoided the gazes of his grandfather, knowing that the gazes were full of disappointment from his actions. “A successful man who is a candidate to be the leader in this family will create a mistake? Even though I favored you among the others, I will not tolerate this kind of act. You put the family on shame,” Perol said out of disappointment, looking at Chandrea.

“And you! Your father will be here in about an hour,” Perol announced, making Chandrea widen her eyes out of surprise.

“W-what?” she stuttered, looking at Lorenzo, who is now looking down at the table, still in shock at what his grandfather said to him.

“Lorenzo, say something! You need to protect me from my father, divert his attention, change our whole situation!” Chandrea whispered out of desperation while glancing at the head of the family.

Lorenzo took a deep breath, taking the words of Chandrea as good advice. He now believes that he can clear his name once he changes the situation by putting Xander in his situation.

“My situation is way more manageable and understandable,” Lorenzo said, looking straight at his grandfather. “It can change and manipulate, unlike Xander, who ruined the reputation of the family and brought his dirty woman into the family,” Lorenzo continued, glancing at Xander, who is now looking coldly at him.

Giselle just smirked at what Lorenzo said, expecting that statement from a bastard like him. “Now, Grandfather, can you let go of my problem for now and turn your attention to the way more significant problem of our family? The secret of Xander and his wife, and I believe I already told it to you in advance,” Lorenzo added, looking back at his grandfather’s face.

Perol looked straight at his grandson Lorenzo, gulping because right now, all he could see is a child that he is close to. A child that he took care of while growing up and gave all his love and attention. Perol hardly closed his eyes, fighting the urge of his heart and conscience because Lorenzo really had a soft spot in his heart.

“Grandpa,” Lorenzo called to Perol, making Perol sigh and crumple the documents and evidences in his hand.

“Wow, what a pity,” Giselle commented as she glanced at her husband Xander.

“That is a weapon that you will never, ever have,” Giselle whispered enough to make Xander hear.

Xander’s hands became fists as he harshly looked at his grandfather. “This is unfair! Judge fairly, not in favor! Show us why the family calls you the Head Master of this family!” Xander said to Perol, appealing to his conscience.

“My problem is not that important! Unlike you, Xander, you deceive the Head Master of the family by bringing that woman you picked from some trashy place!” Lorenzo mockingly said, openly showing his disgust between the two.

Giselle rolled her eyes, crossing her arms and raising her right eyebrow. “Don’t act like you’re a clean Lorenzo. Who gave a huge scandal in this family? And who made an enemy in the past few weeks? Obviously not me, but you!” Xander pointed at Lorenzo, making him grit his teeth out of frustration.

“Huh! My actions are forgivable and can easily be fixed, but the lie that you gave to this family and disobeying the rules of succession. I think you are more in line than I am, Xander,” Lorenzo answered as the battle between the two heated up.

“STOP IT! BOTH OF YOU!”

Lorenzo and Xander instantly stopped when they heard the raging voice of the Head of the family. “I will be the one who decides. Now, SHUT UP! Before I strip the name Monteverde from your life!” Perol warned his grandson, making them quiet.

“Lorenzo, your actions tarnish the name of the family, and you put the relationship with the Serdaun on the line! I have no choice but to disqualify you in the battle of succession because other members of the family are not pleased with what you’ve done. Especially now that we cannot see or talk to your wife!” Perol said, weakening Lorenzo by what he heard.

“Disqualified?” He mumbled as he glanced at Chandrea, who is now avoiding his gaze.

“NO!”